I don't like the song either.

me neither.

No more circus pleaaaase :( Hoping for something new and creative!

I like ''We are the Queens'', i hope it will be included in CDL or TOUR as big number with props and dancers. I don't think it was a good fit for a TA tour though... but can't help with the timing.

Yo if she doesn't sing We are the Queens standing on top of a castle with a giant robotic dragon coming down and spitting fire all over the place, I'll be very upset.

Yes~ so I wonder go where to hold CDL17-18/18-19/19-20 ???

may be go to Yokohama Arena or Saitama Super Arena ?

may be...CDL16-17 is FINAL CDL....:no I feel Ayu don't want to hold CDL at another place except Yoyogi

if she keeps doing tour with circus theme, her fans will enjoy when they watch the tour in person but not her fans watch on DVD/Bluray

I remember when ayu said she attended a consert of another artist and wanted to make her tours like it. I wonder if it was Britney!! You know the circus theme.

Concert tour 2000 has a sub nature theme I suppose...

I would prefer Saitama, because public transport from Tokyo to there is easier.

But who says it must be in the Tokyo region. Osaka Jo Hall would be nice.

I believe the most recent inspirations were Beyoncé and Katy Perry.

Didn't she went to Cirque du Soleil show in Vegas?! I think the whole Cirque de Minuit came from this inspiration...

I would love to see a Medieval theme (even tho she have done that with the stage of CDL 07-08...

I echo the sentiment about wanting to see the circus stuff retired. She's had clowns and stuff since concert 2000 but now its just too much.

So many artists used the circus theme way before Britney and for show/escenography I'd say Ayu's concerts looks more like Christina's Back to Basics Tour but anyway, no more circus please :no I'd like to see We are the QUEENS performed live but not a whole show themed like it :rolleyes

I agree guys!
When I saw her in Tokyo for ARENA TOUR 2010 ~ Rock'n'Roll Circus, this theme was refreshing, kind of new, I liked it but since then, it feel used again and again, I'm tired of it, I would like something really new for her, and us too!

Ayumi used the circus theme for the first time during A Museum 2003, way before Britney did that. And pretty much every performatic popstar used this theme once or twice.

My tickets for the TA Tour were 54 and 55. so I have to agree international fans about international fans getting better seats, probably because so few actually apply and even fewer back up their lottery wins with the money to buy the tickets, I honestly believe I was the only non Asian in attendance for the TA Tour. I thought there would be hundreds of people from Europe, USA,

ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2016-2017 A『Just the beginning -20-』

Theme out

http://i.imgur.com/vhq2XRP.jpg

Hopefully this isn't a thing that will spill over to the tour but it seems unlikely.

No real hint of what's to come with this other than some sort of anniversary celebration.

wow what a promo image!

At least they got the spelling right... XP

"Just the Beginning -20-", I smell there'll be some special releasing: collection of Lives/Singles/MV, A Best 3 or may be a tribute album.

Time to save money.

I just hope that whatever the theme is, it's gonna be different with arena 2018. I hate the whole AT is an upgrade version of CDL. It's like an ugly spoiler. No surprise factor with that.

Yeah I don't really like CDL spoiling AT, but it probably saves planning and budget to do it like that. Hopefully that won't happen this time since it's too early to do "A 20th LIVE" a year ahead for AT17.

It will be allowed to take photos during live, like at Arena Tour

theme whould more fit CDL 17-18 o.o

Looks like she has plans to use 20th anniversary theme for the whole 2017 year

Seems so

Good, that gives her the occasion to either sing a lot of underperformed gems in her discography, or to sing the same old hits

Tomorrow's gonna be the result day for the first lottery!!
Only applied for the 30th show. Anyone else attending the same
date???

I think this title refers to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games... Not her Anniversary. The fact that Yoyogi closes for renovations for Olympics.

そして、20周年に向けてのカウントダウンも、ここから始まる！

The countdown toward the 20th anniversary starts from here!

http://avex.jp/ayu/live/tour.php?id=1000923

▼TA members with valid membership after November 2016 and who completed registration and payment by Thursday November 17th, 2016 23:59 (JST) are qualified to entry the lottery.

http://avex.jp/ayu/news/detail.php?id=1043392

It's the "end" for now with Yoyogi, but she is also using it as a pre-anniversary concert according to the promotional descriptions.

Oh, really? It's a bit early for 20th Anniversary celebrations.

I guess that's why it's called Just the beginning...

I read it as - 20th year is just the beginning of this career xD

So Warning already confirmed? lol anyways I like the title but isn't her 20th anniversary in 2018? Why do all this lead-up for an entire year...

I thought the same

Kumi did the same with her 15th Anniversary iirc...

I'm really excited which songs she'll choose for this CDL

So the 20th anniversary special stuff/celebrations will be up until 8th April 2018 and not afterwards as it seems (like kuu always does). I'm stocked. Just hope that there will be many cool releases and new songs. I would also accept A BEST 3 if it gets the proper treatment (and wouldn't mind a new original album along with it or something).

There were A COMPLETE and A SUMMER BEST since A BEST 2, but A SUMMER BEST will already be 4 years old so I guess it's ok for A BEST 3 to be released. I just wonder if they will keep it for 8th April 18 or if it will be released on 2017, 10 years after A BEST 2.

(Also regardless of the 15th anniversary edition of A BEST).

Kuu started her Anniversary celebrations December 2014 and ended them with the the Artist concerts on her actual Anniversary December 2015.
Ayu's actual Anniversary is April 2018 - her Anniversary year starts April 2017.
So, yeah, even if you look at it like that, CDL '16-'17 is too early...

Like that I do think chances are very high, CDL and AT will be the same concept again.

Fantastic photo. I like how in the earlier news entry she said "Beginning of the end" and I thought it was ominous but then this one says 20 is just the beginning :laugh Keep up the good work, girl

I like the title of this countdown live. It opens a lot of interpretations and directions she could use during the concert. It might be focused on a retrospective of her 20 years of career as it might sound the beginning of a new era.

They've been saying this for years now... So it doesn't necessarily prove it. :-P
Anyway I guess you're right guys, they probably mean she's approaching her 20th anniversary. Still weird to celebreate it 2+ years before it actually happens.

I don't really like this 20th anniversary theme. C'mon! It's still 2016! I like the idea of beginning and "new era" but not connected with the 20th anniversary. For me it makes more sense if she celebrates it in 2018. But I do wish she comes up with something really new with this CDL cuz we already had her redoing old performances and stuff like that.

Anyway, she looks FIERCE in that photo <3

It feels too soon for them to start mentioning the 20th anniversary. Sure, everyone knows it's coming closer, but still.

If they keep it up then by the time 2018 and the real 20th anniversary comes, people might be sick and tired of the 20th anniversary theme. The 20th anniversary promotions won't have as much of a bang.

Unless she's planning on taking a break in 2017 to prepare. Then it's another story.

I smell A BEST 3 coming very soon...she take so long to release it...like..really really long..for an active singer like her..usually it just take 4 years to release it..it's almost 10 years since she release A BEST 2

It has to come sooner or later. I think she would need a triple or quadruple A BEST 3s to fit all the songs since 2007 :|

That said, I stand by my Pokémon-themed suggestion of A BEST 3 -RED-, -YELLOW-, and -BLUE- :D

A BEST 2 ended with HEAVEN Single... so A BEST 3 could start with the Bold & Delicious/Pride, Startin'/Born To Be... and BLUE BIRD Singles...
BLUE BIRD would be in for sure ^^

And this one concert title makes so much difference...

I applied for the 31st but might apply for another since I was only able to apply for 2 not the 3 needed tickets but I might apply for the 29th. I also wonder if anyone from here also applied for any of the concerts

3 monthes and 8 days too early, right...
That's no reason to seriously discuss it, or?

It's just a conversation. I stated my opinion and just told why I think that. Like everybody else. :shrug

Sorry if I sounded rude... that wasn't my intention... :headache
I just wanted to state, that 3 months more or less are not really important for me in this context

Oh, it's ok. Guess, as they're talking about the 20th Anniversary in the title and in the description of this CDL, it's likely CDL and next tour (which is probably starting in April) will be connected.
That may be the reason they're starting with the 20th Anniversary preparations now.
Maybe now my thoughts are a bit clearer to understand.

Yall will find any reason to bring up A BEST 3 lol

LOL! MTE:yes

Exactly.
Nevertheless, I'm really excited with this countdown, can't wait to see what's coming

I remember being tired of the 10th anniversary-theme related things at one point too.

But.... CDL is in a month... TA tour just finished... and barely have a month to create and rehearse the show... I am scared it will be butchered... cause they have very little time...

And after they have to get the tour done... then she must record new music between it...

So 2 scenario possible... the CDl will be a rough version of the next AT tour... so we'll get an ok CDl and a good/polished AT...

or 2 different concepts... with less production and quality.

In both scenario... i expect the next album to be a bunch of fillers... or a really short albums like MIJ

She probably started with CDL planning during TA tour. This is around the time that she'd be doing rehearsals anyway. However there is that replacement TA tour date and then the rest of December to prepare for CDL.

Not so much time.

I'm just saying that they usually take this amount of time anyway. CDL planning was probably going on concurrently while TA tour was going on inbetween shows.

Maybe that's the reason she changed the Songs during TA-Tour '16 so much haha :D

Got my Dec. 30th lottery results, yes! now going to wait to see if the Dec. 31st lottery results are a yes or no. they seem to give results of different concert dates within a few hours of one another, not all at the exact same time for different dates.

For those of you have used the Global TeamAyu iFlyer ticketing, do you get the paper tickets from TeamAyu booth 1 hour before the concert? Or do you use the QR Code provided by the iFlyer website to enter?

When I went to the TA tour in October I didn't know what to do and nobody seemed to speak any English, so I just held on to the QR Code from IFlyer as people were called to start lining up I finally got a steward to help me, and yes you go to the ticket booth (I never saw it before) and get the qr scan exchanged for your paper ticket.

haven't received the ruselt of the 31st cdl lottery…OMG

Honestly, I think the TA tour WAS rehearsal for the CDL. They did such a large variety of songs that they can easily create the setlist for CDl from the songs that have already been rehearsed/performed across various TA dates. Like, Last Angel at the show I went to had full, new choreography that I doubt they are just going to use at one date. I'm expecting a CDL setlist that combines a majority of the songs that were done on the TA tour.

ugh I hate Last Angel live so, so much. I could listen to the studio version on repeat for days, but live? GTFO

Ayu and her team didn't start to work on CDL after TA tour but several months ago.
Such kind of project can't be created from the idea to the day of the event in only one or two months. That's just impossible.
There are a lot of things to think, to create, to plan and to make. And even if Avex owns its creator teams and fitters for the concerts, those employees aren't working only for Ayu but for all avex's artists. You have to let them know what to do, the calendar and to be sure that they can do it in time and not the day before to realize the job. It's the same with the supplier and the factories that make the new details of the scene or the goods for instance.

yup, doesn't look good for me either on the 31st. just dont think i can afford it on such short notice travel wise to go on the 30th(won) or the 31st.
almost have to be living in Japan or have a super rich significant other!

Received my result ♡ I won for the 31st soooo happy now :love it's a dream come true to me

Just a little tip you can check your iflyer site. I saw that I won there already yesterday and the mail came just this morning so if you don't like to wait just check there

i don't think it's even possible to plan a concert of this proportion in a month lol They probably booked the dates in the arena in mid summer. When there is such an amount of people and pieces involved, there's no way it's happening in a month of time, EVEN if the concert seems to be a recap of half the props and costumes from the ended tour. It's at least half a year worth of work.

As I once said (too) I think the songs who got cut fastly will be included during CDL and the TA Tour was like a rehearsal! Of course she had "real" rehearsals for it because she obviously needs them for planning a whole concert as some people said here, too! I'm very excited for this year's CDL!

Btw: I swear if she sings songs like Return Road I will go crazy!!!

she didn't include songs from TA15 to MIT so what makes you think she will do it this time?

:yes agree with you.

She included UNITE! (first time since AT09) first during TA15 and than MIT...
so nothing is impossible ^^

I'm feeling that this CDL will be really simple just like ~do it again~...

Can we take a second to appreciate how amazing it is that we're having a thread about Countdown Live going into 2017? That seemed like a lifetime ago when I first became a fan and I'm sure many counted out Ayu way before 2017. Though for me the sheer amount of CDL and tours are starting to blur into one and I struggle to remember and tell them apart after following for Ayu nearly 15 years now.

I'm not sure what to think of all this.:dead2
So much isn't known still. It does appear to be anniversary related but I would second that it is a bit premature. I mean I have been hoping that she will do something grand for the 20th but not drag it out through 2017 and 2018. Maybe she wants to start it at the new year and go until her day of debut 20 years ago exactly?
As for the theme, I would still like a more simple Countdown with a focus on performance and not spectacle and sexy outfits. But I am pretty open to ideas, it's whatever she wants really. As long as there is no more CIRCUS. Or clowns.:laugh
I have been thinking this too. The amount of tours are really adding up.:teek
Sometimes I have to look up certain performances to remember them. There are so many now.:dead2
It is impressive for an artist that is considered by many to have little talent.:rolleyes

Hi guys, do you think it's possible to buy the AT 2015 team ayu version at Yoyogi? I pre-ordered the concert on mumo but I'll be in Japan at the end of the year so... Maybe I'll save more money.

^ I'm not sure if they have a CD/DVD selling booth... Just goodies.

Apparently she use 4 days this year to build
the stage instead 2 days as usual. Something might be different this
Year

Huh... it was sold out...

Anyone who got the ticket on 31st Dec? I have entered the lottery for that date and still not get any email. Does this mean I don't get the ticket? Do they inform us in case we are not selected? Thanks :)

Same boat as you, I think its a NO for the 31st if you haven't received a email by now,

I won for the 30th but upon looking at things, $$$wise, airfare, hotels (lack of availibility..) just cant afford to go. damn shame.... on me for being so poor! :irked

Normally they have.

But I don't expect much from CDL this year with this preparation.

OK, I just contact iFLYER and here is their answer:

"That is correct. iFLYER will only send an email when you win the lottery, however you can check your status at anytime from your tickets section in iFLYER or by simply clicking on the orginal registration link (just make sure you are logged in when you check!).

There were a record number of fans signing up for the 12/31 show and only a hanful of people were selected to win this time."

Then I checked myFLYER page > Tickets section. My lottery application for 31st Dec marked as "SORRY, NOT SELECTED". T_T

I won 29th and 30th didnt get 31st :,( so heartbroken looking at my airfair from australia i dont know if i will attend now :( but she is doing a second lottery ?? Whyyy why a second lottery if people missed out in the 31st on the first lottery why are they doing a second?

I applied for the 31st also but haven't received an email. It's a little confusing because there is a second lottery.. I'm not sure if I should enter again?! I noticed the announcement period for the first lottery is until November 30th, but why open a second lottery before the first one is fully announced? Confused @.@

I agree!!! Because if i enter the second one ! Then i miss out on paying on the first two :/ so it makes it hard to know if its worth the trip oveeerrr :,( if i had more money it wouldnt be such an issue to see ayu! Lol

Also just wondering if anyone knows if you apply for all 3 dates, does it make your chances slimmer to get the 31st one? Because your appling for more than one? If that makes sense

Not really. Those are all separate events.

just wondering but why the heck are some of you even applying if you know that you won't be able to afford to go there and actually attend the concert? That just leads to people that CAN go not being able to get a ticket

CDL rarely has elaborate performances or grand outfits. We will probably get some lingerie costumes and maybe a retooled acrobat performance from Ayu. Maybe she's been doing some stuff in secret?

I also contact TeamAyu about lottery result. Here is the answer:

"Thank you for your email.
Unfortunately we don't have any detailed information regarding result announcement notification emails of ayumi hamasaki COUNTDOWN LIVE 2016-2017 A(logo)『Just the beginning -20-』.
Please contact iFLYER regarding this matter.
If you have further questions regarding TeamAyu 2nd ticket reservation, also please contact iFLYER.

Once again, thank you very much for your continued support for both Ayumi Hamasaki and OFFICIAL GLOBAL FANCLUB"TeamAyu"."

That means any questions about lottery application should be sent to iFLYER. You can contact them via this link: http://admin.iflyer.tv/apex/support/?cid=5 ). They replied quite fast. :)

So now I have already entered the 2nd lottery for 31st Dec. Wish me luck ^^;;

but still, im more excited on her cdl then on her arena tour ..

I prefer CDL's because there's less costumes/costume changes and the setlists are usually a little more promotional and obscure. But I've not seen an arena tour in person so maybe I'll change my mind lol.

yup :no

It is frustrating when they do multiple lotteries instead of just fulfilling all the requests the first time around. -especially fanclub members. With so little benefits that fanclub members have now, just maybe they could be nice once in a while lol.

I do have a theory that fanclub members are given crappy seats on purpose though, as the chance of them going to the concert regardless is higher lol.

Strangely enough though, both my roommate and the person he's going with applied for two tickets each for the 31st and both of them won o_o. As opposed to other years when we needed to apply 2 or 3 times each before getting them.

^ Oh well but i'd say that fanclub member also "deserve" more than regular fans to get good seats because they're the one supporting Ayu more lol