I never thought I’d witness such a massive singalong in Japan, especially at a show by a Japanese band. The sight of an entire crowd joyfully singing the same song in unison was something I associated with overseas shows I’d seen on YouTube, not with Japan, where people are generally more reserved. But that changed when I saw ONE OK ROCK live.
On September 14 (Saturday) and 15 (Sunday), ONE OK ROCK held two concerts at Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium, kicking off their largest world tour yet, the ONE OK ROCK 2024 PREMONITION WORLD TOUR, which will take them to seven cities with eight performances. It was also their first outdoor solo concert in eight years, since the ONE OK ROCK 2016 SPECIAL LIVE IN NAGISAEN that drew around 110,000 fans over two days.
One thing that really stood out was frontman Taka’s repeated declaration: “We will conquer the world as a Japanese band.” Starting in Tokyo and moving on to Taiwan, Europe, and North America, ONE OK ROCK is undeniably operating on a global scale, while also working on their next album. But more than just their achievements, the energy of their live performance and the passionate response from the audience showed that conquering the world isn’t just a distant dream anymore.
Here’s a review of the first concert, held on September 14.
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After Eight Years: The Band’s Largest World Tour Kicks Off with a Highly Anticipated Setlist
On a Saturday in September, with the sounds of autumn festival music filling the air and an unseasonal warmth hanging on, around 50,000 ONE OK ROCK fans gathered at Ajinomoto Stadium. The trains were crowded with people wearing T-shirts from this tour, and as I stepped out of the station, I saw even more fans proudly displaying merchandise from previous tours, along with merch from bands like Pay Money To My Pain, a key player in Japan’s loud rock scene. It was clear that the band’s support bridged rock fans of all ages.
As we awaited the concert’s start, the venue played a wide array of music, featuring artists from Tyla and Dua Lipa to Depeche Mode, creating a welcoming atmosphere for the incoming crowd. This diverse playlist mirrored ONE OK ROCK’s artistic journey: their bold experiment with the pop album “Eye of the Storm” (2019), influenced by the American music scene, and their return to rock with “Luxury Disease” (2022).
Shortly after the scheduled start time, the entrance music faded, and a screen lit up with clips of Taka’s powerful past statements. These highlighted their pivotal moment as pioneers of a new era, challenging outdated systems that no longer suit the Reiwa era. The message to fans was unmistakable: as long as ONE OK ROCK continues to chase the dream of a Japanese band conquering the world, they must also persevere through times when hope feels distant. Taka’s passion ignited the crowd, and fists began to rise higher with every word.
As the music began to build, Toru (Gt), Ryota (Ba), and Tomoya (Dr) took their places at the back of the stage, layering their instruments in perfect sync. Then, Taka stepped forward, donning a gas mask that brought to mind The Mad Capsule Markets, and the crowd erupted. When he removed the mask, they launched into their first track, “Delusion: All.” True to Taka’s earlier words, the song challenged democracy and the status quo. All around the venue, fans linked arms, mirroring the defiant energy radiating from the band on stage.
Next in the lineup were “Ketsuraku Automation” and ”Re:make” Each song’s intro elicited cheers that grew louder than the last, as the audience’s excitement reached an all-time high, making the assigned seating feel almost unfair. Taka, noticing the crowd’s surprise at hearing songs released over ten years ago, flashed a knowing smile and greeted the audience saying, “We’re here to create fun summer memories that can compete with a fireworks festival!” The following song was “Jibun ROCK.” Though also more than a decade old, Ryota’s two crisp slap notes immediately captivated the 50,000-strong crowd, filling the air with rainbow-colored smoke. The resulting massive singalong of “Ote-te no Shiwa to Shiwa o Awasen no‼︎” was a truly breathtaking sight.
Toru, Ryota, and Tomoya each took a moment to express their excitement for the day’s performance. Their interactions conveyed that, despite the expanding number of countries they tour and the increasing scale of their shows, there’s an unwavering essence at the core of the band. This reflected the solid bond of trust among the four members as they approach their 20th anniversary next year.
