‘Ado SPECIAL LIVE “SHINZOU” in Cinema’ transforms landmark live show into must-see cinematic event

Utaite Ado has had a whirlwind 2024, holding her first global tour, producing her own idol group Phantom Siita, and performing across two historic nights at the Japan National Stadium with Ado SPECIAL LIVE “SHINZOU”. That record-breaking concert is now the focus of Ado SPECIAL LIVE “SHINZOU” in Cinema — a 140-minute theatrical release which is currently on a global run, and screening in over 100 US cinemas on May 28th and 31st.

Directed by seasoned concert filmmaker Muneyoshi Nowara and produced by GAGA Corporation, the film features a newly mixed 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos soundtrack by veteran engineer Kenichi Koga, designed to bring the stadium sound directly to cinema speakers. With no lyric subtitles, the film preserves the concert’s immersive, uninterrupted flow, giving viewers an unfiltered glimpse into Ado’s voice, staging, and visual world at its peak.

From the opening shots, you get a real sense of scale; the stadium, built for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, seats around 70,000 and saw over 140,000 attendees across two days. This is the first time a solo female artist has performed at the venue, marking another huge milestone for Ado.

Performing alongside a full band, Ado became more rockstar than popstar through this show, opening strong with her breakout track ‘Usseewa’. The crowd energy was already at a high, with lightsticks perfectly synced to the stage lighting to create a concert-wide light show, a detail that translates surprisingly well on film, adding to the scale and spectacle from the very start.

Having not seen Ado perform live before, it was an unusual experience to view a concert where you can’t truly see the artist. Encased in the so-called “Ado box”, she appears only as a shadow, a deliberate mystery at the heart of the production.

Much of the first part of the show flows seamlessly from one track to the next, her breath and voice never faltering. Early highlights include ‘Domestic De Violence’, where she shifts from smooth, controlled singing into guttural howls, and ‘Aishite Aishite Aishite’, which erupts into unhinged, pained screams. The accompanying visuals, jagged red scribbles matching every vocal break, explode onscreen before Ado dramatically collapses to the floor. It’s in these raw, theatrical moments that Ado is at her strongest.

During ballad ‘Eien No Akuruhi’, tears pricked my eyes, her voice conveying the emotion so clearly even with a language barrier. In the latter half of the song, a drone-formed anatomical heart appears above the stadium, morphing into feathers, raindrops, and stars, before ending in a glowing blue rose framed by fireworks. It’s a moment that captures the vast scale of the show, and one that truly shines in the cinematic cut.

Another standout visual moment comes during ‘Readymade’. With the stage illuminated in red light, the screens transform into a series of rooms filled with mannequins dressed in matching crimson. Some even begin to dance, a subtle detail that could easily go unnoticed in the crowd, but is highlighted by the camera work. The audience chants along, and it’s hard not to join in.

‘Value’, one of our most-played tracks in the office last year, brings a sense of calm. Blue water effects ripple across the screens, cooling the atmosphere after the intensity of the first half and preparing the crowd for a trio of fan favourites: ‘Show’, ‘Odo’, and ‘New Genesis’. Before the latter, Ado delivers her first MC of the night, opening up about her dreams of bridging Japan and the world through music, her love of Vocaloid and utaite culture, and the emotions fuelling this performance.

“…today, I’ve been sharing all the emotions I have as a human being, that throb and bleed out from my heart. These powerful emotions that pulsate like a beating heart is what I wanted to share with you today.”

‘New Genesis’ (another favourite in our office), the image song for One Piece Film: Red, is an 80s-tinged, near-power ballad that makes for a fitting close to the main set. Her vocals sound just as strong as they did at the start, with fireworks bursting both from the stage and the top of the stadium.

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Thanks to the nature of the cinema screening, there’s no wait for the encore. The stage, awash in blue and white light, plays host to Tak Matsumoto of B’z, taking the spotlight for ‘Strings of My Soul 2024’.

A huge inflatable blue flower now crowns the stage, with Ado nestled at its centre. ‘DIGNITY’ follows, a soaring rock ballad penned by Matsumoto. You’d be forgiven for thinking you were at a late 80s rock show rather than a modern pop concert. His guest appearance added a generational bridge, introducing his signature sound to a new wave of fans.

The next three tracks see Ado travel around the crowd in a light-up, colour-shifting, bell-shaped cage mounted on a vehicle, like an OTT popemobile. ‘Backlight’, also from One Piece Film: Red, is sandwiched in the middle, bringing the energy back to a maximum. As the cage slowly moves around the perimeter, nearby fans turn to face her, fists pumping in time with the beat. Her voice remains remarkably strong despite the length of the set, every shriek and screech landing with intensity and emotion, while still hitting every note.

During ‘FREEDOM’, the cage returns to the stage. An overhead shot captures the floor lit up with the word “WOW”, spelled out by the crowd’s coordinated lightsticks — a moment that feels almost tailor-made for the big screen. Back on stage, Ado leads the crowd in a call-and-response that practically reverberates through the sound system.

A short MC introduces the penultimate performance: ‘Sakura Biyori and Time Machine’. In a surprise moment, Hatsune Miku appears on screen beside Ado, a symbolic crossover that unites Ado’s utaite roots with the very Vocaloid culture that inspired her. Sakura trees bloom and petals drift across the stage screens, with lyrics appearing alongside. Crowd shots show fans visibly emotional, some smiling through tears, others crying into hand towels. As the song ends, Miku thanks the audience, and Ado gently “blows” her away, dissolving her into a swirl of pink mist. It’s a subtle but touching farewell that underscores the connection between their two worlds.

Here we have the final MC for the show, and it’s a long one. Ado’s speaking voice starts out strong, but becomes human, flawed, and full of emotion as she speaks about herself, her feelings, and how she thought she would never amount to anything. It’s a struggle to listen without crying yourself, especially if you’ve dealt with similar feelings. The crowd’s cheers feel like gentle encouragement as her voice breaks through tears.

“I still don’t know how to love myself. I still hate many things about me. But these two days, standing on this stage I think I’m starting to like myself just a bit.”

Now comes the true final song, ‘KokoroToIuNanoFukakai’. It’s impressive enough that Ado holds her composure after such a soul-baring speech, even more so that she launches into this closing track without a hitch. Behind her, pills, X-rays, and other medical imagery floods the screens. After learning more about her, every scream hits harder, soaking the crowd in emotion. Fireworks erupt across the stadium, and as rainbow bursts light up the sky, Ado sinks into the stage, waving goodbye.

We close out the screening with a timelapse of everyone leaving the stadium and the pack down as the credits roll, the sun coming up as the crew takes everything down through the next day, further emphasising the scale of this show, and the work that went into it.

Throughout Ado SPECIAL LIVE “Shinzou”, Ado’s singing voice never wavered; her screaming, voice breaking, feels like a gut punch. Flawlessly, she switches between those screams and smooth, clear vocals. This show is an absolute must-see for any Ado fans, and definitely worth a view even for non-fans. The visual spectacle is something else, while the MC segments will challenge even the coldest of hearts not to cry.

What’s equally remarkable is how, despite the countless camera angles, lighting shifts, and larger-than-life visuals, the production still manages to preserve Ado’s anonymity. Even on the big screen, rendered in high definition and from every possible angle, her face remains completely hidden. A feat of staging that keeps her mystery intact for a global audience.

While it can’t fully replicate the energy of being there in person, the cinema experience comes impressively close. Watching with fellow fans, immersed in surround sound, adds a communal excitement that elevates the film beyond a simple recording. And for those who were lucky enough to attend, the carefully chosen camera work reveals new angles and moments you’d never catch from your seat. A fitting way to revisit, or discover, a truly historic show.

Ado SPECIAL LIVE “Shinzou” in Cinema begins screening in the United States and Denmark from May 28th, with additional releases scheduled throughout June in Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Peru, Brazil, Germany, Austria, Finland, and Italy. Screenings in France and Spain are coming soon, with more countries expected to be added in the near future. Exclusive Ado postcards will be available at select screenings in limited numbers. To find your nearest theatre and full international listings, visit the official Ado SPECIAL LIVE “Shinzou” in Cinema website.

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Ado SPECIAL LIVE “Shinzou” set list

• Usseewa
• Tot Musica
• Lucky Bruto
• Domestic De Violence
• Aishite Aishite Aishite
• Kagakushu
• Motherland
• Gira Gira
• Eien No Akuruhi
• I’m invincible
• Readymade
• Kura Kura
• Chocolat Cadabra
• Value
• Hello Signals
• Ibara
• Show
• Odo
• New Genesis

Encore

• Strings of My Soul 2024
• DIGNITY
• missing
• Backlight
• FREEDOM
• Sakura Biyori and Time Machine with Hatsune Miku
• KokoroToIuNaNoFukakai

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