On Halloween day, October 31, 2024, MOUSE PEACE FES. 2024 1st Bite, a Halloween-themed music festival produced by KAT-TUN’s Tatsuya Ueda, came to life. This festival marked a dream come true for Tatsuya, who envisioned it as a Halloween tradition with the potential to grow into an annual event beloved by fans.
In a statement when the festival was announced, Tatsuya shared his enthusiasm about realizing this vision, explaining, “I’ve always wanted to host a Halloween event, so I thought, why not turn it into a festival, a huge celebration? The idea came to me while soaking in a hot spring, and now it’s finally coming to life.” He emphasized the festival’s collaborative spirit, adding, “For this memorable first event, I’ve gathered an incredible group of guest performers. Each of them will direct their own part of the show, while I will take the lead in orchestrating the overall production.”
MOUSE PEACE FES. 2024 featured a variety of standout performances from celebrated artists, including So “So-chan” Matsushima from timelesz and Noel Kawashima from Travis Japan, each of whom brought their own unique style to the stage. Additionally, 7 MEN Samurai members Reia Nakamura, Rinne Sugeta and Rei “Bana-san” Yabana also took the stage and spooked the audience with their stunning costumes and performances. Sho Kiryuin from Golden Bomber and BALLISTIC BOYZ also guested the show making the cast lineup for the festival even more shining!
The performers each directed their own part of the show, resulting in diverse and personalized productions that captivated the audience. With two main performances—the Day Performance and the Night Performance—the festival offered distinct experiences, each with a unique setlist, atmosphere, and special effects that enhanced the Halloween ambiance.
Right from the opening, we’re greeted by storyteller Koichi Domoto’s, who set up the mood exceptionally within the mansion the audience has been invited to. The presentation was particularly praised among fans for its otherworldly quality, adding a magical touch to the festival’s visual storytelling. It really enhanced the spooky season and set the tone for what was to come.
The opening song, “1ST BITE,” brought the energy up to a max, starting with So-chan appearing first, followed by Reia, Rinne, and Bana-san, and Noel. Each of them got a part to showcase themselves in before Tatsuya himself took the stage. Along with Noel’s impressive high notes, the last chorus of the song fired up everyone in the crowd and the ones watching the livestream from the comfort of their own home.
Right from the start, it felt like a well-cohesive festival with a common theme and not a solo concert featuring others.
Tatsuya has always been an expressive performer with songs from various genres, and with various solo shows already under his belt, the excitement for this edition of MOUSE PEACE was sky-high. The songs for his solo block were a mix of his originals, and you got pulled into the world of MOUSE PEACE with each song.
The addition of So-chan in “Girisuto!” was excellent, not only did it make an interesting combination with Tatsuya himself, as we don’t see this combination often, but it also gave So-chan room to showcase his full potential as a well-versed all-rounder.
The next solo block was Noel, and his portion did highlight his strengths wonderfully. Noel is usually perfection embodied on stage, much different from the more rough and wild expressions Tatsuya has on stage, but the songs he performed really enhanced the visual of “Noel” that he wants people to see.
Knowing that he had been sick prior to this show, it is even more amazing how the show must go on and he delivers a stunning performance despite his condition. His contemporary dancing rendition of Kazunari Ninomiya’s “Niji” was absolutely stunning and emotional, and the incorporation of sign language into the choreography was also a beautiful touch.
7 MEN Samurai hyped up the crowd with their endless energy and infectious smiles. Despite not being a full group, the three members gave the audience a show to remember. By just being the three of them, they each got more time to shine. Rinne’s lower register got to shine, and his rap is wonderful. They each put in so much detail in their appearances and outfits, and as real as the scar might look on Rinne, it’d be a shame to ruin his handsome face if it was real! Scar or not, dressed in all black, he’s definitely someone you’d allow to trick-or-treat you if he knocked on your door. (Sabina, behave!)
The costumes fit each of the members and the details really brought out the Halloween spirit. Rinne, with his precious relationship and adoration for Tatsuya, really pushed to be included in the festival, but some of the members couldn’t make it due to other work, so the final lineup was the three of them.
The three of them performed their new original song, “Asparagus Bacon,” for the crowd, and while the original is ridiculous as it is, seeing them perform it in their Halloween costumes did not kill the joy and humor in the song. The song, written by Bana-san and with lyrics by Rinne, is an absolute masterpiece, and every time you listen to it, it gets stuck in your head for days.
So-chan’s solo block started out with his rendition of KAT-TUN’s “Haro Haro,” and he appeared among the audience with cheers erupting around him. It was a great entrance that ensured that the lucky fans nearby got a close-up experience with him passing by.
The whole block beautifully highlighted So-chan’s exceptional dance skills and stage presence. It’s inspiring to see him on stage with such a presence, knowing that he not too long ago was on hiatus due to health reasons. The strength and passion he possesses to continue on this path is admirable.
The setlist struck a nostalgic chord, especially for fans who have been following each artist for many years, with song selections thoughtfully crafted to reflect each artist’s personal style. So-chan’s song choices, in particular, resonated with the audience, who praised them for their unique ambiance and character that fit the theme and his stage. Tatsuya’s attention to thematic detail created a captivating atmosphere, with Halloween-themed announcements reminiscent of a haunted mansion setting the tone for an eerie, immersive experience.
The festival’s spirit extended to every element of the venue, where Halloween-themed treats like crispy, lightly sweetened waffles from food trucks delighted attendees, adding a fun and delicious component to the day. About 15% of the daytime audience embraced the costume theme, with some fans going all out in elaborate outfits, adding to the festive energy and spectacle of the event.
Fans’ enthusiasm was palpable even before the performances began, with the pre-show ambiance, background music, and decor drawing them into a Halloween-inspired world. The festival’s attention to detail—from haunted mansion-style announcements to the costumes worn by staff—ensured that the experience was engaging from start to finish. Some attendees received an unexpected bonus when their seating arrangement placed them closer to the stage than expected, creating an intimate and thrilling experience.
Adding to the fun, the performance of Ado’s “Show” allowed the audience to record or photograph the performance, allowing fans to capture and share their memories of the event. For STARTO-related concerts, allowing recording is something they have started to do sparsely recently but by doing so, fans can bring some of the magic back home.
For fans who couldn’t attend in person, the festival provided a livestream that captured much of the event’s excitement. While the livestream successfully conveyed the festival’s spirit, many expressed a desire to attend in person next year to fully experience the event’s immersive world-building, sound effects, and thematic elements. Post-show announcements maintained the Halloween theme, sustaining the festival’s unique atmosphere until the very end. Fans appreciated this continuation of the theme, noting that the narration felt like really being in a haunted mansion.
The livestream archive is going back live on November 11, allowing those who missed the initial stream to watch it, or for people to rewatch it to their hearts’ content!
You can get your ticket for the livestream on the FAMILY CLUB Online website, either on the Japanese page or the English page.
With its highly successful debut, MOUSE PEACE FES. 2024 set the stage for what many hope will become a cherished annual tradition. Shaped by Tatsuya’s vision and passion, this Halloween-themed celebration is already building anticipation for hopefully its next installment, as fans look forward to reliving the thrill of MOUSE PEACE FES. and experiencing its Halloween magic firsthand, either in person or through a livestream.
Photo assets © STARTO ENTERTAINMENT.