Miku Expo is a concert tour featuring Hatsune Miku, a virtual singer created by Crypton Future Media. Miku is a vocaloid, a type of singing voice synthesizer software that allows users to create songs by typing in lyrics and a melody. Since her creation in 2007, Miku has become an international pop culture sensation, with thousands of fan-made songs and music videos. The Miku Expo concert tour allows fans to see Miku perform live in hologram form along with live musicians. The concert features fan favorite Miku songs as well as energetic choreographed dance routines. Miku Expo concerts have been held in cities across Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia since 2014. If you’re wondering what attending a Miku Expo concert is like, read on to learn all about the exciting experience!
Getting Tickets
Like any concert, the first step is getting tickets. Miku Expo concerts are organized by Crypton Future Media and tickets are sold through Ticketmaster. They often sell out very quickly due to Miku’s massive popularity so you’ll want to buy tickets as early as possible. VIP packages are available and give you perks like premium seating, an exclusive tee shirt, early entrance to the venue, and sometimes a meet and greet with the musicians. General admission ticket prices vary by city but usually range from $50-150 USD. The concerts are family friendly so all ages can attend.
Arriving at the Venue
Miku Expo concerts are held at large venues like arenas or convention centers to accommodate the huge crowds. Fans start lining up very early, some coming in cosplay dressed as Miku or other vocaloids. Concerts routinely attract thousands of attendees. Once inside, you’ll find the merch stands selling all kinds of Miku Expo branded goods like t-shirts, glowsticks, hats, posters, accessories, and more. Diehard fans come prepared to spend lots of money on merch! There is also a cafe area with themed food and drinks. The crowds are buzzing with anticipation before the show.
The Concert Experience
Opening Acts
The show starts with opening acts from other Crypton vocaloids like the male voices of Kaito or Len, the cat-eared girl Meiko, sweet sounding Luka, twins Rin and Ren, and more. The vocaloids appear on stage as holograms projected onto a transparent screen, making them seem to float in midair. Live musicians play synthesized and pop style music to accompany them as they dance and sing.
Hatsune Miku Performance
After the opening acts, the crowd erupts in screams and cheers as Miku appears on stage in her signature blue pigtails. She greets the audience in both Japanese and English and kicks off an incredible high energy pop concert. The setlist includes Miku’s greatest hits like “World is Mine,” “Senbonzakura,” “Melt,” “Tell Your World,” and many others. She sings in both Japanese and English depending on the song. The hologram technology makes it seem like Miku is actually there dancing, running around the stage, and interacting with the crowd. Lasers, lights, smoke, and other visual effects create an immersive concert spectacle. There are also interlude videos showing illustrations of Miku.
Live Musicians
Miku’s band for the tour includes top notch live musicians. The drummer pounds along with high tempo beats to match Miku’s synthesized vocals. Guitars, keyboards, bass and percussion fill out the sound. Occasionally the musicians will come down a walkway into the crowd while performing solos. They interact and hype up the audience. The blend of Miku’s hologram presence and the live band makes for an electrifying concert!
Audience Participation
The audiences at Miku Expo are more like rabid fans than passive watchers. Concert goers come prepared with glowsticks, towels, and other items to wave and cheer enthusiastically. They often dress up as Miku or other vocaloids in full cosplay costume. The crowd sings along to lyrics they know by heart. People dance in the aisles and many record the concert on their phones. The fans feed off Miku’s energy on stage and amplify it throughout the venue. Everyone gets fully immersed in the experience!
Types of Performances
Group Songs
While Miku is the headliner, some songs feature multiple vocaloids singing together in animated videos projected on the huge onstage screens. Group songs allow you to see interacting characters like Rin, Len, Luka, Kaito, and Meiko joining Miku. The duet “Romeo and Cinderella” between Rin and Len is a concert highlight.
Ballads
To balance out the high energy dance tracks, Miku sings some emotional ballads seated on a stool. Delicate songs like “The Disappearance of Hatsune Miku” and “Planetarium” showcase Miku’s beautiful vocals. Lasers swirl through the air as the crowd sways with lightsticks, creating a feeling of connection.
Upbeat Songs
Pop, rock, and electronic styles fuse together in Miku’s catchiest upbeat tracks like “LOL -Lots of Laughs-” and “Miku.” These songs have everyone jumping and dancing along. Miku especially loves to get the crowd pumped up during these numbers as she runs back and forth across the stage.
Fan Favorites
Diehard Miku fans wait all night to hear their favorite obscure songs that may get played. “The Snow White Princess Is” and “Brain Revolution Girl” are examples. Hearing a favorite lesser known track can be a highlight for longtime fans. The concerts strike a good balance between new songs from latest albums and fan favorite classics.
Concert Merchandise
Miku Expo concerts feature loads of colorful official merchandise for sale. Here are some of the most popular items people buy:
T-Shirts
A wide variety of concert tee shirt designs are available featuring Miku and the other Crypton vocaloids. Shirts range from simple tour dates on the back to bold graphics of Miku. There are also tops with collar necklaces and lace accents if you want to really dress up as Miku herself!
Plush Toys
Cute plush toy versions of Miku, Rin, Len, and Luka are available to take home as cuddly souvenirs. The dolls capture the characters’ signature hair, clothes, and accessories. Some even play vocaloid catchphrases when you press a button!
Posters
Pick from a selection of glossy posters with Miku in different poses, often holding a mic. Smaller postcards and keychains are also for sale covered in Miku imagery. These make great memorabilia to commemorate the concert.
Accessories
Cosplay accessories like Miku hair clips, choker necklaces, and bracelets are sold in case you want to really get into character! Glowsticks, foam fingers, towels, and other fun stuff is available to wave and cheer with during the show too.
Blu-Ray/DVD
You can purchase recordings of the concert on Blu-Ray or DVD to rewatch once you get home. The discs include footage from multiple tour stops edited into a seamless show along with behind the scenes bonuses. It’s the next best thing to seeing Miku Expo live!
Merchandise Type | Sample Items | Price Range |
---|---|---|
T-Shirts | Tour shirts, graphic tees of Miku | $25-$40 |
Plush Toys | Miku, Rin, Len, Luka dolls | $20-$35 |
Posters | Miku poses, collages, postcards | $10-$20 |
Accessories | Hair clips, necklaces, bracelets | $5-$15 |
Blu-Ray/DVD | Concert recordings | $40-$60 |
Meeting Miku (Virtually)
One of the most exciting parts of Miku Expo is when the concert concludes and Miku returns for an encore. She thanks everyone for coming and leads the crowd in a heartfelt singalong finale. After her final bow, she returns down the walkway stopping frequently to “meet” her biggest fans up close. People cluster around the walkway desperately holding out their hands, cell phones, and gifts. Though Miku is a hologram, the chance for eye contact or a “handshake” is a magic moment for the fans. Security guards move her along so she can “meet” as many people as possible. It’s a special way to connect even if Miku isn’t physically real. Her sweet smile and lively presence won over everyone’s hearts throughout the show.
After the Show
After the final notes fade away, audiences make their way out of the venue buzzing about the amazing concert. Some people linger near the stage doors hoping for a glimpse of the real musicians as they depart. Most concert goers leave with big smiles and Miku songs stuck in their heads. Swapping stories and photos with fellow fans outside is a great way to wrap up the night. Miku Expo creates unforgettable memories and new friendships within the vocaloid community.
Conclusion
Attending a Miku Expo concert is an unforgettable experience even for people new to Hatsune Miku and vocaloids. The dazzling hologram technology brings Miku to life in a highly immersive show. Combined with the flashy visuals, catchy music, enthusiastic crowd energy, and unique concert merchandise, Miku Expo offers an electrifying event unlike any other. It’s easy to see why these concerts sell out so quickly and attract fans from all over the world. Miku devotees and new converts alike will be blown away by the virtual popstar’s glowing presence. Her positive message resonates with the crowd long after leaving the venue. If you ever get the chance to go to Miku Expo, don’t hesitate to grab tickets and singing gear to fully embrace the spectacle yourself!