Please excuse the late update - I, ORG-master, am actually in Italy on business. But I have been receiving a lot of FRF reports. This time the reports are from Mayu-san and Hiro-san. Please check them out.
By the way, we are still accepting your experience reports. So get your thoughts down to roughly between 400 - 1000 Japanese characters (or 180-450 words in English), title it "FRF report" and email it to ORG-master. Cheers!
Reported by ORG-master and
translated by ORG-yuko, ORG-kaori, and ORG-yohei
with a help of ORG-jason & ORG-damon (April 7, 2002)
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I made my Fuji Rock debut last year being in my mid 20's. The only thing is, it would be impossible to let you in on all the memories I have, so I'm just going to list the things that really stuck in my mind.
The air conditioning in the Fuji Rock train was way cold, and I arrived in Naeba not having slept a wink. I'll never forget the immense feeling of relief I felt after getting off that train, and plowing into some hot noodles in a standing soba shop in the station..
I was blown over by how quiet the shuttle bus to Naeba was.
The array of colored tents in the campsite - it looked like a bed of flowers.
My very first camping experience.
The life-saving kebabs and Thai noodles - an everyday occurrence.
The audience at the Green stage was like a carpet of people.
Cell phones didn't work.
A planned nap turned into a deep sleep and I missed some shows I was keen to catch.
Chickened out on the cold showers and hit the onsen (hot spring) closed to the venue every morning.
Unbelievable difference in temperature between daytime and night/morning.
The "fairy-tale" lighting between the Green and White stages.
The cloud of dust was so bad that everytime I blew my nose the tissue turned black.
The mirror ball at Heaven's field.
Rolling up my jeans and paddling in the water.
The massive lines in front of the artist goods tents and the huge pile of pet bottles.
The ulcers in my mouth more than likely from lack of sleep.
My good buddy the yellow and red wrist-band during the festival
Although I spent the three days fumbling around more than anything, not really knowing what was going on, the feeling was not of anger or frustration, but of satisfaction and freedom. In a sense, the word "happy" more aptly describes the mood of the festival than "fun" for me. Despite being my first experience, I now understand why people rave about FRF so much.
And that's why I'm planning to hit FRF every year from now on, no matter who the artists are. If there are still people hesitating about whether to go or not, I just want to grab them by the hand and take them there!
"You won't be disappointed. Trust me!" KIRARI☆
letter from MAYU (April 7, 2002)
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Last year was my first time at FRF. Why did I go? There's only one answer, to listen to music. The word "rock" is used in various areas. I myself don't know what it really means, and I think there are other people who feel the same way... but who cares. I don't have any particular artist that I like and I never get excited waiting for a CD to be released - I won't change my style and I'm cool to that. Totally cool. It's not that I'm cold. In fact it's the opposite. My passion simply pushes me in a different direction.
It's just that I felt up to doing something in summer - I wanted to listen to music, so I decided to go to FRF.
It was so hot. I danced like nobody was watching.
I felt uplifted and screamed, it was almost like checking that I existed here.
I waved my hands in the air and screamed, "Yes! Peace!"
I picked up some garbage - just a bit.
All in all, I came to the realization that I loved music.
Now on fine Sundays, I listen to music in the sun and feel so good about myself.
I want to go back to that place just one more time - to the place where I feel like I can reach out and touch the sun, where anything seems possible.
That summer passed, as did the tragedy of fall, the clear winter, the positivity of spring, where it feels like anything could happen, and then finally back round to summer again.
I'm sure this year will bring a feeling of peace. Although we may not get to feel this directly, if we reach out a little further, we will be able to feel it through music.
KISS THE PAST!
PRAY THE FUTURE!
letter from HIRO (April 7, 2002)
