Recently, I have been wondering whether it is worth going to concerts and shows that start at night. They often end late and disrupt my sleep routine. For some concerts, I have listened to several renditions and largely know what to expect.
But the recent Persona 5 concert made me reconsider. Persona 5’s music, a mix of jazz and rock with a wide range of instruments, felt especially fun and engaging live. Lyn’s singing was fantastic, and the saxophone solos reminded me of my university band days.
Persona 5 was the first game I played in the Persona series, so it is particularly memorable to me. Spending long hours with the game immersed me in its world and music in a way that watching highlights or summaries never could. On one of my previous trips to Tokyo, we visited Sangenjaya to look for the cafe that inspired Sojiro’s cafe in the story, and had delicious curry and coffee there.
It is hard to know in advance whether a concert or show will be worthwhile. I think I can be more selective, perhaps skipping events where I know what to expect, while leaving room to explore different kinds of performances. Serendipity is a little like a treasure hunt. Once in a while, we come across something that excites or inspires us, and we feel glad that we kept exploring, even when there were costs and effort involved.
PS: Travel also requires effort, disrupts routine, and affects sleep, but is often worth it. Ryan Holiday thinks it’s always worth the trouble.
Ryu's Blog 