松下奈緒、「20th ANNIVERSARY LIVE」東京ファイナル公演ライブレポート

Nao Matsushita, who is not only an actress, pianist, composer, and singer, but also an MC, navigator, and radio personality, held her first solo live event in two years, "Nao Matsushita 20th ANNIVERSARY LIVE" at Hall C of the International Forum in Tokyo on Sunday, June 23.

Nao Matsushita, who celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut in April this year, appeared on stage in a yellow skirt that she said she made herself because her hobby is dressmaking. When she expressed her gratitude, "Thanks to all of you, I was able to celebrate my 20th anniversary," the audience warmly and loudly applauded and congratulated her. She also sang "Kirarira," a love song with lyrics written by Yoshiki Mizuno (Ikimono-gakari) and chorus by Ryuta Yamamura (flumpool), and the opening theme song for the latest movie "Kaze no Kanade no Kimi e" in which she played the role of a pianist, which she also composed herself. She performed a total of 23 songs, mainly from her ninth album "souNds!" released in May of this year, and drew the audience into her own unique worldview with her gentle yet dynamic piano and her bitter, clear voice. The audience was drawn into his own unique worldview with his gentle yet dynamic piano and bitter-clear voice.

During the MC, she talked about the 2006 drama "Taiyou no Utah" in which she played a singer-songwriter, saying, "It was the drama that inspired me to sing. I first sang in the drama as a piano player," she recalled. In the middle of the live performance, she performed a medley of songs from dramas in which she had appeared, including "Koi ni ochitara" and "Chiritoto tecchin". She was deeply moved by Ikimono-gakari's "Arigatou (Thank you)," the theme song for the morning TV series "Gegege no Nyobo" (Gegege's Wife), saying, "It was always by my side in my important moments," and played the piano with all her heart, captivating the audience. She then directly showed her unique character, which is connected to the expression of piano and singing in all her activities, including not only playing roles but also traveling around the world as a navigator. The encore was so exciting that the audience spontaneously clapped along with the band's cheerful and bouncy ensemble.

She is currently filming the summer drama "Sky Castle" and says, "I am enjoying playing the role of a celebrity wife with a black belly. Every day I am saying words I have never said in my life," she said with a laugh, and concluded, "I want to continue to share memories with you all. I want to continue to do what only I can do, so I ask for your continued support for the next 30 or 40 years. Waving her hands to all corners of the audience, she left the stage with regret.