[Review] Make 侍 Noise

Oh don’t rain! Summer summer paradise for you and me
Come on, wanna wanna hold you tight so look at me
Yeah, don’t be shy. What are you waiting for?
We’ve gotta have fun, more and more

Oh, don’t rain! Summer summer paradise for you and me
Come on, gonna gonna get you please be with me
Now and forever, let me give you all of my love
Here we go, let’s enjoy Summer Paradise!
-Lyrics from サマパララ

Ever since a friend balloted for me so I could see SixTONES’ Summer Paradise in 2018, I’ve attended this STARTO summertime staple concert. From SixTONES to Snow Man and Travis Japan, I’ve walked through the doors of Tokyo Dome City Hall and sat on every floor. Summer Paradise is one of my favorite concert series, and it’s a must for me every single year if a group I love is performing. After my friend hit for tickets for this year’s 7 MEN Samurai (7 MEN 侍) show, I was excited to see what my favorite Junior group could do with this stage.

Before I get into the actual show, I want to explain why I love Tokyo Dome City Hall (or TDC as called by fans) and Summer Paradise so much. Looking at pictures online, this venue looks particularly big. With four levels of seating, three balconies and an arena level, it’s quite impressive as a hall venue. But, despite the towering height, even from the top floor, it still feels very intimate. The performers can easily see each person who has come to watch them, and the potential for fan service is possible even from the highest floor.

Summer Paradise as a whole is a concert series that has always inspired joy whenever I go. Whether it’s the excitement from the performers or the audience, it’s hard not to be excited once you walk through the doors and head towards your seats. Not to mention the Summer Paradise staple song, called サマパララ (Summer Parara), is one that I look forward to every single year.

Having only been to one 7 MEN Samurai concert before in EX Theater Roppongi for Summer Station, I was highly anticipating what they would do on a bigger stage. Last year, I had highly enjoyed not only 7 MEN Samurai’s dancing but also their band performances and choice of songs for their setlist. I wasn’t sure how they would be able to top my initial concert.

To say they opened their concert with a bang would be an understatement. Siren (サイレン) is one of 7 MEN Samurai’s original songs and, with their pearly gold outfits and megaphones, made an impact by starting on the moving stage and being pushed out close to the audience. It was the perfect ‘Welcome to our show’ statement the group could have made before going into two high energy dance numbers in Snow Man’s Grandeur and SixTONES’ Outrageous, to show off their dancing skills.

Last year, 7 MEN Samurai had introduced an original band song called Banana which made a return in this year’s summer concert but with a wonderful little twist. Now transformed into B4N4N4, this rock song now had lyrics that had the audience participating in a small call and response that really injected energy into the whole hall. The show moved swiftly into a cover of Kis-My-Ft2’s I Scream Night that mixed performance with fan service to fans throughout the venue.

7 MEN Samurai chose to include solos throughout the show, and, after I Scream Night, we get the first three solos of the night.

Konno “Konpi” Taiki performed BUTTERFLY by KAT-TUN, and this was a particularly strong performance by Konpi. In previous years and summer concert digests, I’ve felt as if Konpi’s performing skills have been a little shy, as if he’s trying to hide behind his guitar so the audience can’t see him. As the years have progressed, Konpi’s performing abilities have gotten stronger and stronger. This year I felt as if he wasn’t hiding behind his guitar and made wonderful eye contact with the audience as he performed.

The next solo was Electric Flow created entirely by Motodaka Katsuki. I do adore Katsuki, and he has performed some amazing solos, but I sadly think this was one of his weaker performances. In the first show I attended, it didn’t look as if Katsuki was singing or lip syncing to his lyrics which was a little disheartening. The second performance I attended was a lot better in terms of dance and singing thankfully, and I think the first time I went was just an off day for Katsuki. I do think the special effects and outfits were a lot of fun for it and enjoyed it by my last show.

The last in this trio of solos was Sugeta Rinne’s cover of, in my mind, a STARTO classic. Candy ~Can U be my BABY~ by Sexy Zone’s Nakajima Kento is a song that can get anyone moving and dancing. The call and response portion of the song is perfect for a summer concert, and it’s hard to not dance along with Rinne as he performs. Not to mention the added acrobatics make this a fun little moment in the concert, and I think Rinne did this song justice as the other members of 7 MEN Samurai supported him with jumbo uchiwa.

7 MEN Samurai quickly slid into a fun and upbeat performance of Summer Parara before member Yabana “Bana” Rei slid off stage to get his guitar for a fun performance of King&Prince’s Beating Hearts. The highlight of this performance was easily Bana’s faces as the members sang their solo lines while interacting with him. The pure expressive nature of Bana’s face made this an incredible performance to watch, and I looked forward each show to see what the members would do to him.

Suddenly the members conduct a little skit for the audience. From suddenly having violins to spoofing various STARTO classic stage plays, 7 MEN Samurai have a small comedic moment before performing Sexy Zone’s ゼンゼンカンケイナイ (Zenzen Kankeinai). The members leap into the audience, giving high fives and fan service to fans before returning to the main stage for their MC.

With covid restrictions gone, I do think 7 MEN Samurai have one of the most unique MCs that I’ve ever experienced. Perhaps due to the size of the venue, but the group members had an open dialogue with their fans which was refreshing to listen to. They would ask their fans questions or even accept questions from them.

Personally, I’ve been to a concert where fans were yelling and screaming over the group members talking, and it was an infuriating experience to say the least. But the way that 7 MEN Samurai asked their fans to repeat things and the fans listened? It was oddly beautiful to behold. It was a wonderful show of mutual respect for artist and fans to have, and I felt honored to be at that show. In the second show I attended, it was more like a traditional MC with the added delight of 7 MEN Samurai talking to their guest at the show, and it was still fun to listen to them.

After the MC, 7 MEN Samurai went into their gatcha song, one of three random songs that fans could possibly hear. At both shows I attended, they did a beautiful cover of ARASHI’s Bittersweet before moving into a touching cover of Luv Bias by Kis-My-Ft2, Katsuki playing the piano during the song.

As the stage went dark, the concert slid into a bit of chaos. Bana was missing on stage! He had apparently slipped off to go to the bathroom during the show, and the other members were less than thrilled. The audience listened as Bana made it to the bathroom but, to his complete and utter horror, there wasn’t any toilet paper! Oh no!

With the rap skills to be in Hypnosis Microphone, a popular rap series, Bana opened his performance of SMAP’s Toilet Paper Man before the lights came up to reveal him sitting on a squatty potty. This performance was less about vocal talent and more about letting Bana come into the crowd, also on tiny toilets, clutching a toilet paper decorated microphone and interacting with fans. It was so much fun seeing what he would do every show.

The mood of the hall changed drastically as Sasaki Taiko came onto the stage doing a fantastic cover of SixTONES’ STAMP IT. If I’m completely honest, I could have watched this performance fifty times in a row and never got bored. Taiko has incredible vocal talent on top of some of the best dance skills in STARTO. He truly knows how to choose songs that show off his performing abilities, and this was hands down my favorite solo performance of the entire show.

The last solo performance of the concert was Nakamura Reia’s cover of a classic ARASHI (嵐) song, One Love. Standing on a bed of flowers and vines on the moving stage, Reia’s voice carries so much love and emotion as the stage rolls out into the audience, bringing him closer to the fans in the balcony seats. It is a stunning performance that shows off how much Reia has improved vocally in the last few years, proving himself as the perfect center for the group.

As a small mini corner, and while the staff set up for the next portion of the concert on the main stage, we enter a little “duet corner” where we can see the various talents of 7 MEN Samurai as music bumps in the speakers. Bana comes out and plays the bass as Katsuki shows off his top notch rap skills. Taiko dances barefoot across the stage, interacting with an intricately set up table, as Konpi croons from the upper part of the main stage. Then Rinne shows off his acrobatic skills as Reia skateboards across the stage. All before the boys come together for a final small dance number as JAPONICA STYLE by SixTONES begins.

JAPONICA STYLE is, possibly, one of the most recognizable SixTONES songs. In my personal opinion, it is difficult to top the original performance. From the choreography to the soaring vocal lines performed by SixTONES’ members Kyomoto Taiga and Jesse, it’s hard to imagine anyone else being able to come close to what the original group does.

That being said, I do think 7 MEN Samurai comes close to matching that same level of wonder with their performance. It’s an excellent cover with Konpi’s voice soaring high to cover those difficult to hit notes, the dancing is fun and lively, and 7 MEN Samurai look as if they are having the time of their lives on stage. They’ve injected themselves as a group into the song and made it something so incredible to watch.

A small break with music follows before 7 MEN Samurai appear like magic in the crowd, performing the high energy song CALL, originally performed in stage play DREAM BOYS by former Junior group Love-Tune. They quickly race back to the stage to grab their instruments and turn this performance into a band version. With Taiko’s drums set on the moving stage, 7 MEN Samurai is able to get close to their fans as they wrap up the number and move into a fun cover of SAMURAI by former STARTO duo Tackey and Tsubasa (タッキー＆翼) as they return to the main stage for the last few songs.

To wrap up the concert, 7 MEN Samurai perform their band original songs: Samudama (サムダマ) and Shout (シャウト). Both are incredible rock songs that show off the group’s band capabilities before they leave the stage, the concert completed.

But of course, no STARTO concert is complete without and encore. After the fans have called out for their idols to return, the screens on the main stage light up and announce 7 MEN Samurai finally have a new song: Hot Night, which was produced by Sexy Zone’s own Kikuchi Fuma.

To describe this song as simply as I could, I would say it sounds exactly like a Fuma solo. It’s absolutely fun to listen to, and the kind of song fans would want to dance along with. The choreography is incredible and, paired with 7 MEN Samurai’s new red outfits, it makes for a very vibrant performance on stage. It’s the perfect addition to this dance and band image the group is building for themselves.

The very last song of the show is Sayonara Matane Mou Chotto (さよならまたねもうちょっと), the last 7 MEN Samurai original song. The song and performance are cute, giving 7 MEN Samurai one last chance to give fan service and love to the attending fans, before closing out their concert. With one last greeting and wave to their fans, they disappear back stage before Taiko and the fans close out the show together.

Overall, 7 MEN Samurai continue to share the joy that I’ve come to expect from Summer Paradise. From the staging to the setlist to every moment in between, 7 MEN Samurai are a group that continues to grow and improve with every tour and every single performance. I’m excited to see what lies ahead in their future, and I hope to see them achieve their debut in the future.

Check out 7 MEN Samurai’s performances of Samudama and Siren from Countdown 2022-2023 below!