The relationship between the acclaimed group NEWS —consisting of Keiichiro Koyama, Takahisa Masuda, and Shigeaki Kato— and rock festival audiences reached an exciting new milestone. The trio delivered a stellar performance at the prestigious TOKYO METROPOLITAN ROCK FESTIVAL 2026 (METROCK), marking their impressive fourth consecutive appearance at this iconic outdoor event.
The Roar of NEWS at METROCK 2026: A Tradition Solidified
Established in an impeccable artistic maturity, the members demonstrated an astonishing ability to merge the inherent majesty of their musical roots with the raw, visceral, and direct energy that a rock festival inherently demands. Their repertoire, carefully selected for the occasion, had thousands of spectators jumping in unison under the open sky. However, the true climax of the day arrived as a surprise. Amid the crowd’s ovation, NEWS used the backdrop of this massive festival to perform their new musical composition live for the first time, completely unexpectedly. The audience’s response to the premiere was an absolute burst of jubilation; what began as anticipation of the unknown quickly transformed into a sea of raised arms, making clear the group’s tireless ambition to keep evolving conceptually.
The ‘KMK’ Era and the Great Trilogy Setting the Path Toward 2028
This single-format digital release is titled “KMK“, an acronym with a deep sense of identity that directly references the initials of the group’s three members: Koyama, Masuda, and Kato. Musically, the track breaks the mold of their traditional discography by adopting “hyperpop” as the sonic centerpiece. It is a fast-paced, upbeat track (an up-tempo tune) performed in a major key, with lyrics strategically peppered with terms and references that evoke the history and journey of NEWS, successfully blending their voices into a refreshing melody.
The release of “KMK” is not an isolated event, but rather the cornerstone of a monumental long-term plan. With their eyes set on the year 2028 —the date they will celebrate their historic 25th anniversary since debut— the group has officially announced the start of the ambitious mega-project “NEWS 25th ANNIVERSARY TRILOGY WE ARE NEWS“. This initiative will be structured as a conceptual trilogy that will actively unfold from this moment on and over the coming years, culminating in 2028.
As “Episode 1” of this trilogy, the song serves as a prelude to the release of a self-titled studio album, also named “KMK“. The rollout of this new era will waste no time hitting the stage: the band has confirmed their national tour “NEWS LIVE TOUR 2026 EPISODE 1 /// KMK“, which will kick off this coming August 1st in Hokkaido Prefecture and will span a total of 19 concerts across 8 cities in Japan. After taking METROCK by surprise and suddenly revealing the roadmap that will guide their steps until 2028, NEWS reaffirms its status as one of the most versatile, respected, and enduring groups in the Japanese entertainment landscape.
“KMK” will go down in history as the opening chapter of the new era that Koyama, Massu, and Shige have begun writing together.
NEWS LIVE TOUR 2026 EPISODE 1 /// KMK DATES
August 1st, 2nd 2026 (Sat – Sun) Hokkaido, Hokkaido Prefectural General Gymnasium (Hokkai Kitayell)
August 11th, 12th 2026 (Tue/Holiday – Wed)
August 28th, 29th, 30th 2026 (Fri – Sat- Sun) Shizuoka Prefecture, Ecopa Arena
September 5th, 6th 2026 (Sat – Sun) Miyagi Prefecture, Sekisui Heim Super Arena
September 11th, 12th, 13th 2026 (Fri – Sat – Sun) Tokyo, Ariake Arena
October 6th, 7th, 8th 2026 (Tue – Wed – Thu), Kanagawa Prefecture; Yokohama Arena
October 17th, 18th 2026 (Sat – Sun), Hiroshima Prefecture; Hiroshima Green Arena
October 27th, 28th 2026 (Tue – Wed), Hyogo Prefecture; GLION ARENA KOBE
Check out more of NEWS through the member’s accounts on SNS!
Takahisa Masuda Instagram | Keiichiro Koyama Instagram / TikTok / YouTube / Official Website | Shigeaki Kato X Account / Instagram
More about NEWS on Dumpling Box!
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