J-pop duo aims for larger venues following record-breaking performances at the Indoor Stadium.
After delivering two electrifying, sold-out performances at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 22 and 23 February, Japanese pop duo Yoasobi have set their sights on an even bigger venue – the 55,000-seat National Stadium.
Speaking after their final show, composer and producer Ayase, 30, shared in Japanese: “There’s a massive stadium next door – we’d love to perform there. To achieve that, we need to work even harder and introduce our music to more people.”
If they succeed, Yoasobi would become the first Japanese act to headline a solo concert at the National Stadium.
Their latest shows drew nearly 20,000 fans, making them the biggest J-pop act to perform a solo concert in Singapore, according to organisers Sozo. The response mirrors their previous 2024 concert at Resorts World Ballroom, which sold out immediately.
Unsurprisingly, Yoasobi have topped Spotify’s list of most-streamed Japanese artists outside Japan for four consecutive years.
The duo, known for turning short stories into songs, shot to fame in 2019 with their debut single Into The Night, which remains one of their signature tracks. Their Cho-genjitsu (“Surrealism”) Tour setlist included major hits like Haven’t (2020) and Idol (2023), the latter making history as the first Japanese-language song to top the Billboard Global Chart (excluding the US).
Reflecting on their five-year journey, vocalist Ikura, 24 (also known as Lilas Ikuta in her solo work), said: “It feels like I’ve lived a decade in just five years.”
Starting in her late teens, Ikura admitted Yoasobi had taken her to places she never imagined, shaping her as an artist. Meanwhile, Ayase revealed that the reality of their success only truly sank in after five years.
“At the beginning, we were on major shows and getting millions of streams, but I didn’t feel overwhelmed by pressure—it just felt surreal, like it was happening to someone else.”
Their global recognition skyrocketed in 2024 when they performed at Coachella, attended a White House state dinner, and played at Tokyo Dome and Osaka’s Kyocera Dome, drawing 170,000 fans across both venues.
Ikura recalled a particularly surreal moment: “One of our concert sets was a recreation of Ayase’s old apartment from five years ago. Singing there, but in the middle of Tokyo Dome—it was unbelievable.”
While this apartment-themed set was not brought to Singapore, the energy of the Indoor Stadium crowd created an intimate and interactive atmosphere. At one point, the duo even invited a fan onstage to help translate their Japanese remarks.
“Singapore fans are incredibly enthusiastic. Even if they don’t understand Japanese, they respond so passionately,” said Ikura.
However, their rapid rise hasn’t been without challenges. Ayase admitted to experiencing burnout in early 2024, as revealed in a previous interview with Billboard Japan.
“I feel great now—it’s been a year. At the time, I felt drained, like my passion had faded. But I recovered by spending time with friends, playing games, and gradually finding joy again. That’s when my love for music came back.”
Ikura agreed, adding: “To keep performing at our best, we need to be both mentally and physically healthy.”
As they continue their world tour, Yoasobi are already dreaming bigger—and Singapore’s National Stadium may just be their next stop.
