For Life Music Entertainment Co., Ltd. Asagiri JAM ’25 main event: Kiyoshiro Imawano ROCK’N’ROLL DREAMERS official live report

[For Life Music Entertainment Inc.] Official Live Report of Asagiri JAM ’25’s Finale: Kiyoshiro Imawano’s ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DREAMERS ​
For Life Music Entertainment Inc. Press Release: October 26, 2025 Official Live Report of Kiyoshiro Imawano and ROCK’N’ROLL DREAMERS, the Finale of Asagiri JAM ’25 Text: Imaseno Touichi (The Touichi) Photography: Ariga Mikio
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The annual autumn outdoor festival, “It’s a Beautiful Day ASAGIRI JAM’25” (commonly known as “Asagiri JAM”), was held at the Asagiri Arena at the foot of Mount Fuji from Saturday, October 18th to Sunday, October 19th. This year’s final act was Kiyoshiro Imawano and ROCK’N’ROLL DREAMERS. The final act focused on Kiyoshiro’s music, and the audience, the musicians onstage, and the backstage staff all seemed to enjoy the music being played. It was a dreamlike atmosphere, and the final act was captivating. It was 7 p.m. Amid the pouring rain that had been falling since morning, musicians perfectly suited to the evening took to the stage. They included Kazuhiko Fujii (guitar), Mikio Ito (keyboards), Tsuyoshi Miyagawa (drums), Tomio Inoue (bass), and a horn section consisting of Takao Watanabe (trumpet), Yoko Tada (tenor sax), and Kazutoki Umezu (alto sax). Once the band members were all on stage, the intro to RC Succession’s “Yokoso” began. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143140/118/143140-118-86b2c0d65a0fb0d089b148da33875c48-3900×2600.jpg MC Takahashi ROCK ME BABY suddenly appeared from the right side of the stage, clad in a golden cape, accompanied by a mysterious, elegant punk performer, and began to hype up the audience! They fired up the venue so much that they blew away the rain and cold! Now that things were heating up, it was time to introduce the first featured artist. Gen Kugiya (Bōdō Club), selected as a pinch hitter for Remi Matsuo (GLIM SPANKY), and GLIM SPANKY guitarist Hiroki Kamemoto were called onto the stage. The song was RC Succession’s hit single, “Baby! Run Away.” The vocals were by guitarist Kazuhiko Fujii and Gen Kugiya, and the wildness of rock ‘n’ roll exploded! Carrying along Remi Matsuo’s feelings, Kugiya sang while shaking maracas, while Kamemoto and Fujii battled it out on guitar. The rock rolled, and the curtain rose on the greatest rock ‘n’ roll show of the night. Kamemoto stepped to the side of the stage, and Riot Club guitarist Matsushima Rise joined them. They launched into RC Succession’s 1983 hit, “Tsuki Ai Itai” (I Want to See You Again), featuring long hair, flashy, glamorous makeup, and costumes. They delivered a performance of intense, decadent rock ‘n’ roll! A futile rock flower blossomed on a misty morning night. Wearing a bright red hat and the red shirt inherited from Kiyoshiro, saxophonist Kazutoki Umezu interacts with Kugiya and Rise,
synchronizing with RC Succession’s stadium live performance. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143140/118/143140-118-1974af81799f4f022c3194be79185b09-3900×2599.jpg YO-KING (Magokoro Brothers), the third act, sang “Boku to Ano Ko” (Me and That Girl) without an intro. It’s a song from RC Succession’s album “Heart Ace,” released during their turbulent period, and is a huge hit among fans. Their voice brings out the rhythm of the words, painting a story within the song. This song, about a season when we all feel unable to find balance with the world, is a powerful energy that moves listeners to dance. It’s truly rhythm and blues. As the show neared its midpoint, the band stepped back, and Hiroshi Yamaguchi and Rina Katahira took the stage with guitars. The song was “Blowin’ in the Wind,” a Bob Dylan cover from RC Succession’s controversial album “COVERS.” It’s been 37 years since this song was released. Wars, invasions, and occupations are accelerating. “How much more do we have to watch the news before a peaceful day comes?” Yamaguchi and Katahira’s song is released into the misty night sky. After the two finish singing, the band members are introduced, and Takao Tajima (ORIGINAL LOVE) is called out, proclaiming himself “Mr. Soulman.” He sings the classic of classics, “Slow Ballad”! This soul ballad is also included in Tajima’s live repertoire. It was a symphony-like landscape that took us to the cosmos. A dreamlike scene where love songs fell instead of rain. Asagiri JAM was a spectacular musical experience. Without a single bad premonition, we all shared the same dream. Finally, the grand finale of the grand finale! Diamond Yukai, lead singer of RED WARRIORS, who celebrated their 40th anniversary this year, appeared on stage accompanied by Riot Club guitarist Matsushima Rise! The song was “The Dokadoka Urusai R&R Band,” the climax number of Kiyoshiro’s live performances. Rise’s soulful riff ignited the hearts of the audience. Diamond Yukai, who moved all over the stage, is a natural rock ‘n’ roll star, with a charming and pop personality that overlaps with Kiyoshiro’s. Yukai’s microphone stand flew into the air, Rise played his guitar beautifully and wildly, and sang from a single microphone stand in the center of the stage in a stunning live performance! It was a rock ‘n’ roll show that was like a circus, and they left their mark on Asagiri JAM with the best rock ‘n’ roll of the modern era.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143140/118/143140-118-aa4fb3d4876635a682027908fd630271-3900×2600.jpg From here, the performers engaged in a session. Diamond Yukai and Rina Katahira sang “Imagine,” from RC Succession’s album “COVERS.” The original was by John Lennon. Kiyoshiro’s Japanese lyrics, which seem to reflect on the world today, resonated in the hearts of everyone present through Yukai and Katahira’s singing. Dreams are possible because of peace. Peace is the very beginning of dreams. And for the finale, all the performers sang “Ameagari no Yozora ni”! This is a classic Japanese rock ‘n’ roll standard. Regardless of age or nationality, audience members, performers, and staff all sing and dance with joy, making this song a perfect fit for a festival. “What’s wrong, Hey Hey Baby? My battery’s high! Let’s pump like always and let it all out!” Even if your days are tough, it’s okay. If you come to a festival every year and sing this song at the top of your lungs, that’s all you need to get through the year. After the song ended and everyone lined up on stage, MC Takahashi ROCK ME BABY put a cape over Diamond☆Yukai. He then announced that Yukai had broken his right hand that day! This was a surprise! The live performance, which didn’t give any hint of that, had MC Takahashi chanting, “ROCK’N’ROLL GREATEST! Diamond☆Yukai!” over and over again. A true great rock ‘n’ roller. I’ve seen many tributes before, but I’ve never seen one that conveyed such passion for the stage and such deep love for music. It was an experiential tribute that the audience, performers, staff, and everyone else there enjoyed from the bottom of their hearts, and it marked a major turning point for festivals in the future. I’d love to see them at FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL next year!
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/143140/118/143140-118-8bde85c097b13b4cb06d121148406850-3900×2600.jpg Group photo in the dressing room area From left ■Back row ■Back row ■Yoko Tada (tenor sax), Takao Watanabe (trumpet), Tomio Inoue (bass), Tsuyoshi Miyagawa (drums), Mikio Ito (keyboards), Kazuhiko Fujii (guitar), Hiroki Kamemoto (GLIM SPANKY/guitar), Matsushima Rise (Rōdō Club/guitar), Kazutoki Umezu (alto sax), Takahashi ROCK ME BABY (MC) ■Front row ■Hiroshi Yamaguchi, Takao Tajima (ORIGINAL LOVE), Rina Katahira, Diamond☆Yuukai, YO-KING (Magokoro Brothers), Gen Kugiya (Bōdō Club/vocals) Photography: Mikio Ariga For more information about this release