As soon as singer Amrit Gurung began singing the song ‘Ho Rama Rama’, the audience started shouting with excitement. At the same time, the colorful lights shining in their hands made the entire atmosphere shimmer. This sequence continued throughout the two-hour long concert.

Nepathya, who performed in front of an audience of around 10,000 at the Pokhara stadium just a week ago, has received a warm and grand welcome from the audience in Nagoya. Having previously performed in nearby Osaka, Nepathya is performing in Nagoya for the first time.

Nagoya is also a city connected to major cities in Japan by a high-speed bullet train. Manjita Rai had traveled from Shizuoka to see Nepathya after traveling an hour and a half on the same bullet train.

‘I came here to experience a concert for the first time in my life after my friends suggested that we watch it together,’ she said, having come to Japan from Ilam 10 years ago. ‘After listening to my friends’ stories, I found the concert much better than I had imagined. I enjoyed it a lot.’

The Nepal Festival is organized every year in Nagoya, which has more than 50 Nepali restaurants. As cricket has gained popularity in recent times, Nepali teams here have also been participating in local competitions.

With the significant increase in the number of Nepalis who have come to Nagoya for studies, their activity in extracurricular activities has also begun to be seen. 26-year-old Vivek Puri, present in the hall, is one such student, with whom Nepathya's relationship dates back to a concert organized at Kalika School in Butwal.

'Eight years ago, when Nepathya had a concert at Kalika School, I was sitting in a crowd of friends who grew up with me,' he said, feeling emotional as he recalled the old days. 'Today, I got to experience Nepathya again from this far away. I am feeling how music not only entertains but also connects different times, hearts and love for the country.'

After learning that Nepathya's concert was going to be held in the city where he lives, Vivek had ordered the recently published biography of the band from Nepal. ‘Since I was reading a book recently, I was also remembering the story of its composition as each song resonated in the concert,’ he added, ‘The fun of watching it like this is indescribable.’

The reaction of the audience everywhere to Nepathya’s different songs is almost the same. When they sang ‘Jogle Hongo Bhet’ in Nagoya on Thursday, there was more enthusiasm than anywhere else.

The lead singer and leader of the band, Amrit, continued to communicate with the audience along with the songs throughout the concert. He also pointed out the need for Nepalis to unite and hold on to their language and identity more tightly while living abroad.

While performing the song ‘Yo Zindagani’ at the concert, singer Amrit appealed to fulfill their responsibility towards the country by providing all possible help to children who could not go to school in their homeland. Nepathya finally said goodbye by singing ‘Rato Ra Chandrasurje’.

‘I had only seen Nepathya on YouTube,’ said 23-year-old Swastika Lama, who came from Hetauda and is studying nursing. ‘Seeing her in the hall like this makes the joy of being Nepali even more enjoyable.’

She also shared the experience of feeling connected to her Nepali roots through a concert for the first time in four years since coming to Japan.

At the ‘Nagoya Lives’ hall, Amrit was assisted by Dhruv Lama on drums, Subin Shakya on bass guitar, Neeraj Gurung on guitar, Shanti Rayamajhi on drums, and Dineshraj Regmi on keyboards.

‘We have been doing many programs in Nagoya for the past two years,’ said Yeoman Dewan of the organizing team after the concert, ‘This is the first time we have seen children, the elderly, and young people having so much fun together.’