Meanwhile in Japan…

[DBCohen]

Driving to the market this morning I suddenly heard LC’s voice drifting at me from the radio. For a moment I thought I may have inadvertently switched to the CD player, in which Old Ideas have been firmly lodged for the past two weeks or so, but no, it was actually NHK’s (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) main FM channel that was playing “Crazy To Love You”. What a treat!

That favorable experience also brought back the frustration of the previous three years, during which LC & Co. went globetrotting, but inexplicably, ignored these enchanted islands. To add insult to injury, they flew right over our heads on their way Down Under (twice!) but completely failed to land here. And that’s in a country where any act in the world, large or small, ends up showing, sooner or later. Seriously, I’m sure there is a solid fan base in Japan (I personally know a few old-timers). Every album has been issued here, and the local issue usually contains a specially-prepared booklet in Japanese about the album and the artist, including the translation of all lyrics (is there any other country in the world where this is the custom?). So why was Japan ignored? I really can’t imagine why, but I can only hope, wish and pray that if indeed another tour is in the wings, we shall not be overlooked this time. Are you listening, Robert Kory?

[tomsakic]

I do recall that Japan was on tentative list (and on this Forum as well) during 2009 methinks, rumoured as "Pacific Ring Tour" but in the end "The Pacific Tour" was Australia and New Zealand only (the first round there) so the tour's name stayed very funny, The Pacific Tour. It was around same time when South American shows were rumoured but after all not negotiated. (There was South Africa in the game as well.) I think somebody from team mentioned Japan was "too expensive" or "they couldn't make it financially", something like that. In any case it was dropped after negotiations with local agencies, because the economical crisis started at that point of the tour (when the tour itself was in question but did continue even more successful, nevertheless the crisis, but it returned to Europe and US in 2010, with no new regions and continents... even Hawaii and Phnom Penh were canceled).

[Mabeanie1]

I too was surprised that the tour never made a stop in Japan but always assumed that it was just one of those areas that they never quite got to. Your question made me wonder hypothetically if I would ever consider going back to Japan for a show. I spent quite a lot of time in the Tokyo area in a previous existence when in the 90s and early 2000s I was responsible for aspects of my employer's business in the Far East. I was glad to have the opportunity to visit but I never had any burning desire to return any time soon. Maybe I was too scarred by the memory of 20+ hour negotiations .....!

My own ponderings aside, I guess Tom has given quite a full explanation for why the tour never landed there. I'm sorry it's not more hopeful for you Doron. Fingers crossed there might be a rethink if /when Leonard goes back out on tour.

Wendy

[scocoh]

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[DBCohen]

Friends,

Thanks for the encouragement. Japan is indeed an expensive country, but as I’ve said above, this didn’t stop many musicians, great and small, from coming here. I’m sure that if a concert is held, fans will come from all over Japan. I know that like last time I’d probably have to travel to Europe or America for the pleasure of a live LC concert, but I still hope he’ll come. It will be a boost for many people still under the shock of last year’s disaster, and will be an act of true friendship.

[Arcenee]

Dropping in a bit late here, but reading this thread from Kyoto made me smile — especially the part about fans travelling from all over the country if Leonard ever did make it here.

I totally get what DBCohen means about how special it would feel. Even as someone living here, every once in a while I take a short break in a ryokan just outside the city, and it always reminds me how much “heart” Japan still has tucked away behind the bustle. If LC ever played here, I imagine a lot of fans would make a whole trip out of it — show in the evening, then a calm night in a ryokan to let the whole thing sink in. Honestly, it would fit the atmosphere of his music perfectly.

Here’s hoping Japan finally gets its turn someday. It would mean a lot to people here, especially after everything that’s happened since 2011.