20250719-21 Expo/GIGA FES

I took a trip to Osaka during the three-day weekend of July 19-21, 2025.
The main event was a festival called OSAKA GIGANTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL. On the second day, there were artists I wanted to see live, such as Frederic, whom I love, the highly acclaimed Chevon and Kroi, as well as Aooo, TOOBOE, RIP SLYME, and Yabai T-Shirts Yasan, so I decided, 'I have to go!' Also, since I was going to Osaka, I wanted to visit the Expo again—I had been once before, but couldn't see everything—which led to this trip.

I was really looking forward to it and prepared thoroughly, such as by studying the songs of the artists performing at the festival in advance. Although, once I actually got there, it was quite tough at times due to the extreme heat and feeling a bit under the weather.

In the end, it was an experience I could only have gained by actually going, and I made many fun memories and had moments that moved me.

However, no matter how fun it is and how much you want to remember it forever, human memory gradually fades. Because I find that regrettable, I am writing this down while it is still fresh in my mind. I have photos and such, but there were so many memories and so many opportunities to encounter various songs that photos alone could never help me recall everything.

So, I will reflect on it here.
Please join me if you'd like.
I have also provided a table of contents, so I would be happy if you just read the parts that interest you.

Day 1: Osaka Expo

I arrived in Osaka by highway bus.
First, I ate the red ginger kushikatsu (deep-fried skewers) that everyone says you have to try, then I ordered various other kushikatsu that caught my eye, and ate takoyaki. Personally, the salmon kushikatsu and zucchini kushikatsu were quite delicious. I forgot to take pictures.

Then, I went to the Expo in the evening with a night ticket.
I made advance reservations, but perhaps the competition was too high, as I only won one, so there were various places I wanted to go but couldn't.
However, the EARTH MART I won was a pavilion themed around the future of food, and it was fun with various exhibits that interested me. I feel like I spent about an hour and a half or two hours there because there was so much to see. Every exhibit was very well-crafted, and I probably could have stayed longer if I had really tried.

At the exit, I received a 'ticket to exchange for one pickled plum (umeboshi) pickled for the Expo in the year 2050.' I don't know what I'll be like in 25 years, but I thought about how, given my diligence, I might actually remember to keep it and go pick it up.

For dinner, I had cold udon noodles. It helped because it was hot, but since it was a day when my stomach wasn't feeling well, I should have ordered hot ones...! I ate it incredibly slowly. But I was happy that it had lots of meat and grated yam, so it was good.

Then I watched the night water show. Just as I started walking after it ended, pictures and letters appeared in the night sky... It was a good finale to decorate the time before closing.
There didn't seem to be a screen, so were dozens of drones being remotely operated to create the letters? With modern technology, I suppose that level of drone operation is possible, but seeing it right in front of me, it was a technology that was truly mind-blowing.

I enjoyed the night Expo until the very last minute before closing. Watching everyone head home one after another felt like the end of a school festival, which was also a nice sentiment.

And late at night, I finally arrived at the guesthouse where I was staying, prepared for bed while being careful not to wake the other guests, and once I fell asleep, it was already the morning of the second day!

Day 2: OSAKA GIGANTIC MUSIC FES 2025

I arrived at Expo '70 Commemorative Park while walking through the streets of Osaka.
It turned into a trip where I could unexpectedly experience both the modern Expo and the old one at the same time, but I have arrived at Day 2 of OSAKA GIGANTIC FESTIVAL.

Blessed with clear skies, the blue of the sky and the green of the trees were deep. It was the best kind of day to spend outside in the summer sun. Even though it was a day plagued by the intense heat that came as a bonus...🔥
It turned into a wonderful day where I could enjoy various kinds of music outdoors.

1. Yabai T-Shirts Yasan

The first band I listened to was YabaT. I intended to go from the start, but since it was early in the morning, I prioritized sleep and only caught the end... Health comes first, so it can't be helped.

My mood lifted when I heard "Musen LAN Bari Benri" while moving.
Even if you don't know the lyrics, the "Zeikin Bari Takai" (Taxes are super high) you hear clearly at the end of the chorus in "NO MONEY DANCE" is funny. "Yabami" has such a satisfying chorus.
I hadn't listened to them in a while, but it was fun as always and they naturally cheered me up. They really hyped things up from the morning, the start of the festival.

Apparently they performed "Atsumare! Party People" before I arrived, and Kenji, the vocalist of Frederic, participated as a guest vocalist in place of Aribobo, who is on maternity leave. I thought, 'If I had arrived a little earlier, I could have heard it...!' but then Kenji uploaded a video of the day on Twitter, so I got to hear it. ◎ It's a great video that shows how excited the venue was. It's interesting how these kinds of surprises happen between artists performing together at festivals.

2. Frederic

The next band I watched was Frederic. I was happy that they played songs I especially wanted to hear live, one after another, like "Only Wonder," "CYAN," and "Nettaiya."
I finally got to hear "CYAN" under the blue sky! It's a song full of memories; I heard it at a festival in Hakuba, and then drove to see the movie it was featured in.

"Nettaiya" is truly a summer song, and I was excited thinking they might play it, and they really did. I love the chorus where the twins' voices alternate while the mysterious atmosphere of a summer night is evoked.

And they also played their new song "Akuma." The clap part was, as expected, extremely difficult. One way or another, this song is the reason I've kept watching the drama. It's a song that always catches my attention when the intro starts playing during the ending. Frederic really has the power to leave an impression.

3. Kroi

After eating a roast beef bowl for lunch, I went to see Kroi, the band I was looking forward to the most.

Since Metrock in May, where I went from being vaguely interested to falling in love after hearing them live—thinking, 'Wow, every single sound is so good! What is this music... I've never heard music like this before, but it's somehow good. It's definitely good'—I spent several months listening to almost all their songs to prepare. I was looking forward to seeing how it would feel to hear them live while knowing the songs.

As expected, it was beyond my expectations and I had fun the entire time. They played classic songs like "Juden," "Amber," and "Hyper," and also unveiled their new song "Method." I had watched the SAKAMOTO DAYS opening video many times, so I got excited thinking, 'This is it!'

And finally, "Fire Brain." It made every fantasy I had on the day of Metrock come true—the day I thought, "It would be amazing if they played this song as the headliner again in the middle of the summer heat and burned up all my energy." Burn such a brain🔥

The nearly 30 minutes Kroi was on stage felt like an instant, and I felt a bit unsatisfied, so I guess I should go to one of their solo shows someday.

④RIP SLYME

Even though RIP SLYME performed at every festival I went to this year, I had to pass on them every time without being able to listen properly, so this was the third time's the charm. I was finally able to listen to them properly.

Since it's summer, I really wanted to hear "Nettaiya," but I think I missed it while I was hydrating and sitting in the shade to rest. However, I made it in time for "Rakuen Baby," and it was a great time to be able to hear "Watcha watcha," "FUNKASTIC," and "JOINT"—songs I grew to love while preparing for this—live and to be able to move my body to them. Towels were being swung around wildly, and I thought, 'Ah, it's summer...'

I haven't listened to much rap until now, but since I got into HypMic around spring, I've had more opportunities to listen to it, and it's gradually become more familiar to my ears. RIP SLYME also provided music for HypMic, and I was thinking, 'Come to think of it, "Nettaiya" is a masterpiece that even I know,' when this happened, and RIP SLYME's music really soaked into me. I have a feeling that from now on, I'll think, 'Should I play some RIP SLYME today?' while driving on a summer day, and it will blend into my daily life. It was a good encounter.

⑤Chevon

And Chevon. This was my third time seeing them, following Japan Jam, where I watched from the front row, and Metrock, where I watched the footage until it wore out.

In addition to showing us a killer performance with their new song "DUA•RHYTHM," it was refreshing to hear them play "antlion" and "Bokura no Natsuyasumi Sensou," older songs they haven't played much at recent live shows. The latter, in particular, was perfect for listening to under the blue summer sky. The recap video Chevon released, featuring footage of them performing with the Tower of the Sun in the background, is so good that I'm still replaying it.

And they also played their standard songs like "Meimei," "Juudenchu," and "Banquet" perfectly. The call-and-response during the chorus is truly fun. It was a time where I could truly think that music is fun, shouting and dancing to the point where the word 'frenzy' fits perfectly.

I want to continue supporting them as they push forward with their unique worldview and musicality. Their new song "Sumire" wasn't performed because it's not the type of song for a festival, but it shows the range of their music—a love song that is unusually pop yet filled with genuine feelings. The lyrics, written by vocalist Taniginu, who writes all of Chevon's songs, are filled with their thoughts and are made of careful words picked up from reading the original work, which warms my heart. Hearing that Chevon was doing the theme song, I've been following that drama every week too. I'm also grateful that they introduced me to such a wonderful work.

⑥Macaroni Empitsu

Prioritizing rest due to the heat and fatigue, and repeatedly buying and finishing plastic bottles, I decided to just watch Aooo and TOOBOE casually. It was only for a little bit, but I'm glad I got to see them live. I'd like to keep following Aooo a little bit from now on.

And finally, Macaroni Empitsu.

Starting from the time it began to get dim in the evening until it turned into night, they let us listen to a wide range of music for a full hour.

I listened to a lot, but what left the deepest impression was "Sentakuki to Kimi to Radio." It was the song that first introduced me to Macaen a few years ago when a friend told me, 'This song is good,' so hearing it live really got me excited. The sense of speed is irresistible.

And "Lemon Pie" and "Tamashii no Ibasho" were songs I knew from preparing, so I was happy to realize, 'Oh, this is the one I studied!' It's always more fun when it's a song you know.

I'm still a total novice, but I really felt their ability and quality as they performed for a long time on the main stage, livening up the time from the evening into the final stages of the festival.

The new song performed toward the end, 'Shizukana Umi' (Quiet Sea), was perfect for the color of the sky between evening and night, just before it turned completely dark, and I listened to it feeling deeply sentimental. I had liked the melody of the intro, which felt quiet yet had a solid core, since I first heard it while preparing, and the moment it played at the live show, I thought, 'Ah, I'm so glad I came'.

⑦04 Limited Sazabys

The break was unexpectedly short, so I quickly bought some Kanazawa curry that looked like it would be filling, and while I hadn't even finished eating it, the final act, 04 Limited Sazabys, began. With their powerful rock sound, they showed us the kind of excitement befitting a headliner.

Stage lights shining brightly in the pitch-black field of vision, a vortex of people running in large circles, and flames erupting along with the climax of the songs. Piercing high-pitched vocals, drums that constantly provided a powerful and steady rhythm to back them up, and guitar and bass that supported the core of the rock sound.

'magnet', 'swim', 'My HERO', 'Letter', 'Squall', 'monolith', 'Keep going'...

As if responding to the audience's feeling of 'I don't want such a fun day to end,' they delivered music for song after song. Even though every irreplaceable day must end eventually, it was powerful, wish-filled music, as if they were giving us something we could keep and not forget.

Finally, fireworks were set off, and the long yet short day came to an end.
It was a midsummer day where I was able to experience various music live.

Looking back at the end

And so, the intense two days came to an end.
To tell the truth, the time after the festival ended, when I returned to the guesthouse where I was staying in the middle of the night, was also very memorable. Moving on tiptoe so as not to wake others, and the time spent organizing my luggage in the dark without turning on the lights, are memories precisely because it was inconvenient. It felt like whispering secrets, or had a ticklish fun like being in a secret base. That might be an exaggeration, though.

I also happened to meet and talk with the owner of the guesthouse, which is still a fond memory. At first, I asked various things I was curious about regarding the guesthouse, but the owner was surprisingly easy to talk to, and I was able to hear a little about the owner's life and past. I felt my perspective broaden a little, thinking, 'There is such a way of living, too'.

In terms of having unexpected interactions with people, staying at a hotel is certainly more comfortable, but it was a three-day period where I also thought that staying at a guesthouse is interesting. The main reason is that I don't want to spend much money on accommodation, but even if I had the money and it was a trip where I could be flexible, I'm sure I would continue to choose guesthouses in the future.

But, I've strayed a little from the main topic.
For OSAKA GIGA, I actually wanted to hear SPYAIR and BLUE ENCOUNT as well, but due to the timetable and prioritizing rest in the extreme heat, there were parts I couldn't hear.

However, 'Motto Hikari wo' by BLUE ENCOUNT, which I heard while crossing the venue to buy lunch, was amazing, coupled with the audience's enthusiasm, and every song by Tele that I heard while resting in the shade of a tree made me think 'Oh,' and made me want to listen to them from now on. There is too much music I want to hear, and I don't know when that will be, but...

I think the biggest appeal of a festival is not only being able to hear the live performances of your favorite artists, but also encountering the music of artists whose names you only know, or whose names you don't even know. Even for the artists I couldn't hear much this time, because a connection was made at this festival, there might come a time when we meet again someday.

And, being able to listen to music in nature is another appeal. This time, under the summer blue sky, it felt great to be able to move freely around the venue surrounded by deep green and enjoy music as I liked. Going to a live house is a classic way to enjoy rock, and I like that very much, but festivals have a different kind of comfort.

I've been thinking for years, 'I want to go to a festival,' but I never actually went. This year, I finally took the plunge and participated, and I'm so glad I did. It felt so amazing that I ended up going to three festivals in a row this year. Wait, that's strange...

For now, I've decided to go to a Frederic solo concert for the first time in a while, but other than that, I'll go to festivals or live shows again if the opportunity arises. Going to a Kroi or Chevon solo concert would be nice, and going to a festival is also great. Well, even if I do go, I'll make the next one a spring festival. I've learned that summer is just too hot to focus solely on music (lol).

So, that's my look back at the three days.
It got long, but I've packed in all the memories I can remember, so I'll leave this in the digital sea as a time capsule. When I want to remember again, I'll come back here. Ah~~~ that was so much fun.

Music is fun, and the world is vast.
I hope I can continue to enjoy many different things from here on out.