Momoiro Clover Z’s annual winter concert, known as the Momoclo Christmas, took place over two festive days on December 21 and 22 at the Saitama Super Arena. This year's concert title, "Momoclo Christmas 2024-HOLY 4D NIGHT," not only established the mood but also introduced captivating sensory elements to redefine the live experience for fans.
The concert opened with vibrant visuals, transporting fans to the heart of Momoclo’s creative process. A scripted skit featured the four members brainstorming Christmas concert ideas at a café, only to find themselves unexpectedly trapped in a malfunctioning elevator moving through time. This engaging narrative setup led fans straight to the live performance.
Once the doors to the dazzling elevator slid open, the stage was filled with excitement and high energy. The first number, "WE ARE BORN," was a surprising yet invigorative choice, which set the tone for what was to come. The atmosphere intensified with the follow-up track, "MONONOFU NIPPON feat. Hotei Tomoyasu," featuring vibrant dance routines and pyrotechnics. The enthusiastic cheers of the fans, known affectionately as “Mononofu,” created an electrifying ambiance.
After the opening numbers, the first MC segment allowed members Tamai Shiori, Takagi Reni, Sasaki Ayaka, and Momota Kanako to connect with the audience, explaining the concert's theme and the significance of the visuals and performances. They introduced their innovative live merchandise, the “4D Control Light,” allowing the audience to participate by changing the arena's lighting colors dynamically. The excitement reached new heights as lights were transformed from red to yellow, pink, and purple, giving fans an experiential thrill.
Viewers were then treated to the performance of "Momoterasu Momomikami" from their latest album, "Idola," accompanied by captivating laser displays. Moments later, Shiori showcased her solo song, "Spicy Girl," marking the celebration of each member’s individual contributions to their year of achievements, where all had held solo concerts for the first time in their history.
To keep up the high energy, the members returned with the lively song "JUMP!!!!!" whisking around on festive vehicles, cheering as they interacted with the audience directly. The members' camaraderie shone brightly, making every performance feel personal and inviting.
One unexpected highlight of the concert involved Reni's playful twist on the 'Hide and Seek' game, where she humorously went missing, leading to comedic skits displayed on screen. This culminated with her surprise announcement from behind the enormous snowman at the venue entrance, connecting vividly to Christmas themes.
One of the visual standouts included during the songs was the breathtaking winter-themed segment, showcasing tracks like "Hanabi" and "Sora no Curtain," which intricately combined dazzling projections of snowflakes and illuminated cityscapes. This segment was not just about sound; it engaged all senses, echoing this year’s concert's 4D theme.
While the members discussed each segment's conceptual themes, they emphasized their individual keywords: light, smile, scent, and snow. These conveyed how their performances rose from the imagination to reality, creating shared memories with their cherished fans, Mononofu.
The encore culminated with fan-favorites “Lenacel Serenade” and “Yawaku Koishite,” where the bonds solidified between the group and their supporters exhibited warmth and joy. This sense of closeness solidified the atmosphere of celebration and community, embodying the essence of Christmas.
Momota Kanako’s fervent expression echoed through the venue as she shared her excitement for future projects, bonding with the audience through shared hopes for upcoming performances. Finally, the spotlight shone as Kanako led the group back out for the final song, encapsulating the joy of the entire spirit of the season.
Ending on high notes, the concert left fans eager for future endeavors as Momoclo hinted at solo concerts and exciting new developments on the horizon. With the theater filled with colorful lights from the fans' penlights and their exuberant shouts of joy echoed, this year’s Momoclo Christmas undoubtedly set the bar high.
