MUSIC EXPO LIVE 2025 featured top artists in Tokyo Dome, showcasing special collaborations and vibrant performances from 12 groups.

On November 3, 'MUSIC EXPO LIVE 2025' was held at Tokyo Dome. Not only did it feature stages from ultra-luxurious artists leading the 2025 music scene, but it also delighted fans with special collaboration stages that combined each artist's charm. The performing artists included four groups: CORTIS, HANA, KiiiKiii, KAWAII LAB.'s FRUITS ZIPPER, CUTIE STREET, CANDY TUNE, SWEET STEADY, and a total of 12 groups including BE:FIRST, 4EVE, ENHYPEN, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and Number_i. Global artists gathered on the Tokyo Dome stage. With the opening voice, all artists took the stage. Suvin, the leader of TOMORROW X TOGETHER, greeted, 'Today, we will deliver the best live performance with wonderful artists.' Fai from 4EVE, who came from Thailand, greeted in Thai, 'Sawasdee ka,' and smiled, saying, 'Let's have a great time today!' Yuta Jinguji of Number_i, who served as the headliner, expressed his excitement, saying, 'I was really looking forward to this at Tokyo Dome.' The top act of the day was KAWAII LAB., which sends out cuteness from Harajuku. As Noel Hayase from FRUITS ZIPPER asked on the screen, 'Isn't it enough to be cute?' the live performance started with CUTIE STREET's 'Isn't it enough to be cute?' They appeared in costumes full of frills and lace using member colors, showing bright smiles and energetic performances, wrapping Tokyo Dome in a big call early on. The following SWEET STEADY sang the heartbreaking maiden heart song 'YAKIMOCHI' softly. CANDY TUNE appeared at the center stage. They energized the venue with the catchy call of 'Baibaifight!' from their buzzworthy release this year, taking the stage with a passionate performance. FRUITS ZIPPER, who is set to perform at Tokyo Dome for the first time on February 1 next year, saw the revival of Amano Tsukiashi, performing as seven members. Their song 'Kagami,' released this January, featured choreography reminiscent of opening a compact and an impressive phrase that took the initials of the members' names. Their stage, having experienced various music festivals this year, showed a dignified presence. When all members of KAWAII LAB. appeared on stage at the call of Mana Manaka, they concluded with FRUITS ZIPPER's 'My Most Cute Part,' embodying the catchphrase 'Not just cute' with a splendid performance, beautifully starting 'MUSIC EXPO LIVE 2025.' The newly debuted KiiiKiii followed, a five-member girl group that debuted this year as IVE's juniors. Their energetic choreography in 'DANCING ALONE,' released in August this year, featured all members jumping while holding hands. Haum greeted in Japanese, 'Tokyo Dome, let's keep the excitement going!' as they started 'BTG,' an EDM with dynamic dance set to a fast BPM beat, making the venue feel like a large clubhouse with white lasers flying around. They ended with their debut song 'I DO ME,' energetically running around the center stage, concluding with white confetti falling. The collaboration stage between BE:FIRST and ENHYPEN was impressive! They performed a dance collaboration stage with songs choreographed by SOTA (BE:FIRST) and Ni-Ki (ENHYPEN). Ni-Ki smiled, saying, 'It was difficult to learn the choreography, and I was surprised at how cool it was. It was a completely different genre from what we usually do, so it was challenging.' SOTA also expressed, 'It was so difficult that we struggled a lot. We had a hard time like we never experienced with our own songs, so it was a great opportunity to dance to the fullest.' Their collaboration stage began with the sound of a flute, giving a sense of Japanese atmosphere, showcasing BE:FIRST's 'Masterplan' with hardcore hip-hop dance. They ended with a pose reminiscent of Kabuki's mie, followed by the sound of thunder, starting ENHYPEN's 'Bite Me,' themed around vampires, creating an alluring mood with graceful movements and touches to the neck. Although the dance genres were contrasting, both were executed beautifully. CORTIS, who made their Japanese debut at Tokyo Dome, is a five-member boy group born from BIGHIT MUSIC, known as the 'prestigious boys group' that includes BTS and TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and this was their first stage in Japan. In their debut song 'What You Want,' they performed joyfully without being intimidated by the large Tokyo Dome stage, showing sharp and coordinated dance from the first song, showcasing their uniqueness. Leader MARTIN shouted with joy, 'We came to Japan!' while JUHOON commented in Japanese, 'It's my first time standing on such a big stage, so I'm nervous,' showing a fresh demeanor typical of newcomers. Conversely, they showed composure unusual for newcomers, skillfully alternating between their natural voice and falsetto in 'JoyRide,' creating an atmosphere as if speaking to the audience. They ended with a spirited performance of 'FaSHioN,' featuring unique vocals using a vocoder, tightening the atmosphere of the venue. The hot seven-member girl group 4EVE from Thailand made a strong impact on stage, appearing in champagne pink coordinated outfits of bustiers and hot pants. Following the cool 'Keep a Secret,' they showcased a dance that mixed cuteness and healthy sexiness in 'Situationship,' resonating with Thai high tones. In the final 'hot2hot,' the melancholic melody and performance using fans matched perfectly. They left a strong impression as Thailand's representative girl group, including a dance break with flying fireballs. HANA's stage exuded determination and confidence, starting with CHIKA's shout of 'Make some noise!' HANA overwhelmed Tokyo Dome with a spirited stage and expression from 'Drop.' Then, in the light city pop melody 'My Body,' there was a Korean lyric part by JISOO, conveying the message 'My body belongs only to me.' NAOKO began 'Blue Jeans' by asking the audience to sing along, performing at the center stage while waving and smiling at the audience. The last song began with CHIKA saying, 'No matter what form or environment, I will bloom strong and beautifully,' starting 'ROSE.' As expected from their debut song, they left a vivid impression on Tokyo Dome with a stage that conveyed their determination and confidence until the end. During a talk corner between performances, Number_i, TOMORROW X TOGETHER, and CORTIS appeared on stage. Shoyo Hirano from Number_i spoke about the event, saying, 'It's a precious opportunity for artists from various Asian countries to showcase their stages,' while BOMGYU from TOMORROW X TOGETHER smiled, 'We are honored to perform again this year, just like last year.' JUHOON from CORTIS expressed, 'Even though we just debuted, we are nervous but very excited to stand on such a big stage.' SEONGHYEON from CORTIS asked the seniors, 'How do you resolve differences of opinion among members?' Yuta Jinguji from Number_i replied, 'It doesn't really turn into a fight, but we discuss it thoroughly. In the end, we ask our leader Kishi-kun for guidance,' while Yuta Kishi added, 'Of course, we discuss a lot among the three of us before making a decision.' TAEHYUN from TOMORROW X TOGETHER made the audience laugh by saying, 'When opinions differ, the one who speaks strongly wins,' adding with a smile, 'I think that's probably me.' MARTIN from CORTIS mentioned, 'We also don't fight, but we often have differing opinions, and at that time, we tend to lean towards the opinion of the person who speaks strongly, following majority rule.' Finally, Hirano Shoyo expressed, 'We still have a live performance left, so we hope to create a wonderful atmosphere.' The excitement reached its peak with ENHYPEN's performance. As ENHYPEN appeared on stage wearing white Napoleon jackets, they drew the audience into a dark fantasy world with 'Bad Desire (With or Without You) [Japanese Ver.].' The backstep and kneeling choreography in 'Fatal Trouble' evoked the beauty reminiscent of swans, and they rushed through three songs up to 'No Doubt [Japanese Ver.].' When Ni-Ki said, 'Tokyo Dome, I'm back!' the audience's penlights swayed greatly, filling the dome with red light. ENHYPEN shared their memories of the Tokyo Dome, with JAY saying, 'They sang a song for ENGENE (ENHYPEN's fan name) as a surprise. At that time, we were so moved that we all cried a lot,' while SUNGHOON added, 'But thanks to ENGENE, it became an unforgettable memory.' JAKE then announced, 'We want to sing that song today,' starting 'BLOSSOM.' They sang the nostalgic song with a microphone stand, deliberately sealing their performance. Following that, they sang 'Shine On Me,' a memorable song first performed during ENHYPEN's first stadium tour this summer. Their soaring high tones resonated throughout the dome as they enjoyed the encounter with their fans, ENGENE, from a closer center stage. They concluded with popular live staples 'Sweet Venom' and 'Brought The Heat Back,' bringing the excitement in Tokyo Dome to its peak that day. BE:FIRST sang passionately, starting with 'Secret Garden,' released in August this year. Their relaxed performance matched the mid-tempo R&B, with JUNON and LEO's deep voices resonating with the repeated lyrics 'Secret Garden.' In 'Mainstream,' they showcased their unique lyrics and continuous bouncing steps, revealing SOTA's strength in hits until the end. Performing 'Milli-Billi' at the center stage, they stunned the audience with a dance break starting with SOTA's solo. Continuing with the dramatic melody of 'Boom Boom Back,' they displayed BE:FIRST's skills in vocals, rap, and dance without any gaps. SHUNTO began 'Mochuu' with the message, 'It's wonderful to be passionate about something!' as they sang from one end of the wide Tokyo Dome stage to the other, close to their fans. LEO shouted to everyone in the Tokyo Dome, 'Thank you for being alive!' concluding with a cover of The Jackson 5's famous song 'I Want You Back.' The special dance collaboration stage featured KAWAII LAB. and KiiiKiii, covering TWICE's 'TT -Japanese ver.-' from K-POP and AKB48's 'Heavy Rotation' from J-POP. Mizuki Kirihara from CANDY TUNE shared her practice story, saying, 'The choreography for 'TT -Japanese ver.-' is very cute, and we all had fun practicing together. It was difficult to synchronize.' Jiyu from KiiiKiii expressed in Japanese, 'We are honored to perform AKB48's 'Heavy Rotation.' KAWAII LAB. took the lead in performing 'TT -Japanese ver.-' first, and despite the different colors of the choreography, the members smiled at each other and danced joyfully during the performance. In the end, KiiiKiii joined in, and they all showed the TT pose. KiiiKiii then took the lead in performing 'Heavy Rotation,' exuding lively charm with choreography using a microphone stand, and finally, members of KAWAII LAB. joined the stage, forming hearts in pairs and spreading cuteness. NAOKO, who has roots in Thailand, expressed her love for Thailand, saying, 'The food in Thailand is incredibly delicious, and I highly recommend Khao Man Gai and Pad Krapow to the members, and they have started eating coriander. I'm also checking out T-POP and love Thai makeup.' The members of 4EVE responded cutely by making hearts with their hands. This was their first stage at Tokyo Dome, and they expressed in English, 'We are very excited,' then in Japanese, 'Everyone is cute,' finishing with 'Khop Khun Ka' (meaning 'thank you' in Thai). HANA also mentioned it was her first time at Tokyo Dome, saying, 'When everyone sang out loud and did the gesture of looking up at the end, I felt happy thinking, 'It's the dome!' with deep emotion. TOMORROW X TOGETHER, who announced five major dome performances and will have a solo concert at Tokyo Dome in January next year, appeared in monochrome outfits. They drew the audience into TOMORROW X TOGETHER's world with the impressive choreography of 'Upside Down Kiss' and followed with 'Beautiful Strangers [Japanese Ver.].' Hyuninkai remarked, 'Tokyo Dome is very spacious,' while Yeonjun worriedly asked the audience, 'Can you see us well?' Taehyun chimed in, 'We can see you all well from here.' Suvin encouraged the audience to pay attention to the lyrics as they began 'Where Do You Go?' with members spreading across the wide stage, greeting the gathered MOA (TOMORROW X TOGETHER's fan name). To the refreshing melody, the audience joyfully waved their penlights. In '5時53分の空で見つけた君と僕[Japanese Ver.]', golden confetti fell as they performed a dreamy performance on the center stage with sparks flying. In 'きっとずっと (Kiito Zutto)', they ran around the spacious stage to a dynamic melody, waving their hands up and down, causing the audience's penlights to sway in response. Hyuninkai expressed excitement for the upcoming dome tour, mentioning delicious food, while Taehyun added, 'I want to try various ramen.' Yeonjun shared his love for motsunabe and hitsumabushi, asking the audience for recommendations. Bomgyu cracked a dad joke, making the audience laugh, while Suvin seriously asked, 'Is it funny?' Hyuninkai continued with dad jokes, saying, 'I want a star' and 'The futon flew away.' To wrap up the atmosphere, they performed their latest song 'Can't Stop,' overwhelming the venue with their coordinated performance. The day concluded with Number_i taking the stage. After a classical SE, they shouted, 'Let's get excited!' as they appeared, coloring the venue with their energy through the downer melody and hard rap of 'GOAT.' In 'FUJI,' fireballs rose from the stage, and with the members' encouragement, the audience's penlights swayed like waves. The melody evoking a sense of Japan surprisingly matched hip-hop, as the three engaged the entire audience. In 'INZM,' lasers crisscrossed the venue like lightning, and as the stage's heat increased, the audience's calls heated up as well. In 'SQUARE_ONE,' the audience continued to wave their penlights towards the three on stage. They passionately delivered their thoughts in 'Numbers' at the center stage, performed 'Unidentified Area' with a grand scale melody, and rushed through to the last 'i-mode' non-stop. Finally, all the artists who performed that day appeared on stage again, bidding farewell to their fans. The event will be broadcast on NHK General TV on December 12 at 22:30, condensed into a one-hour special program, so be sure to check it out! (Coverage by Yoon Soo-hee)