Bless4 brings Cebu together with the warrior’s spirit at Otakufest 2018

By Tiny Diapana
Photos: Joanna Pearl Santos and Bayani Miguel Acebedo

 

THIS year’s Otakufest production brought in a lot of significant changes to the largest and most highly anticipated cosplay and hobbyist convention in Cebu. Not only was Otakufest 2018 taken out of its original home in UP Cebu to the open expanse of Cebu Business Park last Feb. 24, but for the first time since its inception, Otakufest was given a theme-less slate.

For the past ten years, Otakufest has provided attendees with themes to guide them through the event. On its eleventh run, the production decided to go freeform, allowing cosplayers and convention visitors the liberty of attending the event in whatever costume they’d want.

Celebrating this eclecticism, Otakufest 2018’s production decided to bring in popular Japanese vocal and dance group Bless4 as the guest performers for this year’s convention.

According to Otakufest Chief Director Sonia Dujon Vidal, the production wanted to bring in international performers that could appeal to the different age groups in the convention and Bless4 was the perfect fit. Not only did the group have songs that catered to classic otakus, they also had a set list that interested a more current set of fans. One of the older and more experienced vocal groups in Japan, Bless4 seemed to be a great pick for Otakufest’s theme-less year.

Sunstar Weekend got to meet the members of the vocal ensemble for an hour-long interview at Quest Hotel, speaking with Kawamitsu siblings Akashi (age 36), Kanasa (age 32), Akino (age 28) and Aiki (age 26) a few hours before they were scheduled to perform on stage at Otakufest.

It was Bless4’s first time in the country, and the sibilings were more than excited to meet their Cebuano fans. The group had been to a number of other countries before and according to the siblings, audience reactions depended on the culture of the place they performed in. Bless4 wanted to know what Cebuano anime fans were like.

“We’d like to see whether the Philippine Otakus are like Japanese otakus,” Akino says.

“Our expectations are pretty high. We hear that everyone’s passionate, so we’re looking forward to seeing everyone expressing themselves during our performance,” Akashi, adds. “We don’t know exactly what to expect, but we’re hoping that everyone has fun.”

The conversation with Bless4 went on smoothly during the meeting. Down-to-earth and unassuming, the siblings didn’t put on any airs.

Unlike other vocal groups in Japan, the Kawamitsu siblings who were raised in the state of Arizona in the US and later on in the island of Okinawa in Japan all benefitted from an international upbringing, allowing Bless4 an appreciation for diversity.

“What’s really interesting to see wherever we go is the power of music,” Aiki explains. “It doesn’t matter how old you are, or what’s the color of your skin, or whatever language you speak, there’s that strong sense of unity. Our performances are interactive so fans dance with us, shout and sing with us. Just seeing how music can bring that unity is something that we’re so excited to see here in the Philippines.”

The group also expressed a sense of wonder at how music crosses cultural boundaries, the younger female sibling Akino pointing out how their Filipino fans have the ability to sing Japanese songs from top to bottom without even fully understanding the language.

Music and passion come hand in hand, and even after years and years of performing on stage, Bless4 still seemed to retain that eagerness to create and share music with others.

The group which is currently approaching its 15th anniversary is focused on returning to its roots, taking on the theme “We Are Warriors,” highlighting Okinawa’s history as fighters. Okinawans might be known for their courteousness, but there’s also been a long history of martial arts on the island.

Before they were a vocal group, the siblings went around Arizona performing taekwondo together and even though their days as a martial arts exhibition troupe didn’t last too long, the group would like to believe that their music continues to embody their fighting spirit.

“I think that since it’s our 15th anniversary, it’s kind of a special time in our lives, so the theme that we’ve chosen, ‘We are Warriors’ is one that hopes to express what we want to stand up for,” Kanasa elaborates during the interview.

“Different aspects of our lives can make us, not just us but every person in the world, a warrior in the fact that we’re all fighting for our lives every single day. I think everyone can relate with this fight, because every day life is a war. In order to save yourself you have to be strong, and we hope that we manage to express that strength of spirit in our music,” she adds on.

Strength of spirit is certainly that Cebuanos seem to possess, so it didn’t come as a surprise seeing the Otakufest attendees resonating with Bless4’s passionate performance during the convention.

Vidal and the rest of the Otakufest 2018 production certainly didn’t go wrong inviting Bless4 this year and now that the group’s tasted a bit of the island, the Kawamitsu siblings say that one of their goals is to come back and experience more of Cebu and the Cebuano people.

Bless4’s message to its Cebuano fans?

“We know there’s tons of talent here in Cebu,” Akino says. “Don’t let your fear eat you. Go for your dreams. We want to see you fly.”