Hikaru Utada closes out SCIENCE FICTION tour with spectacular Yokohama finale

J-pop legend Hikaru Utada brought their SCIENCE FICTION TOUR 2024 to a resounding close on September 1st at Yokohama’s K-Arena. The tour, marking Utada’s first in six years, was a major event in Japan’s music calendar. It drew 258,000 fans across 18 performances in nine cities, including debut solo concerts in Taipei and Hong Kong.

The final night at Yokohama’s state-of-the-art K-Arena attracted a sold-out crowd of 18,000. Attendees, some of whom had queued for hours to purchase exclusive merchandise, were greeted by a stage design that transported them to a world of distant planets and cosmic adventures—perfectly in line with the tour’s sci-fi theme.

Utada opened with ‘time will tell’, setting the tone for a setlist mixing early hits with boundary-pushing recent work. Highlights included a medley of ‘For You’ and ‘DISTANCE (m-flo remix)’, along with a powerful rendition of ‘Hikari (Re-Recording)’. The emotional connection with the audience peaked during ‘First Love’, where Utada performed up close with the crowd.

In a reflective message to the fans, Utada expressed gratitude for the shared journey over the past 25 years.

“This time, I didn’t want the focus to be on celebrating my 25 years alone, but on looking back and celebrating the 25 years we’ve shared together, and taking a moment to say ‘well done.’ I’m so grateful that we could all come together and feel this way. Thank you.”

The evening continued with standout performances of ‘Beautiful World’, ‘COLORS’, and ‘Kimi ni Muchuu’, along with other career-defining hits. The night culminated in an encore featuring their latest track, ‘Electricity’, followed by a surprise rendition of ‘Stay Gold’, exclusive to the final show.

Adding to the night’s special atmosphere were guest performances by the dance duo Aoi Tsuki and saxophonist MELRAW, who contributed to an unforgettable finale. The concert closed with ‘Automatic’, a final nostalgic nod to Utada’s beginnings, leaving the audience in a state of reflective applause as the lights dimmed.

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Fans who missed the live experience can stream the concert on U-NEXT starting November 10th. Additionally, the final show will be released on Blu-ray with exclusive documentary footage on December 11th. This release will be a comprehensive celebration of Utada’s career, including all 40 of their music videos and a special commemorative package.

Photos by TEPPEI KISHIDA

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