The story of how I cried at Seiko Matsuda's 45th Anniversary concert in Korea

In the autumn of 2025, I was struck by a huge advertisement posted at Gimpo Airport in Seoul, South Korea. Underneath Seiko Matsuda's radiant smile, it read, 'Korea Concert: February 22, 2026.' I just had to go!

I had entered the lottery for Seiko's concerts many times before, but I never won a single one. For over a decade, I wondered if I would be able to get tickets if I joined the fan club. I assumed, without any real basis, that I would definitely be able to get them if it were in Korea, so I accessed Interpark—the Korean equivalent of Ticket Pia—and... I was able to get them normally.
What's more, a seating chart appeared, and I could choose my own seat! I didn't know if that was just the culture for live concerts in Korea.
At this point, there were almost no seats left in the arena, but I could still choose from the stands. I chose a seat right in the middle of the stage and successfully secured my ticket!

And so, I went on February 22, 2026, to the Inspire Arena in Incheon!
It's an indoor arena right next to Incheon Airport, and it seems to be a resort facility with an adjacent hotel, casino, and large pool complex. I didn't even know this had been built, even though there's also the Paradise Hotel resort at Incheon Airport. A few days before the concert, I received information that paid shuttle buses would be running from the venue to major terminal stations, but since I was being taken by car this time, I didn't book one.
When I arrived at the arena, there were shuttle buses lined up, with direct buses waiting to take people to Seoul Station, Suwon, Sindorim, and other locations.

There was a huge panel at the arena entrance, and everyone was taking commemorative photos. We were also excited and struck a pose! My excitement was already through the roof at this point.
Most of the people taking pictures in front of the panel were fans who had come from Japan.

This was our seat! It was worth choosing it from the seating chart; it was a great seat with a clear view!

A young Korean man was sitting alone next to me, and we ended up talking by chance. He said he had been listening to Seiko's songs for a long time. He happened to come across Seiko on YouTube and said he just kept getting more and more hooked.
Seiko's popularity in Korea exploded two years ago when a Korean idol group sang 'Aoi Sangosho' at a concert!
I had also heard from my Korean friends, 'Seiko is great, isn't she?' and 'I'm hooked on Akai Sweet Pea.'
I think that's part of why this concert in Korea was able to happen.

Here, I want to talk about the history of the Showa era for a moment...
Did you know that Japanese songs were banned in Korea for a long time!?
The reason was remorse for the period of Japanese imperial rule. It was gradually relaxed starting with the Kim Dae-jung administration in 1998, and completely lifted in 2004. It's said that in the 80s, middle school students participating in a government-sponsored summer school to educate children of Zainichi Koreans in Korea were told, 'You must not sing Japanese songs in the city!' Well, it seems they didn't listen and just sang Hikaru Genji songs all the time anyway.
Recently, there's even a Korean variety show called 'Korea-Japan Top Ten Show,' where singers from both countries compete in singing, and it's gaining popularity.The fact that Masahiko Kondo sang 'Gingiragin ni Sarigenaku'was a huge topic of conversation.
Every time I hear or see things like this, I am filled with deep emotion at how much Korea has really changed. As a third-generation Zainichi Korean girl who first visited Korea in 1984, I could never have dreamed of a future like this...

As the 5:00 PM start time approached, a 'Seiko! Seiko!' chant began to rise from out of nowhere. In the arena seats in front, the fan club members were leading the chant. Japanese and Korean people were all calling out the name of my idol, Seiko, in unison. I was already quite overwhelmed at this point, but then...

The first song of the opening was 'Aoi Sangosho'!!
Followed by 'Nagisa no Balcony,' 'Himitsu no Hanazono,' and 'Tengoku no Kiss'!!!

I was sobbing!
The Korean man next to me was crying too!
I don't know what it was, but I was crying just from the intro.
My heart felt like it was going to burst, and I was clapping and singing while crying.

Seiko Matsuda's 45th anniversary—I, Seiko, Japan, and Korea...
So many things have really, truly happened.
We've lived our lives working hard, sometimes being rewarded, and sometimes not.
And through all those times, there was Seiko's music.
Singing those songs together with Seiko and the fans from Japan and Korea, I felt so happy...
Seiko-chan had learned a lot of Korean, and it was so wonderful that an interpreter came on stage halfway through to help her communicate with the Korean fans. The band members and dancers also spoke a word or two of Korean, and the venue was filled with a very warm atmosphere.

And the finale was 'Natsu no Tobira'!!
During the big chorus of 'Fresh, Fresh, Fresh,' I was overcome with emotion again and couldn't stop crying, but everyone to my right and left was crying too.

I was thinking about what these tears were, and what came to mind was the image of my grandmother crying while listening to Hibari Misora.
The various things in life, the songs that were playing at those times, the content of the songs, and the way the singer lived—it all overlaps and turns into tears.
Shall I say that one is purified by song?
Perhaps people shed tears in the moment they are purified by a song.
My grandmother's Hibari Misora is my Seiko Matsuda.

And now, after two hours of Seiko's concert, I feel incredibly fulfilled.
Seiko-chan has also been through a lot. She had a very painful experience. But the Seiko in front of me was wearing a white dress, dancing in a miniskirt, and singing with a smile.
She was beautiful, radiant, and like a holy mother.
I want to get closer. I want to get closer to that god-like realm, even if just a little.
It's okay, I feel like I can do it.
Because as I shouted 'Fresh, Fresh, Fresh,' I felt like I had received a divine revelation.

So, I've applied for the lottery for Seiko's concert this summer as well.
I also intend to participate in the lottery for Akina Nakamori's concert for the first time in 20 years.
Believing that I can receive a divine revelation when the time is right.