Dumpling Box had the chance to attend Ae! groupโs latest tour stop at Yokohama Arena on March 30, 2025โand our dearest Amy โฅ couldnโt have been more thrilled. The five-member Kansai-based idol group under STARTO ENTERTAINMENT is currently in the middle of their second major tour, Ae! group LIVE TOUR 2025 D.N.A, following the release of their highly anticipated debut album in February.
Spanning 30 shows across seven venues and expected to welcome 360,000 fans, this tour blends everything that makes Ae! groupโYoshinori Masakado, Seiya Suezawa, Richard Keita Kusama, Ken Kojima, and Masaya Sanoโ special: high-energy music, chaotic comedy, live band performances, and the unmistakable flair of Kansai idols. From Seiyaโs creative direction to stage vats and surprise styling choices, D.N.A is more than just a concertโitโs a full-blown identity showcase.
It had been seven months since I last saw Ae! group in concert, so I was beyond excited to finally see them again. It felt like both a long time and no time at all had passed since their debut concert tour in 2024. This time, they were back with an entirely new repertoire to match the release of their debut album, D.N.A, which dropped on February 18, 2025. The tour kicked off just ten days later at Osaka Castle Hall, and now, here I was, ready to see them at the Yokohama Arena stop!
I arrived at the venue a little early because there was a special treat waiting for fans out backโAe! groupโs tour bus and a specially decorated van! I made sure to take full advantage of the photo ops before heading inside. The tour bus was wrapped in their D.N.A visuals, while the van was absolutely adorable, decked out with cartoon versions of each member. The van was definitely my favoriteโit was cute, vibrant, and perfect for some top-tier oshikatsu pics!
After accomplishing my pre-concert mission, I headed into the venue and found my seat, buzzing with anticipation. From the very first glance, I could tell they took the D.N.A theme seriouslyโthe stage was styled like a sci-fi lab, complete with giant laboratory vats. The group had said the tour would be a mix of song, dance, live band, and comedyโbasically, everything that makes Ae! group who they are. With Seiya taking the reins on production and costuming, my expectations were sky-high.
As fans chanted โAe! Ae! Ae!โ in the minutes before the show, the lights finally dimmed. The opening video featured a mad scientist who accidentally unleashed Ae! group from their lab vatsโcue the actual members emerging from stage vats, performing their debut song โใAใBEGINNING.โ Dressed in white with chains and jewels, they exuded energy as they transitioned into fan-favorite rock anthem โFirebirdโโa personal fave, so I was thrilled to hear it live again!
Next up was โBokura Ae! group-tte Iimasunen!!!!!โ which is always a blast thanks to the call-and-response member intros. Kojiken and Sano-chan ad-libbed some lines (as always), adding hilarious flair. Then came a lightning-fast costume change (seriously, how do they do it?) and they reappeared in bright, color-blocked suitsโKojiken in yellow, Massan in purple, Seiya in pink, Richa in orange, and Sano-chan in blue. These vibrant looks perfectly matched the pure sugar rush that is โColorful Days.โ Iโve been looping the song and MV ever sinceโRichaโs sweet tone really stood out here.
The cute, high-energy vibe continued with โWonderful!!โ and โWANT!!โโand let me just say, Seiya went all in on the cute factor. I was practically dying from how adorable he was. Someone, please put a warning label on that man. And his failed attempts at winking? Absolutely endearing. This whole block showed off their ability to shift from rock to sparkly idol pop with easeโtrue versatility.
Next came a video break featuring Yoshiko, the hilarious character Sano-chan plays in their comedy skits. This section included a rotating batsu game that showcased their classic Kansai-style humor. I loved seeing the exchanges between the boke members (Kojiken, Sano-chan), the tsukkomi duo (Seiya, Richa), and Massan trying to keep the chaos under control. It was the perfect mix of comedy and chemistry, and it really highlighted their group dynamic.
Then, everything shifted. The lights dimmed, the mood turned sultry, and the boys came out one by one in black outfits with lace details, embracing a more mature vibe. Masakadoโs lace gloves were a genius touch. They kicked off this segment with โParty-Aholicโ and some spicy choreography that included shirt liftsโcue fan meltdown. This rare โsexy Ae!โ moment had all of us losing it. Then came โJunjou Pathfinder,โ another pre-debut fave of mine, followed by the hauntingly beautiful โJoyato.โ The stage was set with old-school street lamps, and Seiya opened the number with a (fake?) cigarette in hand. Each member leaned into the melancholic mood, delivering a performance that was simply mesmerizing. โNever Endโ followed, a powerful, emotional track. The members rose up on lifts to connect with fans in the upper stands, and Sano-chanโs final high note? Goosebumps. I canโt wait for the Blu-ray release of this show just to relive this segment once more.
Then we moved into the MC and they dropped some exciting newsโmaybe old by now, but still thrilling: their third single, โChameleon,โ will be released on June 18th! Itโs a dance-heavy track that Iโm really looking forward to. The B-side is โDestiny,โ the theme song for Massanโs drama Musashino Rondo. As always, their MCs were chaotic and funโIโd honestly be happy just watching them banter for hours. But the show must go on!
The next segment? A full-blown party. Richa came out on a giant train as a glitzy DJ and hyped up the crowd with a clap-along. Then the others joined him in green satin bomber jackets for โBanzai Disco.โ It was pure fun, and Richaโs English pronunciation? Impressive! Another standout was โAKAN,โ which is catchy beyond belief, and the choreo is so fun to watch. Iโve had this song on repeat too since.
After a quick video interlude (Ae! group powered up by the mad scientist!), the boys jumped from the center stage via lifts, which is always a thrilling moment with great effect. Their new outfits were a mix of styles, but shoutout to Massanโs cowboy-inspired lookโthose studded fringe pants were iconic. Gold star to Seiya for the styling! They opened this block with the dramatic โROCKNโPOP,โ followed by crowd-pleaser โGotta Be,โ featuring Seiyaโs powerful vocals. Then came the upper stand cart segmentโa fan-favorite moment! They performed โYattarokai!โ, โAe! LANDโ, and โAe!!!!!โ while showering fans with attention. I swear I saw fans actually ascend from sheer joy after being the lucky recipient of fanservice.
Back on the main stage, they announced the final part of the concert. Bittersweet, but also super exciting because it was time for the band corner! Not only can they sing, dance, act, and do comedy, theyโre also legit musicians. This was hands down my favorite part. Ae! group look at home while they rock out as a band, and every part of this section was so raw and powerful that it felt like we were transported to a live house. โNounai Rhapsodyโ and โHoukouโ were my top picks from this set, both fresh off their second album. Seiya even double-fisted mics at one pointโhilarious, but honestly, one mic isn’t enough for those vocals! I was a little sad โPRIDEโ didnโt make the setlist, but seeing their band repertoire expand makes me so excited for future performances.
Massan gave the final aisatsu, thanking fans for their support and asking us to continue walking with them on their journey. It was heartfelt and led beautifully into the final song, โHello.โ This song holds a special place in my heartโit represents both their past struggles and their bright future. After the song, the members all held hands on stage and asked the audience to do the same for one big group call. Yelling โAe! groupโ together was such a powerful moment while gin tape rained down. Absolutely magical.
Of course, we werenโt letting them go that easily. The โAe! Ae! Ae!โ encore chant began the moment they left the stageโand yes, they heard us. ๐ They returned for the encore and closed the show with the sweet and joyful โShiawasemon.,โ showering the crowd with fanservice one last time. Massan was the last to leave the stage, and his flying kiss had us all kya-ing!
This concert was truly something special. It showcased Ae! groupโs incredible range across music, dance, comedy, and performance. They continue to grow with each show, and I can’t wait to see where they go next. Already counting down to next yearโs tour!
Don’t forget to follow Ae! group on all their official accounts to keep yourself updated with the recent news!
Photo assets ยฉ STARTO ENTERTAINMENT.
Ae! group‘s third single, โChameleon,โ will be available in four exciting versions: Limited Editions A, B, and C, plus a Regular edition, releasing on June 18. Every version of the single will feature “Destiny.”
The lead track, โChameleon,โ carries a powerful messageโnot about hiding but about embracing the idea of changing colors to express who you truly are. For Ae! group, as they venture into a fresh, exciting sound that reflects their ever-evolving artistry, it only continues to enhance the colors they have painted so vividly on our worlds.
For fans overseas, you can order your copies of the single at CD Japan!
Limited Edition A (DVD / Blu-ray), Limited Edition B (DVD / Blu-ray), Limited Edition C (DVD / Blu-ray), and Regular edition.
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