Actually the game had begun since I got the information that Dogstar would play at Tivoli park.I called Tivoli Park Information after the schedule was opened in the end of August.

Miho:"I heard that Keanu Reeves's Dogstar will play at Tivoli Park.Is that right?"

Tivoli Information "Yes. of course.You will enjoy their concert."

Miho:"I attended at some Dogstar shows.I often saw many women rushing toward Keanu Reeves. I guess so many people will make a line to join their show.Don't you visualize that such a terrible accidents like as an accident at Akashi big bridge last year will happen the day?Do you take some counters to keep artists and visitors safe? For example. giving out reference numbered tickets or disposing securities"

(*An accident at Akashi big bridge:Last August. at Fireworks festival at Akashi bridge hundreds of people fell down like ninepins on the bridge and 11 elementary school children died then.)

Tivoli Information "Now we don't know about their detail schedule." (Though they had already published the advertisement that told )

Miho:"That sounds strange.You(Tivoli Park) should take the responsibility for safety of artists and audience. right?

Tivoli Information:(Silence)

Miho:"I would like to go to Tivoli Park from Osaka.Where can I get the tickets?"

Tivoli Information:"You can get it at the convenience stores."

Miho:"Where? Please give me examples."

Tivoli Information;"Every convenience stores where MACHINES are set... ( She would like to talk about "ticket vending machines". but some of convenience stores deal in different kind of ticket from the other.)

Miho:"Lawson. Familymart? please tell me which promoters or convenience store deal in your ticket. for example PIA. something like that." (PIA is the most famous ticket sales company in Japan. Lawson. Familymart are very popular. too.)

Tivoli Information;"I don't know (with emotional voice). I will put you through to our sales dept...."

Miho:"No. Thanks.I can't get more detail information about purchasing ticket here. right?"

Tivoli Information "That's right." (with keen voice)

1. No employee manual or No education:The women talking to me was not educated as one of TIVOLI employee that should take responsibilities.
2. No experience?:They have never chances of welcoming big guest. (After their show. I heard that Dogstar was the biggest guest since our emperor came to Tivoli Park.
3. No marketing?: They don't realized what their guests are. They don't know how to invite to their park.

My proposal is here. (I have never been to Tivoli park and I have no experiences to manage big events. but...)

1. Issuing reference numbered tickets to made a correct lines.
2. Removing small benches in the venue and put iron and putting heavy fences between the stage and the audience.
3. Separating the standing area into at least 2 blocks.
4. Placing security guards every 7 meters.
5. Setting up kids area.
6. Giving ticket guidance correctly for guests waiting before the ticket office opens.

On 14th Oct. I came to the park at 7:50.Over 70 people made a line in front of the gate(Refer to the above photo) as I expected. I was so interested in when the people began to make a line. so I tried to ask them what time did they come. Then the couples(perhaps) at the head of line slept well. so I asked 2 girls at 8 th in the line.

Miho:"Excuse me. but I would like to know what time you came."

One of them:"We came at 1:00 in the midnight"

Miho:"Are you OK? and do you know when the people at the haed of this line came?"

Another guy:"At 8:00 P.M.They said"

Miho:"Oh! They are so devoted fans!"

Miho:"Hi! What time did you came here?"

2 girls answered at the same time:"At 5 o'clock this morning"

Miho:"I wonder if your mother allowed you to come here in such a early morning"

2 girls :"Our mother will come soon. and make a line with us"

Miho with grinning(^^):"I know...Thanks!!"

In spite of many requests. they sticked to their principle(I don't know that...(^^;)). so they did not issue numbered tickets.In stead of it. They shut us up into the corner of the park. Please see the photos. WE ARE THE DOGSTAR REFUGEES!! Actually many visitors were not satisfied with their counters.No one compalined about that. but some of them gave up attending at the concert. because We were exposed to the scorching sun for a whole hour. and they were so tired and felt bad. We got allowed to leave the block for only one hour.But I have left for some hours.but I did not use my money in the park except entrance fee 2000 yen. If they had issued numbered ticket and set free their prisoners. they would have earned money so much. I guess.(LOL)

Yes! See the photo. They did them perfectly. and don't you think the venue is pretty? But we were too far from the band...(^^;But I didn't care.

From 10:00 till 16:00 we walked around at Tivoli Park and get out of Tivoli Park to go to the Kurashiki city. Our guys arrived there at around 1 o'clock. I think.They were rehersing for a few hours. but Tivoli park put the fences on the stage to hide our guys. We could see only Rob's eyes and forehead. But we tried to wave to our drummer. though we wondered if Rob would realize us. To our surprise. he found us and waved back and said "Hi" over the microphone. Thanks Rob. It's so sweet of yoooou!! And an hours later. the park flowed with someone's singing voice. The voice was Bret's! He occupied a microphone by himself and sang E.Crapton's "Cocaine" (I heard from my friends, I wonder it's correct?)!"Never leave me...". He seemed to be relaxed so much and his voice was so sweet and soulful.

And It was surprise and we enjoyed his singing so much. Unfortunately we could not see our bass player except only his new boots. I wonder what happened to his old  boots.

Dogstar's staff walked around in the park. we often ran into them.

At 6 o'clock the staff began to guide us into the venue. Bremen Square.Then barricades had been removed so we could see the whole stage.

Watch out!
Ayumi's babe was still alive on Keanu's amplifier (LOL).

Now at 7 o'clock in the evening . We entered the standing area.Because only one microphone set on the left. so almost people at the head of the line rushed into the left. our vocal's side. So for the first time I was on the right of the standing show. since 1998.

(((Hey!! Sir!!)))
Long time no seeing our bass player from the right side!!

Since Tivoli park opened. the area has never been full of people. But then over 7000 people were there and some hundreds of people were in front of the monitor. I heard.

The show began at 30 minutes past 7 o'clock. I heard they got interviewed by local Japan TV so they arrived at the venue too late. Our guys showed up on the stage from the right side.

Our bass player said "Konbanwa!!"(Good evening in Japanese). when he passed in front of the microphone.

Great cheers arose. Now Dogstar show has begun.

Their set list is here. It was almost same as Osaka show.

1. Alarming
2. Slipping Down
3. Halo
4. Enemies
5. Corner store
6. Superstar
7. Your World
8. Return
9. Flowers
10. A Dream Time
11. Swim
12. I Confess
13. Goodbye
14. Blown Away
    (at encore)
15. 32 Stories
16. America
17. Blessed !
18. Denial

Bret wore a T shirt and a blue jean pant and our drummer wore a white shirt like as office man wears and a sweat pant. Keanu wore a brown jacket and his famous "Pink Ribbon" T shirt and a blue jean pant and put beanie on his head.

Bret said "I got new guitar!!" happily. Really Bret was excited by playing his new guitar. Especially playing guitar solo part of "A dream time" and "swim". it's my favorite part in their show. He played the part with Keanu so excitingly that he could not go back to his microphone in his singing part. Then he seemed to be a little funny. but so sweet.

Our drummer Rob had no problem in his drum set. of course his playing. I could not see him so much. but his drums made us clapping and dancing.

That night Keanu played his bass guitar so rhythmically and powerfully. My most favorite bass sound in 2002 Asian tour was at the Tivoli. I think he was so excited in playing his bass then. After "A dream time" and "swim". He went to the left and said "Rock going on!!" over the microphone


Actually almost people around me seemed to be a little tired. but they got encouraged by his words. After Bret's  solo, our bass player said "Thanks you for coming here". And instead of "Domo Arigato" (Thanks in Japanese) he said "Genki?" (How are you doing?).I wondered if he knew the audience was so tired and he was joking to make us encouraged.
His words worked. As someone posted on the Dogstar Message Board,last year, it's usual greeting between close friends. And I think it may be easier to say "Gen-ki ?" than "Kon-ni-chi-wa".If you have a Japanese friend,you will try to say "Gen ki?"(LOL)

Now we are planning to change our reply to their "Genki" next time(LOL).

Then I wished that such a fabulous show would have never ended. But at last Bret said "See you next year!!"

"Next year" You mean that Dogstar will come in 2003?

It's too great and crazy (sorry...^^;) news to believe that.
But I can't wait your next songs and shows!

Our festival was over. Dogstar guys ,your show made us recover from our fatigue and purified our conflicts with Tivoli park and fascinated over 7000 people with your fabulous music. The moon was shining brightly on the earth and the air was serene.