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 againโthis time as a solo artistโfelt both nostalgic and refreshing. Iโm 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 โMystery Virginโ.
As a long-time fan, I found this interview incredibly insightful. He shared that there wasnโt any particular reason or dramatic turning point that led to his decision to pursue this solo project.
Instead, he simply said: โOne day, all of a sudden, I thought, โI want to do this!โ Thatโs all there is to it. Iโm the type of person who canโt stand still when the urge strikes, so I immediately contacted the staff and told them what I wanted to do.โ
He went on to explain that back then, during his earlier solo activities, he wasnโt 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: โNow, I feel nothing but peace of mind. And every time I take on a new challenge, Iโm able to say โIttekimasu! (Iโm off, see you later)โ to everyone in the group.โ
It was such a moving reflection of his growthโnot 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 heatโit was so immersive, I could almost feel it. The unique and artistic production immediately set a tone that was strikingly different from what Iโve 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: โIโve prepared the best entertainment for you, so please enjoy it until the end!โ
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 โOh! my darlingโ and โPerfume.โ
โPerfumeโ was Yamadaโs very first original solo song, and although I wasnโt yet a fan during the groupโs 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 โDo it againโ from the SENSE or LOVE album. It began with a slightly mature concept video, filmed from the perspective of his girlfriendโsharing 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 lookโsimple, 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 heavyโalmost angelic. I absolutely loved this balance.
I was curious how Yamada would handle the MC segment on his own, but he was completely naturalโusing 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 couldnโt help but scream. Grinning, he responded, โI know. Iโm cute, right? But Iโm just a 32-year-old man!โ
Honestly, I donโt think he realizes how little heโs changed since he was 16.
Then he shifted into casual talk.
โDid 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, thereโs this bridge in front of Tower Records covered in red and black promo postersโand honestly, at first glance, it looked like something straight out of a horror movie!โ
The audience burst into laughter, and he quickly added with a smile,
โAt just first glance, okay? But Iโm really grateful and happy.โ
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,
โThis is the worldโs Yama-chan!โ while doing a little cute dance.
He added:
โJUMP had the chance to tour around Asia before, but itโs been tough these past few years. Thatโs 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?โ
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. Itโs such a small gesture, but it makes me feel seenโand gives me hope for more global connections in the future.
He then shifted the topic to the behind-the-scenes of the tour production.
โI was actually planning this RED live performance while we were doing Hey! Say! JUMPโs H+ tour. I was directing H+ too, so at one point, I completely lost track of what was going on,โ he said with a laugh.
โIโd be talking with the staff during breaks about what I wanted to do for RED, then go out and perform JUMPโs live, and afterwards go right back to planning. It was kind of a blurโbut Iโm really happy so many people are here to see the show we worked so hard to create.โ
He also pointed out the diversity in the audience that day, from couples and families with small children to groups of male friends.
โI saw so many male fans out thereโand they were smiling so much! It was kind of cute. Thank you! Iโm really curious nowโhow many male fans are here today? Can I hear your voices?โ
Right then, a guy shouted out, โRyosuke!!!โ before anyone else could respond.
Yamada cracked up and replied, โWaโฆ wait, wait, wait! Are you, like, an old friend of mine or something?โ
The whole venue burst into laughter.
โOkay, okayโlet me ask everyone!โ
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:
โIt feels weird for me to say this, butโฆ I really feel loved. Thank you.โ
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 theyโve become regulars over the years, it was really touching to see them included in Yamadaโs solo tour.
While Yamada was supposedly backstage preparing for his next number, the video showed the JUMPUU characters visiting him in his dressing roomโwhere, just like in his YouTube channel ‘LEOโs 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 โPlease! Please! Please!โ and โSUPER GROOVEโ.
What followed was a special Hey! Say! JUMP medley, and the crowd went wildโbecause it wasnโt just any medley. It was a collection of theme songs from all the dramas Yamada has starred in over the years.
From Scrap Teacherโs โMayonaka no Shadow Boyโ to the recent Kissing the Ring Fingerโs โDEAR MY LOVERโ (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 connectionโa pause from the RED world to celebrate the journey heโs 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! JUMPโs music has become a part of everyday life for so many peopleโeven 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 closeโand just when it felt like we had seen every side of Yamadaโthe 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 โVELVETโ started playing, and the sphere broke open to reveal Yamada inside, wearing a beautiful velvet costume. He sang the first English line, โWeโre deep in, deep in REDโฆโ as fans screamed in excitement. He moved through the air toward the center stage and slowly landed, looking cool and confidentโalmost 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 โVELVETโ 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 โMystery Virginโ 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 2013โwhich 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 differentโmore mature, more refined.
He actually talked about this in the tour pamphlet interview (and by now, itโs probably obvious how much I love that interview). He said,
โAlthough itโs been 12 years since my last solo performance, I feel that what Iโm doing now is completely different. This really feels like the true starting point for me as a solo artist. I think Iโve 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 thisโso I believe Iโll be able to deliver something truly special.โ
What really surprised me was that he also shared that he only started taking voice training for the first time last year.
โOf course, itโs not like my singing suddenly improved just from a few lessons,โ he said, โbut learning about how the body worksโkind of like health and P.E. classโreally made a difference. I learned how to use my throat properly, where the vocal cords are, and what kinds of sounds I can produce.โ
I think everything he learned really showsโnot just in the re-recorded โMystery Virginโ, but across the whole album. You could hear the difference in his singing during the concert, too. To be honest, when โMystery Virginโ first came out 12 years ago, I wasnโt sure if his voice suited solo work. But with everything heโs 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 โsnow moon.โ It was a dream-like moment that felt like the perfect way to close a beautiful journeyโsilver snowflakes falling from above as Yamada sang. I donโt think Iโll ever forget that magical scene or how stunning he looked and sounded on stage.
Iโd 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 itโs released:
โI think itโs 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 whatโs expected of me. But as an artist, my main focus is on expressing what I truly want to say.
To put it simply: when Iโm an idol, I prioritize letting fans see me the way they want to see me. When Iโm being an artist, I want to show them who I want to be seen as.
That said, I donโt draw a hard line between the two, because both sides are real parts of who I am.โ
โ Written by Sewi for Dumpling Box.
