Akatsuki no ito (thread of down) is used as an encore chant by the audience. So during the pandemic, they wondered how the public could sing it when they weren't allowed to sing along or shout loudly. They came up with an idea that ticket holders could submit recordings of themselves singing Akatsuki no ito in advance. This is in the encore, Everyone except Yuko has switched to Daishinnenkai 2021 t-shirts
Akatsuki No Ito has essentially become the theme song of the Wagakki Band and was why the crowd were singing it before the band appeared on stage to join them. It is a wonderful song of peace and friendship and I'm sure Wagakki Band would have sung this song if their appearance as the opening of the Olympics hadn't been curtailed by covid. So sad this band missed that opportunity to have gained worldwide exposure. Today they would be international stars as they are in Japan.
They are a true supergroup in the style of the supergroups of the 1960's and 1970's. They are the greatest unknown talent in music today. I'm pretty sure when Yuko's daughter gets a little older, she will be one year old in November, they will resume tours outside Japan. Her husband is Kiyoshi, who plays the harp or zither-like horizontal instrument.
