Good news
Yamapi hits big in Bangkok
By Suwitcha Chaiyong
Did you know
In 2006, Yamapi won the Nikkan Sports Drama Grand Prix's best actor award for his role in the TV drama Producing Nobuta.
The gorgeous Tomohisa Yamashita (Yamapi) is one of the most popular J-pop artists among Thai fans. The 26-year-old singer, who is also a member of J-pop boy band NEWS, recently released his solo album Supergood, Superbad.
Yamapi's recent Super Good Super Bad concert at Bangkok's Thunder Dome was a long-awaited event for local J-pop fans.
COSY CONCERT
Yamapi's concert was an impressive and spectacular production. The laser lights on the stage and the LED screens throughout the venue were magnificent.
The singer kicked off the concert with music from the TV drama, Daite Senorita. Fans were particularly enthusiastic during the song "Seishun Amigo," especially when Yamapi got on a special trolley that took him close to the audience. Some lucky fans even got to shake the star's hand.
SEXY SAMURAI
Concert guests ABC-Z received a warm welcome from the audience. ABC-Z are known for their acrobatic performances, and they didn't disappoint with their traditional Japanese marks, modern fan dances and samurai sword fights. Their swords turned into lasers when Yamapi returned to the stage sporting a Japanese mask, a robe and his own samurai sword.
When Yamapi sang his early hit, "Love Song," he was elevated on a crane as the big screens showed pictures of Yamapi in different dramas over the years. The fans were delighted to see how Yamapi has grown up.
GETTING INTIMATE
Another part of the show that got the fans excited was the Q&A session with the star. Yamapi talked about Thai food and the places that he wanted visit. He said that he liked tom yum koong, and that he loved to visit Thai beaches.
One fan asked Yamapi to hug her, and the star happily obliged, driving the rest of the crowd crazy.
PARTING PARTY
The fans had waited so long to see Yamapi perform that they didn't want to leave when the singer left the stage after his last song, "Party Don't Stop." The crowd kept chanting for more in Japanese until Yamapi returned to the stage to sing again. The concert didn't end until Yamapi had performed four encores, and the fans finally left happy and satisfied.
Vocabulary
gorgeous (adj): very beautiful and attractive
long-awaited (adj): that people have been waiting for for a long time
spectacular (adj): very impressive
magnificent (adj): extremely attractive and impressive
trolley (n): a small vehicle on wheels that can be pushed or pulled along and used for carrying things
acrobatic (adj): involving or performing difficult acts or movements with the body
sword (n): a weapon with a long metal blade and a handle
sport (v): to wear something in a proud way so that everybody can see
robe (n): a long loose outer piece of clothing, especially one worn as a sign of rank at a special ceremony
crane (n): a tall machine with a long arm, used to lift and move building materials and other heavy objects
intimate (adj): having a close and friendly relationship
oblige (v): to help somebody by doing what they ask or what you know they want
encore (n): an extra short performance given at the end of a concert because the audience wants more
