Momoiro Clover Z's Epic Stage Sets

Momoiro Clover Z is known for putting on great live shows. After seeing what their management company, Stardust Promotion, came up for their Summer concert this year, I thought I'd take a look back at some of the epic sets that have graced Momoclo's stages the years.

Tohjin-sai

Starting in 2014, they raised the bar for their annual summer concerts by adding themes. They incorporated elements from traditional Japanese culture and mythology and were subtitled "Tohjin-sai (桃神祭)". This is a stage mix from all 3 concerts.

The theme of 2014's concert was a "Japanese Festival". A 20 meter (65 foot) Shinto Shrine was erected in the center of the stage. It was estimated to have cost 500 Million Yen (about 4.5 Million dollars). 630 people from festival organizations all over the country gathered to help create the best Summer Festival in Japan.

They also included a bridge on both sides.

The stage lit up at night.

Tojinsai 2016 ~ Onigashima ~

Onigashima is the mythical land of Ogres that was visited by the folk character Momotaro. The real life location is the island of Megijima. Here's some background from Wikipeidia:

"Momotarō was born from a giant peach, which was found floating down a river by an old, childless woman who was washing clothes there. The woman and her husband discovered the child when they tried to open the peach to eat it. The child explained that he had been bestowed by the Gods to be their son. The couple named him Momotarō, from momo (peach) and tarō (eldest son in the family).

When he matured into adolescence, Momotarō left his parents to fight a band of Oni (demons or ogres) who marauded over their land, by seeking them out in the distant island where they dwelled (a place called Onigashima or "Demon Island"). En route, Momotarō met and befriended a talking dog, monkey and pheasant, who agreed to help him in his quest in exchange for a portion of his rations (kibi dango or "millet dumplings"). At the island, Momotarō and his animal friends penetrated the demons' fort and beat the band of demons into surrendering. Momotarō and his new friends returned home with the demons' plundered treasure and the demon chief as a captive. "

You can just make out some Oni drummers in the background.

The members entered the stage through the door underneath the giant Oni.

There was also a water show using fountains.

And they rode a Dragon.

Performance of "We Are Born"

MomocloMania

Starting in 2018, MomocloMania took over as the title for their summer concerts. The inspiration for the name came from the WWE's annual WrestleMania event that started back in 1985. Officially titled "MomocloMania 2018 - Road to 2020-", they based the theme for the concert around Extreme Sports and featured events like Skateboarding, BMX, and 3x3 Basketball.

(*The theme of Momoclomania is specifically "the integration of Idol and Sports")

(**In 2017, Momoiro Clover Z started adding "Road to 2020" to their concerts in anticipation of the 2020 Olympics and began incorporated athletic themes into their live shows and MVs)

The centerpiece of the stage set was a replica of Mount Rushmore featuring the heads of the 4 members.

In addition to the athletic events, Momoiro Clover Z also collaborated with Samurai Rock Orchestra. Tamai Shiori starred in Samurai Rock Orchestra's "Muscle Musical" which was an acrobatic stage production of the Wizard of Oz that actually wasn't a musical. Because of her experience with the troupe, she stepped in to participate.

This is a digest video from the concert.

For the second year under the MomocloMania banner, MCZ raised the bar yet again. Titled "MomocloMania 2019 - ROAD TO 2020 - Shijou Saidai Pure Kaikai Shiki (The biggest pre-opening ceremony ever)", the stage set resembled a Roman Colosseum, complete with 4 giant Gladiator Helmets at the top.

The helmets were designed with a unique lighting rig so the eyes flicker in time to the music. They opened up to reveal each member as they were introduced, and they road down to the stage from inside them.

The concert also featured 217 cheerleaders, a 38 member marching band, and 47 Japanese dancers. Special guests included Former Takarazuka Revue performer Hinami Fu and Pro Wrestler the Great Muta.

Hinami played the Goddess of Victory in the story that unfolds during the concert.

Unfortunately, only one official video has been uploaded from the concert so far and it doesn't showcase the stage very well, so I'll end the retrospective with this.