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!)

• USEFUL JAPANESE TERMS (in kana and romaji--know the difference between kashi and kashu!)

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• 6/20/2009 (Sat.): "ICHIROU MIZUKI ANISON LIVE IN MATSUBARA" featuring Ichirou Mizuki (Matsubara-shi Bunka Kaikan, Matsubara-shi, Osaka; doors open at 5pm for 5:30pm start; tickets 5500 yen [or 5200 yen for tickets from Matsubara-shi Bunka Kaikan Tomo no Kai]; tickets on sale starting 3/29 through Matsubara-shi Bunka Kaikan Tomo no Kai and starting 4/05 through Lawson Ticket [L-Code 52784] and E-Plus)

• 7/07/2009 (Tues.): "YOKO KANNO & SEATBELTS: CHOUJIKUU TANABATA SONIC -JIKAI KOUEN WA 22 SEIKI O YOTEI SHITE ORIMASU-" featuring Yoko Kanno and Seatbelts, with May'n, Megumi Nakajima, Maaya Sakamoto, ORIGA, Scott Matthew, and Mai Yamane (Saitama Super Arena, Saitama-shi, Saitama; doors open at 6pm for 7pm start; tickets 7777 yen; tickets on sale 5/09-18 through the official web page and starting 6/06 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, CN Playguide, and E-Plus)

• 8/14/2009 (Fri.): "ANIME JAPAN FES ANISON JOUSHIBU 'NATSU MATSURI' 2009" featuring Mitsuko Horie, Kumiko Oosugi, MIQ, Mami Ayukawa, Mami Kingetsu, Hitomi Mieno, Chihiro Yonekura, Salia, Hitomi Yoshida, and others (Zepp Tokyo, Odaiba, Tokyo; doors open at 4pm for 5pm start; tickets 1F [unreserved seats] 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink, or 1F [reserved seats] 6000 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale 5/11 only by phone through Birthday Song)

• 8/14-15/2009 (Fri.-Sat.): "ANIME JAPAN FES YUKAINA TOMODACHI 2009" featuring Hironobu Kageyama, Masaaki Endou, Hiroshi Kitadani, and others (Zepp Tokyo, Odaiba, Tokyo; must be 18 or over; doors open at 11:30pm for 12:30am start; tickets 1F [unreserved seats] 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale 5/11-15 through Birthday Song and starting 5/30 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 8/15/2009 (Sat.): "ANIME JAPAN FES SUPER HERO SPIRITS 2009 'NATSU NO JIN'" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Akira Kushida, MoJo, Takayuki Miyauchi, Hideaki Takatori, Psychic Lover, and others, with special guest Isao Sasaki (Zepp Tokyo, Odaiba, Tokyo; doors open at 4pm for 5pm start; tickets 1F [standing] 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink, or 2F [seats] 6000 yen plus one 500-yen drink; 2F tickets on sale 5/12 only by phone through Birthday Song; 1F tickets on sale 5/11-15 through Birthday Song and starting 5/30 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 8/16/2009 (Sun.): "ANIME JAPAN FES SUPER ANISON SPIRITS 2009 'NATSU NO JIN'" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Mitsuko Horie, Akira Kushida, Masayuki Yamamoto, Youko Ishida, Ken Narita, Kentarou Hayami, Hiroki Takahashi, Dragon Soul, and others, with special guest Kenji Ootsuki (Zepp Tokyo, Odaiba, Tokyo; doors open at 4pm for 5pm start; tickets 1F [standing] 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink, or 2F [seats] 6000 yen plus one 500-yen drink; 2F tickets on sale 5/12 only by phone through Birthday Song; 1F tickets on sale 5/11-15 through Birthday Song and starting 5/30 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 8/22/2009 (Sat.): "ANIMELO SUMMER LIVE 2009 -RE: BRIDGE-" featuring Ayane, ALI PROJECT, Chiaki Ishikawa, Kanako Itou, ELISA, Minami Kurihashi, Minori Chihara, Halko Momoi, and others (Saitama Super Arena, Saitama-shi, Saitama; doors open at 2pm for 4pm start; reserved seats 8500 yen; tickets on sale starting 6/20 through Ticket Pia [P-Code 319-606])

• 8/23/2009 (Sun.): "ANIMELO SUMMER LIVE 2009 -RE: BRIDGE-" featuring Masami Okui, Psychic Lover, Yui Sakakibara, savage genius, Suara, Aya Hirano, Fiction Junction, Nana Mizuki, Chihiro Yonekura, and others (Saitama Super Arena, Saitama-shi, Saitama; doors open at 2pm for 4pm start; reserved seats 8500 yen; tickets on sale starting 6/20 through Ticket Pia [P-Code 319-606])

• 8/29/2009 (Sat.): "ANIME JAPAN FES 2009 'OSAKA NATSU NO JIN'" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Mitsuko Horie, Masayuki Yamamoto, Akira Kushida, Kentarou Hayami, Youko Ishida, Psychic Lover, Takayoshi Tanimoto, Takafumi Iwasaki, Dragon Soul, and others, with special guest Isao Sasaki (Namba Hatch, Namba, Osaka; doors open at 3pm for 4pm start; tickets 1F [standing] 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink, or 2F [seats] 6000 yen plus one 500-yen drink; 2F tickets on sale 5/12 only by phone through Birthday Song; 1F tickets on sale 5/11-15 through Birthday Song and starting 5/30 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 8/30/2009 (Sun.): "ANIME JAPAN FES 2009 'NAGOYA NATSU NO JIN'" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Mitsuko Horie, Akira Kushida, Masayuki Yamamoto, Ken Narita, Kentarou Hayami, Youko Ishida, Psychic Lover, Takayoshi Tanimoto, Takafumi Iwasaki, Dragon Soul, and others (Zepp Nagoya, Nagoya; doors open at 4pm for 5pm start; tickets 1F [standing] 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink; 1F tickets on sale 5/11-15 through Birthday Song and starting 5/30 through Ticket Pia, Lawson Ticket, and E-Plus)

• 9/06/2009 (Sun.; postponed from 5/24/2009): "ANIME & SENTAI JOINT LIVE IN ESUPA KAWASAKI" featuring MoJo and MIQ (Ito Yokado Esupa Kawasaki, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa; free admission)

ANISON PERFORMERS' CONCERTS (MAY INCLUDE ANIME SONGS)

• 6/19/2009 (Fri.): "340 SUZUKI PRESENTS UTA MATSURI 8: TATSUYA MAEDA NO MAKI" featuring Tatsuya Maeda (Naked Loft, Shinjuku, Tokyo; doors open at 6:30pm for 7:30pm start; tickets 2000 yen in advance or 2500 yen on show-day if available, plus one drink; tickets on sale starting 4/04 through Lawson Ticket [L-Code 35082])

• 7/01/2009 (Wed.): "AKIRA KUSHIDA + ONGAKUBU R & B LIVE" featuring Akira Kushida (Friday, Naka-ku, Yokohama; 7:30pm start; music charge 3000 yen; no reservation required)

• 7/05/2009 (Sun.): "NATSU DA! MATSURI DA! COVER DA ZONE!" featuring MoJo (Live House Lantern, Shibuya, Tokyo; doors open at 1:15pm for 2pm start; tickets 4000 yen plus one drink; online reservations starting 6/07 through MoJo Web)

• 7/12/2009 (Sat.): "AKIRA KUSHIDA 40TH ANNIVERSARY BEST 'MUCHUUMON' CD HATSUBAI KINEN LIVE" featuring Akira Kushida (Ishimaru Denki Soft Honten, Akihabara, Tokyo; 2pm start; free for purchasers of CD "Muchuusha" at Ishimaru Denki)

• 7/19/2009 (Sun.): "TAKAYUKI MIYAUCHI DOUSEN LIVE VOL. 4" featuring Takayuki Miyauchi (Live Performance Saha, Sotakanda, Tokyo; doors open at 5pm for 5:30pm start; tickets 4500 yen; reservations starting 6/20 through Butchigiruze!!)

• 7/31/2009 (Fri.): "340 SUZUKI PRESENTS TOKU UTA MATSURI 6: TONO!!" featuring Psychic Lover, Hideaki Takatori, and Akira Kushida (Asagaya Loft A, Asagaya, Tokyo; doors open at 6:30pm for 7:30pm start; tickets 4000 yen in advance or 4500 yen on show-day if available, plus one drink; tickets on sale starting 6/20 through Lawson Ticket [L-Code 37391])

• 9/05/2009 (Sat.): "2009 KEN NARITA SOLO LIVE VOL. 3" featuring Ken Narita (Shinjuku Crocodile, Shinjuku, Tokyo; doors open at 6pm for 8pm start; tickets 4500 yen; reservations now by phone through Shinjuku Crocodile)

• 10/10/2009 (Sat.): "MOJO ZONE SEASON 12" featuring MoJo (Live House Lantern, Shibuya, Tokyo; doors open at 3:15pm for 4pm start; tickets 4000 yen plus one drink; online reservations [starting date TBA] through MoJo Web)

• 10/17/2009 (Sat.): "MUCHUUMON: QU-CY 40TH ANNIVERSARY LIVE" featuring Akira Kushida (Shibuya O-East, Shibuya, Tokyo; doors open at 5pm for 6pm start; ticket prices and sale date TBA)

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• ICHIROU TOMITA WITH SSDB (6/21/2009, Sausalito, Funabashi)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA PRESENTS UCHUU NO YUUJIN (6/20/2009, Loft Plus One, Shinjuku)
• MOJO ZONE SEASON 11 (5/30/2009, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• MIQUEEN VOL. 3 (5/04/2009, Edee's Place, Nishitenma, Osaka)
• BS EIEN NO ONGAKU: ANIME SHUDAIKA DAIZENSHUU 2009 (4/24/2009, NHK Hall, Shibuya)
• 2009 KEN NARITA SOLO LIVE VOL. 2 (4/11/2009, Shinjuku Crocodile, Shinjuku)
• WELL COME SPRING: GENKI NI NAROU YO! featuring MIQ (3/27/2009, Live Cafe Mono, Takadanobaba, Tokyo)
• GATAKET 103 ANISON LIVE PLUS ONE #1 featuring MoJo & Youko Ishida (3/22/2009, Niigata Sangyou Shinkou Center, Niigata-shi, Niigata)
• SPACE KINDS LIVE 15: CHONMAGE FIGHT (3/20/2009, Yotsuya Outbreak, Yotsuya, Tokyo)
• TOKYO ANI-SONG LIVE 2009 (3/20/2009, Big Sight, Ariake)
• PSYCHIC LOVER & HIDEAKI TAKATORI Samurai Sentai Shinkenger CD Hatsubai Kinen (3/20/2009, Ishimaru Denki SOFT2, Akihabara)
• 340 SUZUKI PRESENTS UTA MATSURI 7: MOJO NO MAKI (3/12/2009, Naked Loft, Shinjuku)
• MOJO ZONE SEASON 10 (2/28/2009, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• PROJECT.R 1ST LIVE: SONG GRAND PRIX (2/11/2009, Shibuya O-East, Shibuya)
• ICHIROU TOMITA WITH SSDB (2/08/2009, Ekoda Marquee, Ekoda, Tokyo)
• TAKAYUKI MIYAUCHI BIRTHDAY LIVE -TOMORROW- (2/07/2009, Shinjuku Headpower East, Shinjuku)
• 24-HOUR-ENDURANCE ANISON 1,000-SONG MEDLEY (1/11/2009, Loft Plus One, Shinjuku)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2009 "Fuyu No Jin" (1/11/2009, Shibuya O-East, Shibuya)
• COUNTDOWN WITH TAKAYUKI MIYAUCHI (12/31/2008-1/01/2009, Pasela Resort Benoa, Ginza)
• MOJOx2 XMAS (12/20/2008, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• SUPER SENTAI 'SPIRITS' III 2008: The 21st Century Version (11/30/2008, Shibuya O-East, Shibuya)
• SUPER SENTAI 'SPIRITS' III 2008: The 20th Century Version (11/29/2008, Shibuya O-East, Shibuya)
• URESHIKUTTE GOMEN NASAI! Part 3 (11/16/2008, Shinjuku Headpower, Shinjuku)
• MOJO ZONE SEASON 9 (10/11/2008, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA LIVE: SOUL ENGINE 3 (10/05/2008, Studio Cube 326, Tamachi)
• 340 SUZUKI PRESENTS UTA MATSURI 5: TAKAYUKI MIYAUCHI NO MAKI (10/03/2008, Naked Loft, Shinjuku)
• ANISON POWER IN NAKANO 2008 (9/27/2008, Nakano ZERO, Nakano, Tokyo)
• ANIMAX ALL-JAPAN ANIME SONG GRAND PRIX 2008 (9/21/2008, JCB Hall, Tokyo)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2008 "Nagoya Natsu No Jin" (8/30/2008, Zepp Nagoya)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2008 Super Anison Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/17/2008, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2008 Super Hero Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/16/2008, Zepp Tokyo)
• MOJO ZONE SEASON 8 -BANGAIHEN- (7/20/2008, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA LIVE STAGE!! BY C.C.P. AT WORLD CHARACTER CONVENTION (7/20/2008, Big Sight, Ariake)
• ISAO TAIRA & YUKIO YAMAGATA LIVE: J9 BROTHERS! NANTE SUGOI HONEY-HONEY NIGHT!! (6/29/2008, Magical Night, Kanda)
• MOJO ZONE SEASON 7 (5/24/2008, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA LIVE: SOUL ENGINE 2 (5/02/2008, Shibuya Club Crawl, Shibuya)
• SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2008 "Haru No Jin" (4/29/2008, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANIME SHUDAIKA DAIZENSHUU (4/24/2008, NHK Hall, Shibuya)
• ICHIROU MIZUKI DEBUT 40TH ANNIVERSARY MINI-LIVE (3/09/2008, HMV Shibuya, Shibuya)
• MOJO ZONE SEASON 6 (2/09/2008, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• TAKAYUKI MIYAUCHI BIRTHDAY LIVE 2008 TOMORROW (2/03/2008, Shinjuku Headpower, Shinjuku)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA MINI-LIVE AT WORLD HOBBY FESTIVAL ARIAKE 17: OTOKODAMASHII (12/23/2007, Big Sight, Ariake)
• MOJOx2 X'MAS 2007 (12/22/2007, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2007 "Fuyu No Jin" Super Anison Spirits X'mas (12/15/2007, Shibuya O-East, Shibuya)
• MOJO WITH ROPS VOL. 2 (11/25/2007, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA LIVE: TAMASHII NO ENGINE (11/25/2007, Studio Cube 326, Tamachi)
• HERO MONOGATARI - DENSETSU - (10/28/2007, Pasela Resort Benoa, Ginza)
• PSYCHIC LOVER LIVE: SHIBUYA-MUTATION 2007 (10/06/2007, Shibuya O-West, Shibuya)
• MASAYUKI YAMAMOTO LIVE: THE ANIME SHIBARI (9/23/2007, Star Pines Cafe, Kichijoji)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2007 Super Anison Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/19/2007, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2007 Super Hero Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/18/2007, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANISON CARNIVAL IN UENO 2007 (7/14/2007, Suijou Ongakudou, Ueno)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA & TAKAYUKI MIYAUCHI LIVE (7/08/2007, Yotsuya Live Inn Magic, Shinjuku)
• ICHIROU TOMITA & ROPS LIVE (6/16/2007, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• EXCITING TOUR 2007 GERMAN SUPLEX ROUND 1 (6/09/2007, Yotsuya Tenmado, Yotsuya)
• PSYCHIC LOVER Bakugan Battle Brawlers CD Hatsubai Kinen (6/03/2007, Ishimaru Denki SOFT2, Akihabara)
• MOJO ZONE SEASON 4 (5/26/2007, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2007 "Haru No Jin" (4/29/2007, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANIME SHUDAIKA DAIZENSHUU (4/27/2007, NHK Hall, Shibuya)
• TOKYO ANI-SONG FESTIVAL 2007 (3/24/2007, Big Sight, Ariake)
• KIMI MO SOLO DE UTAU-ZO! 15 (3/18 & 21/2007, Hideaway, Nishi Shinjuku)
• CHOUSAIKYOU KYOUDAI TAG! Presents WARATTE FUKUKIN! UTATTE HAIKIN (2/24/2007, Loft Plus One, Shinjuku)
• TAKAYUKI MIYAUCHI BIRTHDAY LIVE 2007 TOMORROW (2/03/2007, Shinjuku Headpower, Shinjuku)
• URESHIKUTTE GOMEN NASAI! in Osaka (12/02/2006, Another Dream, Osaka)
• SUPER SENTAI "SPIRITS" II (11/19/2006, Shibuya O-East)
• ICHIROU MIZUKI / MITSUKO HORIE: FUTARI NO ANISON #4 (10/09/2006, Tokyo Shinbashi Yakult Hall, Shinbashi)
• SUPER SENTAI ROBO CD Hatsubai Kinen (10/09/2006, Ishimaru Denki SOFT2, Akihabara)
• HERO MONOGATARI - MIRAI NI MUKETE - DAI 2 WA (9/30/2006, IMA Hall, Nerima)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA LIVE AT SHOTARO ISHINOMORI MANGATTAN 5TH ANNIVERSARY (9/16/2006, Shotaro Ishinomori Mangattan, Ishinomaki, Miyagi)
• 24-HOUR NONSTOP ANISON 1,000-SONG MEDLEY 2006 (9/01-02/2006, Shinjuku Loft and Loft Plus One, Shinjuku)
• PSYCHIC LOVER LIVE (8/27/2006, Astro Hall, Harajuku)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2006 "Osaka Natsu No Jin" (8/20/2006, Namba Hatch)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2006 Super Anison Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/13/2006, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2006 Super Hero Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/12/2006, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANISON CARNIVAL IN UENO (7/28/2006, Suijou Ongakudou, Ueno)
• KIMI MO SOLO DE UTAU-ZO! 13 (7/22-23/2006, Hideaway, Nishi Shinjuku)
• KIMI MO SOLO DE UTAU-ZO! Bangaihen and SHAFT Debut Concert (6/18/2006, Nishikasai Phoenix, Nishikasai)
• SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2006 "Haru No Jin" II: Gundam (4/30/2006, Zepp Tokyo)
• SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2006 "Haru No Jin" I (4/29/2006, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANIME SHUDAIKA DAIZENSHUU (4/13/2006, NHK Hall, Shibuya)
• HERO MONOGATARI - MIRAI NI MUKETE - DAI 1 WA (2/11/2006, Kyurian Hall, Shinagawa)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2006 Super Anison Spirits "The Shinnenkai!" (1/07/2006, Shibuya O-East)
• KIMI MO SOLO DE UTAU-ZO! 11 (11/26-27/2005, Hideaway, Nishi Shinjuku)
• ISAO SASAKI DEBUT 45TH ANNIVERSARY MINI LIVE (11/03/2005, Ishimaru Denki SOFT2, Akihabara)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2005 Super Anison Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/14/2005, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2005 Super Hero Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/13/2005, Zepp Tokyo)
• KIMI MO SOLO DE UTAU-ZO! 10 (8/06-07/2005, Hideaway, Nishi Shinjuku)
• 24-HOUR ANISON 1,000-SONG NONSTOP MEDLEY (7/30-31/2005, Loft Plus One, Shinjuku)
• SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2005 "Haru No Jin" (4/29/2005, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANIME SHUDAIKA DAIZENSHUU (4/27/2005, NHK Hall, Shibuya)
• SUPER SENTAI "SPIRITS" LIVE 2004 DVD Hatsubai Kinen (4/16/2005, Ishimaru Denki SOFT1, Akihabara)
• KIMI MO SOLO DE UTAU-ZO! 9 (3/05-06/2005, Hideaway, Nishi Shinjuku)
• ANIME DE SUKUOU! Niigata Earthquake Charity Concert (1/20/2005, Shibuya-AX)
• BEST OF ANIKING (1/08/2005, Shibuya O-West)
• ANITAMA LIVE at EAST Vol. 2 (12/12/2004, Shibuya O-East)
• 30TH ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIVE "UCHUU SENKAN YAMATO CD-BOX" Hatsubai Kinen (12/12/2004, Ishimaru Denki SOFT2, Akihabara)
• SUPER SENTAI "SPIRITS" 2004 (11/21/2004, Shibuya O-East)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2004 Super Anison Spirits "Natsu No Jin" (8/15/2004, Shibuya O-East)
• SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2004 "Haru No Jin" (4/29/2004, Zepp Tokyo, and 5/04/2004, Namba Hatch)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2003-2004 Super Anison Spirits "Fuyu No Jin" (12/28/2003, Shibuya O-East)

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, 2007's Haul To Two Hundred, and 2008's Hell-Bent For Three Hundred!

Feel free to e-mail me.

This page was created April 10, 2005. Last updated June 23, 2009.

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