OK, Tokyo...
David Bowie's first Japanese show in eight years ended a few hours ago. He performed a 26-song set at the Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo, and according to BowieNetter Celine, his opening greeting to the crowd directly after Rebel Rebel was a touching: "Tokyo mother-fuckers how are you?" Celine says it was a fine performance, that even some over-zealous security and an unusually polite audience didn't manage to taint too much for her.
Earlier in the day, David, (dressed casually in grey cargo trousers and a hooded sweat shirt) gave a press conference for the assembled media. Our Eri was there and this is what she had to say about it:
David was charming and humorous through the Conference, in a very casual attire as if he were just back from running. He talked to us in Japanese, and told us how he was trying to remember Japanese words. It was funny to hear the first Japanese sentence he learnt back in 1973 was "Tabako wo kudasai", which means "Please give me cigarettes".
Also, he told us how he was enjoying his stay in Japan, getting a one-day free ticket for the subways and talking to friendly Japanese people, who were kind enough to tell him the places where he wanted to go, such as the place where he can eat udon, Japanese noodle, if their English was not good enough to show directions.
"Tabako wo kudasai... Actually don't. I quit yonks ago!"
David Bowie at this morning's press conference in Tokyo.
Also, he was funny enough to ask the reporters many questions, such as how to use the one-day free ticket, Japanese men's fashion, and if they are playing 'New Killer Star' on their radio station. He also mentioned he would like to visit some 'secret' places in Kyoto when he goes to Osaka, but he never disclosed where the 'secret' places are, of course.
An attendant asked him about the Vittel commercial, which is currently being broadcast nation-wide in Japan. David was impressed to learn it is being broadcast, and he talked about the funny TV commercial with many characters portraying several kinds of personalities David acted as.
We talked about many other things, but I will report it when I finish making the whole transcript. I am grateful for Hayato's support to allow me to get into the Press Conference, to see one of the most historical event of the music industry in Japan.
The legendary Hayato Tanizaki and his wife kindly posing for a picture with a fan yesterday.
I look forward to the full transcript Eri, sounds like you're having a blast.
In the meantime, I can tell you that David also talked about a possible new direction: "I'm heading for another period of experimentation. I'm at a time when I'm collecting myself before I break all my own rules." Sounds good to me... I can't think of a Bowie experiment that didn't lead to some fine work, and yes, I do include Tin Machine!
Anyway, here follows aforementioned 26-song set, supplied by Celine, cross-referenced by Lydia from Rome and Luis, and officially confirmed by Handsome Nick B who is finally getting to grips with electronic mail, and, from whom, more in a moment:
Tokyo March 8th 2004
01 Rebel Rebel
02 New Killer Star
03 Fame
04 Cactus
05 All The Young Dudes
06 China Girl
07 Never Get Old
08 The Loneliest Guy
09 The Man Who Sold The World
10 Hallo Spaceboy
11 Sunday
12 Heathen (The Rays)
13 Under Pressure
14 Life On Mars?
15 Looking For Water
16 Quicksand
17 Days
18 Sound And Vision
19 Be My Wife
20 A New Career In A New Town
21 Ashes To Ashes
22 I'm Afraid of Americans
23 "Heroes"
(Encore)
24 Five Years
25 Suffragette City
26 Ziggy Stardust
I should point out that BowieNetter Dave The Owl also sent in a version of the set list which I imagine Lord Of The Things gave him a hand with.
A Reality Tour continues with a second show at the Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo tomorrow, but I'll finish with the lovely picture above sent in by Soppy Nick B, which was accompanied by the worrying caption: "Romantic sunset on Mount Fuji from my bedroom window. Wish you were here, Nick B." Nick is married.