There’s something electric about stepping into Yokohama Arena. I’ve seen a few shows there now, and no two have ever been alike. Every time I walk through those doors, I know something magical is about to happen. 

Especially when I see Ae! group (Aぇ! group), and the 30 March performance of their LIVE TOUR 2025 D.N.A is a prime example of that magic.

Together, the five members of the group (Yoshinori Masakado, Seiya Suezawa, Keita Richard Kusama, Ken Kojima, and Masaya Sano) are some of the most talented young men I have ever had the joy of seeing perform. Lucky enough to see them for their Aぇ! group Debut Tour  ～世界で1番AぇLIVE～ at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, I couldn’t wait to celebrate the release of their debut album ｢D.N.A｣ with them. 

Released in February, the album has been certified platinum by the RIAJ – and is filled with songs I couldn’t wait to see performed live.

Before the lights even dimmed, I was already in fan-boy heaven. A tour bus painted with their larger than life (and incredibly dreamy) images, a cartoon-wrapped van, and clusters of fans glistening with glittering lightsticks, matching jackets, and so much joy it was like walking into the warmest, loudest group hug of your life.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – I love these type of fans. 

When the lights dimmed and the arena was shrouded in darkness, that’s when the chaos started – in the best possible way.  The stage looked like the inside of some pop-music laboratory, with Seiya (of course) embracing the energy of a musical mad scientist. One by one, the members literally rose out of giant glass vats and kicked off the show with their debut single, ｢《A》BEGINNING｣ and then straight into a gloriously gritty version of one of my favorite tracks from the group, ｢Firebird｣. 

After a lightning-fast costume change, the boys burst back onto the stage in eye-popping color-blocked suits—sunny yellow, royal purple, bubblegum pink, blazing orange, and electric blue—each one brighter than the last. They launched into ｢Colorful Days｣ like a confetti cannon of joy, rolling seamlessly into ｢Wonderful!!｣ and ｢WANT!!｣—each track as fluffy and addictive as spun sugar. Richard’s vocals were pure candy—smooth, sweet, and impossible to resist—while Seiya’s stage presence was so hot that the entire crowd (myself included) was melting from the heat.

Now. One of my favorite things about Ae! group is their ability to take their careers incredibly seriously while never letting go of that spark of Kansai humor, which was masterfully peppered in throughout the concert – most notably during the MC portion, as the mid-show comedy skit was a rollercoaster of bad puns, batsu game silliness, and perfectly-timed tsukkomi punchlines. This was Ae! group reminding everyone: yes, we’re idols—but we’re also entertainers. And we’re funny af.

Stepping off stage, the lighting dimmed once again, and when the guys returned, it was leather and lace with some steamy choreography. ｢Party-Aholic｣, ｢Junjou Pathfinder｣ and ｢Joyato｣ followed by an emotional performance of  ｢Never End｣. 

Another costume change brought Richard back to the stage in a green bomber jacket- and as the ‘DJ’ turned the arena into a dance hall with the track I’d been waiting for –  my favorite track off the album, ｢Banzai Disco｣ – and it was everything I hoped it would be! ｢AKAN｣ followed with glitter, glowsticks, and the simple truth that Ae! group really can shift themselves into any genre of sound.

Like every STARTO unit concert I’ve been lucky enough to experience—whether in Yokohama, Tokyo, Osaka, or back home in Los Angeles—I find myself swept up in the moment, completely immersed. The memories don’t stay as clear images; they transform into something deeper, something felt rather than seen. I could tell you a hundred different emotions a single song stirred in me, but the finer details? They sometimes blur in the rush of it all. 

That’s why I get genuinely thrilled when the concerts are released on Blu-ray and DVD. It gives me the chance to relive it all—to pause, rewind, and really take in what made the experience unforgettable in the first place: the guys. Their talent. Their energy. Their magic.

It’s for this reason that I can’t wait to relive my Ae! group experience at LIVE TOUR 2025 D.N.A when it’s released on home video. You can pre-order yours now, wherever Japanese music and movies are sold, including CD Japan! 

There will be more Ae! group soon, so… 

Stay Tuned!