Neither light rain showers nor a gloomy and damp evening could stop Kazetarians from trooping to the SM Mall of Asia Arena, Pasay City, on Tuesday, 10 December, to watch Japanese singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze perform at the Manila stop of his Best of Fujii Kaze 2020-2024 Asia Tour.

This marks Japanese musician Fujii Kaze’s first-ever concert in Manila, offering him a front-row seat to the unmatched energy and heartfelt passion of Filipino fans — renowned for their love and enthusiasm, especially when it comes to their favorite artists.

Kaze kicked off the show with “YASASHISA,” one of the standout tracks from his debut studio album, “HELP EVER HURT NEVER.” The performance began with a soulful acapella showcasing his powerful vocals. He concluded with an electrifying piano rendition, setting the tone for a memorable night.

This was followed by an upbeat performance of “Nan-Nan” and “Kiri Ga Naikara,” which prompted the crowd to stand-up, dance, and sway their arms up in the air in unison.

He also had the crowd dancing to his hit song “grace,” a song that reflects on cherishing what you have and focusing on every day’s grace.

Kaze, putting his hands under his chin, enticed the audience with his cute tactics during his ment, telling fans not to be shy to show their cuteness. He contrasted it with his unique talent of playing a keyboard guitar, rocking the arena, and making the crowd jump to his music.

While the Japanese singer gave Kazetarians a night to remember, fans gifted him a night that is even more special by flashing green lights during “Garden.”

“My beautiful garden, Manila,” he said, his arms pointing out to the crowd.

The fans also danced along in their seats and screamed their hearts out at every performance, which Kaze liked. “You are the loudest, Manila!” 

Before performing “Feelin’ Go(o)d,” he took a moment to address his fans, relaying a heartfelt message that resonated deeply with the audience.

“Please be happy, Manila. Everything starts with your mind, your heart, [and] your feelings. Please be happy and be content [because] contentment is the key to your happiness,” he said.

“Think only good and speak only good, do only good. We’re gonna be good [and] we’re gonna be alright.” 

Kaze also captivated the audience with a powerful rendition of “(Shinunoga E-Wa),” beginning with a piano of Whitney Houstons’ “I Have Nothing” where the crowd sang for him. 

Shinunoga E-Wa is a track that quickly became a fan favorite, especially on various social media platforms such as TikTok, which has been featured as a backdrop to numerous videos.

Before bringing the two-hour show to a close, Kaze energized the crowd with an upbeat, electrifying performance of “Matsuri” encouraging fans to dance one last time, and finally delivered a short “SAYONARA Baby” performance for the encore, as per fans’ requests.

The 27-year-old Japanese singer is known for his unique musical style, often blending genres such as jazz, pop, R&B, funk, and even classical, complemented by his soulful voice and lyrics that explore self-discovery, relationships and other wide range of themes.