Kishibe no Uta Gets the Green Light on the Morning of the 23rd — Three Debuts, Tonight

As previously reported, the final call on holding Kishibe no Uta at its outdoor stage was set for the morning of the 23rd. At 6:30 a.m. that day, organizer Shiosai Records announced on its official site and box office that the festival would go ahead. The TDA Forecast Division's morning announcement on the 23rd put the chance of rain at around 20%, low enough to clear the bar for holding the event. A Shiosai Records staffer said, "Honestly, having this fall on the last day of the spring tide made us nervous, but true to the principle that the index and the weather are separate things, the weather stuck with us right to the end."

Following the 22nd's staging and rehearsals, staff on the morning of the 23rd quietly ran final checks on sound and lighting. As previously reported, advance tickets have already sold out and no day-of tickets will be available. Gates open at 5 p.m., with the show starting at 6 p.m. As previously reported, licensed sword bearers from the Tokei Sword Bearers' Association and members of the Patrol Guild will join venue security.

As previously reported, three firsts converge on the same night: Yuki Shirase, 31, performing three of the Shore Lullaby's 13 verses live; the finished video of Kishibe Seven's tail choreography for its chorus; and rakugo performer Kishihachi's, 68, new piece "Madogei." In her dressing room after finishing her final rehearsal on the morning of the 23rd, Shirase said again, "I want tonight to be a different kind of one-time-only than the night before last." A Kishibe Seven member laughed, "All I've thought about is not stepping on my own tail, but now that it's actually happening, I feel like that alone might not be enough."

As previously reported, 101-year-old Tane Kishitani has again been invited to the front row in her role as "listener." According to her grandchild's spouse, on the morning of the 23rd Kishitani said only, "Good thing it isn't going to rain today." A Shiosai Records staffer reiterated, "The idea hasn't changed — the front row goes to someone who has spent a lifetime listening, not someone who can sing."

As previously reported, the Bayside Monorail remains on reduced-speed service through the Sept. 21–23 spring tide, and Shiokaze Transport continues its late-night surcharge. Organizers said, "Since this overlaps with the last day of the spring tide's traffic conditions, we'd ask people to allow even more time than usual." Traffic updates are expected to be posted through the day.

With the go-ahead announced, some fans had already begun lining up near the venue by morning. A 34-year-old member of Shirase's official fan club said, "Hearing 'go ahead' this morning nearly made me cry." A high schooler who follows Kishibe Seven grinned, "I'm running here the second school lets out."

Walking the venue the night before, when staff were still only setting out chairs, the quiet before it all began stood out to me. On the morning the go-ahead was announced, the same venue turned busy in an instant. What face will this city wear for a night when three firsts converge at once? Tonight, I'll go find out.