On August 8, the streets of Boston were brimming with excitement as many J-pop and anime fans rejoiced outside of MGM Music Hall. It wasn’t any ordinary evening as this was YOASOBI’s first time in Boston for their headline tour. Hailing from Japan, the J-pop duo, comprised of producer Ayase and vocalist ikura, is having an eventful year. They performed at two of America’s biggest festivals Coachella and Lollapalooza, and held their first U.S. tour with stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Boston.
It was bound to be a sold-out show as their tour generated lots of buzz when announced. Attendees ranged from young adults to parents who brought their children to celebrate this moment. Many arrived carrying glow sticks as commonly seen at Japanese concerts. Upon entering the venue, staff distributed 3D glasses which will specially be used for a later performance.
As the lights dimmed, a luminous display of lasers projected from the stage as Ayase and ikura made their grand appearance accompanied by their live band. Screams erupted when ikura stepped on an ascending high platform and began performing their new song “UNDEAD.” She greeted the audience with her signature “We are YOASOBI from Japan” and urged everyone to get up from their seats. Just as their band name YOASOBI – derived from the Japanese word 夜遊び meaning “nightlife” – implies, fans were strapped in for what’s to be a lively, unforgettable night.
Every spectacle brought this show to life, from lasers to vibrant strobes to colorful graphics. Feeding off that energy, keyboardist Misohagi Zakuro showed off her dance moves in “Seventeen” while the crowd clapped along during “好きだ (Sukida).” For their slower-paced song “たぶん (Tabun),” the crowd (including Ayase) turned on their phone flashlights to create “shooting stars” as ikura called them.
Adding to the dynamic experience, an announcement instructed everyone to wear their 3D glasses for the next several songs. Through the glasses, animations of landscapes and fireworks popped out from the LED display, igniting lots of amused “oohs and ahhs” among the audience.
For a duo with the slogan “novel into music,” YOASOBI aimed to bring their storytelling elements to audiences wherever they go. “Take a deep dive into the story. I want you to feel the music with your body and soul,” ikura explained, leading up to their next song “もしも命が描けたら (Moshimo Inochi ga Egaketara).” As ikura delivered her raw vocals, the Japanese lyrics and images of blooming flowers danced around in the backdrop, creating a visual representation of the song.
In an MC segment, Ayase taught the audience some Japanese phrases: “こんばんは (Good evening),” “愛してる (I love you),” and even a cheeky “Ayase かっこいい (Ayase’s so cool).” He proceeded to share his sentiments through a letter. Initially, he was worried about selling tickets for their first show in Boston but expressed gratitude for it being sold out. “Enjoy the show to the fullest. Let’s all sing and dance together!” he concluded, leading up to the interlude for their hit track “Idol.” The audience immediately began waving their glow sticks as they chanted in unison to the catchy beats.
Following an epic performance of “怪物 (Kaibutsu),” it was ikura’s turn to share her letter. She recounted a story from her childhood when she visited Boston with her family. She commented on how beautiful the city was and how thankful she was to return sixteen years later for a solo concert. Lastly, she reflected on how her dream of becoming a singer has led her to where she is today.
The duo followed up with the fan favorite “群青 (Gunjou),” a song that ties in with ikura’s speech about pursuing your dreams. The stage was bathed in a cool blue color for this song (群青 meaning “blue”) as the crowd gathered to sing along to the last verse.
“Heartbeat” was supposedly the last song of their set but fans continued to shout for more. After the end credits finished rolling, the band returned to the stage. Ayase and ikura started bantering in Japanese about their Boston trip, from the yummy lobster and clam chowder they ate to the cool weather. After introducing their live band members, YOASOBI ended it off on a high note with their debut single “夜に駆ける (Yoru ni Kakeru),” the viral hit sensation that granted them worldwide fame. “Everybody jump!” yelled ikura, and in no time the venue became a party house for those final moments.
There’s no doubt that YOASOBI is well-loved in the States given the positive reception they’ve received for this tour. The duo completed a new chapter in their book that day and fans await the next time they pick up their pen. We hope they’ll return for a bigger tour with more cities.
Quotations have been edited for clarity and conciseness.
Photos and words by Angela Leung
