Toho uploads new audio from 'Daddy Long Legs' musical

We're only a few weeks away from Maaya's new stage show 'Daddy Long Legs' and to wet your appetites the production company has uploaded a duet from the musical to Youtube on their official channel here. The track is a duet with Yoshio Inoue called 'Graduation Day'.



It sounds like a lovely musical! Enjoy the song!

EDIT: speaking of which, today Oricon posted up an article which photos from the musical's press conference. Maaya looks pretty! Take a look here.

Piano Cover of 'More Than Words'

Don't usually post things like this but I was just browsing Youtube when I stumbled across this (in between my shots of Kpop boybands) and what a gem. While a little rough around the edges, what a lovely cover!! Well done to the pianist. It's the weekend, have a good one everyone!

'Shiawase no Himitsu' (Happy Secret) from Daddy Long Legs uploaded to Youtube

Maaya's official Youtube has uploaded an audio file from Maaya's new musical 'Daddy Long Legs' which starts in September. Enjoy!

'More Than Words' PV - preview - released on Youtube

What do you think? The full version will be included on the first press edition DVD of the single next month, by the way. I think it might be the best Maaya PV since...argghh Sayonara Santa, and then since Secret...which were all in the past twelve months or so.

Basically, I think it is awesome with the special effects. The screen scenes are wonderful and something really different to Maaya's other music videos. But I wish there was more stuff going on than just walking around a room with sheets for the rest of the video...

They could have had a video with extras and dramatic things happen and explosions and a battle scene! Like an espionage story or...or...something with explosions.

But that screen is very impressive. I wonder how they did it?

Maaya's official Youtube posts DVD+Blu-ray Digest for 'in the silence'

This was rather exciting! What do you guys think?

Full 'Buddy' PV and alternative covers for both singles

Victor Music uploaded the full version of Maaya's 'Buddy' PV today for your enjoyment - the song is still sounding great ahead of its release on Wednesday. Always a good sign! I hope that you've all put it in your shopping baskets.

Speaking of the singles coming up, Maaya's official site unveiled four alternative covers on Maaya's news site here. The covers are available if you buy both first press editions of 'Buddy' and 'Okaerinasai' in the form of two alternative shot jackets and two 'live' jackets. Pretty sweet!

I went to see Maaya on stage on Friday while I was on business in Tokyo in her Recita Calda production of the life of Joan of Arc. It was an outdoor stage in the it had a roof but no walls to the sides of the stands. The production was a one woman show in that Maaya performed the whole thing alone in a combination of recital and performance. It was like she was reading a book but then would get up to act it as well. She was accompanied by Spanish Connection, a trio of musicians who provided a French...well, I thought it was more Spanish like their name, but very European flavour with their back up music.

It was really interesting but at several points she came down off the stage and started walking around the audience rows!! She was literally five meters away from my seat! I found it hard to concentrate then, and I wish I had been able to go with someone else as I wanted to be like 'OH MY GOD' to someone but everyone else seemed to be quite stoic ^^;; she was beautiful, seriously (*_*) so, so, so pretty up close.

But what I really found impressed was the sheer versatility and power in her vocal performance. She must have played dozens and dozens of characters as well as narrating the whole thing. When she was playing a prosecutorfor Joan of Arc's trial her voice gave me goosebumps. No mercy. I was really impressed. I've always been more of a listener to her music than a follower of her seiyuu work but I'd love her to play an evil character someday. That would be awesome.

Two thumbs up!

Argh, she walked so close to me >_<

EDIT: Also, the second episode of 'from everywhere' is available for podcast now ^^  go take a listen here.

'Sayonara Santa' short PV uploaded to Youtube

The lyrics are about a girl who is reminiscing about her first love. I think this probably ties in with the comment Maaya made in the Yorimo interview about imagining what Santa Claus' first love would have been like. This must be from the girl's perspective.

I don't know what I was expecting from 'Driving in the silence' but I am pleasantly surprised by this track. When I listened to Faber's other tracks on Youtube I wasn't overly keen but once again Maaya's taste has proven to be a winner as 'Sayonara Santa' is definitely a hit with me. Really, really sweet. And wintery! I can't wait to be wrapped up in warm clothes with this on the ol' iPod.

Not long to go!

EDIT: actually, listening again...I wonder if the lyrics are about a little girl who met Santa and then grew up so she wasn't able to meet him anymore...

Maaya currently on stage in ‘Watashi no atama no naka no keshi-gomu’

Based on the 2001 Japanese drama PURE SOUL, this stage show is about a woman suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s and her partner. The title Watashi no atama no naka no keshi-gomu translates to: The Eraser Inside My Head. Here's the PR for the show:

Inside my head there is an eraser.
Gradually my memory lapses will become worse, and I won’t be able to look after myself.
And then I’ll also forget about you, my love…

Meeting each other, falling in love, getting married…
Tragedy strikes this couple’s happy life. A separation more painful than death…

I’ll become your memories.
If you forget I’ll tell you everything that has happened up until now over and over again. And when I do, we’ll fall in love anew.

He resolves to devote himself to supporting her as she is encroached upon by early onset Alzheimer’s.

Maaya is sharing the stage with Tetsuya Bessho but there are several combinations of couples over the course of the production. Maaya stars twice, her first performance was on Monday and this will be followed by a performance on Sunday 8th May.

There have been a few interviews with Maaya and Tetsuya about the play, and there are several photos from the show’s official blog. On Twitter some fans who went to see it commented that they were in floods of tears (well if the drama is anything to go by!) Links below, the interviews have a couple of pictures too.

Interview: Tokyo Headline
Interview: Choice! Report
Official Blog: Pamphlet photoshoot
Official Blog: Goods on sale (including postcards of Maaya and Tetsuya)

Maaya also recorded an official comment on Youtube:



Official Site for the play with information on the cast, story etc.

Maaya's Youtube comment and Sapporo cancelled...

Well, it's looking more and more likely that the 'You Can't Catch Me' tour's March stops will be cancelled as the situation in Japan grows more serious. I'm sure you've all been keeping up with developments in Japan but Maaya's homepage has now announced the cancellation of Sapporo.

Along with Sendai this is two dates out of the remaining stops now cancelled and they are currently in discussions about what will happen with the others.

I've translated the comment Maaya uploaded yesterday (in the video below) and was once again reminded why yoroshiku onegaishimasu is difficult to translate! What a tricky one! EDIT: I was considering 'over and out!' but went with what I assumed an English person would say...

Maaya Sakamoto 'My Youtube' Comment March 2011
Hello, to everyone watching Youtube, I’m Maaya Sakamoto!
We’ve now opened my official Youtube Channel.
Please add this channel to your favourites and enjoy!
We’ll be uploading my music videos and live performances so check them out.
Thank you!

Visit her official channel here.

Speaking of which, Akino Arai has also uploaded a song for the earthquake victims here. I think more than anything, the way social media has been used throughout this disaster has been astonishing.