[Music] Ghibli masterpieces come to life in a fantastical space lit by candlelight—I experienced the Candlelight Concert: 'The Music of Joe Hisaishi'!

Hello everyone, or good evening!

I was just zoning out on the train ride home the other day.

It was a one-hour concert, but I was so immersed in the music that it felt like it ended in the blink of an eye, and I couldn't quite return to the real world afterward. I just let myself be swayed by the lingering afterglow.

The Candlelight Concert 'The Music of Joe Hisaishi' held in Shinagawa.

The entire program was Ghibli music, and every song was so wonderful that the moment I heard it, I immediately recognized it as 'that Ghibli song.'

Let me tell you about it this time.

What is a Candlelight Concert?

Are you familiar with Candlelight Concerts?

As the name suggests, it is an event where you listen to live music in a quiet space filled with candlelight. They aren't real flames, but artificial candles, yet it is still more than enough to be fantastical.

I didn't know about them at all until a friend told me, 'They're great.' When I first heard about it, my reaction was just, 'Candlelight? Is it like a mass? That sounds fantastical,' and honestly, I wasn't that eager.

But the moment they added, '...by Joe Hisaishi.'

I'm going. It was an instant decision. I bought the tickets right then and there.

A church in Shinagawa, a special space just by being there

The venue was the Gloria Chapel at Christ Shinagawa Church.

A Christian church itself was a very rare place for me to visit. My mother is a Christian, so I used to go to church sometimes when I was a child, but I had hardly set foot in such a space since then.

Music is actually played in churches for things like mass, so it is a place that was built for sound to resonate in the first place. A chapel with high ceilings and the light of candles. The atmosphere of the building itself acted as a production, and I was able to enjoy the music in a very fantastical environment.

The performance was by a string quartet. I don't know the exact types of instruments, but those four people carried the entire hour. Just that alone made me think, 'That's amazing.'

Is live music really this different?

Let me share a little personal story here.

I previously attended a violin program several times and actually tried playing it myself. You know, just producing a sound is incredibly difficult. I was one of the faster ones to get a sound out, but even then, just 'making it ring' is a huge struggle.

The performers played those instruments as if they were extensions of their own limbs. This was true for instruments other than the violin as well. There was a sense of vitality, as if the instruments themselves were alive.

Actually, it had been since elementary school that I last listened to a live concert. It really is moving, isn't it?

I usually listen to music via subscription services. But those lack the quality and immersive feeling of the real thing. To begin with, if you ask me if I'm 'properly listening to music,' the answer is no. It's often background music during a routine task, or accompaniment while doing something else.

When I listened to the sound of a live performance, I heard resonances and timbres I had never felt before. It was incredibly interesting to realize, 'Oh, so this is what this timbre is like,' or 'So this is what this music is like,' all over again.

It is incredibly important to be able to immerse yourself completely in something when you are enjoying it.

I was thinking about that the whole time I was listening to the performance. At the same time, seeing a professional performance right in front of me made me want to move someone else, too. It really gives you a lot of energy.

'Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'—I got goosebumps from the very first song

The program began with 'Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'.

The moment the performance started, I was startled. My body shivered, and I truly got goosebumps.

It was completely different from the way I usually listen to music automatically and out of habit. I was listening very actively, straining my ears so as not to miss a single sound. But that tension dissolved in an instant, and then my ears just naturally started picking up everything. I was drawn in with that kind of feeling.

And in my mind, scenes from Nausicaä began to emerge.

My favorite scene—though perhaps not many people bring it up—is the scene where Nausicaä and her group are taken hostage. Along the way, they are attacked by a boy named Asbel. It's not that Asbel is a bad guy, but he attacks them fiercely to take revenge on the Tolmekians.

In that chaos, the ship carrying the old men from the Valley of the Wind is in danger of crashing.

Nausicaä tries to persuade them, saying, 'If you throw away the cargo and lighten the load, it will be fine,' but everyone is in a panic, saying, 'We're done for.' That's when Nausicaä takes off her mask.

The world of Nausicaä is one where you cannot survive without a mask. It's hard to imagine how difficult it is to take off a mask in that environment.

The old men panic. 'Princess, stop!' 'What are you doing? Put your mask back on quickly!' Even so, she keeps telling them, 'If you throw away the cargo and lighten the load, I will definitely come back to save you.' They reply, 'All right, all right, we'll throw away the cargo or whatever, just put your mask back on!'—and after that, she gives a thumbs-up and banks away.

I really love that scene. I think it expresses Nausicaä's humanity incredibly well. She is kind-hearted and pure. I believe that scene really shows that.

I was re-experiencing that in my head while listening to the music. It's drawn out naturally once you enter the world of the music. Man, it's amazing, isn't it?

'Castle in the Sky' Carrying You—it sounds so much clearer without the vocals

Next was 'Carrying You' from Laputa.

When I listen to this song, that final scene where Laputa rises into the sky and up into space comes to mind. I even found myself wondering, 'Laputa, how far will it go?'

What was interesting was that when it's just an instrumental version of 'Carrying You' rather than the vocal version, the impression changes completely.

Until now, I had been distracted by the vocals. But listening to it as an instrumental, I could really focus on the tone. I felt anew, 'So this is what this song is like.'

I remember doing 'Carrying You' in elementary school music class. Back in the lower grades. Even though I felt like I had been exposed to it that much, hearing it at the concert made me realize, 'So this is what this tone is like.' It was very interesting.

Kiki's Delivery Service—Kiki's daily life delivered in a medley

After Laputa came Kiki's Delivery Service. Man, Kiki's Delivery Service is great, isn't it? I really love it.

This was a medley. It wasn't just one song, but several songs woven together. That medley was also wonderful, and that scene where Kiki is flying through the sky comes to mind.

Laputa and Nausicaä are more like adventure action films, aren't they? But Kiki's Delivery Service is different. It's a coming-of-age story that captures a specific moment in a girl's life.

The brilliance of the sea and the sense of expansion that hints at the future of the young witch, Kiki. And it's a very everyday kind of song. That's why I got a completely different impression. I can't explain it well, but regardless, it's a warm, pleasant tone that makes everyday life feel a bit more fun, and it brings scenes of Kiki to mind. I thought it was wonderful.

What surprised me most was that this work is from 1989. I wasn't even born yet, but it still lifts my spirits when I hear it now. I can't believe it's such an old work. Man, I thought, that's amazing.

A little bit about Joe Hisaishi here

Actually, the performer said something like this.

Joe Hisaishi originally studied classical music, and the pop music we are familiar with today has entered into that classical foundation. That fusion is what shapes Joe Hisaishi's music.

I certainly thought that was true.

Hisaishi's music is what you'd call orchestral. But while you can feel a certain classical atmosphere, it feels very natural to us and sinks in easily.

I think there are people who hear 'classical music' and think, 'It sounds difficult' or 'I didn't really get it.' I love classical music and listen to it often, but classical music and Hisaishi's music are similar yet somehow different. It is perfectly sufficient to accompany the visuals of Ghibli works and express that worldview. It matches very naturally.

I think that's because the pop elements are firmly integrated. That said, it's not casual music where pop is the main focus. There is a foundation of traditional classical music, and on that solid base, pop is expressed very freely.

I realized once again that that might be the appeal.

Princess Mononoke—The night I couldn't eat yakiniku

After Kiki's Delivery Service came Princess Mononoke.

Speaking of 'Princess Mononoke,' Akihiro Miwa, who played Moro, recently passed away. I find myself reflecting on the interactions with Moro, which feel so vivid now.

The piece performed was 'Princess Mononoke,' sung by Yoshikazu Mera. It really gave me chills.

I mean, Yoshikazu Mera is a man, right? And he hits those incredibly high notes, so I was always distracted by that, and I hadn't really listened to the song itself properly. Hearing it performed again, wow, it really hits home.

I truly love 'Princess Mononoke,' but at the same time, I remember it being genuinely terrifying back then.

The most painful part for me was the scene in the second half where the boars die. They charge in, only to find it's all a trap set by Lady Eboshi, and they are slaughtered. That scene is so sad and heartbreaking to me. It feels so raw.

What's more, I happened to be eating yakiniku at home while watching 'Princess Mononoke.' I think it was on Friday Road Show.

Then, it started to feel like the meat I was eating was the meat of the boars that humans had senselessly killed. I felt like I was doing something incredibly cruel by eating it. It was the exact same phenomenon as that common story where 'someone visits a meat processing plant and can no longer eat meat.'

I couldn't eat my meal. I remember not being able to eat meat at all for about half a year after that, and I lost a lot of weight. It was that impactful.

It's often said that 'Princess Mononoke' depicts the conflict between nature and humanity, but I think it takes the elements already present in 'Nausicaä' and pushes them further, focusing specifically on nature versus humanity.

And what's mysterious is that when I listen to the music, the visuals come to mind so vividly.

Ghibli music isn't just your typical anime background music. It is music that expresses a worldview. In other words, I think there's a part of Ghibli films that only exists because of Joe Hisaishi's music.

If you watched a Ghibli film without the music, you'd probably feel like something was missing. But it's not just a 'sense of discomfort because the music is gone,' it's the feeling that the work itself is only complete because of that music by Hisaishi.

That's why the moment I hear the music, the images come flooding back. And I feel like I'm right there. While listening to the 'Princess Mononoke' theme, I felt like Ashitaka, as if I were having a conversation with Moro.

Aside: About the VHS packaging

This is a bit of a tangent.

A long time ago, before DVDs, there really was an era of VHS. I used VHS until I was in the lower grades of elementary school, and since DVDs were already out by then, I used both together.

Anyway, the VHS packaging for 'Princess Mononoke' was a bit unique. It wasn't the typical plastic case; it was all green and dark green, with 'Princess Mononoke' written in the center. Usually, VHS cases have a latch in the middle that you snap shut, but this one wasn't like that; it was the type where the lid flips open like a book.

That left a huge impression on me.

The reason is, for some reason, we had two copies of the 'Princess Mononoke' VHS at home. I think one was mine and one was my younger brother's.

I was stingy as a child. I had a tendency not to let my brother touch my things, and I felt very strongly that 'my brother took my stuff.' There was probably also some sibling rivalry, feeling like my parents were giving more love to my brother. Like, 'This is my stuff.' Because I wouldn't let him watch 'Princess Mononoke,' I think my grandmother probably went out of her way to buy a copy for him.

I have those kinds of memories, so I remember it quite well.

Spirited Away: 'One Summer's Day'—it almost brought me to tears.

After Princess Mononoke, it was Spirited Away.

Spirited Away is also very meaningful to me. I mean, it was briefly surpassed by Demon Slayer, but it was the number one box office hit until then. That's an incredible record.

Among the songs from Spirited Away, my favorites are 'One Summer's Day' and the scene where she flies through the sky on Haku.

On the way back from Zeniba's, Chihiro rides on Haku's back and says, 'Your name is Nigihayami Kohaku Nushi.' That's the moving scene where Haku remembers his true name and transforms from a dragon back into a human.

In that world, having a name holds a very significant meaning. If Yubaba takes your name, you become bound by her magic. So, the fact that 'I reclaimed my name' directly signifies freedom. I think that's a very interesting structure.

And then, 'One Summer's Day'.

This is something I heard for the first time. I had always felt like 'One Summer's Day' was the theme song for Spirited Away. I thought it might have played as an insert song somewhere.

But actually, that wasn't the case. I learned for the first time at the concert that it was originally background music that had lyrics added to it later for release. I was so surprised. Even though I love Ghibli and have watched it over and over, I didn't know those fine details at all. I just had the vague feeling of, 'Oh, it was in the movie'.

When you really think about it, the theme song for Spirited Away is 'Always With Me'.

That's exactly why my heart tightened when I heard 'One Summer's Day' performed live.

The song title is also wonderful, isn't it? When I listen to it, I feel like I'm looking at my own life objectively, or rather, I get a sense of returning to the essential question of 'What is it that is truly important?'

It's not about thinking with your head, but feeling with your heart.

I know what is truly important, so why am I worrying about things like that? Why am I chasing after things like that? It's music that pulls you back to a very fundamental place indeed.

That's why the moment the performance started, I almost burst into tears. I was completely drawn in.

That's something that would never happen under normal circumstances; it's unique to a live performance. I could really feel the resonance of the sound.

'One Summer's Day' is a relatively quiet song in the movie, one that carries a sense of sorrow, loneliness, and nostalgia. When you hear it in an actual performance, while that aspect is definitely there, it also hits you with such power. Instead of just hearing it quietly, it feels like it washes over you.

It really moves you, or perhaps it quenches a thirst within you. It left me with a warm feeling of, 'I'm glad I'm alive.'

The Wind Rises—The story of me crying while frying food at a convenience store

After Spirited Away came The Wind Rises.

To be honest, I didn't really remember the music from The Wind Rises. I sort of remember that one theme song by Yumi Arai, but I was thinking, 'What was the incidental music again?'

But when I heard it—oh, I remember now. Yes, that's it. It came back to me in an instant.

I have the impression that in The Wind Rises, the music wasn't really at the forefront. I remember the sound of the airplanes very clearly, but the background music and the music itself didn't stick with me. That's why I couldn't recall it right away when asked. Even so, when I heard the music, it all came back to me: 'Right, right, this was the background music for The Wind Rises.'

The Wind Rises is also a film I love.

Although it's a war movie, it doesn't depict war scenes; it's a film that portrays a person as an airplane designer, and at the same time, it's a story about a romance with a wife he eventually loses.

I cried back then. I still remember it even now.

I first saw it when I was a university student, maybe in my first year. I was so moved that at my part-time job—I worked at a convenience store—I would cry every time I remembered it.

Customers would ask, 'Are you okay?' and I'd say, 'No, it's nothing.' It was really hard to come up with an excuse, but I just couldn't stop the tears.

I was useless at the register, so they told me, 'Go to the fryer,' and I ended up making fried food. I still remember that.

But that was dangerous. My tears would drip into the frying oil, and it would splatter. I'd say, 'Ouch,' and then start crying again. I really didn't know what I was doing back then.

That's how much The Wind Rises made me cry uncontrollably. In the end, I kept picturing my wife dying so lonely in my head, over and over. It was so heartbreaking and unrewarding. I remember crying the whole time.

Man, that brings back memories.

But when I said, 'I was crying my eyes out,' people around me didn't really empathize. I wonder why that is. I think it's a scene that naturally moves people.

Howl's Moving Castle: Merry-Go-Round of Life—Orchestra with four string instruments

And now, the final piece.

This is a song I truly love, and I think there are many people who would list it as their 'favorite song' among Joe Hisaishi's works.

'Merry-Go-Round of Life' from Howl's Moving Castle.

I love it so much that there's even this story. There is a Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture, and there is a merry-go-round inside it. When you ride that merry-go-round, 'Merry-Go-Round of Life' actually plays. And what's more, it's a recording that Joe Hisaishi re-recorded specifically for that merry-go-round. He went out of his way just for this ride.

That process is captured on DVD, so I hope you'll buy it and take a look.

Now, for the performance.

I think the original version of 'Merry-Go-Round of Life' uses a variety of instruments. I was honestly very nervous about how they would express that with just four string instruments.

Once it started—well, it was incredible.

It felt like I was listening to an orchestra, to the point where I wondered how they were managing that with only four string instruments. I was truly surprised. It was almost like, 'Wait, is this the original track itself?'

The music was wonderful, but I was really surprised by the tone. I kept thinking to myself, 'This is just like Merry-Go-Round of Life.' Honestly, that was interesting. It was amazing.

There is a phrase I love in 'Merry-Go-Round of Life' where it has that rhythmic 'jan-jan-jan-jan' part. They expressed that perfectly. I was just blown away. I had thought that part would be impossible to pull off.

I was moved, thinking, 'I didn't know a single instrument could produce such a variety of tones.'And I was reminded once again of the charm of string instruments. Oh man, I really loved it.

Encore 'Summer'—The feeling of being 'refreshed' in midsummer

Finally, the encore piece they performed was Joe Hisaishi's 'Summer'.

This song isn't from a Ghibli film, but I'm sure everyone has heard it somewhere before.

I love this song so much that there was a time I listened to it constantly. I actually started listening to Ryuichi Sakamoto's music after hearing Joe Hisaishi's 'Summer'.

I love it from the very first notes.

That sense of transparency matches the title 'Summer' perfectly. While summer has an image of being hot, it also has an image of a clear, refreshing blue sky. That balance of freshness and transparency is exquisite, and I love it so much.

Choosing this as the finale is truly a masterstroke.

Moreover, listening to that transparent piece in the middle of the sweltering summer heat—it didn't just 'heal' my heart, it felt like it 'refreshed' it.

When you're feeling passive or down about various things, it gives you so much energy. It brought out that feeling, and I felt incredibly invigorated.

I'm really glad I went. It was the best.

For those going in the future: About seats and photos

I want to say this loud and clear.

For this event in Shinagawa, the seats are divided into A, B, C, and D. I was in a D seat. That is the very back, the cheapest seat.

I think what everyone is probably worried about is, 'Won't the experience change significantly depending on the seat location?' but—rest assured.

First of all, you can see the whole stage clearly from any seat. The acoustics also fill the entire venue. It is definitely fine, no problem at all. I was in the front row of section D, and it was the best. Truly the best.

The second thing is photography.

From the time the doors open until the performance begins, you are free to take as many photos as you like. So, if you want to take photos from the front row, I think you should just snap away while you can at the beginning.

And actually, there is only one moment when you can take photos during the performance. That isonly during the encore song. The performers said at the end, 'You are welcome to take photos during this encore song,' so that was when I took mine.

So, in reality, I don't think there is a huge difference depending on the seat.

Of course, I think seeing it from the front is the ultimate experience. You are closer to the sound, and you can see the performers up close. Seeing that dynamism is truly the best.

As I said at the beginning, the instruments really move as if they are alive. Especially with the violin, it's held with the chin, so it shifts when they move. Even just moving the strings is incredibly difficult, yet it is so dynamic and lively. It must have truly become a part of their body.

You really can't appreciate the body movements and dynamism unless you see them directly. That is the privilege of the front row.

But even if the front isn't available, you can still see something wonderful from the back. So, if you haven't been, please do go. It really is a different experience.

One more interesting thing.

This is just my impression, but it felt like about half the audience was Japanese and half were from overseas.

Around me, the only Japanese person was the person next to me, and everyone else was speaking English. It felt a bit strange. It seemed like the people from overseas were quite surprised too, and I heard them saying in English, 'There aren't many Japanese people here.' I felt like saying, 'That's what I wanted to say!' (laughs).

In that sense, it was an interesting space where you could experience a sense of the extraordinary.

But at the same time, everyone gathered because they wanted to hear Joe Hisaishi's music, those songs, right?I really felt that Ghibli is truly global.

Summary: The things that stay with you from experiences that aren't easily accessible

The Candlelight Concert isn't just about the music of Joe Hisaishi. Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' was also introduced—and I love Vivaldi too—and they even played some recent pieces. You can enjoy a wide range of music, from classical to contemporary.

It nourishes the soul. I think that alone is reason enough, but I felt something more than that.

I think that when you have these kinds of good experiences regularly, your life becomes brighter, and you start to feel like, 'I want to do something myself' too.

Not just an easy form of entertainment, but actually going out, seeing, hearing, and experiencing it. I felt that by doing that, something significant is born within you.

I believe that's where you might discover new possibilities for yourself, what you are truly seeking, or what you want to do in the future.

If you haven't been yet, I would be delighted if you could pay a visit.

To those who read until the end, thank you so much. See you somewhere again.