Japan’s Tokyo Dome was filled with the powerful melody of the Korean folk song ‘Arirang’, thanks to global K-pop sensation BTS.
BTS successfully concluded their highly anticipated world tour, ‘BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN TOKYO’, with sold-out concerts on April 17th and 18th at the iconic Tokyo Dome in Japan. This marks a monumental return to the venue for the group, nearly seven years since their ‘LOVE YOURSELF: SPEAK YOURSELF’ tour in July 2019. Both concert dates were entirely sold out well in advance, drawing an impressive total of 110,000 enthusiastic fans who packed the arena over the two days.
The passionate audience created a breathtaking spectacle, waving their official light sticks in perfect unison. Deafening cheers and fan chants resonated throughout Tokyo Dome during explosive performances of fan-favorites like ‘Not Today’ and ‘MIC Drop’. The undisputed highlight of the evening was the stage for ‘Body to Body’, a track from their newly released album, ‘Arirang’. As the captivating melody of the traditional Korean folk song ‘Arirang’ — incorporated into the song – began to play, the entire crowd spontaneously joined in a powerful singalong. This moment fulfilled Chairman Bang Si-hyuk’s previous prediction that the ‘Arirang’ chorus echoing in overseas venues would become the tour’s most ‘iconic moment’. The BTS members themselves were visibly moved, unable to hide their overwhelmed expressions as they absorbed the immense voices of their fans.
Fans enthusiastically sang along to every lyric of global smash hits ‘Butter’ and ‘Dynamite’, their collective voices blending seamlessly with BTS’s, further intensifying the electric atmosphere of the concert. During the special ‘Random Song’ segment, where older tracks were spontaneously performed, the set delighted local fans with ‘Crystal Snow’ from their 2017 8th Japanese single and ‘FOR YOU’ from their 2015 4th Japanese single. As these were original Japanese songs dedicated to their loyal Japanese ARMY, a profound sense of emotional connection permeated the audience. The BTS members actively engaged with the crowd, moving across the stage and making eye contact with many, repeatedly exclaiming, “It’s been so long since we sang these! It feels incredibly good!”
BTS delivered most of their ments (on-stage speeches) fluently in Japanese, captivating the audience and conveying their heartfelt emotions by reading meticulously prepared letters. They expressed their profound gratitude, stating, “Even after such a long time, you responded with the same overwhelming cheers and radiant smiles, which truly gave us strength. We missed you deeply.” The members continued, “When we visit Tokyo, walking the streets, we often think, ‘This is the beautiful scenery you all live with every day.’ It’s an immense joy and honor to be able to return to this stage. We are truly happy. Thank you for waiting for us all this time, and we sincerely love you.”
Having successfully concluded their impactful Tokyo concerts, BTS is now set to continue their world tour across the United States. The global K-pop group is scheduled to meet their American fans at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on April 25th, 26th, and 28th.
