Now on the show itself. It must really show in my posts after it was announced that I was very, very worried and concerned about how it would look like. All signs are pointing to promising stuff, from the cast to the venue to the people involved to the costumes. But... what would it look like? I really want it to be successful, but most of all I really hoped with all my might that it would be a show that is true to who Shoma is, not just as a skater and performer but also as an individual. It's funny because for me I don't need Shoma to be this big superstar who is constantly praised, so I was worried that he would leave behind what he holds dear to himself just to be that person.
And.... it's really the show of my dreams. It's the show that I didn't know I was waiting for all these years, ever since I saw Shoma for the first time in 2018. It's the show that celebrates not just Shoma's competitive career but all of it: his past, present and future. It's the show that displays the immense potential and talent that Shoma has as a figure skater, in his own special way. And it's the show that reminds me once again the things and the people Shoma holds most dear in the world, and that it's because he is with those people, that he is able to reach amazing heights in his career and achieved so many incredible things.
The full show is incredible to experience. In Shoma's previous shows, I'm used to the pace building up with Shoma as the one of the last skaters or even the last, fully unleashing his energy and skating and really changed the atmosphere of the venue. But this... it's like Shoma was able to unleash this unique, singular energy he has as a skater and channel it together with his team of producers to create a show that fully encapsulates all that. It wasn't just intense, it was also emotional. It wasn't just meaningful, it was also cheeky with a sense of humor. It was really everything that I know about Shoma in one show.
And Shoma!!! This is gonna sound hyperbolic, but this is probably the happiest I have ever seen Shoma.... ever. He did say he was smiling really big to push everyone else to also express themselves loudly in this show
but he was just filled with so much joy and energy, and was just really in the center of everything. Not only showing his range of expression, because he went from explosive and powerful (Grespi & Come Together), to cheeky and playful (Legends duet with Stephane), to mysterious and sensual (Tanguera/Stairway duet and trio skating with Tsunehito and Marin), to passionate and intense (Loco), to wild and bouncy (Narco), to dry and humorous (his MC sessions where he talked to the audience), to romantic and ethereal (Wild Side duet with Marin) to artistic and triumphant (Bolero) and to heartwarming and lyrical (See You Again). His musicality is always singular since his competitive days, but now it's like... it's infused with so much motivation and passion he gets for being able to skate with other skaters in this show.
I was able to watch the show for the first time from the stands (the premiere). I'm pretty sure I yelled so many times, including mistaking Legends music for The Blessed Spirits (wow, my brain was fried), yelling "HE LIFTED HER THREE TIMES!!!! THREE TIMES!!!!!!" after the Shomarin duet, a giant "OH MY GOD" when MJ started, and wondering aloud if they were going to do Turandot in the golden costumes (it was Bolero). Sorry for the people who sat there, LOL. The second one was really good seats in the North side near the entrance of the skaters, and in the second row. We were SO CLOSE to the skaters, and they were just all so good looking live. Stephane was so incredibly handsome in real life, I saw him before at FOI but he was really good looking here. It's also how I was completely converted to blonde Shoma, he looks SO GOOD in real life and we were so close.
Again the full show is incredible and I wish my brain had a recording function. All numbers even the ones without Shoma was amazing and I wanted to relive every single detail. Bolero was the jewel of the crown, it was so good and had so many beautiful details with all of them skating together and then Stephane and Shoma alone and then Shoma finished it with his step sequence. I really cried at both bows of Bolero (and See You Again) because.... he came so far. And to think he nearly stopped skating! Thankfully he didn't but the show was really a reflection of how he continued with the strength he found from many people who supported him.
And I love that even though it was a show that centered on Shoma, the way it was produced highlighted the strengths of all the skaters too. There is no supporting roles here. Stephane had incredible music selection - Legends reminds me of his younger days when he skates cool and playful programs, Gravity was beautifully languid, and Timelapse was a masterpiece. Rika Hongo not only did her legendary Riverdance program, but she was such a beautiful actress in the more showy programs, making it her own musical and drama. And of course the dignity and weight she and Marin lends to Winter, making it such a beautiful duet in white. Marin was at her full glamorous peak, she did Stairway with a lot of splendor with that beautiful red dress, and it was amazing to see her skating blends with Shoma so smoothly during Wild Side. Yoji is a PIW member who is used to skating programs and music with stories and his storytelling really created a world on its own for his parts- creating a little story in itself with La vie en Rose, Time After Time, and Dancing on My Own. Tsune was also sharp and full of tricks- his solo in Tanguera was a highlight that started really the most dangerous part of the show when Shoma and Marin joined in. Kazuki Kushida... Kussy.... he has so much swag and game, and again one of my strongest memory is the sound of his airkiss when he did MJ with Yoji and Tsune- that program was also incredible to watch.
The MC sessions were also great- Shoma has obviously been going viral with his sense of humor on Twitter and you can see it on full display here, where he talked to the other skaters and the audience. It's like a little stand up session, LOL. Especially when Stephane joins in with his English (overseas fans, we have some English here). These sessions are meant to be when the skaters get some rest, but the way it's MC-ed by the host himself (Shoma here) and not by a narrator / announcer ice shows usually has was really enjoyable. It's really like a live music concert, especially the rest where Stephane brought out towels and water bottles.
Costumes were also amazing... the Bolero in gold really is incredible to see in real life. The sheer back Loco... the black opening costumes and the red short-sleeved jacket Shoma wore for the Narco group number. Also the final varsity jacket with "MY BRAVERY IS BUILT BY THOSE WHO STAND WITH ME." made me cry. Shoma had so many amazing people supporting him throughout his life and career.
The 90 minutes time make it a real tight, professional show that didn't drag at all. The music selection was GREAT (Shoma has an incredible portfolio) with enough changes to make it a new and refreshing experience and not make it a visit to past glory. And I love how the numbers transitioned from one to another. There were only 3 bows outside of the finale with all skaters, which was Shoma and Stephane after doing Legends, Shoma and Marin after doing Wild Side, and Shoma himself after finishing Bolero.
This is probably the only show where I wished I had more money to buy more tickets to take in more of it. It's everything I have ever wanted, and thank you Shoma for working so hard to produce it!
It's likely why Nobu and Kazuki went there, the Uno family are friendly with both. A fan said she was watching the final Fukuoka performance from the stands and clapped loudly after Shoma finished Bolero with his steps (the finale) 
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