Sen Morimoto in Osaka, Japan - 2022.09.09

Sayaka Sugita
Sep 27, 2022
7 min read

Updated: Oct 3, 2022

I Saw Sen Morimoto 3 Times in 2 Weeks: Pt. 1 - texts and photos by Sayaka Sugita (IG: @warabi120mochi)

How I First Met Sen Morimoto's Music…

It was on the train back from Kyoto to Osaka when I first heard his song. I went to Kyoto to see and pick my friend's guitar. The guitar was not the only thing I was given that day. I met one of his friends who later introduced Sen Morimoto to me while we sat on the train. I haven't been to Kyoto for a while, but those memories are kept fresh in my mind where the connection between music and Kyoto has left me a meaningful remark.

Sen Morimoto Going Way Back To Japan 2022

Sen Morimoto, a 29-year-old (born on November 27th 1993, Sagittarius) multi-talented

musician/saxophone player was born in Kyoto and is now based in Chicago. The last

time he performed in his home country Japan was in 2019 touring three cities with his

band. This time, including a music festival called MIND TRAVEL FEST in Niigata, Sen

made an awaited comeback to tour in Nagoya, Osaka, and Tokyo (for 2 days) from

September 8 to 13. Although it took us almost three years of waiting due to the pandemic, his comeback certainly brought eternal joy to our post-covid life by filling up the empty parts that were missing.

@COMPASS on September 9 In Shinsaibashi / Osaka

Before the show started…

It took place on a funky Friday night in Osaka. Outside the venue, I was waiting at the

front line when the blue rope was released. I walked down the white stairs to the

underground which led me to a nice compact box with a mirror ball rolling from the ceiling. After settling in at the very front in the very middle, I decided to go get the merch I had been aiming for: a Bootleg CD of Sean Motorolla, a remixed version of his self-titled album, Sen Morimoto. I also purchased a vinyl of Sen's first album Cannonball! and a CD of Sen Morimoto. Leaving the merch stand and still hanging a backpack from just one shoulder with my hands filled with the change, I was hurrying back to where I was before. But then, there stood two people who I couldn't look away from. There Sen Morimoto was. Before my brain fully figured out the situation, my mouth and toes were already making their moves. The other person was a great photographer who I have been following on Instagram. It did not take a second to notice who they were. In my eyes, they were shining bright in the dark box.

The show had not started yet and I was already feeling like I completed my mission.

The one thing I cannot forget is how he repeatedly said, "Thank you for coming to the show." I'm sure he's not the only artist who shows respect for their fans, but the way he conveyed the words, the tone and the gentle smile (a mask did not matter) altogether was enough to tell me how much he meant it.

Shortly after an opening act, Maina Mind, an Osaka-born singer and dancer warmed up

the audience with her cheerful smiles and sharp dance moves, my mind and body were

never more ready to embrace music. Surely, the blank of not going to gigs after COVID broke out had a huge effect on me. She performed her songs along with a cover of "Night

Fishing" by a Japanese band Fish Mans, which was performed delicately with visible

respect to the original.

Sen Morimoto Comes On Stage!!

Finally, we've come to the main event. So many things happened that night that there is so much to write about. Thanks to those who have come with me so far. There's even more coming. To begin with, on the stage were his iconic matt-coated saxophone, a red keyboard, and across from it stood a table with a laptop and a mixer on it, all placed on a red antique carpet. It was like in his bedroom, says Sen, since he's not with his band this time. When I heard him say that I couldn't help from thinking that it would perhaps make us the guests at his home session. How precious is that? When Sen stepped onto the stage, he was smiling and waving at us, but as soon as he sat on a chair by the keyboard, his face turned dramatically. As the gentle melody from his saxophone made its way to our ears and hearts and our eyes absorbed a screened background visual made by Cuco, we were all taken to a world that is far away from where we originally came from.

In the first part of the show, while Sen performed songs from his self-titled second album Sen Morimoto, such as 'Butterflies (feat. Kaina and Woof)', he covered a song called 'Rollin' Rollin'' by Japanese musicians called 七尾旅人(Tavito Nanao) and Yakenohara. 'Maybe you know this song (says Sen in Japanese);' it did not take long till we all got along with the rhythm from the piano he was playing. At the chorus, he invited us to sing it with him: "Baby, oh baby, keep coming back." Singing along really made the audience and Sen into one. I started listening to the original song after the show, which has become on repeat now. It makes me want to go back to the show and listen to Sen's version once again very soon. But I guess that's how the show becomes memorable by things you can't relive or replay.

In the middle part of the show, there came songs from his first album Cannonball! whose

songs never get old. Later on, he started the melody of Kaina's song, 'Could be a Curse' in which he is featured with Japanese lyrics. I wondered what it would have been like if Kaina was singing with him there…. Never did I imagine that I would actually be able to witness the duet a week later….

In the last part of the show, after the performance of 'Jupiter,' Sen grabbed the microphone and came to the very edge of the stage for 'Cannonball,' which excited the audience for being much closer now. While performing, he moved around the stage and used his arms and hands freely along with the lyrics. Followed by the cover of Mitski's 'Washing Machine Heart,' it was the time for his last song, 'People Watching.' As a thank you, Sen shouted & quoted "おおきに(Ookini, Osaka way to say thank you)" at us which we all shouted back. And the exchange did not end at once but took turns another few times, おおきに jumping around the whole venue. Not only the word but the smile on his face made us feel so happy and cosy.

Between songs, he made a brief MC using both English and Japanese. Although Sen kept

saying sorry for his Japanese needing more work, I think the audience can all agree that it's not as bad at all as he thinks. As a fact, there seemed to be no trouble communicating with him and us, the fans, and as far as I know, he speaks the most Japanese words than any other foreign artist I've seen. The most important thing I think is the attitude and showing respect. For Osaka natives, including myself, we all must have been so happy to hear him talk in the Osaka dialect, our proudest language of all. Seeing Sen trying to learn our culture and language is something I can never forget. The language gap has almost always been a bit of a struggle between foreign artists and Japanese audiences; however, Sen, at least, does not have to worry about it because he made us feel that there was no wall between him on the stage and us on the field. The distance between the stage and the standing area, his Japanese plus Osaka dialect, and the way he looks at us when singing like we all matter to him all added up to making the show one of the most memorable nights. It truly felt at home.

After the show…(warning: very much a fan girl POV)

While I was still processing what I just saw and experienced, the merch area was already

becoming packed with fans talking about how amazing the show was with each other. Briefly after, I made an entrance there and saw Sen busy talking to his friends and fans and taking pictures with them. It was actually very heart-warming to see that happening. I could easily tell how much he is loved because of his splendid personality. When I saw one group struggling to take a photo of all of them together, I approached them and asked if they wanted me to do it. I was happy being part of their happiness. Kindly, they also offered to take a picture of me and my sister with Sen. After thanking them, I started talking to him for the second time that day, and I think we talked for quite a while. He told me he likes Osaka because the people are similar to those in Chicago. Because of how he made the show at home, whether it was good or bad, I was asking him personal questions from his tattoo history to what he had eaten during the tour. However, he was so kind that he answered all of them without showing any hesitation. With his down-to-earth attitude and gentle smiles, I had such a nice time talking with him as if he was my old friend that I almost forgot that he is one of the great musicians on this planet. In this way, having conversations with an artist and knowing them on a personal level also deepens the understanding of their music.

This is not the end…

To be continued to Part 2 where I'll be talking about Sen opening for The fin. on

Septermber 16 just a week later, and two days later when Sen and Kaina played a DJ set at Ace Hotel Kyoto on September 18. Keep your eyes peeled! Adios!