Genshi Shinbo - Live Retrospective, December 30, 2025, Part 1

A spectacular live show that surprises fans every year—even though they come expecting it every year. Here is my two-part report on this stunning performance!

For Pink Floyd fans in Japan, the year-end performance by Genshi Shinbo at EX Theater has become an annual tradition they look forward to. Among UK rock fans, this Pink Floyd tribute band needs little introduction. While many tribute bands focus primarily on technical accuracy and faithful reproduction of classic rock songs, Genshi Shinbo goes further by incorporating strong entertainment value as well. Their shows are truly spectacular live performances that captivate audiences both sonically and visually—delivering a Pink Floyd experience that, in some ways, feels even more ‘Floyd-like’ than the current members themselves.

Many fans may also vividly remember their moving performance in the snow during the event “Shining 1970s - Two Days of British Rock” held at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall in 2025. Building on the excitement of that year, Genshi Shinbo once again elevated the joy of their fans with their December 30, 2025 performance titled “Wish You Were Here – 50th Anniversary Complete Reproduction! - Final Show + Atom Heart Mother Instead of Beethoven’s Ninth Again This Year.” In this article, I will bring you a detailed report of that performance in two parts.

Every time I enter the venue, I’m overwhelmed. The merchandise corner is filled with eye-catching items—T-shirts, tote bags, and more—featuring designs irresistible to any Pink Floyd fan.
As for me, I ended up buying a T-shirt inspired by the cover art of Pink Floyd’s album Wish You Were Here. The design made me imagine what promotional posters might have looked like when the album was originally released in Japan. It’s the kind of design that makes collectors hesitate to even wear it.

The merchandise will also be available through the band’s official website, so if you couldn’t attend the show—or regret not buying something at the venue—be sure to check it out!
Once inside the theater, the audience is greeted by monitor speakers bearing lettering reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s film Live at Pompeii, instantly stirring excitement among Pink Floyd fans even before the show begins.
Then, as Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow” plays over the speakers, the lights go down. eyboardist Harunobu Okubo, drummer Katsumi Kashiwabara, and vocalist Reika Tomita appear on stage. Since it’s the opening song, one might expect them to start with one of Pink Floyd’s most famous tracks—but...!

1. On the Run

The show unexpectedly kicks off with an instrumental from The Dark Side of the Moon! Harunobu Okubo’s synthesizer sounds swirl and pulse in looping patterns, backed by the heartbeat-like thud of Katsumi Kashiwabara’s bass drum.

The airport announcement that sets the scene of the song—rather than being played from tape—is reenacted live by Reika Tomita.
Another keyboardist, Yoshitaka Mikuni, appears on the left side of the stage, and the audience is gradually drawn deeper into the world of The Dark Side of the Moon.

When bassist Yutaro Ogida enters, he delivers the male spoken part with laughter included. Finally, vocalist Kenneth Andrew appears and lets out the iconic manic laugh. The first song then comes to a sudden end with a destructive drum fill by Okubo.

Just as the audience begins to realize they’ve been pulled into ‘the dark side of the moon’ through this unexpected opening, the sound of a powerful wind rises almost seamlessly. Then, at last, guitar hero Takehiko ‘shake’ Kogure appears on stage. And the next song begins...

2. One of These Days

Perhaps because Yutaro Ogida’s bass intro had more reverb than usual, the opening carried an especially strong psychedelic flavor. Then comes the thunderous slide guitar of Takehiko ‘shake’ Kogure.

From the very first note, his guitar cuts through with sharp, powerful intensity.
After an extended bass break, the tempo picks up. Against a backdrop of red lighting, Reika Tomita dances while forcefully smashing the cymbals—an image that evokes early Pink Floyd performing in front of dancing women at London’s legendary UFO Club.

3. Pigs (Three Different Ones)

Next came a song that instantly transported the audience straight into the world of the 1970s. Guided by a holy-sounding organ intro performed by Harunobu Okubo and Yoshitaka Mikuni, the band launched into a track from the album Animals. Supported by Mikuni’s electric piano, this was also the first time we heard Kenneth Andrew’s vocals during the show.
Takehiko ‘shake’ Kogure’s guitar solo became even sharper and more biting, thoroughly stirring the spirit of Animals. During the solo, Kogure even used a vocoder, adding a slightly spacey effect to the performance. The ensemble—driven by Katsumi Kashiwabara’s drums and Reika Tomita’s percussion—had a lively rhythmic energy with a touch of modern pop flavor, perfectly capturing the brilliance of the 1970s! Yutaro Ogida’s bass solo was also outstanding, and it made me hope that someday we might hear Genshi Shinbo perform “Hey You” as well.

4. A Great Day for Freedom

This song expresses a perspective on the fall of the Berlin Wall. The introduction features massive, spacey and heavy synthesizer sounds blasting from the left and right, accompanied by lighting that seems to physically strike the audience—almost as if representing the towering wall that stood uncrossed for so long. Then, carried by the piano tones of Harunobu Okubo, Kenneth Andrew’s vocals begin. The lighting shifts as if the high wall has disappeared, opening up into a wide plain. The chorus by Reika Tomita and Yuki Hirono adds a solemn atmosphere to the song, giving it a deeply cleansing emotional effect. Although the song originally comes from the 1994 album The Division Bell, Takehiko ‘shake’ Kogure’s guitar solo carries a tone reminiscent of the Animals era. That blend of different Pink Floyd eras is something fans simply can’t get enough of.

5. Wearing the Inside Out

At this point, saxophonist Takeshi Abe appears on stage. And surprisingly, the band launches into a hidden gem from the album The Division Bell! Originally written by Richard Wright, this number begins with an intro that feels slightly suburban in tone, giving the performance a very stylish atmosphere. But this is Genshi Shinbo, after all. Led by Takehiko ‘shake’ Kogure’s rocking guitar solo, the band gradually pulls the audience deeper and deeper into the Pink Floyd universe, making the performance truly thrilling!
Although this song is not particularly well known among Pink Floyd’s catalog, it’s exactly this kind of deep cut that the band suddenly brings out that makes every visit worthwhile. It reminds me of the excitement I felt the first time I saw them perform, when they played “The Nile Song.”

6. High Hopes

Another track from the album The Division Bell follows. Reika Tomita rings a bell, while Harunobu Okubo’s piano and Yoshitaka Mikuni’s synthesizer whisper softly in the background. As Kenneth Andrew begins to sing, the venue is filled with a truly dreamy atmosphere!
When the guitar solo starts, spacey synth sounds descend, and Kenneth Andrew, Yuki Hirono, and Yutaro Ogida deliver a solemn triple vocal over the twin synthesizer textures. It reminded me of something Yutaro Ogida once said at a previous show—that The Division Bell is “the most peaceful album in Pink Floyd’s catalog.” UK rock fans, let’s listen to The Division Bell more often!

After several songs from The Division Bell, Takehiko ‘shake’ Kogure suddenly unleashes a tremolo-drenched guitar sound. It almost seems like “See Emily Play” is about to begin—but then...

7. Arnold Layne

Whoa—what an unexpected surprise! This is Pink Floyd’s debut single from 1967, an eternal psychedelic pop classic. With this performance, the band instantly transports the entire venue to the world of Swinging London. As someone who loves the 1960s, my heart was already on the verge of what Pink Floyd themselves might call “Brain Damage.” When I first saw David Gilmour perform this song on his 2005 live DVD Remember That Night, I remember feeling frustrated, thinking, “Why won’t he perform this live in Japan?” But this performance completely erased that frustration with its remarkable accuracy and energy.

On the DVD, the song is sung by David Bowie, and here Kenneth Andrew even recreates Bowie’s distinctive pose when singing the line “Two to know.” During the organ solo, there’s also a bit of crowd-hyping in the style of Iggy Pop, which really fires up the audience!
And although the first half of the show has already delivered an incredibly dense set of performances, the excitement continues. It feels just like the first time I listened to Pink Floyd’s best-of compilation Echoes without looking at the tracklist—discovering each song as it comes and enjoying every unexpected moment.

8. Time - Breath (Reprise)

This iconic number from the album The Dark Side of the Moon is also a staple of Genshi Shinbo’s live shows. The harmony sections performed by Kenneth Andrew and Yutaro Ogida are always wonderful to hear, while Takehiko ‘shake’ Kogure delivers a sharp guitar solo in the B section. Meanwhile, the rocking performance is soulfully enriched by the chorus of Reika Tomita and Yuki Hirono. The result is so immersive that you almost forget you’re listening to a Pink Floyd tribute band—the audience is completely drawn into the world of Genshi Shinbo.

9. The Great Gig in the Sky

Still fully immersed in the world of Genshi Shinbo, the show flows naturally—just as expected—into this song. The male narration in the intro is delivered by Kenneth Andrew. Over Harunobu Okubo’s holy, resonant piano, a dreamy slide guitar rings out, followed by waves of organ from Yoshitaka Mikuni and powerful drum fills from Katsumi Kashiwabara. Guided by this rich soundscape, Reika Tomita begins to sing with a magnificent, gospel-like vocal performance.
Yutaro Ogida’s undulating bass further elevates the beauty of the singing. Many in the audience likely work hard all the way through the year-end just for the chance to hear Tomita perform this song live again. In fact, the venue erupted in what felt like the biggest round of applause I’ve ever heard there.

The ending features a spine-tingling call-and-response vocal between Tomita and Yuki Hirono—truly breathtaking. With this, the first half of the show comes to a close, ending on a deeply memorable performance that perfectly suits the finale of Part 1.

Next comes Part 2, which will feature a complete performance of the 1975 album Wish You Were Here. The more you listen to it, the richer it becomes—a truly moving masterpiece for Pink Floyd fans.
In the next blog post, we’ll bring you a report on the live performance in Part 2. Stay tuned—and keep that fire burning in your heart!

Just as I was about to put down my pen and wrap up this report, news arrived about Genshi Shinbo’s next live show, so I’ll leave you with that final announcement.

The Pink Floyd tribute band Genshi Shinbo and the Led Zeppelin tribute band Mr. Jimmy are going to hit the road in three major citie: Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo! These two leading Japanese tribute bands first shared the stage in March 2025 at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall during the event titled “Shining 1970s - Two Days of British Rock”. Now, their collaboration returns on an even larger scale under the banner “Glorious 1970s vol.2 - Tour 2026”. This time, the event expands beyond Tokyo to include Osaka and Nagoya as well! Mr. Jimmy, led by Jimmy Sakurai—who has dedicated his life to perfectly recreating Jimmy Page, earning even Page’s own “official recognition,” and whose remarkable story was made into a film. Meanwhile, Genshi Shinbo, led by Takehiko ‘shake’ Kogure, delivered a breathtaking performance at their year-end concert, fully recreating Atom Heart Mother with a horn section and a large chorus ensemble. On their November–December 2025 tour, they also performed Pink Floyd’s masterpiece Wish You Were Here in its entirety—maintaining intense energy through to the final notes before sold-out crowds. This dream event offers a rare opportunity to experience, in one night, meticulous tributes to two legendary rock bands that shook the 1970s music scene. It is truly a must-see for all British rock fans.

〈 Event Schedule 〉

• June 28 (Sun.), 2026 at Umeda Club Quattro
  Doors Open/Show Starts 5:00 PM/5:30 PM
• June 29 (Mon.), 2026 at Nagoya Electric Lady Land
  Doors Open/Show Starts 6:00 PM/6:45 PM
• July 4 (Sat.), 2026 at Tokyo Zepp Shinjuku
  Doors Open/Show Starts 5:00 PM/6:00 PM
• July 5 (Sun.), 2026 at Tokyo EX Theater Roppongi
  Doors Open/Show Starts 5:00 PM/6:00 PM

For more details, check the band’s official tour page!

Members of Genshi Shinbo:
Takehiko ‘shake’ Kogure (Guitar)
Yoshitaka Mikuni (Keyboards)
Harunobu Okubo (Keyboards)
Yutaro Ogida (Bass, Guitar, Vocals)
Katsumi Kashiwabara (Drums)
Kenneth Andrew (Lead Vocals)
Reika Tomita (Chorus)
Yuki Hirono (Chorus)
Lovely Reina (Chorus)
Takeshi Abe (Saxophone)
Image courtesy of Genshi Shinbo

Lastly, let me introduce an item that will delight Pink Floyd fans, available at Sound House!

Crazy Tube Circuits / Venus

A genuine tube overdrive inspired by all pedal and rack versions, capable of producing tones ranging from smooth, light overdrive to high-gain, aggressive distortion.
Various versions of the original BK Butler Tube Driver were used by David Gilmour on The Division Bell, Pulse, as well as on his later solo albums.