Events
09/14/2023
[CONCERT REPORT!] Commemorating 20 Years of the NARUTO Anime with "NARUTO THE LIVE"! Seven Artists Showcased Their Love for the Series! See the Setlists!
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the NARUTO anime, the "NARUTO THE LIVE" concert event was held at the Makuhari Messe center in Chiba on September 2nd and 3rd (JST)!
Seven artists who have provided theme songs for the anime took the stage! Plus, there was a live performance of the soundtrack that provided depth to the scenes of the show! All in all, roughly 12,000 fans joined in the excitement and the two days were filled with passion for NARUTO!
Seven artists who have provided theme songs for the anime took the stage! Plus, there was a live performance of the soundtrack that provided depth to the scenes of the show! All in all, roughly 12,000 fans joined in the excitement and the two days were filled with passion for NARUTO!
The Opening Act—Leading the Way for the Next Generation:
KANA-BOON!
On both days, KANA-BOON kicked off the performances with an opening theme for BORUTO: Naruto Next Generations (hereafter, BORUTO), "Baton Road"!
They first discovered NARUTO in elementary school, and spoke of how they find joy in singing songs that have traveled all over the world with the series before performing a setlist of songs created for the anime, such as "Silhouette"!
On the second day, they hyped up the crowd by covering ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION's "Haruka Kanata" explaining, "Today we have the honor of covering a band that has had a huge influence on us."
They first discovered NARUTO in elementary school, and spoke of how they find joy in singing songs that have traveled all over the world with the series before performing a setlist of songs created for the anime, such as "Silhouette"!
On the second day, they hyped up the crowd by covering ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION's "Haruka Kanata" explaining, "Today we have the honor of covering a band that has had a huge influence on us."
The "NARUTO Super-Generation":
Humbreaders!
Humbreaders performed on the first day.
Calling themselves part of the "Naruto Super-Generation", they started off with "Mata Ne", the ending theme for BORUTO in January of 2023.
Then they followed that up with covers of past NARUTO opening and ending themes, such as The Mass Missile's "Ima Made Nandomo", which the thrilled crowd responded to by turning their penlights orange!
Calling themselves part of the "Naruto Super-Generation", they started off with "Mata Ne", the ending theme for BORUTO in January of 2023.
Then they followed that up with covers of past NARUTO opening and ending themes, such as The Mass Missile's "Ima Made Nandomo", which the thrilled crowd responded to by turning their penlights orange!
Junko Takeuchi (Naruto) and Noriaki Sugiyama (Sasuke) Served as MCs!
In the breaks between performances, the Japanese voices behind Naruto and Sasuke, Junko Takeuchi and Noriaki Sugiyama, made appearances!
In addition to acting as MCs for the event while in-character, there was also a segment where they talked as themselves about a selection of famous scenes, including a number of tear-jerkers like the farewell between Naruto and his revived father Minato at the end of the Great Ninja War.
Plus, accompanying the two MCs was a compilation of past opening and ending videos for the series, played on the venue screens during intermissions!
The cheers and applause whenever a theme started or finished showed the depth of the audience's feelings for NARUTO.
In addition to acting as MCs for the event while in-character, there was also a segment where they talked as themselves about a selection of famous scenes, including a number of tear-jerkers like the farewell between Naruto and his revived father Minato at the end of the Great Ninja War.
Plus, accompanying the two MCs was a compilation of past opening and ending videos for the series, played on the venue screens during intermissions!
The cheers and applause whenever a theme started or finished showed the depth of the audience's feelings for NARUTO.
The Mastermind Behind the Final NARUTO: Shippuden Opening Theme:
Anly!
On the second day, singer-songwriter Anly set the venue rocking with her BORUTO ending theme, "VOLTAGE"!
Things got even livelier when she continued with a cover of 7!!'s song "Lovers", and the excitement hit the maximum as she performed the last NARUTO: Shippuden opening theme, "Kara no Kokoro".
In addition to clips from the ending theme itself, the screens also played scenes from Naruto and Hinata's wedding, a perfect blend of visuals and music for the audience to enjoy NARUTO.
Things got even livelier when she continued with a cover of 7!!'s song "Lovers", and the excitement hit the maximum as she performed the last NARUTO: Shippuden opening theme, "Kara no Kokoro".
In addition to clips from the ending theme itself, the screens also played scenes from Naruto and Hinata's wedding, a perfect blend of visuals and music for the audience to enjoy NARUTO.
Her Deep Love for NARUTO Filled the Venue:
CHiCO!
CHiCO performed on both days.
Appearing as a solo artist, she expressed her love for NARUTO with covers of popular NARUTO themes, such as little by little's "Kanashimi wo Yasashisa ni", NICO Touches the Walls' "Diver", and Akeboshi's "Wind".
The nostalgic songs got the fans extremely hyped! She finished up with a solo rendition of the BORUTO opening "Gamushara" which she originally performed along with HoneyWorks, creating an energy that swept Makuhari Messe!
Appearing as a solo artist, she expressed her love for NARUTO with covers of popular NARUTO themes, such as little by little's "Kanashimi wo Yasashisa ni", NICO Touches the Walls' "Diver", and Akeboshi's "Wind".
The nostalgic songs got the fans extremely hyped! She finished up with a solo rendition of the BORUTO opening "Gamushara" which she originally performed along with HoneyWorks, creating an energy that swept Makuhari Messe!
A Thrilling Live Performance:
-yaiba- (Second Group)!
By combining a live performance with visuals from the original series, NARUTO THE LIVE endeavored to showcase the power of anime soundtracks! Yasaharu Takanashi has been in charge of NARUTO's music ever since it first aired, and his band -yaiba- performed a collection of songs he has worked on.
Unfortunately, as he was performing in Germany at the time, Takanashi said the group would participate without him as -yaiba- Second Group!
By combining taiko drums, shamisen, shakuhachi, and violin, they gave a vivid performance of the soundtrack that is so popular worldwide, beginning with "Heaven-Shaking Event" and continuing through songs such as "NARUTO Main Theme '16".
Unfortunately, as he was performing in Germany at the time, Takanashi said the group would participate without him as -yaiba- Second Group!
By combining taiko drums, shamisen, shakuhachi, and violin, they gave a vivid performance of the soundtrack that is so popular worldwide, beginning with "Heaven-Shaking Event" and continuing through songs such as "NARUTO Main Theme '16".
Enchanting the Entire Venue and Dyeing the Floor Blue:
Ikimonogakari!
Ikimonogakari took the stage in the latter half of the first day!
The duo also appeared at ANI-ROCK FES in 2016, which featured NARUTO. When they played their hit song "Bluebird", which is beloved worldwide, fan's penlights turned the whole floor blue.
This was followed by "Hotaru no Hikari", and then Ikimonogakari's first NARUTO series project in 12 years, "BAKU", which was written as an opening for BORUTO. Hearing those songs one after another really showed off how far Naruto and Boruto have come.
The duo also appeared at ANI-ROCK FES in 2016, which featured NARUTO. When they played their hit song "Bluebird", which is beloved worldwide, fan's penlights turned the whole floor blue.
This was followed by "Hotaru no Hikari", and then Ikimonogakari's first NARUTO series project in 12 years, "BAKU", which was written as an opening for BORUTO. Hearing those songs one after another really showed off how far Naruto and Boruto have come.
A Symbol of Youth for the NARUTO Generation:
ORANGE RANGE!
What really brought back the early days of NARUTO was ORANGE RANGE making their appearance on the second day.
Just like Naruto and his friends, this group is celebrating their twentieth anniversary. They warmed up the venue with popular hits like "Shanghai Honey", then took the audience by storm with the song that became the 3rd ending theme in 2003, "Viva☆Rock".
Just like Naruto and his friends, this group is celebrating their twentieth anniversary. They warmed up the venue with popular hits like "Shanghai Honey", then took the audience by storm with the song that became the 3rd ending theme in 2003, "Viva☆Rock".
The Headliners Were Longtime Partners of NARUTO:
FLOW!
FLOW took the final slot on both the first and second days.
As the band who has worked the most with the NARUTO series, whenever they perform around the world, NARUTO theme songs go with them, drawing cheers and applause from audiences. In place of GOT'S, their regular bassist who is currently undergoing medical treatment, KANA-BOON's bassist Masami Endo joined them to create the "FLOW Allied Shinobi Forces" for a very special performance!
They kicked off their performances with a medley that started with "Re:member", and followed that up with songs from their new NARUTO cover album, "FLOW THE COVER NARUTO SHIBARI". They sang ORANGE RANGE's "Viva☆Rock" on the first day, and Joe Inoue's "CLOSER" on the second.
Of course, their final song was "GO!!!", and the fans' passion could be felt throughout the venue!
As the band who has worked the most with the NARUTO series, whenever they perform around the world, NARUTO theme songs go with them, drawing cheers and applause from audiences. In place of GOT'S, their regular bassist who is currently undergoing medical treatment, KANA-BOON's bassist Masami Endo joined them to create the "FLOW Allied Shinobi Forces" for a very special performance!
They kicked off their performances with a medley that started with "Re:member", and followed that up with songs from their new NARUTO cover album, "FLOW THE COVER NARUTO SHIBARI". They sang ORANGE RANGE's "Viva☆Rock" on the first day, and Joe Inoue's "CLOSER" on the second.
Of course, their final song was "GO!!!", and the fans' passion could be felt throughout the venue!
With the confetti from the concert's finale still hanging in the air, the other members of KANA-BOON rushed onto the stage, wrapping up the show in a way that demonstrated the artists' love for NARUTO.
For fans who have made this twenty-year journey together with NARUTO, it's safe to say these two days were a perfect celebration of their memories of the series.
For fans who have made this twenty-year journey together with NARUTO, it's safe to say these two days were a perfect celebration of their memories of the series.
Setlists
DAY 1 (9/2 JST) LINEUP
| KANA-BOON | 1. Baton Road 2. Spiral 3. Diver 4. Kirarirari 5. Silhouette |
| Humbreaders | 1. Mata Ne 2. Lonely Go! (Brian the Sun) Ima Made Nandomo (The Mass Missile) Hajimete Kimi to Shabetta (GaGaGaSP) *Cover medley 3. DAY DREAM BEAT |
| CHiCO | 1. Kanashimi wo Yasashisa ni (little by little) *Cover 2. Diver (NICO Touches the Walls) *Cover 3. Hikari no Arika 4. Gamushara |
| Live Soundtrack Performance | 1. Heaven-Shaking Event 2. Critical State 3. Shippuden 4. NARUTO Main Theme '16 5. Reverse Situation |
| Ikimonogakari | 1. Bluebird 2. Kimagure Romantic 3. Hotaru no Hikari 4. BAKU 5. Koisuru Otome |
| FLOW | 1. Re:member SUMMER FREAK Niji no Sora *Medley 2. Viva☆Rock (ORANGE RANGE) *Cover 3. Sign 4. GO!!! |
DAY 2 (9/3 JST) LINEUP
| KANA-BOON | 1. Baton Road 2. Diver 3. Haruka Kanata (ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION) *Cover 4. Kirarirari 5. Silhouette |
| Anly | 1. VOLTAGE 2. Lovers (7!!) *Cover 3. TAKE OFF 4. Kara no Kokoro |
| CHiCO | 1. Kanashimi wo Yasashisa ni (little by little) *Cover 2. Wind (Akeboshi) *Cover 3. Hikari no Arika 4. Gamushara |
| Live Soundtrack Performance | 1. Heaven-Shaking Event 2. Critical State 3. Shippuden 4. NARUTO Main Theme '16 5. Reverse Situation |
| ORANGE RANGE | 1. Ishin Denshin 2. Ikenai Taiyo 3. Shanghai Honey 4. Viva☆Rock |
| FLOW | 1. Re:member SUMMER FREAK Niji no Sora *Medley 2. CLOSER (Joe Inoue) *Cover 3. Sign 4. GO!!! |
Post-Event Merch Announced!
NARUTO THE LIVE event merch will be available (while stocks last) to order from ANIPLEX+ starting from 18:00 on 9/11 (JST)! If there's any merch you missed out on, now's your chance!
ANIPLEX+: https://www.aniplexplus.com/
*Stock is limited.
*Items sold out at the event venue will not be available.
ANIPLEX+: https://www.aniplexplus.com/
*Stock is limited.
*Items sold out at the event venue will not be available.
・Please be aware that some news articles contain machine-translated text. As a result, some expressions may be unusual or difficult to understand. ・Unless otherwise specified, all dates and times are displayed in Japan Standard Time (JST/UTC+9).
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