On August 31st, Hey! Say! JUMP stepped onto the a-nation 2025 stage for the very first time as a seven-member group—a moment of celebration, but also of quiet, unspoken weight.
Just three days prior, on August 28th, Hey! Say! JUMP announced through their official website that Yuto Nakajima would be graduating from the group to go solo and focus on his acting pursuits. It was so sudden, and even now it feels unreal. We’ve been through departures before—Keito Okamoto, Ryutaro Morimoto—but no matter how many times it happens, nothing truly prepares you for the moment when one of them leaves.
And yet, here we were—tens of thousands of fans gathered under the stadium lights, holding our breath as the center LED screen lifted slowly to reveal seven figures standing tall, clad in glittering costumes that caught every reflection of the night.
The show opened with their classic “Weekender”—a song filled with their signature playful energy. In true JUMP fashion, they swept the audience into their energy, and for a moment, the heaviness lingering in the air melted away into warmth. That’s the magic of JUMP—they have this quiet, unshakable way of holding us, even when our hearts are trembling.
While the festival setlist leaned heavily toward fan favorites and crowd-pleasing anthems, the second and third songs—“Sandersonia” and “encore”—hit differently.
For many fans, “Sandersonia” carries a quiet symbolism. In the repeating “tan-tan-ta-ta-tan” rhythm, fans hear eight beats, representing the eight original members of JUMP. Singing it now, for the first time without Yuto, the song carried a bittersweet weight—a quiet ache beneath the melody—and you could see in Yamada’s expression just how hard it was to fully hide those emotions.
Then came a lyric that felt almost too close:
“We, who’ve bloomed right here,
Will never be separated again.”
Even if paths diverge, I think we all wished in that moment that the bond between them—the eight of them—would remain unbroken. Because for so many of us, JUMP has always been home—a place where our hearts naturally belong. And without all eight, nine, or ten of them, it will never feel quite the same.
And then came “encore”—a song meant to celebrate continuation, yet in this moment, it didn’t quite feel like one. Instead of closure, it carried the weight of everything we’ve lost and everything we’re holding onto.
“I don’t want to say goodbye. I just want to stay by your side.”
When their voices resonated with those lyrics, it felt like the entire song carried the weight of JUMP’s history. It wasn’t just a performance; it was a promise. “encore” resonates not only as a romantic track but as a tribute to their journey as a group. Since their debut in 2007, JUMP has weathered lineup changes and navigated the shifting tides of the J-Pop landscape, emerging stronger and more cohesive each time. In this moment, the song became a declaration—to keep creating, to keep connecting, and to hold tight to the memories and bonds that define them.
Watching through the livestream, it was impossible not to think of Yuto. The emotions spilled into every lyric, and tears blurred the stage lights for so many of us, overwhelmed by both love and longing.
“Let’s not let it end—let’s start again from zero, and let’s stay together forever.”
Those words, sung with such resolve, sounded like a quiet promise: JUMP isn’t ending. They’re beginning again. And if you’re still hurting, that’s okay. I am too. It’s hard, and it may stay hard for a while. But maybe within this promise, there’s also space for us to breathe—for us to hold onto hope without forcing ourselves to rush through the pain. We can carry both: the ache of what’s been lost and the light of what still remains.
True to the summer heat, they brought the temperature up even more with their signature summer banger: “Fanfare.” It lifted the stadium into a frenzy, with Yamada’s fleeting smile during the brief pause before the chorus melting hearts in seconds.
The second half of their set opened with the hard-hitting classic “Ride With Me” and the more recent “Donkey Gongs,” fire bursting from the stage as the members danced with breathtaking precision and passion. It felt like a moment to breathe—to simply be swept away by JUMP’s artistry. What stood out most was the contrast between “Ride With Me“ (2014) and “Donkey Gongs“ (2024), proving that even a decade apart, their skill and stage presence remain as sharp and magnetic as ever. Perhaps that’s the true charm of JUMP: a group approaching their 20th anniversary, beloved by the nation, still showing us exactly why their songs are so timeless and why their music continues to resonate so deeply with fans across the world.
Being a Chinen fan since JUMP’s formation, watching him dance has always been one of the purest joys of every performance. And then there are those lower notes—smooth, unexpected, and absolutely breathtaking. Every time he hits them, goosebumps ripple through me. It takes less than a heartbeat for him to draw me in completely, and in those moments, I’m reminded all over again why I’ve stayed—why I continue to love him, and why this group has always felt like home—why this group is where my heart belongs.
During “Come On A My House,” the crowd burst into laughter, a reminder that no matter how much changes, JUMP’s playful spirit never fades. I always joke that no JUMP show feels complete without this song. It’s been over a decade since its release, and while some might call it overplayed, the energy and love the members pour into it keep it alive every single time. Maybe that’s why it remains so beloved—not just among fans, but even for people who aren’t deeply familiar with JUMP. It’s easy to remember, easy to join in on, and carries that unmistakable classic J-Pop sound that hits right in the heart every single time.
Perhaps the pain felt closest during “Asu e no YELL,” a song closely tied to Yuto, as it was the theme song for his drama Water Polo Yankees. Normally, it’s one of JUMP’s most cheerful, high-energy anthems—a rallying cry overflowing with hope and courage. But tonight, that same brightness made the ache even sharper. Singing it without him, the lyrics carried a bittersweet double meaning: a celebration of dreams, but also a stark reminder of what’s been left behind because the echoes of his voice could be heard clearly.
Its buoyant melody, driven by an infectious rhythm, pairs with lyrics that pulse with determination, making it a song about moving forward no matter the odds. Yet this time, the hope and longing intertwined, creating an emotional weight that made every note hit deeper. It’s a testament to JUMP’s ability to weave joy and heartbreak together, turning even the happiest anthem into something layered and profoundly human. For both long-time fans and newcomers, “Asu e no YELL” became a reminder that it’s okay to carry both the pain of yesterday and the courage to keep chasing tomorrow.
As they moved into “Wo I Need You,” “eek!!,” and finally “DEAR MY LOVER,” the reality of this new chapter became harder to ignore. The songs were as bright and cheerful as ever, but beneath that energy was a quiet ache we all felt. While we, the fans, are hurting, seeing the seven of them stand there—smiling, performing, giving their all—was both beautiful and heartbreaking. This was their first day as seven. It wasn’t just a first for us; it was a first for them, too. And the way they faced us, carrying all of that weight while still choosing to shine, was nothing short of incredibly brave.
Seven voices. Seven lights. Seven smiles that somehow carried both joy and pain. The euphoria they created felt endless, yet fragile—something to be held carefully, like a secret we were allowed to share. Like a carefully nurtured bud blossoming inside us.
When the final note faded, the seven stood shoulder to shoulder, bowed deeply, and thanked the audience. The crowd stirred as we watched them disappear from the stage, and left us with a promise to meet again. Because we knew—we will.
As I watched from my screen, I couldn’t stop thinking about how heavy this performance must have felt for them. Throughout the whole show, it didn’t feel like the same bright JUMP we’ve always known, but it was still undeniably them. There was something quieter, deeper, almost fragile about the way they stood there—but it was still uniquely and authentically JUMP. Maybe I was overthinking, maybe I was too focused on what we’ve lost, but even so, they managed to pull me back into the moment. And in that moment, the pride and love I hold for them—unchanged, unwavering—blossomed stronger than ever.
By the end, they were smiling. I don’t know if those smiles were entirely real, or worn for our sake, but I want to believe in them. I want to believe they smiled because they chose to—because despite everything, they’re still here, and we’re still here with them.
I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude for their strength, for their choice to stay together, and for the way they continue to carry us through moments like this.
That alone saved me in ways I can’t put into words.
Even now, I carry a lingering emptiness. JUMP’s laughter, their unity, their brilliance—they filled me with hope again, yet the absence still echoes in quiet, unspoken spaces.
But watching them reminded me of something: if they can stand tall under those lights, carrying everything they carry, then maybe I can try to lift my head, too.
So let’s keep walking forward—together.
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