Yuki Shirase Adds Second Show to December Solo Concert
The talent agency representing ballad singer Yuki Shirase, 31, announced on the 17th that it would add an afternoon matinee to her previously planned Dec. 12 solo concert at Kyobashi Hall, on the same day as the originally scheduled evening show. The move follows the previously reported ticket sale on the 11th, in which the best seats sold out in under two hours — making this her first two-show day for a concert centered on her original songs.
As previously reported, tickets for Yuki Shirase's solo concert sold out the best seats on the ground floor in under two hours after sales opened at 10 a.m. on the 11th. The surge is thought to have been driven by the popularity of her new song "One-Way Street," and inquiries kept coming into the agency even after the sale. An agency representative explained, "The response exceeded what we expected. Talk of not limiting it to a single show came together fairly quickly."
The newly added matinee will begin at 2 p.m., while the previously reported evening show starts at 6:30 p.m. Both shows will center on her original songs, but the matinee is being arranged to include a few numbers from her earlier setlists, including her cover of "The Shore Lullaby." In a statement, Shirase said, "Getting to stand on the same stage twice in one day is a first for me in my career as a singer. I hope to show a slightly different side of myself between the afternoon and the evening."
Tickets for the added show go on sale at 10 a.m. on the 21st. Given the size of Kyobashi Hall, the agency expects another quick sellout, as with the evening show, and said it is finalizing a per-person purchase limit.
A Kyobashi Hall representative revealed that "a two-show day happens maybe a few times a year at most for this venue. Factoring in the changeover time, we had to bring in extra load-in and load-out staff on short notice." With the surge in response coming just twelve days after "One-Way Street" was released for streaming, as previously reported on the 5th, some in the industry are calling it "a hit speed that feels distinctly of the streaming era."
Shirase's official fan club has seen a rush of entries for its members-only advance lottery since the added show was announced. According to the agency, entries surpassed the volume seen when the evening show was first announced — in just half a day — with a representative admitting, "We've never seen it move this fast." One longtime fan club member, a woman in her thirties, said, "Two shows built entirely around original songs feels like a real milestone. Having followed her since her cover-song days, it means a lot to me."
This marks Shirase's first solo concert built around her original songs. With nominations for next January's Torek Prize, the annual entertainment award, also on the horizon as previously reported, this reporter will be watching closely to see how the success of "One-Way Street" this year factors into the awards race. Shirase herself said, "I haven't let myself think about the award yet. For now, I just want to take good care of the two shows in front of me."
An agency representative said, "Having a streaming hit lead directly to an added solo show is a first for any artist on our roster. We want to take that response seriously." Following the announcement, notice of the added show was posted on record label Shiosai Records' official site, and from the 18th, seating-area information will go out by email in stages to those who already bought tickets for the evening show.
