Ito Kashitaro made his Philippine concert debut at the Brooklyn Warehouse in Sampaloc, Manila. The sold-out show was presented by the Japan Foundation Manila, in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation. The tickets for the event were free, and the clamor for them was so intense, they got sold out shortly after they were released.

The Japanese singer started out doing covers for anime theme songs on video streaming platforms as early as 2011, but over the years, he has steadily built up his career by creating and writing his own songs. With his distinctly emotive singing style, his poetic yet sincere lyrics, and his trademark kitsune/fox mask, he has earned a sizable following in Japan and overseas.

For those who don’t know him yet, he sang the ending song “VITA PHILOSOPHICA for the recently released anime series My Happy Marriage.

Getting to Know Ito Kashitaro

Philippine Concerts was one of the few media outlets that was part of the interview with Ito Kashitaro during his visit, and we were in for a treat. Although he always wears his fox mask during his live performances and public appearances, he surprisingly faced us without it.

One of the most striking things about him is his sincere manner of speaking. He was assisted by a translator throughout the interview, and he made it a point to speak slowly, making sure that his words would get across well.

He can also be very candid when responding, expressing himself freely, like a friend telling a story. When we asked about the Filipino food he had tried during his visit, he gave quite a long list. “Sisig is number 1,” he immediately exclaimed. He also remembered trying Sinigang, Bistek (beef steak), Pancit, Kaldereta, Paella, and Squid with Gata, noting that they were all delicious. (FYI: he did remember the actual names of most of the dishes. For the few that he didn’t, he described the taste and the ingredients which the translator was kind enough to identify.) To add to that, he had sampled Halo-Halo and said that the serving was bigger than he thought. Even the ever-popular Jollibee was mentioned later on.

As a songwriter, Ito Kashitaro explained he takes inspiration from everything – all kinds of music and situations. For instance, if he finds a certain injustice in society, he channels his emotions into creating songs. When we asked about his songwriting process, he said he can write the melody and the lyrics at the same time, which is quite frankly a feat for any musician. He usually conceptualizes songs while walking around outside.

Ito isn’t one to play favorites with his song repertoire. He said that once he releases a song to the public, it has his stamp of approval and he likes that particular song just as much as the others in his catalog. “Every time I perform a song, the experience I get from it is the best. I feel so blessed whenever I sing so I can’t choose between them,” he explained.

Regarding future collaboration with international artists, he narrated that there had been plans before, but he is not sure when or if they will ever be released. He noted that he would be performing a duet with Armi Millare later that evening, so he cited that as one international collab.

Other trivia: His current favorite manga is March Comes Like a Lion by Chica Umino. If he were to cosplay an anime character, it would be Nobita from Doraemon. Not a trivia, but we got to hear an acapella sample of “Ark of Memories” (which sounded amazing, by the way).

The Live Experience

Armi Millare was the opening act for the evening. Previously known as the frontwoman of UDD, she is now paving her way as a solo artist. Her set that night marked her 2nd appearance since she released her new single two days ago. Trading in electronic rumbles for a more hushed and jazzy vibe, her music is now minimalist with delicate streaks that are solemn yet resounding. “Somewhere in Between” and “Roots” were among her new tracks. As a nostalgic trip for older fans, she played a stripped-down version of “Oo”, “Indak” and “Tadhana”. She even impressed the crowd when she played koto, a traditional Japanese string instrument, during her set.

When the lights turned off for Ito Kashitaro, the thrill within the crowd was palpable, with everyone cheering and chanting his name. Everyone was taken by surprise when he made his entrance, donning his trademark kitsune mask. The first lines that came out of his mouth were the lyrics for “Gurenge” which was originally performed by LiSA and easily recognized by the crowd as the 1st opening song of the widely popular anime series Demon Slayer. As if in a karaoke, the audience sang along loudly to it.

The first part of his setlist were tracks from anime theme songs including “Silent Minority” (from Trapped in a Dating Sim), “VITA PHILOSOPHICA” (from My Happy Marriage), “Ark of Memories” (from Deca-Dence) and “The Country in the Sun” (from Princess of the Bibliophile). Since the beginning, Ito sang with such passion, that the intensity of his voice reverberated throughout the venue.

“I was looking forward to today because It’s my first time in the Philippines. Being here is something I could only dream about. I want to sing my hardest so that you have a great time,” he said upon introducing himself to the crowd. Before resuming his set, he chimed in, ”Filpino food is very delicious.”

For the second part of his set, he called on guitarist Yoshinori Shibata to accompany him. The acoustic stage was more intimate as his vocals were more raw. As he performed his songs like “Pierrot”, “The Starry Night Promise” and “Life is All About Goodbyes”, fans were delighted to sing along, clap and wave their hands on beat.

A strict no photography and videography rule was implemented throughout the concert. For us Filipinos, it might have been unthinkable, but it is common practice in concerts in Japan as part of basic etiquette. Fortunately, the audience members that night were more than happy to cooperate.

Everyone was just appreciating the music and their moment with the artist as it happened, making the concert all the more immersive and memorable. Ito Kashitaro’s passion for singing was equally matched by the crowd’s uproarious and warm energy that was sustained up to the end of the evening.

He also prepared special gifts for his Filipino fans. “I heard that there’s a song that is cherished in the Philippines,” he mentioned in the middle of his set. He said he tried to memorize the song and asked everyone to sing along with him to the lines ‘lachara chara chara’ which was recognized by the audience as SB19’s ”MAPA”. The lyrics were in Filipino and he sang it remarkably well. Later on, as revealed during the interview, he also shared the stage with Armi Millare for his song “LEATHER COVER” which they both sang flawlessly.

He then performed “Shojo Rei”, and “magic music” and for the encore, “Parabola – Galileo’s Dream”.

“Tonight is one of the best nights of my life! I’ll do my best to return to the Philippines. Please come see me again next time,” he said in appreciation to the crowd. He repeatedly bowed and joyfully expressed his gratitude to everyone present.

“I believe music transcends language barriers. For today’s concert, I hope the Filipino audience can overcome that wall, and that we get to enjoy music together,” Ito Kashitaro said during the press interview when asked about his message to his fans. In more ways than one, he succeeded in doing that. Despite the language barrier, many of his longtime fans were able to sing along with him effortlessly. Even casual attendees were able to have a good time just by experiencing the music live.

Special thanks to Japan Foundation Manila!

Written by Sandra Mae Laureano

Photos courtesy of the Japan Foundation Manila

Setlist

• Gurenge – (cover) – originally by LiSA
• Silent Minority
• VITA PHILOSOPHICA
• Ark of Memories
• The Country in the Sun
• Pierrot
• Hyakka Ryoran
• MAPA (cover) – originally by SB19
• LEATHER COVER – duet with Armi Millare
• The Starry Night Promise
• Life is All About Goodbyes
• A Mechanical Clown
• Shojo Rei
• magic music
• Parabola – Galileo’s Dream