[2023] GIFT at Tokyo Dome

[yuzurujenn]

Compilation of articles about GIFT at Tokyo Dome, held on 26 February 2023.

 

 

Info: 

https://gift-official.jp/index_en.html

https://x.com/jp_GIFTofficial 

 

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2023.02.27

 

Source: https://biz-journal.jp/2023/02/post_334493.html

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20230227223939/https://biz-journal.jp/2023/02/post_334493.html

 

 

Yuzuru Hanyu’s solo Tokyo Dome show was a huge success, with revenue reportedly reaching around 2 billion yen. Has the industry suddenly ‘changed its tune’?

 

Yuzuru Hanyu,the two-time Winter Olympic champion from Sochi and Pyeongchang and a professional figure skater, held his first-ever solo concert at the Tokyo Dome, "GIFT," on the 26th. He delivered a breathtaking performance, including successfully landing the quadruple Salchow, a jump he was unable to complete at the Beijing Winter Olympics, captivating the 35,000 spectators gathered at the Dome. Initially, there were concerns about attendance, but the concert was a resounding success, leading to a reversal of opinion both within and outside the industry.

 

Spoiler

Ice shows typically use venues with a capacity of 3,000 to 10,000 people, making a solo dome performance unprecedented. Furthermore, even the cheapest tickets, A seats in the second-floor stands, were priced at a hefty 23,100 yen, leading some media outlets to predict that "there's a high possibility that the seats won't be filled," and within the industry, there were many opinions that "this is simply reckless."

 

　However, when the ticket lottery results were announced in December last year, there was a flood of "unsuccessful" reports on social media. It was clear that the event would be "completely sold out" even before the day of the show, and this surprised people in the industry.

 

　The performance was ever-changing, starting with the powerful "Firebird," then creating a fantastical world with music from the animated film "Spirited Away," then unfolding a story that seemed to reflect on his own life, and showing off a rock star-like dance to Ado's "Ashura-chan." In "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso," which he performed at the end of the first half, he set the performance to the same 2 minutes and 40 seconds as in competition. There, he successfully landed everything, including the quadruple Salchow he was unable to jump in Beijing due to the misfortune of catching his blade in a hole in the ice, as well as a quadruple-triple toe loop combination combination and a triple Axel out of a counter.

 

　The production, overseen by MIKIKO, one of Japan's leading directors, was also extraordinary. The ice rink, which appeared in Tokyo Dome for the first time in history, was set up to the same specifications as a competition, measuring 60 meters by 30 meters. A magnificent production utilizing a giant screen and projection mapping unfolded, and the music was performed live by the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, making it a legendary show full of unprecedented features.

 

　Although the use of screens reduced some of the infield seating and the total number of seats ended up lower than initially planned, the venue was filled with 35,000 spectators. In addition, the performance was streamed live via Disney+ and GLOBE CODING, and also shown in over 80 theaters nationwide through live viewing, reaching approximately 30,000 viewers.

 

　According to some reports, official merchandise sales had already reached several hundred million yen during the pre-sale phase. On the day of the event, sales are believed to have surged dramatically, and including tickets, streaming, and live viewing, total revenue is estimated to have easily reached around 2 billion yen. While the sales were enormous, as mentioned earlier, the lavish production satisfied the audience to match the price. The tickets likely sold out so strongly because of the trust between fans and the performer, with fans believing that even if the price was higher than the usual standard, it would deliver something worth more than the cost.

 

　The concert was a resounding success, and the media was showering it with praise. Media outlets that had been skeptical about holding an ice show in a dome were left speechless by the "results," and it seems the tide has completely turned. Within the industry as well, many involved seem to have “changed their stance,” with domestic advertising agencies as well as overseas companies, including those in China, reportedly moving quickly to approach Hanyu.

 

　Looking ahead, Hanyu has a unique collaborative performance with Kohei Uchimura, who won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's gymnastics, titled "notte stellata" (Sekisui Heim Super Arena, Miyagi Prefecture) from March 10th to 12th. He also has a picture book, "GIFT" (Kodansha), in collaboration with the popular creative group "CLAMP," scheduled for release. These activities go beyond the traditional boundaries of a skater. Hanyu is not only a top-class skater, but also an "expressive artist" who defies conventional expectations.

[yuzurujenn]

*Machine translation. Inaccuracies exist*

 

 

2023.02.27

 

Source: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/255232

Archived: https://web.archive.org/web/20230227094436/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/255232

 

 

Yuzuru Hanyu's first Tokyo Dome concert revealed his extraordinary influence... even companies with 1 trillion yen in sales may be approaching him.

 

　It's an unprecedented frenzy. Yuzuru Hanyu (28), who won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in men's figure skating and has since turned professional, held his first-ever solo ice show at the Tokyo Dome, "GIFT," on the 26th. Starting with the breathtaking "Firebird," he performed a total of 12 programs over approximately three hours, including "Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso" and "SEIMEI," captivating the 35,000 spectators who packed the venue. But Hanyu's presence is exceptional even off the ice. What is the extraordinary influence that became clear through our interviews?

 

Spoiler

　This was the first solo performance by a figure skater at the Tokyo Dome. As Hanyu stepped onto the ice, the atmosphere in the venue completely changed, and he was enveloped in applause and cheers. He expressed his suffering, struggles, and joys to the fullest through his skating. "I would be happy if even just one piece of it remains in your memory," he reflected.

 

　After announcing his Tokyo Dome show last December, some questioned whether it would actually be a full house, but tickets sold out completely. The concert was also exclusively live-streamed in Japan on Disney+, Disney's official video streaming service, and globally (excluding mainland China and North Korea), further demonstrating their immense popularity on a global scale.

 

　Why is Hanyu able to consistently realize unconventional plans? An event organizer explains, "Hanyu is incredibly popular with companies and advertising agencies. He almost always exceeds our expectations."

 

　Several people involved in figure skating testified that when they sold commemorative merchandise, "9-Year-Old Me and the King's Jump" (a set including a poster and towel), in July of last year, shortly after he announced he was turning professional, "sales exceeded 100 million yen in about a week after pre-orders began." That momentum shows no signs of slowing down even now.

 

　Official merchandise for "GIFT," supervised by Hanyu, also reached hundreds of millions of yen in sales during the pre-sale stage. An insider who has worked on events for numerous artists could not hide his surprise, saying, "Only nationally famous artists hold events at Tokyo Dome, but something like this is extremely rare."

 

　His overwhelming influence extends overseas as well. Local officials in Miyagi Prefecture say, "With the easing of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we're seeing more Chinese fans of Hanyu. I wonder if they're on a pilgrimage to his sacred sites." Apparently, enthusiastic fans from China are flocking to Hanyu's monuments, training bases, and shrines associated with him in Sendai.

 

　Furthermore, an advertising agency insider revealed, "Because he has a global reach, major Chinese companies are also interested in signing Hanyu and are in negotiations." Among the Chinese companies showing interest in Hanyu is a mega-corporation with annual sales of approximately 1 trillion yen.

 

　Having given his all within his unique worldview, Hanyu expressed his sense of fulfillment, saying, "I was given such a wonderful experience, and I hope that even a small part of the feelings I expressed from this wonderful experience can be of some help to the world today, where the future is uncertain." He will continue to write his next story with a desire to give back.