I became an anime fan in 1978. The years since have brought some great anime-related experiences that have kept me a fan...but things took a white-hot turn in December 2003, when I attended an Anime Japan Fes anime song concert featuring Isao Sasaki, Ichirou Mizuki, Mitsuko Horie, Hironobu Kageyama and Charlie Kosei--and discovered that for me as an anime fan, there's just plain nothing as great as getting to hear the original singers perform anime songs, while being part of a crowd of fellow fans, calling out encouragement and singing along with songs long seared into our psyches!

I've grabbed every chance I can to go to anime song concerts ever since--living a two-hour train ride from Tokyo and overnight bus ride away from Osaka helps!--and hope this information site on "anison" (Japanese shorthand slang for "anime song") concerts, performers, and their CD and DVD recordings might be useful for fellow old-school anime fans. (Plus, writing it down helps me remember the details...it's a bitch to get old...! ;^) )

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Ready to attend an anison live event? These will help you be prepared:

• GUIDE TO ANISON PERFORMERS (with bios, anison lists, and links to their official sites)

• ACCURATE ANISON LYRICS (with notations about the parts the audience performs!)

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• 5/05/2008: "SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2008 'Osaka Haru No Jin'" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Mitsuko Horie, Hironobu Kageyama, MIQ, Hiroko Moriguchi, Mami Ayukawa, Chihiro Yonekura, Yoshiki Fukuyama, Masaaki Endou, and others, with special guest Hidemi Miura (Namba Hatch, Namba, Osaka; 1F standing 5500 yen, 2F seats 6000 yen; 2F seats on sale 1/28 only through Birthday Club; 1F standing tickets on sale 1/29-2/01 through Birthday Club and starting 2/09 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 5/06/2008: "ICHIROU MIZUKI / MITSUKO HORIE - FUTARI NO ANISON #5" featuring Ichirou Mizuki and Mitsuko Horie (Osaka Shinsaibashi Big Cat, Shinsaibashi, Osaka; all seats 5800 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale 2/12 only through Birthday Club)

• 5/06/2008: "ANIPARA ONGAKUKAN EXTREME LIVE 2008" featuring Hironobu Kageyama, Masaaki Endou, Psychic Lover, and Tomoe Ohmi, with guests Masami Okui, Hiroshi Kitadani, Mikuni Shimokawa, Nanakana, Takayuki Miyauchi, and JAM Project (Shibuya O-East, Shibuya, Tokyo; tickets (standing) 6000 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale starting 4/12 through Ticket Port)

• 6/15/2008: "ANISON BIG 3 CONCERT 2008" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Mitsuko Horie, and Hironobu Kageyama (Lovely Hall, Kawachinagano, Osaka; all seats 3500 yen in advance or 4000 yen at the door; tickets on sale now through Lovely Hall, Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 7/13/2008: "ANISON BIG 3 SUPER LIVE in Mesena" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Mitsuko Horie, and Hironobu Kageyama (Mesena Hall, Suzaka, Nagano; tickets 4500 yen, child 3000 yen; tickets on sale 5/16 through Mesena Hall Tomo And Kai and starting 5/17 through Event Nagano and Playguide)

• 7/21/2008: "AZUMI INOUE FAMILY CONCERT" featuring Azumi Inoue (Raisin Hall, Shiojiri, Nagano; tickets 2000 yen, child 500 yen; tickets on sale starting 4/20 through Event Nagano)

• 8/15/2008: "ANIME JAPAN FES 2008 Anison Joushibu 'Natsu Matsuri' 2008" featuring Mitsuko Horie and others to be announced (Zepp Tokyo, Aomi, Tokyo; reserved seats 6000 yen plus one 500-yen drink, unreserved seats 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink; reserved seats on sale 5/23 only through Birthday Song, unreserved seats on sale 5/28-6/03 through Anime Japan Fes and starting 6/14 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 8/16/2008: "ANIME JAPAN FES 2008 Super Hero Spirits 'Natsu No Jin'" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Akira Kushida, MoJo, Takayuki Miyauchi, Psychic Lover, Takayoshi Tanimoto, Sister MAYO, Hideyuki Takahashi, and others (Zepp Tokyo, Aomi, Tokyo; tickets (standing) 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale 5/28-6/03 through Anime Japan Fes and starting 6/14 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 8/16/2008: "ANIME JAPAN FES 2008 Yukaina Nakama-tachi 2008" featuring Hironobu Kageyama, Masaaki Endou, and Hiroshi Kitadani, with guests to be announced (Zepp Tokyo, Aomi, Tokyo; no minors allowed; unreserved seats 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale 5/28-6/03 through Anime Japan Fes and starting 6/14 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 8/17/2008: "ANIME JAPAN FES 2008 Super Anison Spirits 'Natsu No Jin'" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Akira Kushida, Takayuki Miyauchi, Ken Narita, Miho Morikawa, Yuri Shimazaki, Yougo Kouno, Akira Asakura, and others, with special guest Isao Sasaki (Zepp Tokyo, Aomi, Tokyo; tickets (standing) 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale 5/28-6/03 through Anime Japan Fes and starting 6/14 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 8/30/2008: "ANIME JAPAN FES 2008 'Nagoya Natsu No Jin'" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Mitsuko Horie, Akira Kushida, MoJo, Takayuki Miyauchi, Yuri Shimazaki, Hideyuki Takahashi, and others, with special guest Isao Sasaki (Zepp Nagoya, Nagoya; tickets (standing) 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale 5/28-6/03 through Anime Japan Fes and starting 6/14 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 8/30-31/2008: "ANIMELO SUMMER LIVE 2008 -CHALLENGE-" featuring ALI PROJECT, Chiaki Ishikawa, GRANRODEO, Minami Kuribayashi, Kurobara Hozonkai, Psychic Lover, savage genius, JAM Project, Yukari Tamura, Minori Chihara, Domestic Love Band (angela), Aya Hirano, Nana Mizuki, and Halko Momoi (Saitama Super Arena, Saitama City, Saitama; tickets 7500 yen; tickets on sale 4/14-4/28 through Animelo, and starting 6/21 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, CN Playguide, E-Plus, and Ticket Port)

• 8/31/2008: "ANIME JAPAN FES 2008 'Osaka Natsu No Jin'" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Mitsuko Horie, Akira Kushida, Charlie Kose, Miho Morikawa, Yuri Shimazaki, Hideyuki Takahashi, Akira Asakura, and others, with special guest Isao Sasaki (Namba Hatch, Namba, Osaka; tickets (standing) 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale 5/28-6/03 through Anime Japan Fes and starting 6/14 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

ANISON PERFORMERS' CONCERTS (MAY INCLUDE ANIME SONGS)

• 5/15/2008: "UTA MATSURI 3 ~MASAAKI ENDOU NO MAKI~" featuring Masaaki Endou (Shinjuku Naked Loft, Shinjuku, Tokyo; tickets 2000 yen in advance or 2500 yen at the door, plus one drink; advance tickets are sold out)

• 5/24/2008: "MOJO ZONE SEASON 7" featuring MoJo (Live House Lantern, Shibuya, Tokyo; all seats 4000 yen in advance, plus one drink; online reservations starting 4/20 through MoJo Web)

• 6/07/2008: "CHIHIRO YONEKURA LIVE TOUR 2008 "Be Ambitious!"" featuring Chihiro Yonekura (Nagoya E.L.L., Nagoya; tickets (standing) 4800 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale now through Ticket Pia and Lawson Ticket)

• 6/07/2008: "HIRONOBU KAGEYAMA 2008 SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR TOUR" featuring Hironobu Kageyama (Kenny's Cafe, Isesaki, Gunma; tickets 4000 yen plus one drink; tickets on sale now through Kenny's Cafe

• 6/08/2008: "CHIHIRO YONEKURA LIVE TOUR 2008 "Be Ambitious!"" featuring Chihiro Yonekura (Osaka MUSE, Osaka; tickets (standing) 4800 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale now through Ticket Pia and Lawson Ticket)

• 6/08/2008: "HIRONOBU KAGEYAMA 2008 SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR TOUR" featuring Hironobu Kageyama (Niigata GioiaMia, Niigata City, Niigata; tickets 4000 yen plus one drink; tickets on sale now through Niigata GioiaMia

• 6/14/2008: "CHIHIRO YONEKURA LIVE TOUR 2008 "Be Ambitious!"" featuring Chihiro Yonekura (Shibuya O-West, Shibuya, Tokyo; tickets (standing) 4800 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale now through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, CN Playguide, and E-Plus)

• 6/14/2008: "HIRONOBU KAGEYAMA 2008 SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR TOUR" featuring Hironobu Kageyama (Beverly Hills, Nara City, Nara; tickets 4000 yen plus one drink; tickets on sale now through Beverly Hills

• 6/21-22/2008: "TAKAYUKI MIYAUCHI FIGHTING SONG TOUR! in HAMAMATSU Debut 30th Anniversary Event" featuring Takayuki Miyauchi (sites throughout Hamamatsu, Shizuoka; all seats 30,000 yen including hotel and bus from Tokyo or Osaka; tickets on sale starting 3/03 through www.t-miyauchi.com)

• 7/21/2008: "ICHIROU MIZUKI DEBUT 40TH ANNIVERSARY LIVE ~TAO~" featuring Ichirou Mizuki (Shibuya O-East, Shibuya, Tokyo; reserved seats 6000 yen plus one 500-yen drink, standing 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink; reserved seats on sale 4/07 only through Birthday Song, standing tickets on sale 4/08-4/11 through Birthday Club and starting 4/26 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 8/28/2008: "MASAAKI ENDOU BIRTHDAY LIVE 2008" featuring Masaaki Endou (Tokyo Shibuya Eggman, Shibuya, Tokyo; tickets 4000 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale starting 6/28 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and Eggman)

• 9/28/2008: "CHARITY CONCERT YUME" featuring Manga Trio (Hironobu Kageyama, Masaaki Endou, and Hiroshi Kitadani) and Keiichirou Mori (Mori No Hall 21, Matsudo, Chiba; adult 2800 yen, child 2000 yen, parent-and-child pair 4500 yen; tickets on sale 6/02-6/30 through Charity Concert Yume Jikkou Iinkai)

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• 1/30/2008: "Psychic Lover LIVE 2007 Shibuya-Mutation" DVD Columbia Music Entertainment COBC-4704; 5040 yen

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• -none currently-

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• A/V RELEASES BEFORE 1997
• 1997 CD RELEASES
• 1998 CD & VHS RELEASES
• 1999 CD & DVD RELEASES
• 2000 CD & DVD RELEASES
• 2001 CD & DVD RELEASES
• 2002 CD & DVD RELEASES
• 2003 CD & DVD RELEASES
• 2004 CD & DVD RELEASES
• 2005 CD & DVD RELEASES
• None in 2006

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• ANIME JAPAN FES 2003-2004 Super Anison Spirits "Fuyu No Jin" (12/28/2003, Shibuya O-East)
• SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2004 "Haru No Jin" (4/29/2004, Zepp Tokyo, and 5/04/2004, Namba Hatch)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2004 Super Anison Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/15/2004, Shibuya O-East)
• SUPER SENTAI "SPIRITS" 2004 (11/21/2004, Shibuya O-East)
• 30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE "UCHUU SENKAN YAMATO CD-BOX" Hatsubai Kinen (12/12/2004, Ishimaru Denki SOFT2, Akihabara)
• ANITAMA LIVE at EAST Vol. 2 (12/12/2004, Shibuya O-East)
• BEST OF ANIKING (1/08/2005, Shibuya O-West)
• ANIME DE SUKUOU! Niigata Earthquake Charity Concert (1/20/2005, Shibuya-AX)
• KIMI MO SOLO DE UTAU-ZO! 9 (3/05-06/2005, Hideaway, Nishi Shinjuku)
• SUPER SENTAI "SPIRITS" LIVE 2004 DVD Hatsubai Kinen (4/16/2005, Ishimaru Denki SOFT1, Akihabara)
• ANIME SHUDAIKA DAIZENSHUU (4/27/2005, NHK Hall, Shibuya)
• SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2005 "Haru No Jin" (4/29/2005, Zepp Tokyo)
• 24-HOUR ANISON 1,000-SONG NONSTOP MEDLEY (7/30-31/2005, Loft Plus One, Shinjuku)
• KIMI MO SOLO DE UTAU-ZO! 10 (8/06-07/2005, Hideaway, Nishi Shinjuku)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2005 Super Hero Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/13/2005, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2005 Super Anison Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/14/2005, Zepp Tokyo)
• ISAO SASAKI DEBUT 45TH ANNIVERSARY MINI LIVE (11/03/2005, Ishimaru Denki SOFT2, Akihabara)
• KIMI MO SOLO DE UTAU-ZO! 11 (11/26-27/2005, Hideaway, Nishi Shinjuku)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2006 Super Anison Spirits "The Shinnenkai!" (1/07/2006, Shibuya O-East)
• HERO MONOGATARI - MIRAI NI MUKETE - DAI 1 WA (2/11/2006, Kyurian Hall, Shinagawa)
• ANIME SHUDAIKA DAIZENSHUU (4/13/2006, NHK Hall, Shibuya)
• SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2006 "Haru No Jin" I (4/29/2006, Zepp Tokyo)
• SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2006 "Haru No Jin" II: Gundam (4/30/2006, Zepp Tokyo)
• KIMI MO SOLO DE UTAU-ZO! Bangaihen and SHAFT Debut Concert (6/18/2006, Nishikasai Phoenix, Nishikasai)
• KIMI MO SOLO DE UTAU-ZO! 13 (7/22-23/2006, Hideaway, Nishi Shinjuku)
• ANISON CARNIVAL IN UENO (7/28/2006, Suijou Ongakudou, Ueno)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2006 Super Hero Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/12/2006, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2006 Super Anison Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/13/2006, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2006 "Osaka Natsu No Jin" (8/20/2006, Namba Hatch)
• PSYCHIC LOVER LIVE (8/27/2006, Astro Hall, Harajuku)
• 24-HOUR NONSTOP ANISON 1,000-SONG MEDLEY 2006 (9/01-02/2006, Shinjuku Loft and Loft Plus One, Shinjuku)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA LIVE AT SHOTARO ISHINOMORI MANGATTAN 5TH ANNIVERSARY (9/16/2006, Shotaro Ishinomori Mangattan, Ishinomaki, Miyagi)
• HERO MONOGATARI - MIRAI NI MUKETE - DAI 2 WA (9/30/2006, IMA Hall, Nerima)
• SUPER SENTAI ROBO CD Hatsubai Kinen (10/09/2006, Ishimaru Denki SOFT2, Akihabara)
• ICHIROU MIZUKI / MITSUKO HORIE: FUTARI NO ANISON #4 (10/09/2006, Tokyo Shinbashi Yakult Hall, Shinbashi)
• SUPER SENTAI "SPIRITS" II (11/19/2006, Shibuya O-East)
• URESHIKUTTE GOMEN NASAI! in Osaka (12/02/2006, Another Dream, Osaka)
• TAKAYUKI MIYAUCHI BIRTHDAY LIVE 2007 TOMORROW (2/03/2007, Shinjuku Headpower, Shinjuku)
• CHOUSAIKYOU KYOUDAI TAG! Presents WARATTE FUKUKIN! UTATTE HAIKIN (2/24/2007, Loft Plus One, Shinjuku)
• KIMI MO SOLO DE UTAU-ZO! 15 (3/18 & 21/2007, Hideaway, Nishi Shinjuku)
• TOKYO ANI-SONG FESTIVAL 2007 (3/24/2007, Big Sight, Ariake)
• ANIME SHUDAIKA DAIZENSHUU (4/27/2007, NHK Hall, Shibuya)
• SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2007 "Haru No Jin" (4/29/2007, Zepp Tokyo)
• MOJO ZONE SEASON 4 (5/26/2007, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• PSYCHIC LOVER Bakugan Battle Brawlers CD Hatsubai Kinen (6/03/2007, Ishimaru Denki SOFT2, Akihabara)
• EXCITING TOUR 2007 GERMAN SUPLEX ROUND 1 (6/09/2007, Yotsuya Tenmado, Yotsuya)
• ICHIROU TOMITA & ROPS LIVE (6/16/2007, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA & TAKAYUKI MIYAUCHI LIVE (7/08/2007, Yotsuya Live Inn Magic, Shinjuku)
• ANISON CARNIVAL IN UENO 2007 (7/14/2007, Suijou Ongakudou, Ueno)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2007 Super Hero Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/18/2007, Zepp Toko)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2007 Super Anison Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/19/2007, Zepp Tokyo)
• MASAYUKI YAMAMOTO LIVE: THE ANIME SHIBARI (9/23/2007, Star Pines Cafe, Kichijoji)
• PSYCHIC LOVER LIVE: SHIBUYA-MUTATION 2007 (10/06/2007, Shibuya O-West, Shibuya)
• HERO MONOGATARI - DENSETSU - (10/28/2007, Pasela Resort Benoa, Ginza)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA LIVE: TAMASHII NO ENGINE (11/25/2007, Studio Cube 326, Tamachi)
• MOJO WITH ROPS VOL. 2 (11/25/2007, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2007 "Fuyu No Jin" Super Anison Spirits X'mas (12/15/2007, Shibuya O-East, Shibuya)
• MOJOx2 X'MAS 2007 (12/22/2007, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA MINI-LIVE AT WORLD HOBBY FESTIVAL ARIAKE 17: OTOKODAMASHII (12/23/2007, Big Sight, Ariake)
• TAKAYUKI MIYAUCHI BIRTHDAY LIVE 2008 TOMORROW (2/03/2008, Shinjuku Headpower, Shinjuku)
• MOJO ZONE SEASON 6 (2/09/2008, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• ICHIROU MIZUKI DEBUT 40TH ANNIVERSARY MINI-LIVE (3/09/2008, HMV Shibuya, Shibuya)
• ANIME SHUDAIKA DAIZENSHUU (4/24/2008, NHK Hall, Shibuya)
• SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2008 "Haru No Jin" (4/29/2008, Zepp Tokyo)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA LIVE: SOUL ENGINE 2 (5/02/2008, Shibuya Club Crawl, Shibuya)

And finally, just so I can keep track of them someplace, here are my birthday anime song marathon results: 2004's One-Four-One(-der why) Fest, 2005's One-Fifty Fest, 2006's One-Seven-Five Fest, and 2007's Haul To Two Hundred.

Feel free to e-mail me.

This page was created April 10, 2005. Last updated May 4, 2008.

This page's text and source code are copyright Ardith Carlton. Do not reproduce any of the content or images on this page.