Dreams do come true!

As a long-term anime watcher, it's fair to say that I am familiar with the works of Hiroyuki Sawano. He is the mind behind many anime soundtracks and has also created some amazing solo projects. My nights, when I'm not watching anime, were often accompanied by the sounds of his music while I sewed or crafted my costumes. I frequently searched for the titles he had been hired to compose on, hoping to discover new tunes and potentially find a new anime to watch.

There's something about his music that truly resonates with me. I love the way he brings an anime world to life through sound. From his synth-heavy compositions for "Aldnoah Zero," a space epic filled with mech battles, to the lush string and choral arrangements in the iconic "Attack on Titan," and his emotionally charged cello pieces that break hearts in "Guilty Crown" and "86," each work connects with me on a deep level. It doesn’t matter which show it is; what matters is how his music helps me get through monotonous days at work or long hours spent sewing.

I grew up listening to his music, and his soundtracks played a significant role in shaping my anime journey. I have always dreamed of experiencing his music performed live; however, I knew it was unlikely to happen, as he rarely travelled outside of Japan, let alone to Europe.

Nearly ten months ago, during my JET interview, I was asked what I love about Japanese culture. A younger, hopeful Becca replied that I adore the folklore, the rich history, Japanese music, and Hiroyuki Sawano. I expressed my desire to see him perform live and to experience living in the country that inspired his work. It is fair to say that most people I have excitedly mentioned his name to do not recognise him. A few of my students have heard of him, but it is uncommon to find more than one person in a class who is familiar with the name.

I had an exciting conversation with an ALT about my love for Sawano, and they mentioned, "Did you know he's playing in Yokohama this May?" Suddenly, I felt a wave of doubt about whether I would even have the chance to buy tickets, let alone actually secure them. You see, buying tickets for music events in Japan is quite different from what most of us are used to. Generally, being online at the exact moment ticket sales begin doesn’t always guarantee that you’ll get tickets. However, if you’re lucky, you might still be able to purchase them.

In Japan, all music events are conducted through a lottery system. This means you must enter a lottery to have a chance to purchase tickets for the event afterwards. While this approach is different, I see its advantages. It can be challenging to be online exactly when ticket sales go live due to work commitments and time zone differences. The lottery system makes it fairer for everyone.

I teamed up with a friend, and we entered the lottery together while continuing our lives as English teachers. A few weeks later, we received the emails confirming that we had both won the opportunity to buy tickets for Hiroyuki Sawano’s concert. My dreams were coming true; I was confirmed for Yokohama's 10th Anniversary concert featuring Hiroyuki Sawano!!

Months rolled by, and finally, we reached May. The flight departed for Tokyo a few days before my concert, and I saw this as another opportunity to check off some items from my Tokyo list. I finally climbed the Skytree and enjoyed the breathtaking nightscape of Tokyo, stretching as far as the eye could see.

I had a great time in Yokohama, where I made my own personal cup noodle, which I have yet to eat. I explored the largest Chinatown in Japan and had fun in Kamakura, Tokyo's seaside paradise, which was just as crowded as my JTEs had told me it would be. I indulged in more cookies from Ben's Cookies and finally visited a planetarium, where I was thrilled to hear my other idol, Kenjiro Tsuda, narrate a star walk in Italy. As amazing as this trip was, it was my walk to the cup noodle factory that reminded me of my purpose in Yokohama. I caught the last few bars of music that sounded like something from "Solo Levelling." I had been walking past the venue at the time and overheard the end of their rehearsals. To say I was getting excited would be an understatement.

My first concert in Japan is an experience I will never forget. Upon entering the venue, the music of Sawano was playing, creating the perfect atmosphere. I noticed a designated area for fans to leave gifts and messages for the artist, as well as a section selling merchandise. The only item available at the entrance was the concert program, which has now become a cherished part of my collection.

The night was incredible! I can hardly express how amazing it felt to hear the music I know so well performed live and to see Sawano himself, joking about the weather. It felt surreal. I never thought this moment would be possible, but there I was, singing along to all my favorite songs and thrilled with the setlist he played. My view of the stage was great, and I truly enjoyed the lively vibe of the crowd.

It was a dream come true to be sitting in that concert hall that night. There have been many ups and downs since arriving in Japan, but seeing Sawano in person and experiencing his music live was one of the highest points. He announced another performance, and I hope to have the opportunity to buy tickets again. To all my readers, I highly recommend checking out the music of Hiroyuki Sawano. I look forward to more adventures that Japan has to offer me.