On December 3rd, I stepped into a world I never thought I’d visit: the “Rock BEYOND Rock 3 in Namba Hatch.”

To be honest, when the ticket lottery opened, I had zero interest. I didn’t know the artists, and I’d never even heard their music. Our CEO mentioned that members from “Dragon Ash” and “RIZE” would be performing, but those were names I only vaguely recognized from maybe two or three songs. On top of that, I’d heard that “mixture rock” concerts involve intense moshing and stage diving. Instead of being excited, I was actually a bit terrified.

But then, Mr. Tanaka from Nexus reached out. “I have an extra ticket, you have to come with us!” he insisted. I kept turning him down, but when I heard that Mr. Nakai and Konno-kun were also going… I figured, why not? I’ll give it a shot.

Usually, I’d study the setlist and listen to the music before a show, but this time, I went in completely blind. On the day of the event, I met up with Factory Manager Komaki, Konno-kun, Tanaka-san, and Nakai-san, and together, we headed into the venue.

It seemed we were all first-timers, and honestly, the nerves were hitting us before we even arrived. But nothing could have prepared me for the moment I stepped inside—the sheer volume of the sound was overwhelming.

A band called “Mixture Kenkyujo” was on stage, and as I stood there at the very back of the hall, I felt completely out of place. “I knew it,” I thought to myself. “I just can’t keep up with this. I really shouldn’t have come…”

The next artist to take the stage was “The Ravens,” a band fronted by Kenji Furuya of “Dragon Ash.” I’ll be honest—I didn’t know a single one of their songs. Yet, I felt myself being pulled in. Was it Kenji’s sheer charisma? Or perhaps the magnetic charm of the band itself?

I found myself completely spellbound. Kenji Furuya was just so incredibly cool that I couldn’t take my eyes off him. “So this is what it means to have an artist’s aura!” I thought, absolutely stunned by his presence.

Finally, the headliner appeared: “The BONEZ,” fronted by Jesse from “RIZE.” President Okuda had already warned me that this band was on another level of “crazy.” Remembering those words, I braced myself, terrified of getting swept up inthe chaos of moshing or stage diving…

Once the music started, my thoughts instantly flipped: “This band is insane, they’re scary… but they are so incredibly cool!” The stage divers came one after another in a never-ending stream, a clear sign of the band’s explosive energy. They were masters at working the crowd; I could feel the entire venue heating up to a fever pitch.

Even though I didn’t know a single song, before I knew it, I had pushed my way right toward the front! 💦 I was completely hooked. “This band is amazing! They’re so cool! I want to hear more! I don’t want this to end!” I was totally lost in the moment.

This entire event was truly moving—I am so incredibly glad I decided to go! There really is nothing like the energy of a live show. It made me realize that music can touch your soul and leave a lasting impression, even if the band is completely new to you.

By the way, I wasn’t the only one there—Yoshida-kun, Hirokawa-kun, and Muta-kun also joined the fray. Yoshida, a seasoned pro when it comes to concerts, headed straight for the front as soon as we entered. (He told me later that his muscles ached for days!) Hirokawa and Muta, on the other hand, were first-timers and stayed toward the back, taking it all in from a safe distance 💦.

As for me, I’ll admit I’m easily influenced. I’ve been listening to their music since I got home, though… honestly, it all kind of sounds the same to me. Maybe it’s just my age catching up! 💦 Still, I can’t shake that feeling of excitement and pure emotion. Now, I find myself listening to them during my commute or while jogging, and even looking up the artists online.

There really is something powerful about a live performance. It’s truly incredible.

Written by:
Norifumi Matsukawa
Operations Department
Okudaya Giken Co., Ltd.
(“The ‘Rock BEYOND Rock 3 in Namba Hatch’ Chronicles”.)