Ayumi Hamasaki 3-D concert movie opens next month

Fans of pop star Ayumi Hamasaki (31) will be able to see her in 3-D in movie theaters starting next month. A total of 22 state-of-the-art 3-D cameras were used to film her nationwide tour last year, and the footage has been edited (with some use of CG) to create a new kind of concert experience.

Last year, Hamasaki performed her biggest tour ever, consisting of 35 shows in 12 cities for a total audience of roughly 300,000 fans. Six of the shows, held at three different venues including the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, were filmed for this project. Filming started in July 2009, which actually makes it the first 3-D recording of a Japanese music artist. It is said that there were only eight 3-D cameras in all of Japan at that time, but her staff spent 200 million yen on five new cameras for the project. Over the six concerts, a total of 22 cameras were used.

The idea was likely inspired by the band U2, which created its own 3-D concert movie two years ago. Although Hamasaki was apparently the first Japanese artist to record a concert in 3-D, others such as Shonannokaze, Ikimono Gakari, and Kumi Koda have already worked with 3-D since then.

Hamasaki’s 3-D movie will have an advance screening on August 27, then will open up to 65 theaters across the country on August 28. Tickets for the film, which will come with original goods, have already gone on sale at a presale price of 2000 yen.

Source:
Sports Hochi