Kenshi Yonezu’s Largest-Ever World Tour Was Met with Unprecedented Enthusiasm
From March to April 2025, Kenshi Yonezu held his first world tour in six years, titled “KENSHI YONEZU 2025 WORLD TOUR / JUNK”. Every show sold out, and the tour concluded on April 6 at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, USA.
In Japan, Yonezu is a dominant presence on music charts with every new release, and his dome concerts are famously difficult to get tickets for. Internationally, his reach expanded significantly when his 2023 hit “KICK BACK,” the opening theme for the anime Chainsaw Man, became the first Japanese-language song to be certified Gold by the RIAA. He was also named to the “RIAA Class of 2023”, marking a historic milestone in J-pop history.
Music journalist Natano Shiba, who has covered Yonezu for many years, contributed an on-the-ground report for Music Natalie, excerpts of which are summarized here. The report explores how Yonezu’s music has resonated across different cultures and how international audiences responded to his performances.
Anticipation Was High in Every City on the Tour
Yonezu’s popularity is spreading rapidly around the world. Audiences in each city showed high expectations and palpable excitement.
This world tour followed the domestic “KENSHI YONEZU 2025 TOUR / JUNK”, which included 16 concerts from January to February and drew 350,000 attendees in Japan. The international leg brought 10 shows to seven cities: Shanghai, Taipei, Seoul, London, Paris, New York, and Los Angeles.
For Shanghai and Taipei, this was Yonezu’s first return in six years since his 2019 overseas debut. Surprisingly, the Seoul concert marked his first-ever live show in Korea, despite his rising popularity there. According to Billboard JAPAN, two of his songs — “Lemon” and “Lady” — ranked in Korea’s 2024 annual top 10, a testament to his growing appeal. Covers by Korean artists, including BTS’s Jungkook, have helped amplify Yonezu’s reach.
This tour also marked Yonezu’s European debut. In France, where Japanese anime and manga culture have deep roots, fans traveled from surrounding countries to attend the Paris show. Many were introduced to Yonezu through his work on globally acclaimed anime and films, such as “Spinning Globe,” the theme song for Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron.
In the U.S., Yonezu’s Popularity is Rapidly Rising
The U.S. also saw a significant surge in interest. “KICK BACK” made history with its RIAA Gold certification, and in early 2025, the Recording Academy (organizers of the GRAMMYs) named “the global boom of J-POP” as one of the year’s key music trends, highlighting Yonezu’s tour as a landmark event. Expectations were particularly high for the New York and Los Angeles stops, which marked his first live shows in the U.S.
Ultimately, the world tour sold out entirely, drawing 90,000 attendees overseas and totaling 440,000 fans when combined with the Japan shows.
The final stop in Los Angeles was held at the YouTube Theater, a 6,000-capacity venue next to SoFi Stadium. The diversity of the crowd stood out — while Los Angeles has a significant Japanese population, the audience spoke mostly English and included a wide range of ethnicities and ages, from young fans to families. A few cosplayers dressed as Chainsaw Man characters were spotted, but the atmosphere was far from a typical anime fan gathering. Instead, it was a celebration of Yonezu’s music by fans from many walks of life.
A Setlist That Showcased the Full Range of Yonezu’s Musical Vision
The setlist featured 24 songs, consistent with other tour stops. While lighting and effects varied by venue, the production remained cohesive — a multi-sensory showcase blending dance by TEAM TSUJIMOTO, LED visuals, and a richly immersive stage experience.
In Los Angeles, the audience’s enthusiasm was immediate. From the first song “RED OUT,” the crowd was on its feet. Tracks like “Kanden,” “Margherita,” and “LADY” sparked widespread cheers from the moment their intros played, highlighting how eagerly fans had awaited this moment.
Greeting the crowd in English — “Hello everyone! Nice to meet you! So happy to be here” — Yonezu was met with roaring applause. He expressed his gratitude with a smile, saying, “It’s such an honor to see so many of you here at my first U.S. concert.”
Particularly memorable was how deeply the audience connected with Yonezu’s musical style. Songs like “Spinning Globe” drew silent awe, while “Azalea” inspired swaying and handclaps. Despite the language barrier, the emotional resonance of Yonezu’s music clearly transcended words.
While the Seoul crowd had been visibly more frenzied, the Los Angeles audience’s energy was more akin to that of a Japanese concert — attentive and deeply moved. The Japanese lyrics posed no barrier, with the mood, emotion, and atmosphere fully understood and embraced by the American listeners.
A Personal Reflection: 15 Years Since First Visiting L.A.
During the MC segment, Yonezu reflected with warmth:
“Los Angeles is my second time here — the first was 15 years ago. The weather is always so nice, and this open city feels like the perfect place to wrap up the tour.”
His first visit had been in 2011, when he attended “MIKUNOPOLIS in Los Angeles,” the first overseas concert for virtual idol Hatsune Miku. That trip marked his first direct encounter with overseas fans, a memory he still treasures.
“Fifteen years have passed since then, and now to see so many people gathered here… It’s overwhelming and incredibly moving. Thank you so much for coming,” he said sincerely.
An Emotional Finale with “Plazma” and “LOST CORNER”
The final act of the concert was a powerful performance of “KICK BACK.” The instant the intro played, the venue erupted, with fans dancing and singing along. During “Peace Sign,” the audience raised peace signs in unison — a shared moment of unity.
In the encore, Yonezu gave a heartfelt summary of the tour, saying:
“To have so many people come from different parts of the world, even though they may not understand Japanese — and still greet me so warmly — I’m truly touched.”
He then shared a deeply personal moment:
“There’s one more thing I want to say. Fifteen years ago, I came here with someone who was like my best friend. That friend passed away six years ago. Yesterday was the anniversary of his death. So, if it’s alright, I’d like to dedicate the next song to him.”
With that, he performed “Plazma,” a song written for the anime Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. The emotional weight of that dedication added a special gravity to the performance.
The final song of the night was “LOST CORNER.” Surrounded by dancers and set to a light, melodious arrangement, the performance ended with a mix of satisfaction and serenity on Yonezu’s face.
As he waved goodbye with a promise — “See you again!” — the crowd lingered in excitement and awe. Outside the venue, fans were still buzzing with post-concert euphoria. It was clear that this night had made a lasting impression on all who attended.
Source: Natalie Music — read the original Japanese report here.