UlasanAnime.com – The IDOLM@STER 765Pro All Stars held their solo live event in 2017, named Hatsuboshi Enbu. Despite the usual anxieties surrounding these events and fan speculation that each might be the last, the author attended, as is their custom. This marked their first 765Pro All Stars live, as the group had not held one since their 9th anniversary tour in 2014.
Hatsuboshi Enbu, which loosely translates to “promenade of the first star,” references the New Year’s theme of the live, held on the first weekend of the year. Naturally, the merchandise and the show’s overall theme embraced the New Year’s spirit. While there aren’t many New Year’s-themed songs in IDOLM@STER, the performers did present a “wa-fu” Hatsuboshi mix of Utamas, a rendition the author highly desires to have on MP3.
The author felt like an “old cat” at their first 765Pro All Star live, having seen most of the individual members perform multiple times, even as recently as the previous October. Even Azumin, who was absent due to attending the Chu2koi movie launch events that weekend, felt more like an overlooked detail than a significant loss to the IM@S family. This allowed for a focus on congratulating Pon on her marriage.
To keep the review concise, the author directs readers to the linked setlists and will focus on remarked songs. The review is structured to allow readers to follow along with the setlists.
C A L L BOOK pic.twitter.com/9ISWiCFaRb
? omo@KawaiiKon2024 (@omonomono) January 6, 2018
1 THE IDOLM@STER ???-mix 765PRO ALLSTARS
This song featured a new arrangement in both dance and music, which was well-received. It blended fierce shimasen music with Utamas’s energetic chords, creating a subtle yet memorable effect that perfectly suited the New Year’s theme of the live. The addition of flutes in the chorus enhanced its “wa fu” (Japanese style) feel.
5 ??????Angel ??麻?
This song was a highlight for the author, who already enjoyed it casually. Seeing it performed live, with the added “seiyuu factor,” elevated the experience. It was part of a block of songs expected to feature MA3 material, with the author anticipating Zenryoku Idol, though it did not appear on this day.
8 LEMONADE 中?繪??子, ??は???, 平?宏?
This track is considered a favorite, possibly tied with “Funny Logic.” With Azumin absent, the author was curious about the performance, but Hirorin’s substitution was seen as an upgrade, much to the delight of fans of this version of “Lemonade.” The use of stand mics that emerged from the stage added to the performance’s excellence.
9 Funny Logic 仁????子, ??麻?
The author found this performance to be fun, as expected from the two performers. Watching Nigochan dance was highlighted as a unique charm of the IDOLM@STER experience.
11 addicted ????
This is noted as one of the author’s favorite Million Live solos, and they consider it one of Takane’s strongest songs.
12 Day of the future ?谷川??子
This performance was unexpected but should have been anticipated, given it’s a classic. It represented a moment where a long-time fan finally witnessed a song they had admired for years.
13 Next Life 沼?????
Described as the “best Next Life ever,” the dancing was deemed on par with “Hotel Moonside,” resulting in full satisfaction.
16 ????は??????????！ ?????????? (沼?????, ?????, ??麻?, ??宮?恵, 仁????子)
This performance was a major event, making Hatsuboshi Enbu the best Million Live concert since Hotch Potch. The live rendition of a legendary song by its actual cast is a rare occurrence in Million Live outside of release events. It was noted that this song was something fans had hoped for at Hotch Potch but did not receive, making its appearance here somewhat surprising.
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? ??? (@jinma84) January 6, 2018
17 Light Year Song 仁????子, 平?宏?, ??麻?, 沼?????
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The stage setup perfectly complemented this song, including a shooting star effect. The domed roof of Makuhari Messe created a planetarium effect, with crowd-facing lasers resembling stars. The song itself is also described as chill.
18 ?に… ??は???
This performance was met with strong surprise. Chiaking’s powerful rendition, performed without a limiter, was noted for the vocal toll it likely took.
21 Just be myself!! ??麻?
Another “god tier” Million Live solo, this song is now considered the author’s favorite Chihaya song.
23 ???REST@RT 765PRO ALLSTARS
This song was a primal desire for the author, and its performance felt fitting and right.
General comments, part 1: The author’s seats on both days were in the back of A block stands, offering a full view of the stage and hall. This vantage point allowed them to observe the audience, including a fan who used a UO (Ultra Orange) light for “Tonari ni,” and to fully appreciate the planetarium effect during “Light Year Song.” Many fellow event attendees also had seats in the same block, facilitating social interaction. The lines for viewing flower stands were long, exceeding the queue for new official merchandise. While not numerous, there were more flower stands than at Producer Meeting 2017.
Post-event gatherings, or “uchiage,” were held in Akiba. On Saturday, the chosen venue offered slightly improved food and service compared to their usual spot, though the author remained unsure if it was a significant difference. The typical price for a course meal with all-you-can-drink in Akiba is around 3000 yen per person, a price point they slightly undercut.
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? Chris (@Kurotsuki) January 6, 2018
Originally planning to live view the second day, the author was unexpectedly offered a ticket by a fellow Producer whose friend could not attend. This generosity left the author feeling indebted and highlighted the social aspect of attending these events.
Day 2. With the experience of Day 1, the author was eager to see how Day 2 would bring new surprises.
3 ???????? ????
This song evoked strong memories for the author, harkening back to their first IDOLM@STER call-and-response experience at SSA 2014. The performance reignited those nostalgic feelings, with a particular shout-out to “Daisuki Haramii!”
5 ???????? ??宮?恵
This song was predicted by the author the previous day and they felt somewhat prepared, at least emotionally for the calls, though not with full vigor. The absence of Iori Ps was noted.
8 ???????? 平?宏?, 沼?????
The author found humor in this song, expressing gratitude for its existence in making this particular vocal pairing work effectively.
9 ??????????? 仁????子
While not “Kiramekirari,” this song was perceived to work in a similar, effective manner.
10 ?っぱ??っぱ? ?????
This song, along with “Nanairo Button,” is credited with breaking the ice on Day 2. The performance included a nod to Ryuguu Komachi, with Ritsuko introducing the unit as a transition to “7iro.” Notably, during “Ippai Ippai,” the performer had the audience sing nearly half the song, a fact she later commented on during the MC segment.
11 ?彩???? ??は???, ??宮?恵, ??麻?
The live performance of this song, one of the author’s favorites from IM@S 2 for its choreography, was described as blissful.
12 ???????????? ぁ????ど 中?繪??子, ??麻?, 仁????子, ?????, 平?宏?
This song was a source of immense fun, with widespread audience engagement, though some attendees appeared slightly confused. It was hailed as an epic song finally performed live.
13 ????????? ?谷川??子, ????, 沼?????
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? ??? (@Reckgal__) January 15, 2018
This performance of “Overmaster OG” fulfilled a stated desire by the performers to do this song live, as mentioned in Aisute. Following “7iro,” the author anticipated this performance, which featured an extended instrumental intro to build anticipation. The author deferred further commentary to Nunu’s SNS output.
14 迷走Mind 平?宏?
This song on Day 2 was a significant reason for the author’s attendance, alleviating years of regret for missing Hirorin’s classic performances, such as this one and “Tears?” at the 9th anniversary concert.
15 追?の??????? ?谷川??子
The author praised Akki for her numerous Million Live song performances, expressing happiness at hearing this song live, even if it had been performed once before for a release event.
16 Rebellion 沼?????
This performance was associated with “Shinjitsu no Aka.” The author noted the precise color switching of lights by the audience, to the extent that some fans switched to red prematurely. Observing the audience from the stands provided a different perspective, highlighting individuals with light bandoliers. Nu’s comment on the perfect color switch suggested it would be a notable feature on Blu-ray.
21 細氷 ??麻?
While difficult to comment extensively, “Saihyou” was recognized as the ultimate Chihaya song, making its performance apropos. The author accepted the notion that certain songs are now “sealed” due to their historical impact and epic performances.
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? ???P (@nmop) January 6, 2018
MC and announcements: The MC segments contained memorable moments, though some details have faded. Congratulations to Pon on her marriage were reiterated. On Day 2, performers shared New Year’s wishes written on ema boards, simulating character wishes. Prior to the live, a three-week period allowed fans to submit messages online, many of which were included in the live pamphlet along with statistics. The ema selections were entertaining, akin to a radio show recording, with some “winners” present at the live. The author noted that the seiyuu themselves often seemed hesitant during MC segments.
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? ???? (@tepo_tama) January 7, 2018
The MC on Day 1 featured typical 765Pro live gag topics, while Day 2’s chemistry was more humorous. Throughout both days, more emotional performers shared significant sentiments, with widespread affection for Hirorin and Kami (possibly NaohiroP), and Mingos continuing their calls from the previous year.
Announcements on Day 1 included the Tales SNS game receiving Stella Stage collaborations, allowing players to obtain outfits for in-game characters. Day 2 announcements featured the trailer for Stella Stage’s DLC pack 2 and two updates for Theater Days. The special preview of RE@DY was met with audience calls, and the Stella Stage outfits in Theater Days were described as “hardcore.”
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Both days began with a Kouhaku Ouen V VTR, accompanied by full hall calls. Yukiho led into the segment, serving as a suitable compromise. The cheers generated by this opening warmed up the audience for the show.
Wrap-up: The author’s first 765Pro All Stars solo show was a success, meeting expectations while still delivering surprises. While not necessarily a “bucket list” item, the experience provided valuable memories within the niche fandom. The trip, which coincided with celebrating New Year’s in Japan and reaching a personal milestone, was primarily driven by attending this event, which did not disappoint. The author remains open to attending Producer Meeting 2018, with future plans yet to be determined.
