=LOVE Make Their US Debut at Anime Matsuri
As soon as the doors to Hall A burst open, fans rushed to the stage, eager to secure their spots for the long-awaited Saturday night concert. =LOVE, the ten-member J-Pop girl group, made their US debut in Houston at Anime Matsuri to thousands of fans, including some who followed them all the way from Japan. The girl group made their first appearance on day two of the four-day anime convention for their fan panel, which was open to all convention goers, but included an autograph session and photo opportunity for certain fans.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
Friday afternoon’s fan panel was full of cute moments and interactions between the members and their fans. The girls were interviewed by one of the organizers of the convention who asked the girls a multitude of questions, including their favorite part of being an idol, their first impression of Houston, and how they felt about the many Japanese fans who came to see them. All of the members thanked their fans who loved them enough to travel to see them, noting that getting to connect with their fans was their favorite part of being an idol, and one member stated that she loved how kind the people of Houston were.
There were a few technical difficulties during the panel, but it created a good opportunity for the girls to showcase their professionalism and charm. Some members were given microphones that weren’t working, but that didn’t stop the girls from figuring out ways around it, sharing microphones between them and creating cute moments where multiple girls would try to pass the same member a mic.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
The Saturday concert hosted two artists, =LOVE and Ayasa, a violinist known for her covers of popular Japanese songs. While the majority of fans were there for =LOVE, audience members were quickly captivated by Ayasa’s gorgeous music and undeniable charisma. She played a variety of songs from popular anime as well as her own songs, with fans cheering loudly when she played the first few notes of the Demon Slayer opening. By the time her performance was over, she gained a legion of new fans and got audience members excited for what was still to come.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
=LOVE joined the stage to a crowd so excited they collectively pushed the barrier forward in an attempt to get closer to the stage. Once they started performing, it was easy to see why they were so beloved. Each girl wore a lavender dress adorned with fairy wings, perfectly accentuating their magical performances. While each girl had a specific role in the group, they were also multi-talented with their own unique charm, making it so no matter which member your eyes landed on, you were always entertained.
While the girls didn’t have many opportunities to interact with the crowd directly, there were multiple moments during the songs where fans got to feel a personal connection with their idols. At the beginning of the show, the girls introduced themselves and encouraged fans to call out their nicknames afterwards. During songs that highlighted specific members, fans eagerly yelled out the girls’ nicknames loud enough for everyone to hear. Members would also wave for fans' videos and make sure to have small, personal moments with fans during each song.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
Despite typically being known for their bubbly personalities and fun dances, =LOVE proved that their vocals are also no joke. While Sana, Maika, Iori, and Hitomi carried the group's performances vocally with their strong, fresh voices, every member had a chance to shine at some point in the night. Some songs gave members, who usually focused more on dancing or connecting with the audience, a short solo, highlighting their unique voices and giving them a chance to shine.
Photo Cr: Andy Cantu
Towards the end of the show, the organizers of the event thanked the girls for being there and announced that they had a surprise for the group. Two of the members, Sana and Risa, had birthdays in the weeks surrounding the event and the organizers brought out a large cake to celebrate. Fans joined together to sing happy birthday to them as confetti rained over everyone. The girls were left in a gleeful mood as they sang the last song of the night and sent fans home with fond memories to look back on.