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, and performers 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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NOTE: Dates in GOLD are anison concerts. Dates in BLUE are concerts by anison performers and might include anime songs.

• 2/13/2010 (Sat.): "KAWASAKI TV MANGA MATSURI #1: ANISON NO TEIOH ICHIROU MIZUKI LIVE" featuring Ichirou Mizuki (Lazona Kawasaki Plaza Sol, Kawasaki, Tokyo; doors open at 2pm for 3pm start; tickets 4500 yen; tickets on sale starting 11/01 through Ticket Pia)

• 3/06/2010 (Sat.): "MOJO ZONE SEASON 13" featuring MoJo (Live House Lantern, Shibuya, Tokyo; doors open at 3:15pm for 4pm start; online reservations starting 2/07 through MoJo Web)

• 3/21/2010 (Sun.): "SPACE KINDS LIVE 17 'CHUU': CHUUMEI WATANABE-SENSEI DAI TOKUSHUU LIVE -2010 CHUUMEI SOUND NO TABI-" featuring The Kinds (Live Inn Buddy, Ekoda, Tokyo;doors open at 3:30pm for 4pm start; online ticket reservations starting 1/30 through Space Kinds)

• 4/29/2010 (Thurs.): "SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2010 'HARU NO JIN'" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Mitsuko Horie, Hironobu Kageyama, MIQ, Mami Ayukawa, YUKA, Yoshiki Fukuyama, Masaaki Endou, Chie Kajiura, Masahito Arai, and Aki Misato, with special guest Isao Sasaki (Zepp Tokyo, Odaiba, Tokyo; doors open at 4pm for 5pm start; tickets [standing] 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale 1/28-2/03 through Birthday Club and starting 2/13 through Ticket Pia [P-Code 348-153], Lawson Ticket [L-Code 76589], E-Plus, and CN Playguide)

• 5/04/2010 (Tues.): "FUTARI NO ANISON #7 OSAKA KOUEN'" featuring Ichirou Mizuki and Mitsuko Horie (Shinsaibashi Big Cat, Shinsaibashi, Osaka; doors open at 4pm for 5pm start; tickets 5800 yen plus one 500-yen drink; ticket reservations 2/15 by phone through Birthday Club and starting 2/27 through Ticket Pia [P-Code 3348-328] and Lawson Ticket [L-Code 54158])

• 5/05/2010 (Wed.): "SUPER ROBOT SPIRITS 2010 'OSAKA HARU NO JIN'" featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Mitsuko Horie, Hironobu Kageyama, MIQ, Mami Ayukawa, YUKA, Yoshiki Fukuyama, Masaaki Endou, Chie Kajiura, Masahito Arai, and Aki Misato, with special guest Isao Sasaki (Namba Hatch, Namba, Osaka; doors open at 4pm for 5pm start; tickets [standing] 5500 yen plus one 500-yen drink; tickets on sale 1/28-2/03 through Birthday Club and starting 2/13 through Ticket Pia [P-Code 348-1893], Lawson Ticket [L-Code 53938], E-Plus, and CN Playguide)

• SUMMER 2010 (Date TBA): "KAWASAKI TV MANGA MATSURI #2" featuring Akira Kushida (Lazona Kawasaki Plaza Sol, Kawasaki, Tokyo; start time and ticket information TBA)

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• ANISON BIG 3 featuring Ichirou Mizuki, Mitsuko Horie, and Hironobu Kageyama (1/30/2010, Hokutopia, Oji)
• ANIME JAPAN FES 2010 "Fuyu No Jin" (1/24/2010, Zepp Tokyo)
• KINGRUN ANISON KOUHAKU 2009 (12/31/2009-1/01/2010, Theater G-Rosso, Tokyo Dome City)
• END OF THE 009 YEAR: KEN NARITA SOLO LIVE VOL. 4 (12/28/2009, Harajuku Crocodile, Shibuya)
• ESUPA KAWASAKI ANIME SINGER DAISHUUGOU!! II featuring Top Gun (Tomohisa Kawazoe, Jousei Nagatomo, and Yoshifumi Ushima), MIQ, and Kaori Hikita (11/22/2009, Ito Yokado Esupa Kawasaki, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa)
• MUCHUUMON: AKIRA KUSHIDA 40TH ANNIVERSARY LIVE (10/17/2009, Shibuya O-East, Shibuya)
• ICHIROU MIZUKI/MITSUKO HORIE: FUTARI NO ANISON #7 (10/12/2009, Shinbashi Yakult Hall, Shinbashi)
• MOJO ZONE SEASON 12 (10/10/2009, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• ESUPA KAWASAKI ANIME SINGER DAISHUUGOU!! featuring MoJo, MIQ, Hiroki Takahashi, and Yoshifumi Ushima (9/06/2009, Ito Yokado Esupa Kawasaki, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa)
• 2009 KEN NARITA SOLO LIVE VOL. 3 (9/05/2009, Harajuku Crocodile, Shibuya)
• ANIME JAPAN FES SUPER ANISON SPIRITS 2009 "NATSU NO JIN" (8/16/2009, Zepp Tokyo)
• ANIME JAPAN FES SUPER HERO SPIRITS 2009 "NATSU NO JIN" (8/15/2009, Zepp Tokyo)
• SPACE KINDS LIVE 16: ULTRA NO FIGHT (7/20/2009, Live House Buddy, Ekoda, Tokyo)
• TAKAYUKI MIYAUCHI DOUSEN LIVE VOL. 4: TOKUSATSU & ANIME SHIBARI (7/12/2009, Live Performance Saha, Sotokanda, Tokyo)
• AKIRA KUSHIDA 40th Anniversary Best Muchuumon CD Hatsubai Kinen Live (7/12/2009, Ishimaru Denki SOFT Honten, Akihabara)
• YOKO KANNO & SEATBELTS: CHOUJIKUU TANABATA SONIC -JIKAI KOUEN WA 22 SEIKI O YOTEI SHITE ORIMASU- (7/07/2009, Saitama Super Arena, Saitama-shi, Saitama)
• NATSU DA! MATSURI DA! COVER DA ZONE! featuring MoJo (7/05/2009, Live House Lantern, Shibuya)
• 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, Harajuku Crocodile, Shibuya)
• 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 SOFT Honten, 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, Shibuya)
• ICHIROU MIZUKI / MITSUKO HORIE: FUTARI NO ANISON #4 (10/09/2006, 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,2008's Hell-Bent For Three Hundred, and 2009's One-Third Of One Thousand!

Feel free to e-mail me.

This page was created April 10, 2005. Last updated January 31, 2010.

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