Last Updated on 08/22/2022 by てんしょく飯
Rina Sawayama performed at Summer Sonic 2022 for the first time in Japan. The full text of her powerful speech on stage at the Tokyo venue, in which she appealed for same-sex marriage rights, is available here.
Rina Sawayama performs for the first time in Japan at Summer Sonic 2022
Singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama, who was born in Niigata Prefecture and is currently based in England, where she moved to when she was five years old, returned to Japan for the first time in three years to perform at Summer Sonic 2022, which was held in Tokyo and Osaka on August 20 and 21. This was her first performance in Japan.
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Rina took the stage at ZOZO Marine Stadium in Tokyo on August 20 and started her first performance in Japan with “Dynasty,” a song about her DNA, and in the second song, “STFU! The second song was “STFU!”, a song about the anger of being stereotyped as a Japanese person living in the U.K., which was performed at the beginning of the set.
Following the first two songs, “Comme Des Garçons (Like the Boys),” a song that ironically addresses gender norms, was a song about the anger and conflicts she has felt in her own life. The lyrics of both songs were conveyed straight to the audience, and the performance was so powerful that it could only be described as “gripping” the stadium, empowering the gathered audience.
After performing “Hold the Girl” and “Catch Me in the Air” from their new album “Hold the Girl,” which will be released on September 16, the band performed “I love you so much! Thank you! I’m sorry, this is the hottest festival I’ve ever been to, so make sure you stay hydrated,” he said, before launching into “XS. It’s hot as hell. It’s going to get hotter,” he declared, leading into “This Hell,” a song about the rights of the LGBTQ+ community that are being taken away from them.
Speech on same-sex marriage rights
After finishing her performance of “This Hell,” which was perfect for the hot and humid summer in Japan, Rina paused in her performance to give a speech about her identity. I am bisexual, and I am really proud of it,” she said, declaring that she is bisexual.
She then went on to say, “If I tried to have a same-sex marriage here, I would not be able to do it. Why, it is banned in Japan, the only G7 country that does not have that protection, that prohibition against LGBTQ discrimination (in its laws). It is the only country that has no protections for same-sex marriage. I am proud to be Japanese, but this means that I am incredibly ashamed. I and all those who think that I and my friends, the Chosen Family*, should be accepted and given equal rights, should have equal rights, please fight for us and ours, LGBT people are human beings, LGBT people are Japanese people, LGBT people are Japanese people, LGBT people are Japanese people, LGBT people are Japanese people. Love is love. Family is family. Please fight with us. Best regards.”
*A family of people who are not related to each other by blood, but who have chosen to become a family of their own. Rina sings about the Chosen Family in “Chosen Family,” a version of which was also released with Elton John.
After this speech was applauded by the audience, some of whom were carrying rainbow flags, Rina congratulated the gathered fans of the LGBTQ+ community by performing “LUCID,” which she said was a “gay song.” Finally, after performing “Free Woman” by Lady Gaga, which she remixed, she said, “My name is Rina Sawayama. Thank you everyone,” she introduced herself once again and closed her first time on stage in Japan.
Rina also announced on stage at Summer Sonic that she will perform in Japan in January next year. We hope many people will see her powerful and inclusive stage full of empowerment.
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