It is fantastic that the rest of the world has caught up with Tatsuro Yamashita through the global popularity boom of City Pop. But for those of us here he has always been a legend, and City Pop isn’t news. His work and his legacy are woven into the fabric of music culture here, and it is about time the rest of the world picked up on it too!

And pick up on it they have, his Saturday evening Green Show was as packed as Fuji Rock can be (literally, it being a sold out day). It is rare at Fuji to see an act that brings literally every demographic together like this one did. It really felt like the big event of the festival this year.

Of course the music was fantastic. There was no doubt that that would be the case. It is a rare songwriter who can create tunes that are as light and breezy as they are infectious and memorable. It is the kind of music that transports you, that steers your mood somewhere peaceful and happy no matter what you were feeling before. Donut Song was the first that really got the crowd moving, and from there it was off to the races.

Yamashita-san himself was in fine form, his voice hasn’t felt the years, and he exuded appreciative elder statesman vibes. This, of course, while still modest in his classic beanie and unassuming blue shirt and black jeans. He had the stage presence only 50 years on one can give.

The band was a mix of old pros and young guns, but the sound was like stepping out of a time machine. But for all their amazing skill and showmanship, it was a one man show. The camera barely left Yamashita-san throughout the set, the giant screen behind him remained blank. No pyrotechnics. No choreographed dance numbers, just a legend on stage.

Yamashita-san said it is hard to pick a set when you have 50 years of music to choose from. True, but the crowd would have taken anything gladly. What they got, apologetically because it is an old one, was Silent Screamer. Nobody was disappointed with this funky pop track, one of his best. Long list to choose from though. As the sun went down and the night began the bangers kept coming.

The moment that really finally brought the house tumbling down was when Mariya Takeuchi, Yamashita-san’s wife and the ‘Queen of City Pop’ joined him on stage to sing Plastic Love. One of those classic guest appearance crowd eruptions.

By the time the set wrapped the crowd was thoroughly enraptured. The unfamiliar became fans and the fans devotees. In short it was a very, very good set and we were all very, very lucky to see it.