One day I'll get to see Kalafina live, alas this live again was not one of those days but given I am now able to take new Kalafina content for granted makes me a very privileged fan indeed.
General Thoughts
The production design is great, even if the part at the top of the stairs is a tiny bit cramped. It reminds me of the After Eden era.
I'm very much in the minority here but I actually really enjoyed the mixing of the girls, I thought they sounded a lot clearer and nicer than in 2025 live. It was certainly more flattering on Hikaru's singing imo. The camera work and editing is a lot better as well!
The setlist was BOMB for the most part. Some of my faves were here so I'm absolutely smitten.
The outfits are... fine? I like the silhouette of Keiko's black dress, but I don't really like either of Wakana's outfits (not a fan of the neckline personally) and Hikaru's are kinda whatever (I do like that her red outfit looks like a dress but are actually very flowy pants.
As someone whose favourite Kalafina lives are ones with big choreography and theatrical moments, this live was a little disappointing in that regard but I can certainly why they a. couldn't hire a choreographer and b. wouldn't be able to do large theatrics in a relatively smaller venue.
Keiko sounded great as always, no complaints here. Hikaru will never sound like my favourite version of her but at this point I'm used to it. Wakana though... for a long time whenever she's sung live I've kinda had to brace myself for the harder parts and this live is no exception. Her vibrato (tremolo) has gotten to a point where it is almost unlistenable in my opinion. Her voice has always been thin and even thinner since around 2012 but now it feels like it has barely any weight to it at all, especially against Hikaru and Keiko's. I can tell she's trying something different with her upper register like she knew it was an issue later into Kalafina's career, but it's somehow gotten worse? I won't harp on about it and I don't want to come across as too harsh but I may make note of it here and there.
Individual Song Thoughts
ring your bell: At this point it's just boring tbh - the exact same as previous year's live. Will forever be sad I didn't get to hear consolation again, my opinion of that song has gotten much higher over time. As a dumb nitpick, I have no clue why during the last chorus the lighting designers decided to change the lights on 'hajimari ga hirogaru' instead of the very obvious beat drop on 'mukou ni wa mada nanimo nai' - just a little strange.
believe: fun to hear after so long, but there's a reason why it's in my bottom 5 Kalafina songs I guess.
progressive: Let's goooo!!! Will always love this song, very happy it's here!
moonfesta: One of my absolute faves, always a delight. Hikaru sounded better than I expected. You can tell they all absolutely love this song, the more subdued energy to this performance gave it an interesting vibe as well.
neverending: eh... boring. nice to see it back though, always loved the strings in this song.
Hikari no Senritsu: The acapella intro was wonderful and unexpected. Wakana & Keiko's harmonies are always great. Even if I'm sick of hearing this song live at this point, I think I could hear more of the electric guitar in the mix so it felt a little more energetic - and the girls walking across the stage and clapping with the flute playback brough me straight back to their 2010 lives of this!
interlude 01: Never been a huge fan of this song, but it's cool to get a filmed version after 18 years!
Kimi ga Hikari ni Kaete Iku: Keiko's vocals are utterly beautiful as always, I even enjoyed the more cutesy tone. But Wakana's utter lack of emotive expression and trembly vibrato stands out like a sore thumb next to it.
ARIA: I was kind of dreading this but it sounded better than I expected. The lack of energy kind of threw me off though, they didn't even move during the banger kajiurago section?
sprinter: A blast as always, Hikaru always looks like she's having fun and she owns it - she knows it's her song.
Madoka Medley Instrumental: One of the highlights of the live for me. Absolutely wonderful (the bass playing the vocal melody of misterioso was inspired)! Props to Satoshi Takabe and the musicians I'm glad they got their moment to shine!
Magia: Good as always, a little boring at this point and I didn't think I'd get to say that of one of my top 5 Kalafina songs. I wish they had any choreography during the instrumental, even bringing the old choreo back with the arrow shooting would be fanservice for me specifically.
red moon: SO HAPPY they did this!!! The energy was a bit flat at first but you could tell Wakana and Keiko were getting into it. Wakana especially was so cool in the last chorus whereas Keiko's solo part was a little underwhelming?
obbligato: obbligatoちゃん久しぶり！The girls were having fun and Wakana's kajiurago solo was so awesome you could tell she was feeling herself at the end - go girl! The outro with Wakana and Hikaru singing at the top of the stairs with Keiko looking back at them was so good... more of that please.
Kagayaku Sora no Shijima ni wa: Unexpected but beautiful! Always loved Wakana & Keiko's part here.
in every nothing: This one was tough for me. It was great seeing it again but I hold the fotw live version in such high regard because of its theatricality and production that it was hard not to compare, especially when the 'choreo' was just them walking around.
to the beginnning: Fine as always. Wakana was great near the end and the Hiikei moment was cute.
adore: Meh... is kinda whatever. Wakana's thin voice especially stands out here.
signal: The intro was sick! And imma say it Wakana and Keiko standing back to back was hot. The energy was great and sorely missed, and the instrumental section was also completely sick.
blaze: The song has always been fine I guess, Hikaru sitting and watching Wakana and Keiko sing the kajiurago section was cute though.
Ongaku: So much fun as always! So many cute moments I've definitely gotta make a gifset of them.
far on the water: It was lovely to hear this song again, even if I only think it's just okay.
into the world: Despite my absolute love of this song, I am getting a little burnt out hearing it live. It was wonderful as always, but I'd prefer something else to be the final song next time. The fact that there is a next time though is awesome.
Overall, really enjoyed the live and a lot more than last years even though that one was great a lot due to the novelty of seeing them again after 7 years! I really hope they're either able to reunite with Kajiura or start making their own music. Either way, I've been following them since I was 13 and I'm turning 26 this year so hope to many years more!
Can’t believe this is happening!! Decided to go for the balcony seat. The view is pretty good I think. 👍
Not everything went according to plan regarding the collab items and gachas but overall I’m happy with what I got.
No cameras as far as I can tell🥲
Update 1: there WERE cameras after all (no big setup tho)!! And there‘s gonna be a broadcast it seems (on March 1st! BANZAI🤗🤗)
Update 2: I‘m honestly so stupid, should have just looked at all the promo sheets they handed out when entering the venue😅They already had an advertisement for the broadcast so that should have made it clear from the get-go that there would be cameras 🙃
If they don’t cut off my internet access, I can occasionally post some setlist updates but we’ll see. Wanna focus on the girls and not get too distracted with other stuff🫣
Kalafina Anniversary Live @Tokyo Garden Theater
White/gold dresses, similarly shaped to their FOTW black/silver dresses but with lighter fabric. Wakana’s dress looks more like her 10th Anniversary dress tho.
Setlist
1 oblivious (I cried)
2 Kizuato
3 Mirai
MC
4 Hikari no Senritsu
5 storia (I cried some more)
6 ring your bell (enjoyed this so much more than usual)
MC
7 Hanataba (Hi‘s choic and one of the best performances of the night)
8 Lacrimosa (a pleasant surprise)
9 Manten
10 to the beginning (found a new appreciation for this)
MC
11 Kimi no Gin no Niwa~acoustic version
12 sprinter~acoustic version (so many tears)
MC
13 Hyakka Ryouran
14 misterioso
15 One Light (so much fun)
16 Kyrie
17 Ongaku (epic!!)
18 heavenly blue
MC
19 Alleluia (more tears🥹)
The apear girls in 💙🖤🤍(similar design to FOTW encore design)
En1 Magia
En2 Hikari Furu
MC goods introduction (pamphlet only bc no time left)
『Kalafina Anniversary LIVE 2025』 First Visual Revealed
OMG!! I’m deceased. Crying, sobbing. SEVEN FREAKING YEARS!!! The wait is finally over!! 😭So happy 💕💕💕💕And what a timing! Just about to take off to Japan.
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