Tokyo • Tuesday, November 19, 2013

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This was the second of three shows at the Tokyo Dome.

From For Whom The Bell Tells, December 4, 2013:

Tuesday 19th November:
Tokyo show 2

I wake up to local TV news reporting on Paul meeting the evacuees and coverage from last night’s show.

Today also starts with another Nikkan Sports cover reporting on last night’s show:

Paul brings the house down with tributes to John and George – Tokyo Dome cries!

Just a mile from the landmark location of where they played their Beatles concert Paul revealed his true feelings for his bandmates.

Speaking in Japanese at the start of the sixteenth song Paul said, “This next one is for John. Let’s hear it for John”. It was the clearest possible statement of his feelings for his former bandmate.

At the end of the song he raised his hand in a trademark peace sign and was seen to wipe away a tear. The 50,000 strong crowd responded, instead of cheers, with a wave of heartfelt applause. It was the only time in the concert you could hear a pin drop.

Later in the evening he paid tribute to George. His use of the ukulele given to him by George touched the hearts of the whole audience.

Mixed in with shots of Paul and George were images of audience members with tears streaming down their faces. It was yet another really touching moment.

To hear Paul talking in this way about John and George was something that his Japanese fans had been waiting to hear. His final message “We love you Tokyo” was a significant nod to The Beatles’ first visit here and not missed by anyone.

Everything about this tour seems tailored towards the Japanese audience. A lot of detail has clearly gone into ensuring the best possible experience, even down to Japanese subtitles on the screens.

Inside the paper also reports on Paul’s meeting with the evacuees:

Paul’s in Tokyo, Yeah Yeah Yeah!
Ten people from Fukushima invited to the show

Before the start of the show Paul met with the group backstage shaking each of them by the hand and listening intently to their stories. “We’ve been concerned about what’s been happening in Japan in recent years and I hope our music might do something to help heal people”, he said.

A 30-year old man from Namiemachi, the centre of the exclusion zone said, “He was so friendly for such a massive star. He looked everyone in the eye as he spoke to them. He’s not just here to do the shows he was really interested in our situation. I was so happy to see how much he seemed to care about us.”

So no pressure for tonight’s show! Paul has set his standard very high once again but rises to his own challenge for another emotionally charged evening in the Tokyo Dome.

Back at the hotel after the show we have a few drinks. Paul is on great story telling form and corrects a few of my attempts at the previously mentioned ‘saikoh!’

When the clock strikes midnight he jumps on the piano in the room and leads us all in a version of Happy Birthday for Mrs McCartney. Very sweet.

Stuart Bell

Last updated on February 7, 2021