I had the opportunity to attend Ryosuke Yamada LIVE TOUR 2025 RED at LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY in Chiba on May 24. As a Hey! Say! JUMP fan for over 15 years, seeing Yamada starting his solo activities in 2024 has been truly exciting.
The group has faced many ups and downs over the years, so it brings me so much joy to see all the members now thriving in their own paths. Watching Yamada on stage again—this time as a solo artist—felt both nostalgic and refreshing. I’m just genuinely happy to be able to witness this next chapter for him.
While writing this, I was reminded of the interview in the tour pamphlet, where Yamada reflects on how different things feel now compared to when he released “Mystery Virgin“.
As a long-time fan, I found this interview incredibly insightful. He shared that there wasn’t any particular reason or dramatic turning point that led to his decision to pursue this solo project.
Instead, he simply said: “One day, all of a sudden, I thought, ‘I want to do this!’ That’s all there is to it. I’m the type of person who can’t stand still when the urge strikes, so I immediately contacted the staff and told them what I wanted to do.”
He went on to explain that back then, during his earlier solo activities, he wasn’t very positive about being seen as an individual. He preferred to blend in with the group rather than stand out.
Looking back, he admits how selfish that mindset was. But over the years, as Hey! Say! JUMP continued group activities, each member gradually began to evolve, finding their own color through solo projects and bringing those experiences back to the group.
The words that resonated with me the most were: “Now, I feel nothing but peace of mind. And every time I take on a new challenge, I‘m able to say ‘Ittekimasu! (I’m off, see you later)’ to everyone in the group.”
It was such a moving reflection of his growth—not just as an artist, but as a person.
The opening sequence of the concert was absolutely breathtaking. A stream of space-like visuals filled the screen, culminating in a molten red sun that looked as if it was radiating real heat—it was so immersive, I could almost feel it. The unique and artistic production immediately set a tone that was strikingly different from what I’ve come to expect from Hey! Say! JUMP concerts, even though Yamada himself is usually involved in directing those too.
Then came his entrance. Yamada appeared on stage in a black costume adorned with sparkling bijoux, wearing black sunglasses, completely surrounded by a sea of red penlights. It truly felt like he was radiating a red aura, embodying the world of RED and the opening track of the same title.
In his opening comment, Yamada declared: “I’ve prepared the best entertainment for you, so please enjoy it until the end!”
And with that, we were swept into a powerful, passionate world that only he could create.
While the concert centered around the RED album, there were some nostalgic surprises early in the setlist, including tracks like “Oh! my darling” and “Perfume.”
“Perfume“ was Yamada’s very first original solo song, and although I wasn’t yet a fan during the group’s debut, it was deeply moving to witness this performance. It made me reflect on how vastly different his feelings and circumstances must be now, compared to back then. The maturity and experience he brings today add new depth to these older songs.
Continuing with a memorable performance of “Do it again” from the SENSE or LOVE album. It began with a slightly mature concept video, filmed from the perspective of his girlfriend—sharing a sweet birthday date together. The video ends with the two of them alone in a bedroom, and just as the screen fades, the spotlight shifts to center stage.
There lies Yamada in a bed of white feathers, dressed simply in a white shirt and pants, with glasses that subtly elevated his look—simple, sexy, and elegant. The aesthetics of this part leaned into a more mature expression of love and intimacy, yet somehow maintained a sense of purity and softness. It felt mature, but never heavy—almost angelic. I absolutely loved this balance.
I was curious how Yamada would handle the MC segment on his own, but he was completely natural—using it as a casual break, chatting comfortably with the audience. It began with him casually sipping his water, but in such a cute way that the audience couldn’t help but scream. Grinning, he responded, “I know. I’m cute, right? But I’m just a 32-year-old man!”
Honestly, I don’t think he realizes how little he’s changed since he was 16.
Then he shifted into casual talk.
“Did you check out Lalaport near the venue? It felt like a whole RED festival going on to hype up the live. My manager actually went to see it and showed me some pictures. You know how the concept of RED is all about red and black, right? Well, there’s this bridge in front of Tower Records covered in red and black promo posters—and honestly, at first glance, it looked like something straight out of a horror movie!”
The audience burst into laughter, and he quickly added with a smile,
“At just first glance, okay? But I’m really grateful and happy.”
After the laughs, he shared a big announcement: the final concert on June 22 in Fukuoka would be live-streamed to 250 movie theaters across Japan and also screened in South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Beaming, he proudly said,
“This is the world’s Yama-chan!” while doing a little cute dance.
He added:
“JUMP had the chance to tour around Asia before, but it’s been tough these past few years. That’s why, since this is such a special moment for me, I really wanted to share my first solo tour with fans in Asia. Maybe some of you from those countries are even here today?”
Sure enough, a few excited cheers echoed from the audience, and he looked genuinely surprised and touched as he smiled and thanked them. Even though I live now in Japan, as an international fan myself, I always get emotional when my favorite idols acknowledge overseas fans. It’s such a small gesture, but it makes me feel seen—and gives me hope for more global connections in the future.
He then shifted the topic to the behind-the-scenes of the tour production.
“I was actually planning this RED live performance while we were doing Hey! Say! JUMP’s H+ tour. I was directing H+ too, so at one point, I completely lost track of what was going on,” he said with a laugh.
“I’d be talking with the staff during breaks about what I wanted to do for RED, then go out and perform JUMP’s live, and afterwards go right back to planning. It was kind of a blur—but I’m really happy so many people are here to see the show we worked so hard to create.”
He also pointed out the diversity in the audience that day, from couples and families with small children to groups of male friends.
“I saw so many male fans out there—and they were smiling so much! It was kind of cute. Thank you! I’m really curious now—how many male fans are here today? Can I hear your voices?”
Right then, a guy shouted out, “Ryosuke!!!” before anyone else could respond.
Yamada cracked up and replied, “Wa… wait, wait, wait! Are you, like, an old friend of mine or something?”
The whole venue burst into laughter.
“Okay, okay—let me ask everyone!”
This time, a wave of loud male cheers echoed through the venue, and he looked genuinely thrilled.
He wrapped up the MC on a tender note:
“It feels weird for me to say this, but… I really feel loved. Thank you.”
Right after that, the Hey! Say! JUMP original characters JUMPUU popped up on the big screen in a special video created just for this tour. I actually attended the Zenkoku e JUMP tour back in 2013, where these characters first made their ‘debut’, so even though they’ve become regulars over the years, it was really touching to see them included in Yamada’s solo tour.
While Yamada was supposedly backstage preparing for his next number, the video showed the JUMPUU characters visiting him in his dressing room—where, just like in his YouTube channel ‘LEO’s Playground’, he was playing games on his computer.
After the characters insisted he get back on stage, Yamada reappeared dressed in his full LEO costume, as if he had stepped right out of the virtual world. He then went on to perform the catchy “Please! Please! Please!” and “SUPER GROOVE”.
What followed was a special Hey! Say! JUMP medley, and the crowd went wild—because it wasn’t just any medley. It was a collection of theme songs from all the dramas Yamada has starred in over the years.
From Scrap Teacher’s “Mayonaka no Shadow Boy” to the recent Kissing the Ring Finger’s “DEAR MY LOVER” (streaming on Viki), each song was paired with nostalgic drama footage and cute interactions with the audience. This part truly felt like a moment of deep connection—a pause from the RED world to celebrate the journey he’s shared with his fans. What struck me most was how many drama theme songs he has actually brought to the group over the years.
Thanks to his acting career, Hey! Say! JUMP’s music has become a part of everyday life for so many people—even beyond the fanbase. This medley felt like a beautiful tribute to his work as an actor, and honestly, it made me really emotional.
As the concert was coming to a close—and just when it felt like we had seen every side of Yamada—the stage changed again. Dancers in dark capes gathered, and a glowing red sphere appeared above the main stage, slowly moving toward the audience. The atmosphere felt unusual, almost quiet, as if everyone was holding their breath. Then “VELVET” started playing, and the sphere broke open to reveal Yamada inside, wearing a beautiful velvet costume. He sang the first English line, “We’re deep in, deep in RED…” as fans screamed in excitement. He moved through the air toward the center stage and slowly landed, looking cool and confident—almost like a king.
This was one of those moments that reminded me why I love live concerts. The staging made such a strong impression that “VELVET” became my favorite song from the album. Every time I hear it now, I can still picture that scene clearly.
As the concert neared its end, the familiar intro of “Mystery Virgin” began to play. For me, this was especially meaningful to watch, because he performed it exactly the same way he did during the Zenkoku e JUMP tour in 2013—which I attended. On the big screen, they showed the lip scenes of himself 12 years ago and today shown side by side. It was the same performance, but his expressions and singing voice were clearly different—more mature, more refined.
He actually talked about this in the tour pamphlet interview (and by now, it’s probably obvious how much I love that interview). He said,
“Although it’s been 12 years since my last solo performance, I feel that what I’m doing now is completely different. This really feels like the true starting point for me as a solo artist. I think I’ve grown a lot, especially in how I express myself and connect with the audience. More than anything, this time, I genuinely want to be doing this—so I believe I’ll be able to deliver something truly special.”
What really surprised me was that he also shared that he only started taking voice training for the first time last year.
“Of course, it’s not like my singing suddenly improved just from a few lessons,” he said, “but learning about how the body works—kind of like health and P.E. class—really made a difference. I learned how to use my throat properly, where the vocal cords are, and what kinds of sounds I can produce.”
I think everything he learned really shows—not just in the re-recorded “Mystery Virgin“, but across the whole album. You could hear the difference in his singing during the concert, too. To be honest, when “Mystery Virgin“ first came out 12 years ago, I wasn’t sure if his voice suited solo work. But with everything he’s done since last year, he completely changed my mind. That kind of growth takes real effort, and I truly respect him for it.
One of the last songs during the encore was “snow moon.” It was a dream-like moment that felt like the perfect way to close a beautiful journey—silver snowflakes falling from above as Yamada sang. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that magical scene or how stunning he looked and sounded on stage.
I’d like to end this report with some words from Yamada’s interview that left the biggest impression on me and perfectly capture who he is, as well as what he aimed to express with the RED album and tour. I hope everyone reading this can remember these words before SWITCHing on the RED tour DVD when it’s released:
“I think it’s really important to distinguish between being an idol and being an artist. With this live performance, I wanted you to feel not just Ryosuke Yamada as a member of the group, but Ryosuke Yamada as an artist as well. I want to express myself both as an idol and as an artist, which are two very different roles. As an idol, I naturally understand what’s expected of me. But as an artist, my main focus is on expressing what I truly want to say.
To put it simply: when I’m an idol, I prioritize letting fans see me the way they want to see me. When I’m being an artist, I want to show them who I want to be seen as.
That said, I don’t draw a hard line between the two, because both sides are real parts of who I am.”
— Written by Sewi for Dumpling Box.
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