Message from Utada Hikaru / Utada

Arc an ciel

2010-02-20T19:02:00+09:00

After recovering my "HP" somewhat in London, I took the Eurostar to Paris. I wonder how many years it's been since my last visit...?

Over the few days I stayed in Paris, the weather was almost like London, with rain showers every now and then.

But look at this nice rainbow! I don't remember seeing a rainbow like this over the backdrop of gray skies before, pretty sweet :)

Au revoir!

Balls Day 2 London

2010-02-14T07:37:00+09:00

Kuma guarding the Buckingham Palace :)

The second night at the O2 Academy Islington was amazing, a very very nice ending to the tour. Great crowd, thank you all so much!

I can't believe the tour is over! Looking back it feels really short, but the first show in Honolulu feels like AGES ago. The show evolved quite a bit over this one month, and I learned A LOT and grew with each show, it was a great experience and I'm so glad we were able to make it happen. I really enjoyed it.

Now I think I'll rest a bit.

Good night!

piano virtuoso

2010-02-12T10:43:00+09:00

I found this awesome little piano in a piano store in London! How could I not ask for a photo to be taken?

OK, there's one thing I'd like to clarify, for the honor of a certain lady who's a friend of mine and works for me as well!

She's on my tour, and she keeps getting mistaken for my Mom... which is REALLY ridiculous because she just turned 40, and she actually looks really young for her age (I don't know how she does it but she has like, no wrinkles whatsoever), and she has really short hair right now which makes her look like a young Japanese boy lol

I couldn't believe it at first, but I guess you Americans seriously cannot tell our age!

On top of that she's pregnant right now and her stomach is getting pretty noticeable LOL

So if you see her be gentle with her :)

Yes, so, my first ever concert in the Eurasian continent tonight was a blast, and tomorrow night, same place, same time, will be the final show of this tour. We'll make it a good one!

By the way, I was surprised by how many Chinese folks came out tonight! Are you guys like taking over Europe? lol

Balls London ver.

2010-02-12T08:58:00+09:00

PunKuma!!

Oh man, I just realized I have to do another set of illustrations for tomorrow's show...

Don't wanna do the same thing so I'll have to think of some other idea for London...

hmmmm...

NY ver 1.2

2010-02-10T12:00:00+09:00

Kuma Of Liberty

Off to London!

Balls NYC ver. 1.1

2010-02-10T11:58:00+09:00

Kuma Kong!

Can you tell that he's holding a blond woman in his left hand?

Balls Boston ver.

2010-02-08T09:13:00+09:00

It's Kuma with a Boston bag, looking fabulous in a pair of Red Socks!

I also tried to throw in the music motif, to refer to The Berklee College of Music... but the melody marks just made Kuma seem like a happy, melodious bear lol

I'm finally in NY, my hometown, and it's good to be back!!

Story teller in Winter

2010-02-05T16:11:00+09:00

This "vehicle" was parked right outside the Art Institute of Chicago.

It was really cute, that's why I snapped a photo of it, I wondered what it was and on the back I sort of made out the words "Puppet" so I'm assuming it belongs to a man called Jack who does puppet shows with this set up.

I wish a show was on when I passed by it! I love watching stuff like this on the street, even if it's cold.

Watching performers on the street reminds of when I was a kid and my mother always always stopped to watch. Especially musicians. She would watch forever, and in the end she sometimes even brought them back to our home! She's really an artist and loves other artists. Very temperamental too, the way a lot of artists are, I guess... God bless, I love her.

Balls Chicago ver.

2010-02-05T15:58:00+09:00

Yup, "American Gothic," Kuma version!

I think most Americans know this iconic painting by Grant Wood, no?

I saw it the day before the show, at this huge museum called the Art Institute of Chicago, where I spent most of the afternoon, trying to see as much of their 300,000 plus collection as I can.

This was the most detailed illustration I'd endeavored upon yet, it ain't easy making tiny drawings on a slightly shaggy textured, spherical object with Sharpies!

The Chicago show was a blast too, and the weather was great for me, I mean the dryness of the season sucks for me as a singer, and I have to keep 3 humidifiers running all night in my hotel room, but the morning snow painted the city a cold white, just making everything beautiful. I really do feel nostalgic and comfortable in cold climates; perhaps because I was born in the middle of a cold winter night in New York.

Now we've finally made it to the East Coast!!

Boston show tomorrow!

Balls Vegas ver.

2010-01-31T17:26:00+09:00

My, my, what an audience!

I just came back to my room after my Las Vegas House Of Blues Show. The crowd was so intensely loud, was this Vegas magic?

I wasn't sure what to expect here, what sort of crowd turnout it would be, but in the end the House was PACKED, with people from out of town (some guys said they drove 7 hours from Arizona?) and local Las Veganese, and of course some folks from Japan too! I still can't believe the energy you all gave me.

So here are the autographed balls from tonight, Kuma living his dreams! Sitting at the Poker table in the Casino. He wanted me to take him there but I told him he's not old enough. Really, he's a minor.

Another wonderful night. I am so grateful.