First batter of the 2 day “NANO-MUGEN FES. 2006”, is a cute, natural alternative three musketeer from Tokushima=CHATMONCHY. When the tiny threesome came on the huge stage in the Yokohama Arena, a big roar from the audience begins. The commemorating first number is “Tokyo Hachimitsu Orchestra”, an opening track from their 1st album『Miminari』 which will be out momentarily. Humorous and slow ‘A’ melody changing to a hard guitar sound at chorus, makes the audience in surprised mood. Moving on to a song about a teenager in anguish, a familiar single “Hana No Yume”, which brought the audience to excitement. “We belong to the same record label as ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, so we call them Big Brother AKG.” “Thank you for inviting us over to perform.” With that MC, continued on to “Sayonara Good Bye” and “Weekend No Maboroshi”….. as they perform one song after another, the audiences’ eyes get trapped in, like they’ve cast a spell on the audience. “My mother couldn’t say ‘nano-mugen’ she was always saying ‘nanogenom’!” Cooling down the stage with her sweet MC, last song started from a cappella of Eriko Hashimoto (Vo.) moving on to “Renai Spirits”. An ensemble send out with all their might, soaked the arena. “That’s why you can’t let go of me”…..the 3 passionately singing about confused emotions, rock that cannot be factorized, fills the arena. It was like tiny thorn piercing the hearts of the listeners, sweet and bitter live performance….. a band suitable for the opening of a 2 day festival, it was a 35 minute presentiment of the good old days.

01.Tokyo Hachimitsu Orchestra
02.Hana No Yume
03.Sayonara Good Bye
04.Weekend No Maboroshi
05.Koi No Kemuri
06.Yuge
07.Renai Spirits

2nd day of 『NANO-MUGEN FES.』, first act on stage is HiGE who is　“a nuclear fusion at room temperature of The Beatles and Alternative”or a “rock’n’roll group of 5 members who always rancor on sarcasm and philanthropy.” The name of the band as if taking from the percussionist Koichi Sato in white wardrobe & fake beard, putting the underground feeling to the atmosphere, some of the audience in the arena laughing and some pulling away . But when a loud sound of the 1st song, “白い薔薇が白い薔薇であるように” began, all attention was pulled back to the stage of HiGE wonderland! Continuing on to a silly pop number, “ブラッディ・マリー、気をつけろ！” Then “髭は赤、ベートーヴェンは黒”, a song about rye field and Beethoveen which links to magical rock’n’roll tour. Even musicians get fascinated by the husky voice of Sudo (Vo&Gt.). He sings in sunglasses to psychedelic and dynamic ensemble of 2 guitars+bass+twin drums, at times to tinge the performance, and at times to bring out the melody, with natural born rock blending in. In a different sense from Chat Monchy of day one, an uneasy feeling of “something is about to happen”, as rock music being radioactive material flit through the minds of the audience. Towards the end, Sudo yells “do you want to see the dirty world?” and sings “ダーティーな世界（Put your head）”！ it’s the phrase: dance, dance. Hooligan! During the last 30 seconds, they show flashes of explosion! And final song being “ギルティーは罪な奴”. They blew the audience away. “Rock’n’roll guilty is you!” is probably what the audience wanted to address towards the band. So that was their 30 minute performance.

01.白い薔薇が白い薔薇であるように
02.ブラッディ・マリー、気をつけろ!
03.髭は赤、ベートーヴェンは黒
04.王様はロバのいうとうり
05.ロックンロ−ルと五人の囚人
06.ダーティーな世界(Put your head)
07.ギルティーは罪な奴

Along with THE RENTALS, a band that was invited to a rock festival, at which ASIAN KUNG-FU being the organizer can only make it happen, not just fans of the indies but also a lot of the rock fans praised for or were astonished. A representative of UK surf pop　that’s SILVER SUN. It’s been 9 years since their last visit to Japan. So, for the first act of day one began surprisingly or obviously with “Tokyo E Ikitai”. The venue filled with smiling faces and great cheer arose from James’s (Vo. & Gt.) halting singing in Japanese. The songs were extremely pop, while the edgy sounds of 2 guitars echoed throughout the body, with rhythms following it. “Pop” not just to arouse the arena, but “pop” by strong men with all their might. James’ bright pink shirt on the first day, and silver shirt/necktie/jeans on the second day, entertained the “pop” scene also with appearance. The selection of songs for both days were “Lies”“Pipsqueak”“Immediate” putting emphasis on the latest album “Disappear Here”. At first, the same set was planned for 2 days but after the 1st act they either had a change of mind or did the Japanese bands instigate the silver souls? Whatever it was, interesting to see a bit of a change in the set. At the final act of day 2, they performed “Bubblegum” a familiar track from the compilation album, and it seemed like they were ending with “Lava”“I’ll See You Around” , but continued on by saying “Thank you to AKG” and closed the act with a superb melody “Golden Skin”. A naive tune gaining an air of confidence, heartening music was felt by all.

[07.16]
01.Golden Skin
02.Tokyo E Ikitai
03.Lies
04.Can't Get You Out Of My Head
05.Bubblegum
06.Scared
07.Immediate
08.Yellow Light
09.Pipsqueak
10.Lava
11.I'll See You Around

As the stage of Yokohama Arena starts to heat up from the performance of Chat Monchy and Silver Sun, the next performer, is a band that sparkles in the Japanese rock scene, a suicide rock’n’roll band= MO’SOME TONEBENDER! The audience welcomes the 3 members in long-sleeved black shirt. “We will MO’SOME TONEBENDER!”Momo’s blunt speech added an edgy rock feeling to the performance. First playing“SIDE B”an explosive session, leading to “ロッキンルーラ”！ from the latest album. The unadorned 3 piece style of sound crunches the air in the arena, plunging right into the eardrums. Then performing “未来は今” an early anthem of rock’n’roll, dub, punk , in hasty rhythm. With the MC “pledging to continue to ascertain the golden time”, heats the audience up at once with “GREEN&GOLD” . Then presenting 2 new tracks, one being solid rock’n’roll and the other being 4 upbeat pop, they’ve pulled out the exact opposites among MO’SOME’s new collection. Next, a song on the compilation album “Have you ever seen the Stars?”. The impressive guitar cord moving onto middle tempo, a melody about purely dreaming to be a rock star, this day being a celebration for MO’SOME, for being a star, was how the listeners must have thought. Lastly, a familiar song from other performances “凡人のロックンロール”！　Not hazardous but a comfortable melody to sway to, is the trend of recent rock, but MO’SOME dreams to be the unruly horse rock’n’roll type of band. Though it was a short act, the audience in the arena must have witnessed their essence.

01.SIDE B
02.ロッキンルーラ
03.未来は今
04.GREEN&GOLD
05.You are Rock'n Roll
06.WE'RE LUCKEY FRIEND
　 [新曲・仮タイトル]
07.Have you ever seen the stars?
08.凡人のロックンロール

2nd day of festival, evening of act 3, a loud cheer in the arena …a unique troop in Japanese rock scene grown into a Southern Cross leading the entire rock scene, that’s STRAIGHTENER!
As shown on “NANO-MUGEN” history video in the venue, they have made their second appearance in a row. Being right in the middle of the tour, and also participating at various festivals, composes a busy summer for them. This festival only being just the beginning; nonetheless, the members themselves seem to have been enjoying. Opening the act with “Novemberist” came “Melodic Storm” as their next song, possibly a song that guessed themselves right. Then, “TRAVELING GARGOYLE” which got the audience wildly excited. A tremor of the arena from jumping with all their might, made the camera hard to focus on the audience. This act being in such perfect gear by far among all the past performances, their consistency made it hard to believe they were a three-piece band. “Reminder”, “Dead Head Beat”, “PLAY THE STAR GUITAR” colored the audience in a mellow mood but “DISCOGRAPHY” and “KILLER TUNE” drastically changed the arena into hard and distortional dance mode. Solid guitar rock an endless journey which STRAIGHTENER renders, stabs the audience one song after next. While performing their last number “MAGIG WORDS”, Shinpei Nakayama dives in the audience from enthusiasm. STRAIGHTENER has grown to be of great existence with “NANO-MUGEN” literally. It was a performance where they have appealed their well-being to the fullest.

01.The Novemberist
02.Melodic Storm
03.TRAVELING GARGOYLE
04.REMINDER
05.Dead Head Beat
06.PLAY THE STAR GUITAR
07.The Nowarist
08.DISCOGRAPHY
09.KILLER TUNE
　 [Natural Born Killer Tune Mix]
10.Farewell Dear Deadman
11.MAGIC WORDS

Among all the performing artists, a unit wearing a veil, “unless you see them you won’t know how they are” but at the same time, “after seeing them you get hooked on”, a unit which brought about the magic of rock festival. Describing them as “DJ”, but actually are “capable of doing anything” a U.K. burst D.J×2=THE YOUNG PUNX!　　Instead of characterizing them as “DJ”, they’re more like “producers”, who expose materials to bring the audience to enthusiasm. In fact more like “hunters” with avaricious eyes arousing the arena. At intro of “Wake up, Make up, Bring it up, Shake up” , they mix in “Loop & Loop” (cover version of Industrial Salt) for a second, captivating the eyes of the audience. A lady dressed in a nurse costume, DJ-Cameron walking back and forth around the DJ stage, house & drum bass like beat drawing near, and then almost heavy metal solo by a crackerjack guitarist embodies the performance. Never experienced anything like this before, was probably what most people felt. The unexpected skills all aiming for that pleasure blending into one impressive piece of work. Being noticed from Radiohead to Fatboy Slim, a global steeplejack, who makes people smile, not because they’re cute, but because they make them feel the pleasant sensation. After “We Roll” DJ=Hal leaves the stage, then returns as Superman! Cameron in bright red hot pants as well. The song is obviously “Superman’s Brother”. They’re awesome! They performed the same set list for 2 days, probably challenging a very satisfying set, and a very satisfying act as well which the audience was drawn into, the energy of the stage proving the success.

01.Big Ben(intro)
02.Wake up,Make up,
　　　Bring it up, Shake up
03.Young and Beautiful
04.It doesn't Stop
05.You've got to
06.We roll
07.Superman's Brother
08.Understand
09.Rockll!

Day one at Yokohama Arena, right before Act 5, the venue begins to reach top enthusiasm; tightening the entrance restriction for the first time, like last year, ELLEGARDEN!, along with STRAIGHTENER have build up a joint struggle relation with ASIAN KUNG-GU GENERATION. They show off their enlarged scale of sound performance from last year. As the 1st pleasant roar “Space Sonic”begins, the long-waited audience jumps for joy! The venue rocks!! Continuously plays “BBQ Riot Song”and “Supernova.”Hosomi smiling. When performing he has a rock devil-spirited like expression but suddenly smiles when it comes to MC. “I’m loving it and hope you will have fun till the end.”, he says. Then another jumping and singing to the songs “Niji”and“Missing”. A pulse that runs in the speed of light was how ELLEGARDEN sounded; but they have now grown into a sturdy figure that they have taken the whole audience to pleasure, to where none have yet experienced. He says “we’re right in the process of recording, but I’m glad that we are able to come perform for this festival.”Hosomi expresses his enjoyment repeatedly. Then, after playing “Surfrider Association” and Marry Me”, an intro not heard of yet begins. The new song “Salamader”is performed. Didn’t take too long for the audience to appreciate the heart striking anthem. Lastly, “next song I was not able to sing completely last year so this year I’d like to close our performance by singing it perfectly.” Introducing on MC, obviously it’s “Make A Wish”. As the intro begins, a large shout of joy almost like a scream just about to break through the ceiling in the arena, outbursts. The band and the audience sing along. It was a perfect combustion and a dazzling moment. That’s who Ellegarden is.

01.Space Sonic
02.BBQ Riot Song
03.Supernova
04.Niji
05.Missing
06.Surfrider Association
07.Marry Me
08.Salamander
09.Jitterbug
10.Red Hot
11.Make A Wish

They’re here. “The rock scene of Japan proudly introducing the firearm” or “a band who thinks ‘away’ as ‘home’” or even “a band that makes anywhere ‘a home’”, average age of 33, rather an elderly energetic pop group of 5 members. They’re named BEAT CRUSADERS!　Comparing NANO-MUGEN to other festivals, younger age groups seem to participate but still greets “Hey, sorry to keep you waiting” in an inferior phrase (R21). With standard numbers “ISOLATION” and “JAPANESE GIRL”, take the audience to the top. “Thanks for inviting us over today!” We’ll still be talking dirty, though “says the vocal Toru Hidaka. Before going any further, he pays his respect to the organizer. “Am I mature or what? Well, we’ll start over….oops there I go again. Next track is only for girls,” says Hidaka. “Just for the ugly ones”, says Kato. “That’s nasty”, says Hidaka. And Kato besieged. This next song is for married women, “ANOTHER TIME/ANOTHER STORY”. Amazing how he doesn’t forget to address married women, shows his gentleman side of maturity. After “LOVE POTION #9”, then performs “HIT IN THE USA” the song that brought the band to recognition. A band, which changes a crystal clear pop atmosphere into dazzling rock, that’s BEAT CRUSADERS. “Next song is “TONIGHT, TONIGHT, TONIGHT”, not from Genesis, but our unreleased track of the opening song from “BLEACH”. Final 2 songs, by adding a gram of poisonous drug MC “I love you, I’ll kill you” sings “LOVE DISCORD” and ends with a grand finale “DAY AFTER DAY”. ！

01.ISOLATIONS
02.JAPANESE GIRL
03.FEEL
04.ANOTHER TIME/ANOTHER STORY
05.LOVE POTION #9
06.HIT IN THE USA
07.TONIGHT,TONIGHT,TONIGHT
08.BANG!BANG!
09.SOLITAIRE
10.LOVE DISCHORD
11.DAY AFTER DAY

First day of performance after the stage of ELLEGARDEN where the enthusiasm still remains, at the left side of the main stage, a grand piano is on stand-by on the acoustic stage. A man appears to the piano. It’s Nick, the vocal of DREAM STATE. Leaving Arizona, the birthplace of JIMMY EAT WORLD, the key person of a new generation piano EMO elite band, begins to play the piano in acoustic style. Performing 6 songs from the album “Something to Believe In”, cool but tense sounding tracks were played to perfection on the piano, impressed by Nick’s ability once again. For those expecting Nick’s sound to be like a comfortable breeze, which would give the arena a real lift after 5 impassioned bands, must have been blown away by his band-like aggressive style of performing. While playing “Don’t Walk”, “Something to Believe In” and “Friend”, Nick’s sincere expression projected on the large screens beside the stage. From a blue simple lighting appear Nick and the piano. The insinuating object on the stage, made his presence like a moving statue. A lot have not known the band “DREAM STATE” but have successfully fulfilled the audience to pleasure. At the final phase, Nick’s MC impresses the audience favorably when he asks the audience out for a drink in Japanese. It was a moment when his feelings of gratification and relief could be seen. And Nick expressed his last song “Change” in crisp flashy style on the piano. 30 min. performance passed with surprising swiftness.

01.Don't Walk
02.Something to believe In
03.Friend
04.No Vacancy
05.Show me
06.Change

Half way along the 2nd day of the festival, at the acoustic stage appears WAKING ASHLAND, a new EMO nova from California. Formerly a 4 member band, but with drummer and bassist leaving last year, now have supporters play in the band instead. This time the two core members: Jonathan (Vo. & Piano) and Ryan (Gt.) came to perform for this festival. Sounding clear like stream ensemble was not the style they took. Rather they performed in a simple piano and acoustic guitar style, their serene melody rippling throughout the arena. Though pop sounding, among recent EMO newcomers, a lot of their songs are stoic beyond compare and dignified which actually stood out on the acoustic set. At an interview earlier, when Jonathan was asked what he expects the most from music, looking straight ahead “true love” was his reply. Jonathan entertaining the audience by addressing “Yokohama Aishitema-su”, emotions being pop and his tunes being stoic balances out to be the music of WAKING ASHLAND, it seems. After “October Skies”, “Tortoise And　The Hare”, followed “Shades Of Grey” in mellow waltz rhythm. For finale their masterpiece “I Am For You” in acoustic version which is in their latest EP release “Telescopes” was performed. Amazing how the tune when actually played at a large venue like Yokohama Arena had proved strength and quality. It was a quiet but passionate 30 minute act.

01.October Skies
02.Tortoise and the Hare
03.Shades Of Grey
04.Edinger
05.Let Go
06.Julian
07.I Am for you

A lot of the western music fans must have thought with smiles on their faces “What?” “Is that person really coming?” The fans’ main concern of this year’s NANO-MUGEN, and that person being ex-weeezer Matt Sharp, as the lead member of THE RENTALS. A completely different tone of line-up compared to last year’s, which were ASH, DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS etc., Gochi’s longstanding passion or a deep-seated grudge for rock can be felt from the exquisite selection, fitting perfectly in the 2-day festival. Connecting with a real sound of strings and analog synthesizer, band member joining one at a time, and sad looking eyebrow Matt joins in last with a big smile on his face, running down the narrow stage, outshining THE YOUNG PUNX with tension. Having the privilege to see both days, it was still exciting to see the performance even on the 2nd day. Devoting all the energy in every move, shouting out “Yokohama”, indulging the audience with full attention, and every song filled with such warmth. The overlapping warm tone of moog synthesizer, the overlapping chorus of seven colors, and the overlapping excitement in the arena, gave a feeling of a visibility clearing out but at the same time leaving a dreamy comfortable feeling of pop. Almost the same set for 2 days, presenting “I Just Threw Out The Love of My Dreams” from Weezer, “Walk On The Wild Side” a cover of Velvet Underground, to name a few and “Getting By” from the compilation album, passing on to the headliner, AKG. It was 60 minutes of supreme bliss by THE RENTALS.

[07.16]
01.2046
02.Move On
03.We Have a Technical
04.Please Let That Be You
05.The Love I'm Searching For
06.Sweetness and Tenderness
07.Keep Sleeping
08.The Love Of My Dreams
09.Wating
10.She Says It's Alright
11.Walk On The wild Side
12.Friends Of P

“Why would a band organize a festival? The only reason is because we love music! (Gotchi ‘s MC from day one)
“I think this festival has grown into success. Last year when we played here at Yokohama Arena for the first time, we had few problems but it’s looking good this year. (Gotchi’s MC from day two) Gotchi ‘s MC seemed to have summarized the thoughts of AKG being the organizer of the festival. From an admiration to the dynamics of rock and engaging with one hand to another through rock…making their ambition into shape, almost a boundless ambition, but an earnest passion, as NANO-MUGEN being the token of all. You will not be able to become like AKG with just wanting to become successful and achieve victory. AKG as musicians is the key to what they are and those traits could be observed from the feedback of their dignified performance.
The set list of the first day, was quite similar to the later half of “count 4 my 8 beat”tour which they just got over with. A complicated rhythm as if factoring mixed feelings, “Anngou No Waltz”as first song, then continuing on to “World Apart”“Black Out”“Road Movie”all from the album 『Fanclub』, completing each ensemble perfectly. Just awesome! Bringing“JYUNNISHINNHOU NO YUKEI”in the final phase where it functions as break off. At encore, THE RENTALS back on stage! AKG&THE RENTALS fully prepared for “Getting By”. “Tihtrope” as the finale song for the first day of the festival, leaving the non-fading vibrato in the hearts of the gathered crowd in Yokohama Arena. They made a big change to the set list for the second day. It was during the final phase when the audience gave the biggest shout of joy when they heard the debut single “Mirai No Hahenn”which was not played for a awhile. It’s been 3 years. Though conditions have surprisingly changed, the band still keeps their integrity. The crowd must have felt that along with the sense of freedom from the festival. Like the first day at encore, THE RENTALS appeared on stage to perform together, another great cheer! Lastly “Understand” and for finale they picked“Juni Shinho No Yukei”which seemed to be an overture for the upcoming arena tour. Never stopping…proving so in both enriched acts as the headliner, that’s ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION.

[07.16]
01.Anngou No Waltz
02.World Apart
03.Black Out
04.Road Movie
05.Sakurasou
06.Blue Train
07.Re:Re:
08.Senseless
09.Kimi Toiu Hana
10.Juni Shinho No Yukei
11.Siren
12.Gekkou
----encore----
01.Getting By　w/The Rentals
02.Loop & Loop
03.Rewrite
04.Tihtrope