A Miracle on Their Path: The '04LS Day' Free Live in GEN's Hometown, Toyohashi, on April 4th.

April 4th is widely known among fans as '04LS Day' (Four Limi Day). This date has now been officially recognized by the Japan Anniversary Association as '04LS Day.' On this significant day, April 4th, 04 Limited Sazabys held their very first outdoor free live concert. The location chosen was Toyohashi, where GEN was born and raised. At the venue, Toyohashi General Sports Park, 10,000 lucky lottery winners gathered in the rain for this free event. Born in Tahara City and raised in Toyohashi City, GEN also serves as the Toyohashi Music Ambassador, actively communicating with the local community. The activities of 04 Limited Sazabys directly lead to regional revitalization. Even on this unfortunate rainy day, the 10,000 people who gathered did not succumb to the weather, enjoying the 04 Limited Sazabys concert while getting quite literally soaked to the bone.

The concert 'HOMESICK' began with a 100% chance of rain forecast, but perhaps due to their love for the hometown, the rainfall was lighter than expected. The live kicked off with 'Standing here,' which can be called the starting point of 04 Limited Sazabys. From that moment, the audience was thrown into chaotic excitement, disregarding the rain completely. As the band followed up with 'Now here, No where,' it filled my heart to see 04 Limited Sazabys creating this breathtaking scene right here in Toyohashi—not just anywhere else. What kind of childhood did GEN spend in Toyohashi? Who did he meet, what did he encounter, to bring him to sing right here, right now? While pondering these thoughts and looking around the park, I spotted a child tightly holding his father's hand, staring intently at the stage. This child also holds infinite possibilities, and it fills my heart to think that this very concert might be the push that elevates those possibilities. That child is the GEN of the future; the 04 Limited Sazabys of the future.

The sound that opened the doors for these young boys and girls echoed through Toyohashi General Sports Park: 'climb.' On this day, GEN referred to himself as 'someone who was once nobody,' but as we go through life, we all experience various things, big and small, and become someone. GEN, HIROKAZ, RYU-TA, KOUHEI, me, you, and all of you—everyone gathered here has become someone and is living their lives. Because we have all opened our respective doors and flown high, we are here, treating the rain as if it were nothing. Having said that, the mosh pit during 'Chicken race' in the rain, which looked like rice planting, was a masterpiece. But we know. It is exactly on days like this that legends are born later on. I still cannot forget the expression on the boy's face who disappeared into the rain doing a fist pump while RYU-TA was fiercely singing 'knife.' 04 Limited Sazabys surely exists in the everyday life and the life of each and every person. That is not something to be taken for granted at all; it is the very footprint of 04 Limited Sazabys itself.

Without a moment's pause, the riff of 'fiction' struck, followed by 'fade' and 'discord,' showcasing 04 Limited Sazabys in full attack mode. Seeing a performance like this makes you want to rush to a music instrument store tomorrow, or perhaps kids at school will play make-believe 04LS during cleaning time. 04 Limited Sazabys possesses that much power to drive one's impulses, and I know firsthand just how many people have been pushed forward by that power. That is precisely why so many people from all over the country gathered for this free live. When GEN asked, 'Where are you guys from?', voices shouted 'Hokkaido!' and 'Okinawa!', and even 'Philippines!' Amidst the applause and cheers from the venue, GEN somehow misheard and shouted back, 'Boobs? I love them!' (Note: 'Philippines' sounds similar to some Japanese words if misheard). That is also part of why he is loved. I just hope the father of the child I saw earlier quietly covered his kid's ears.

While HIROKAZ's explosive guitar in 'in out' invited everyone from dream to dream, the venue erupted during 'mottö,' which has now completely become an 04 Limited Sazabys anthem. It's not exactly 'nem...', but it felt like music declaring war on our instincts. I believe the reason why we, who were once nobodies, have become someone and are standing here, surely lies within music and live concerts. As KOUHEI's drums resounded loudly, the floor rejoiced to 'Any,' a song that feels like a sworn ally they've grown up with. The flow from 'magnet' to 'Lost my way' was also brilliant, proving that music is fascinating because connecting songs from different eras of 04 Limited Sazabys creates one grand narrative. Even 'Grasshopper,' which they have been singing since their early days, becomes the newest version of 'Grasshopper' whenever heard live like this. This feels like a privilege of music. That is why we want to go to their live shows over and over again.

'Naoki from Kariyushi58 is also here today,' GEN shared, and they performed a cover of Kariyushi58's 'Denshougiku.' Seeing how the boy GEN, who once dreamed in a rural town with nothing, has gathered so many people in this town today proves that music holds dreams. The story of the boy GEN continues, leading to today where 'Harvest' echoed through Toyohashi. Feelings of gratitude well up for 04 Limited Sazabys, who showed us a deeply moving, yet everyday kind of emotion. I want to continue feeling this emotion, this happiness, forever. I want to keep believing in it. I feel that we and 04 Limited Sazabys can do that. I thought about this as the music gently enveloped Toyohashi General Sports Park with 'Honey' and 'hello.' The main set ended with 'Terminal' and 'Just.' I felt like I could see the boy GEN behind the current GEN singing, 'I can't turn back now that I've come this far,' and I found myself getting excited about the unseen heroes of Toyohashi who hold infinite potential. If you overflow with the dreams you've dreamed, you can surely become anybody. Just like GEN, HIROKAZ, RYU-TA, and KOUHEI. The reason we can believe in such miracles is because 04 Limited Sazabys is here.

04 Limited Sazabys reappeared on stage for the encore. GEN had previously mentioned that he wanted to hold 'HOMESICK' in the hometowns where the other members were born and raised as well, and I found myself wanting to feel what kind of childhoods HIROKAZ, RYU-TA, and KOUHEI spent through this 'HOMESICK' event. And then, completely unnoticed until now, as we bathed in 'Squall' during the encore, I realized something. Despite the 100% rain forecast, the rain had stopped. This is exactly the power of music. As GEN said, 'It feels like a one-man version of YON FES.' We have witnessed various miracles at YON FES every year, but seeing them create a miracle here at 'HOMESICK' reminds us that they are, after all, 04 Limited Sazabys. 'HOMESICK' closed its curtains with 'Give me,' an exchange of a lifetime's worth of love. This is how 04 Limited Sazabys returned to GEN's hometown in glory. Now that it is officially recognized as '04LS Day' by the Japan Anniversary Association, I am really looking forward to seeing what kind of memorial day they will create next.