{"id":32056,"date":"2026-10-22T19:00:59","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T10:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nondesu.jp\/?p=32056"},"modified":"2026-10-26T14:37:45","modified_gmt":"2026-10-26T05:37:45","slug":"10%e6%9c%8818%e6%97%a5%e3%81%ab%e5%b2%a9%e6%89%8b%e7%9c%8c%e4%b9%85%e6%85%88%e5%b8%82%e3%81%a7%e8%a1%8c%e3%82%8f%e3%82%8c%e3%81%9f%e3%80%8c%e3%81%ae%e3%82%93%e8%87%aa%e7%94%b110%e3%83%84%e3%82%a2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nondesu.jp\/en\/32056\/","title":{"rendered":"A live report has arrived from the Kuji performance of the \u201cNON Jiyuu (10) Tour 2026,\u201d held on October 18 in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The \u201cNON Freedom (10) Tour 2026,\u201d commemorating \u201cNON\u2019s 10th Anniversary\u201d and her 20th debut anniversary, kicked off on October 18 in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture. Here, we bring you coverage of the first day of this tour\u2014which takes NON to places with special significance to her\u2014at the Jumonji Chicken Amber Hall in Kuji, the setting for the 2013 NHK morning drama *Amachan*. The acoustic performance featured special guests Ai Hashimoto and Yoshihide Otomo.<\/p>\n

Upon entering the hall, the first thing that caught the eye was a banner featuring an illustration of \u201cShiosai no Memories,\u201d the local idol unit from \u201cAmachan.\u201d The warm welcome extended to Ai Hashimoto\u2014who played Yui Adachi, a friend of the heroine Aki Amano (played by NON)\u2014as she returned to her hometown for the first time in 13 years was evident from the various displays throughout the hall. Tickets, of course, sold out immediately. Many fans had traveled from far away, and a long line had formed since early morning at the city\u2019s \u201cMoka\u201d caf\u00e9 (said to have been the model for \u201cCaf\u00e9 Rias\u201d in the series)!\u3000Held in the small, beautiful town of Kita-Sanriku\u2014with which NON has maintained a connection ever since *Amachan*\u2014the \u201cNON 10th Anniversary\u201d concert kicked off the moment the background music for \u201cHitotsu Dake\u201d (One and Only), sung by Kiyoshiro Imawano and Akiko Yano\u2014who influenced NON when she first started making music\u2014faded out.<\/p>\n

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Amid thunderous applause, a boyish-looking NON, dressed in a black suit, appeared on stage. \u201cWelcome, everyone. I\u2019m NON.\u201d Holding an acoustic guitar, she announced, \u201cI want to make this the freest day I\u2019ve had in the last 10 years.\u201d The first song was \u201cBecause Dreams Get Hurt (Inspired by Tokyo Hyakkei).\u201d Inspired by Naoki Matayoshi\u2019s essay collection *Tokyo Hyakkei*, the lyrics NON wrote tell a poignant and bittersweet coming-of-age story. Her presence as she sang while strumming the acoustic guitar was truly commanding. \u201cI chose Kuji for the first show of the tour because it\u2019s a place that holds deep meaning for me. Performing a solo concert here feels like a dream,\u201d she said. The next song, \u201cSpring, I Stand Ready,\u201d is a track from her third album, *Renarrate*, set for release in 2025. This song, which powerfully expresses her yearning for freedom, is a fitting theme for this tour. NON says she became interested in acoustic live performances after appearing alongside Tamio Okuda and Rekishi on this year\u2019s \u201cTakashi Hamazaki GACHI Special.\u201d Seeing her stand alone on stage, strumming her guitar and singing, conveyed not just a sense of growth but also the pride of a musician.<\/p>\n

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After singing two songs as a solo artist, guitarist Kei Higuchi took the stage. Kei, who has created music alongside NON and become an indispensable partner in their live performances, told NON, \u201cThat was really great,\u201d to which NON replied, \u201cHmm, I think I was a little more nervous than during rehearsal.\u201d This friendly back-and-forth between the two created a relaxed atmosphere. With the words, \u201cPlease enjoy a cozy, acoustic set today\u2014a free and laid-back time,\u201d they moved on to the NON + Kei segment. They performed \u201cBeautiful Stars,\u201d a song provided by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, and \u201cRenarrate,\u201d with lyrics by NON and music by Kei. These two songs\u2014one from her second album *PURSUE*, which she described as \u201cpacked with the essence of my 20s,\u201d and the other from her third album *Renarrate*, which she created as a way to \u201cre-tell her own story\u201d\u2014overflow with the independent artistic expression she\u2019s cultivated since launching her music career. The lyric \u201cEven now, I can go anywhere\u201d (\u201cRenarrate\u201d) may have reflected the honest feelings of a woman who found liberation after taking the name NON and embarking on her musical journey.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been since our livestream that the two of us have played acoustic guitar together like this\u2014it feels fresh.\u201d After a bit of casual, intimate banter between the two, they moved on to \u201cAliens.\u201d This is a classic song from Yasuyuki Horigome\u2019s Kirinji days that gained attention when NON performed it in a commercial in 2017. Here, Kei played the guitar while NON sang this \u201ctreasured song from my time as NON\u201d with a gentle, thoughtful voice. They also performed \u201cUsukearai na,\u201d a song written and composed by NON that reflects on her past self, bringing their perfectly synchronized performance to a close.<\/p>\n

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At this point, special guest Yoshihide Otomo took the stage. \u201cIt\u2019s been a while. This is my first time in Kuji in three years, since the \u2018Amachan 10th Anniversary\u2019 event,\u201d Otomo said in his greeting. Even after composing the music for *Amachan*, he has continued to collaborate with NON on her solo projects and as part of the trio \u201cNON to Mo. M,\u201d featuring NON, Yoshihide Otomo, and Sachiko M. On this day, I was looking forward to seeing what songs the trio\u2014NON, Otomo, and Kei\u2014would perform and how they\u2019d play them in this acoustic lineup. First up was \u201cSherry\u201d from the album *The Show Is About to Begin!*, released in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. NON delivered a stunning falsetto rendition of The Four Seasons\u2019 1962 No. 1 U.S. hit, impressing Otomo so much that he remarked, \u201cNON-chan, your voice really carries!\u201d For \u201cItsudemo Kimi wa,\u201d Otomo played the banjo and whistled, while NON sang humorously and leisurely. Regarding \u201cCan\u2019t Sleep\u201d\u2014about which Otomo remarked, \u201cI wondered if it was okay to have NON-chan sing a song like this\u201d\u2014he explained that although the lyrics include lines like \u201cHey, old man over there, you little brat,\u201d he wrote it with the frustration people felt during the COVID-19 pandemic and NON\u2019s then-night-owl lifestyle in mind. Otomo\u2019s noisy guitar solo, NON\u2019s vocals\u2014which sounded almost like a poetry reading\u2014and Kei\u2019s acoustic guitar came together to create an intense, intimate world shared only by the three of them.<\/p>\n

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NON and Kei exited the stage, leaving only Otomo behind. \u201cJust a moment ago, when NON-chan introduced me as a special guest and then left the stage, I could feel everyone\u2019s disappointment (laughs). Please bear with me for just a few more minutes,\u201d he said, lightening the mood with his MC remarks.<\/p>\n

Otomo, who had rushed to Kuji from Yamaguchi\u2014where his own art exhibition is currently being held\u2014remarked, \u201cThirteen years have passed since the drama aired, and I\u2019ve now reached the age of Aki\u2019s grandfather, Chubei Amano.\u201d He then performed \u201cTIME\u201d from the *Amachan* soundtrack as a solo piece. Playing that melancholic melody with nothing but a whistle and an electric guitar, he deeply moved many fans. He shared a behind-the-scenes story about \u201cMemory of the Tide,\u201d revealing that director Tsuyoshi Inoue had rejected it multiple times, and sang a brief snippet of the chorus from the version of \u201cTide\u201d that came just before the final cut (which ultimately became \u201cAki\u2019s Theme\u201d in the soundtrack). It was simply irresistible to hear one special song after another\u2014songs unique to this Kuji performance\u2014unfold one after another.<\/p>\n

\u201cYoung folks, it\u2019s almost time for the main characters to make their entrance,\u201d Otomo announced, prompting an even louder round of applause.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI want to be an idol!\u201d Yui Adachi\u2019s voice rang out! Everyone in the audience cheered, and there\u2019s no doubt tears welled up in their eyes. Taking the stage were Aki Amano (NON) and Yui Adachi (Ai Hashimoto) from \u201cShiosai no Memories.\u201d As that familiar intro played and the two began singing with the choreography everyone had imitated, the energy in the venue reached its peak. Hashimoto sang the opening lines, followed by Non, as penlights swayed all around. Fans were delighted to see Aki in a red costume and Yui in a blue one. Two years after the Great East Japan Earthquake, the heroines of the national drama that brought brightness, fun, and energy to Japan stood together on a stage in the very city where the series was set\u201413 years later. Seeing the two of them sing \u201cMemories of the Tide\u201d with such vitality and smiles still brought a lump to my throat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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A voice calling out, \u201cWelcome back, Yui-chan!\u201d and a banner warmly greeted her. When NON introduced her as \u201cAi Hashimoto,\u201d Hashimoto replied, \u201cI\u2019m Yui. Thank you for inviting me today,\u201d fully embodying the character of Yui. This was the first time in 13 years\u2014since the 64th NHK K\u014dhaku Uta Gassen in 2013\u2014that the two had sung together as \u201cShiosai no Memories.\u201d \u201cWe haven\u2019t released any recordings, so hearing us sing live is super rare, isn\u2019t it?\u201d said Hashimoto. She explained that, as she was still a high school student at the time, she couldn\u2019t attend the after-parties or drinking gatherings, but upon returning to Kuji after so long, \u201cI was happy to feel both nostalgia and a sense that things hadn\u2019t changed. The sign for \u2018Us\u2019 in front of the station had been replaced, and the mamebu was delicious. I love that sweet-and-salty flavor!\u201d she said, expressing her love for Kuji. Although they\u2019d co-starred in movies since *Amachan*, this reunion came about because Non reached out to Hashimoto. Though brief, it was a special, almost miraculous moment born from the friendship and bond\u2014the \u201csisterhood\u201d\u2014between the two, who\u2019d each walked their own paths. \u201cToday\u2019s experience is deeply etched in my memory,\u201d Hashimoto said before leaving the stage, and Kei returned. It was a surprise to hear \u201cThe Amachan Theme\u201d performed as an acoustic guitar ensemble by NON, Otomo, and Kei. That lively instrumental number, originally performed by the \u201cAmachan Special Big Band,\u201d was recreated using only acoustic guitars, greatly energizing the audience. It was proof that when the original song is good, it works perfectly well even in this kind of arrangement.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI performed a variety of songs in Kuji today, but this is the first time I\u2019ve ever felt this way. Is this what it means to be moved?\u201d Non began to speak, as if searching for the right words to describe what she was feeling at that moment. \u201cIt\u2019s been 10 years since I started performing as \u2018N,\u2019 and 20 years since I entered the entertainment industry. I\u2019m truly happy to have made it here, having overcome a bumpy, rough road.\u201d The audience knew that the path she had walked was far from smooth. That\u2019s precisely why they knew this day\u2019s performance would be something special.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cThis song is like an alter ego of mine\u2014it tells the story of my journey,\u201d she said as she introduced \u201cStanding in the Wilderness.\u201d NON set aside her guitar to perform this dramatic song\u2014in which she poured out her heart and which was written and composed by Kei\u2019s older sister, Ai Higuchi\u2014as a solo vocal piece. Since becoming NON, music and the guitar have been her strongest allies as she stood in the wilderness. While continuing her acting career, she dedicated herself wholeheartedly to music, took on the challenge of writing her own songs, performed numerous live shows, and has now returned to Kuji for this solo tour. The final song of the main set was \u201cClimy.\u201d As NON sang lightly and freely while playing the harp, accompanied by Kei\u2019s guitar, fans couldn\u2019t help but see in her the tough, forthright Aki from *Amachan*\u2014the character who always gets back on her feet no matter what. After all, it\u2019s certain that her grit\u2014as if she were \u201ccrying in a fighting pose\u201d (\u201cClimy\u201d)\u2014will continue to weave new stories and music in the future.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

\n

When Otomo reappeared for the encore and said, \u201cI\u2019m sorry I messed up the order,\u201d NON admonished her, \u201cNo \u2018sorry\u2019s allowed! After all, this is a free-style tour,\u201d to which Otomo replied, \u201cOkay. From now on, I\u2019m going to live freely!\u201d It was a fun moment. The relationship between NON and Otomo now feels like that of \u201clife-long relatives,\u201d which is truly heartwarming. Finally, NON, Otomo, and Kei performed NON\u2019s second single, \u201cRUN!!!\u201d\u2014written and composed by Sachiko M and arranged by Otomo. It\u2019s been nine years since her musical debut in 2017. The \u201cBaby\u201d who set out running has sprinted across the wilderness at full speed. We also witnessed a lovely moment when Ai Hashimoto ran over to NON as she finished singing with a refreshing energy while strumming her guitar. NON, Yoshihide Otomo, Kei Higuchi, and Ai Hashimoto lined up to take a commemorative photo with the packed audience, bringing the curtain down on the Kuji performance\u2014the opening night of the \u201cNON Freedom (10) Tour 2026.\u201d It was a stage that carved out a new chapter in NON\u2019s history with special songs and a unique lineup, welcoming special guests in a place with deep personal connections.<\/p>\n

Text: Kyoko Sano<\/p>\n

Photos: Hajime Kamiiisaka<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The \u201cNON Freedom (10) Tour 2026,\u201d commemorating \u201cNON\u2019s 10th Anniversary\u201d and her 20th debut anniversary, kicked off on October 18 in Kuji City, Iwate Prefecture. Here, we bring you coverage of the first day of this tour\u2014which takes NON to places with special significance to her\u2014at the Jumonji Chicken Amber Hall in Kuji, the setting for the 2013 NHK morning drama *Amachan*. The acoustic performance featured special guests Ai Hashimoto and Yoshihide Otomo. Upon entering the hall, the first thing that caught the eye was a banner featuring an illustration of \u201cShiosai no Memories,\u201d the local idol unit from \u201cAmachan.\u201d The warm welcome extended to Ai Hashimoto\u2014who played Yui Adachi, a friend of the heroine Aki Amano (played by NON)\u2014as she returned to her hometown for the first time in 13 years was evident from the various displays throughout the hall. Tickets, of course, sold out immediately. Many fans had traveled from far away, and a long line had formed since early morning at the city\u2019s \u201cMoka\u201d caf\u00e9 (said to have been the model for \u201cCaf\u00e9 Rias\u201d in the series)!\u3000Held in the small, beautiful town of Kita-Sanriku\u2014with which NON has maintained a connection ever since *Amachan*\u2014the \u201cNON 10th Anniversary\u201d concert kicked off the moment the background music for \u201cHitotsu Dake\u201d (One and Only), sung by Kiyoshiro Imawano and Akiko Yano\u2014who influenced NON when she first started making music\u2014faded out.   Amid thunderous applause, a boyish-looking NON, dressed in a black suit, appeared on stage. \u201cWelcome, everyone. I\u2019m NON.\u201d Holding an acoustic guitar, she announced, \u201cI want to make this the freest day I\u2019ve had in the last 10 years.\u201d The first song was \u201cBecause Dreams Get Hurt (Inspired by Tokyo Hyakkei).\u201d Inspired by Naoki Matayoshi\u2019s essay collection *Tokyo Hyakkei*, the lyrics NON wrote tell a poignant and bittersweet coming-of-age story. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_locale":"en_US","_original_post":"https:\/\/nondesu.jp\/?p=32020","footnotes":""},"categories":[22,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32056","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-event","category-musician","en-US"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t