TVXQ showcased their enduring popularity as they set new records as a foreign artist at Nissan Stadium.
Held on April 25 and 26 at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, the ‘TOHOSHINKI 20th Anniversary LIVE IN NISSAN STADIUM ~RED OCEAN~’ concluded successfully.
This performance served as a grand finale to TVXQ’s 20th anniversary since their Japanese debut.
Notably, this marked TVXQ’s third concert at Nissan Stadium, making it even more significant.
Nissan Stadium is renowned as a massive venue in Japan, serving as the home ground for Yokohama F. Marinos. Given its capacity to host over 70,000 spectators, only a handful of concerts are held there annually.
TVXQ initially achieved the milestone of being the first foreign artist to perform at Nissan Stadium in 2013, seven years after their Japanese debut in 2006 (Korean debut in 2003).
In 2018, they became the first foreign artist to hold a three-day concert, and with this latest performance, they now hold the record for the most shows by a foreign artist at the venue.
On the first day, Yunho and Changmin surprised fans by appearing on an extended stage near the audience while singing ‘Small Talk.’
Their performances of ‘Reboot’ and ‘Why? (Keep Your Head Down)’ energized the audience, who sang along with excitement.
The duo then performed ‘Choosey Lover’ and ‘Special One’ consecutively. Afterward, dressed in jungle-themed outfits inspired by their track ‘Jungle’, they delivered a nonstop set of 12 songs, including ‘Champion,’ ‘Spinning,’ ‘One and Only,’ and ‘Time Works Wonders.’
During a brief pause, Changmin expressed gratitude, “I never imagined meeting so many people again at Nissan Stadium. It feels like a dream come true.”
Yunho further elaborated on the title ‘RED OCEAN,’ stating, “It’s an exhilarating title that conveys our gratitude for being here with all of you, shouting ‘We are TVXQ!’, and concluding our 20th anniversary in this remarkable setting.” Following Yunho’s “We are T!” chant, fans raised red lightsticks, creating a magnificent ‘RED OCEAN.’
Changmin then thanked fans, “Thank you for illuminating us. We will continue to shine brightly for you, hoping our songs empower you.”
The duo also shared that the concert featured the largest number of dancers ever and thanked the band members.
In addition to the concert, a city-wide campaign had been underway in Yokohama since April 8, featuring attractions such as light-up landmarks, fireworks, and photo spots in celebration of the event. TVXQ also extended sincere gratitude to Yokohama city officials for their support.
The duo then opened a new segment with the first live performance of ‘IDENTITY,’ the original soundtrack from their 20th-anniversary film released in February. As the sun set, the ‘RED OCEAN’ spectacle truly began.
During performances of ‘Survivor,’ ‘High Time,’ and ‘Hot Hot Hot,’ TVXQ further showcased their love for fans by walking across the wide stage connecting the main and extended stages, opting for direct interaction rather than mobile lifts.
The concert culminated with hit songs like ‘Rising Sun,’ ‘O-正.反.合.’, and ‘PROUD,’ eliciting cheers that reached a crescendo. Responding to encore calls, they performed ‘MAXIMUM’ and a spontaneous a cappella of ‘Heart, Mind And Soul.’
A particular highlight was their rendition of ‘Share The World,’ the opening theme from the popular anime ‘One Piece,’ which had been re-released as ‘RED OCEAN Ver.’ on April 15. During this performance, Yunho and Changmin appeared on mobile carts shaped like the ‘Sunny Go’ and ‘Going Merry,’ respectively, captivating the audience and interacting closely with fans in the seating areas.
Concluding the event, Changmin expressed, “It’s a joy and a dream to perform here again; it feels like a dream come true. Thank you, and I will continue to sing with all my strength.” Yunho closed with, “I was happy to share this experience and gained strength from it; let’s meet again healthy!”
Ending with ‘Tokiwo Tomete,’ TVXQ delivered 31 performances over a three-and-a-half-hour spectacle.
TVXQ’s unwavering skill and sincerity, reciprocated by the loyal love of their fans, made the 20th-anniversary finale even more meaningful, cementing their record as both the first and most frequent foreign artist to perform at Nissan Stadium.
Image source: SM Entertainment
