B&ZAI took to the stage on February 27 at Tokyo Garden Theater as part of their first nationwide hall tour, B&ZAI LIVE TOUR 2026 -ROCK’N ‘DOL-. The tour ran from February to April, hitting 10 cities with 29 performances, and by the end, it reached more than 80,000 fans. Judging by the energy in Ariake that day, every single one of them is in for something special.
B&ZAI is made up of eight members: Ryo Hashimoto (Vo./Gt.), Rei Yabana (Ba.), Taiki Konno (Gt./Vo.), Rinne Sugeta (Sax./Gt.), Katsuki Motodaka (Key.), Yujin Suzuki (Gt./Vo.), Hoshiki Kawasaki (Dr.), and Michiharu Inaba (Vn.). What makes them stand out is how effortlessly they move between traditional idol and rock band when they perform. One moment they’re dancing and throwing out fanservice, the next they’re jamming their instruments and singing screamo. That duality —idol and rock band— is exactly what ROCK’N ‘DOL was all about.
The concert started with their original song “Natsu♡Ai,” the cheerful theme song from the 2025 event SUMMER FES ROPPONGI SUNNY BEATS. The moment the music started, the atmosphere instantly turned bright and festive. The members kicked things off with their own catchphrase:
Ryo Hashimoto: “Ariake, let’s get started!”
Taiki Konno: “Let’s love one another!”
Rinne Sugeta: “Saisho wa kyun!”
Rei Yabana: “Choose me!”
Michiharu Inaba: “I’ll do my cutest best today!”
Katsuki Motodaka: “Get started with us!”
Hoshiki Kawasaki: “ROCK’N ‘DOL B&ZAI TOUR 2026 is starting!”
After that, the group switched into “band mode.” They launched straight into their original song “First Beat,” with live instruments front and center. The energy only grew from there as they performed rearranged covers of songs by their senpai. A highlight was a band-style version of Snow Man‘s “Dangerholic,” where every member got their own solo moment.
Of course, B&ZAI wouldn’t be B&ZAI without their idol side, and they delivered plenty of that too. They performed fun covers like WEST.’s “YSSB” and SMAP’s “Dynamite,” and the crowd loved every second. Things got even sillier during a gyaruo-and-gyaru comedy skit that felt straight out of the Heisei era —nostalgic and absolutely hilarious.
During King & Prince’s “koi-wazurai,” the members drew lots to decide the “lucky couple” of the day. This time it was Ryo Hashimoto and Rei Yabana. The rest of the group circled them, showering them with confetti and turning the song into a playful celebration of their “love.”
Then the stage atmosphere changed completely. Wearing kimono-inspired costumes and illuminated noh masks, the members performed against a stunning neoclassical backdrop. Rei even showed off his shamisen skills before the group launched into “Tsukiyomi,” creating a performance that felt both elegant and powerful.
Next came the first-ever performance of their brand-new dance track “KISS’N’DOL.” The choreography was sharp and dynamic, and Hoshiki wowed everyone with an acrobatic moment before the group continued with SUPER EIGHT’s “T.W.L.”
During the MC segment, the members thanked fans for coming —even though it was a weekday afternoon— and asked where everyone had traveled from. Some fans shouted out Korea, Singapore, and even Sweden! That led to Katsuki revealing that he actually wanted to study abroad at Lund University.
Then the members realized that “the guy with the biggest body” wasn’t on stage… so they asked the audience to call for him: “Rin-chan!” Super Rinne appeared, ready to solve people’s problems with muscles and stretches. Katsuki went into the audience to find someone with a problem. One fan explained that the corners of her mouth crack when she yawns. On cue, Super Rinne-san gestured, suggesting that she uses lip balm to solve her problem.
Looking for another problem to solve, Ryo pointed out that NEWS member Keiichiro Koyama was sitting in the audience. Keiichiro asked how to make his pecs bigger, and Super Rinne-san responded with the choreography to NEWS‘ “Chankapana” The crowd erupted in laughter —and the group followed it up perfectly with a performance of “Koi no ABO.”
Back to the music, they performed “Seijaku no Parade,” yet another track by King & Prince. Handmade signs shaped like shooting stars and the moon filled the stage, while Hoshiki’s powerful drumming anchored the emotional atmosphere.
Then it was back to band mode. They delivered rock-infused interpretations of classics by their senpai: “Seiten no Hekireki” by KAT-TUN, “truth” by Arashi —which featured a moody violin solo from Michiharu— and “Something from Nothing” by SixTONES, highlighted by Yujin’s intense screamo vocals.
As the main set came to a close, they performed Arashi’s beloved “One Love.” The moment ended with a touching gesture: a photocard featuring all eight members along with a handwritten message thanking everyone for supporting them.
The encore started with a sweet surprise —members appeared among the audience while performing “Original Smile” by SMAP and “Saa Ikimakure! Wonderful Life!” by A.B.C-Z.
Then came the biggest moment of the night.
B&ZAI announced that ROCK’N ‘DOL will head to Nippon Budokan on May 8 and May 9, for a total of three performances. The legendary venue has hosted countless iconic rock acts, so it feels like the perfect place for a group like B&ZAI. The members were clearly emotional —Ryo, especially, struggled to hold back tears.
For the final song, they debuted “Shodo Never End,” a new track full of nostalgic Heisei vibes. Performed in full band style, it perfectly captured the spirit of ROCK’N ‘DOL.
After the show, Ryo admitted that although he tried to act cool about the Budokan announcement, SUPER EIGHT’s Tadayoshi Ohkura teased him afterward, saying, “You cried, didn’t you?” He also shared that he’d love to see Rei play bass at Budokan, inspired by a TOKIO concert DVD he once recommended. Hoshiki revealed something special too —his drum set once belonged to Masahiro Matsuoka of TOKIO. The group has even inherited instruments from Shigeru Joshima and Tomoya Nagase, making the upcoming Budokan shows feel like a symbolic passing of the torch.
For B&ZAI, performing at Budokan isn’t the final goal —it’s just the next step. A stepping stone toward finding their own identity and reaching even bigger stages.
With their first tour underway and Budokan already on the horizon, one thing is clear: B&ZAI isn’t just a rookie group. They’re idols who rock, musicians who entertain, and a band determined to carve out something entirely their own.
– Written for Dumpling Box by Stephanie ♥
What started as a tour meant to define B&ZAI’s identity as “ROCK’N’DOL” has now led them to one of the most symbolic stages in Japanese live music. The announcement of two solo performances at the legendary Nippon Budokan — the first for a pre-debut STARTO group since DOMOTO in 1995 — felt less like a sudden milestone and more like the natural culmination of a year spent growing together through relentless performances, rehearsals, and shared ambition.
From inherited instruments once played by their seniors to Ryo breaking into tears at the thought of seeing Rei stand on the Budokan stage, the moment carried the weight of both history and future. More than just another venue, Budokan represents a checkpoint for B&ZAI: proof that the group’s unique blend of band spirit, idol entertainment, and raw determination is beginning to resonate far beyond the rehearsal room they spent countless nights in together.
Check out the Juniors on their various social media platforms!
Photo assets © STARTO ENTERTAINMENT.
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