Charging up on kindness

“Please enjoy the sounds until the very end.”

Various sounds. Layers of sound. Rhythm, tempo, dynamics... Tone color.
Even invisible sounds have various colors and shapes, and are full of expression.
“Music is about enjoying sound,” he always gently teaches me.
Come on, let’s enjoy it together, everyone.
Moving forward while wrapping up that sense of enjoyment like that.
It keeps turning into more and more wonderful colors.


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The show starts at 7:00 PM.
After finishing work, I hurried home, washed off the sweat in the shower, and changed into crisp clothes. I changed from black to white. I became white.
Even so, just walking to the station, I was drenched in sweat again. Ah, maybe I’ve turned a little black.
I stared at my shadow scorching on the asphalt.

When I emerged onto the ground level in Shibuya, there were so many people that even after finally crossing the scramble intersection, I couldn't move as I wanted. Maybe it had to do with it being summer vacation, a Friday, or the end of the month.
The road to the concert venue feels three times longer than usual. I can’t seem to reach it.
I walk slowly with small steps along the hot, long road. I’m turning more and more black.
I have to charge up on kindness. To replenish what I’ve used, and for what I’ll use from now on.
Before I turn completely black.



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ohashiTrio’s national tour, “ohashi Trio HALL TOUR 2026 ~A BAND~,” reached its finale on 7/31 at NHK Hall in Tokyo.
A hall tour named after the album released this spring.
I went again this year.
In search of kindness.

“Please enjoy the sounds until the very end.”
The live show began with that greeting.
And, when entering the talk time between performances, he asked the audience “Are you enjoying it?” twice.
Everyone who is enjoying it from the heart responds with heartfelt applause.
I felt the applause was louder the second time he asked, and that might be a sign that the enjoyment is increasing as the stage progresses.

It’s not enough for just yourself to have fun; you want the other person to enjoy it properly too. I’m sure Trio-san thinks that way.
I’m also particular about that, and since I have similar thoughts, I understand the feeling of asking “Fun?” or “Are you enjoying it?” very well.
I want to enjoy it together. I want to share the feeling of fun.



The stage set this time was a reproduction of a part of Trio-san’s home studio.
Trio-san’s studio, which also appears in the jacket photo and music video for the new album “A BAND” released this March, is very wonderful. It has warmth and looks comfortable.
It seems to be a place rich in nature where rice ears sway in the wind outside, and the voices of frogs and insects can be heard.
Thinking that the poetry, sounds, rhythms, and those pieces of music are born in this space, it somehow makes sense.
I think the place where you place yourself and the environment that surrounds you are very important. Both the place and the people.

A surprise guest appeared around the middle of the live show.
Hina-san, the vocalist of the five-piece band <Super Tozan-bu>.
Super Tozan-bu is a unique group that combines music and mountain climbing, actually performing music activities while climbing mountains and holding live shows on mountains.
Hina-san, who also participated in Trio-san’s new album “A BAND,” is the owner of a very charming voice. I’d like to listen to it in nature someday.

Hina-san, who missed the dream stage of Tokyo’s NHK Hall by just one step at the national competition (N-Con) of the choral club in junior high school, ended up realizing it in a different form on this day. It was a wonderful episode that felt like a ray of hope.
She let us hear two songs in a beautiful harmony with Trio-san, “Standard” and “Mayonaka no Merry-Go-Round.” Enchanting.

The stage, which lasted over two and a half hours including the encore, was once again filled with kindness this year.
Ohashi Trio will be celebrating his 20th anniversary as a singer next year.
I hope I can celebrate it with him too.
It was fun again this year. Very much so.



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When I left the concert venue, the night sky, stifling with hot air, had a moon rising that looked like it was wrapped in steam. It was two days past the full moon, so it was just slightly waning.
Remembering the full moon that had shone so clearly, I thought that perhaps the moon had used up some of its kindness by waning.


Kindness
Warmth, gentleness, compassion, thoughtfulness... It feels like something that exists quietly and softly.
Everyone uses kindness for themselves or for someone else, and you have to recharge what you've used. You can't use it if you aren't filled up.

Does touching things you like or things that feel comfortable naturally make you feel kind?
I think anything is fine. Music, books, food, plants, people, or animals.
Everyone has their own way of recharging.
If you could multiply them, it seems like you'd fill up faster.

Since kindness is something that is constantly circulating, I think it's good to keep charging and keep using it. It doesn't work well if you only give or only receive.
This is another difficult "balance," isn't it?
I think it's best if it can be used effectively where it's truly needed. It would be ideal if it could spread as evenly as possible without any unevenness.

Every day, there are times when I feel my own helplessness and get down, but in the end, I have no choice but to do what I can.
But I believe that those small, accumulated efforts will surely become a strength. For myself, and for someone else.



How do you all recharge your power?
Just being in the heat is exhausting, isn't it? It's hard to keep your feelings calm.
Getting away from your daily routine for a bit might be one way.
This past week, I went to two music concerts, read a new full-length novel, and ate plenty of peaches.
At the other concert, there was an unexpected event, and I was able to recharge more than I had anticipated.
I want to make good use of the kindness and power I received.

#261. "Charge"

⭐︎ An IC card that got worn out with a "Please do not move while charging" message

⭐︎ A peach cake layered inside and built with kindness

- Chiru -



Lastly, one more song about stars that I love...

The summer meteor shower is coming again this year.
From now on, the moon will continue to wane.
August 13th is the new moon, and that is when the Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak.
If it's clear, we might be able to see the stars and shooting stars better this year since there won't be any moonlight.
I wonder if this is also the moon's kindness.
The stars that receive the moon's kindness, and us too.
Kindness goes around, and the moon will become full again.
I hope we can see the shooting stars.


Well then.
Have a good day, and a good week.