from minmay days to now

Went to Iijima Mari's HK concert tonight. I was most moved when we all sang "ai oboeteimasuka" together. Most of the audience were men, in their thirties or very late twenties. The song is a piece of our shared memories, and it's great to see Iijima work away from her Lin Minmay image and toward something more authentic, more like herself, I suppose. I wonder what it's like to have most of the world know you through a fictional character. But yes, I was swept by otaku atmosphere. I hardly ever chase idols, but I did line up for an hour for an autograph.

subtle slopes

The key is embracing impermanence as I write. It doesn't help that my toothache caused me to sleep poorly so I had to scramble this morning to get to work.

Now, at work, I have nothing to do. Having nothing to do is great fun because it allows me to use the time to do my own stuff, such as revisiting The Brilliant Green.

Lately I developed a longing for the sounds of female-vocal-led Japanese electro rock bands from the mid/late 90s. I had always kept mp3s of My Little Lover with me, and as well, last week I bought the 4-CD set singles collection of Every Little Thing which I'm still going through. Yesterday I bought the singles collection of The Brilliant Green. I love the subtle slopes and sudden crashy hovering drops in their choruses. Kawase Tomoko's voice matches well with the sounds and her English is quite clear. There are plenty of pleasant surprises in this CD and I'm still tasting it as I go along on this... easy workday.

I look forward to sleep.