Like Travis Japan’s VIIsual, I’ve been eagerly waiting to dive into the Blu-ray release of Ae! group LIVE TOUR 2025 D.N.A.

Their March 30th performance at Yokohama Arena remains one of the most magical concert experiences I’ve ever had in Tokyo — the kind that glows in your memory long after the gumtape settles. But that night, I was there as a fan, swept up in the euphoria. So, when I sat down to watch the recording of their March 26th show, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anticipation — wondering what little changes, what new sparkles of energy, might catch my eye this time.

The truth is, like the Travis Japan show, I don’t remember every detail  — but I do remember the emotions. The way the room pulsed. The laughter. The shimmer of joy that seemed to float in the air like stardust.

Ae! group–made up of Yoshinori Masakado, Seiya Suezawa, Keita Richard Kusama, Ken Kojima, and Masaya Sano–has that effect on people. There’s something delightfully transportive about them — something that makes you forget you’re supposed to be taking notes for a review. (In my defense, as the founder of Life in Cartoon Motion, I only write about things I genuinely love. Which means, of course, I only go to shows I actually want to see.)

And yet… being there as both press and fan is its own kind of balancing act — especially when you’re surrounded by friends who are just as giddy as you are.

Before I even entered the venue, I was already buzzing. A tour bus emblazoned with the members’ impossibly dreamy faces, a cartoon-wrapped van parked outside, clusters of fans shining like living disco balls — lightsticks in hand, matching jackets, eyes full of wonder. It was beautiful.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love these kinds of fans. The ones who show up with hearts wide open, ready to love loudly, and cheer one of the coolest groups in J-pop!

That’s what I adore about these home releases — they let me relive that kind of joy, frame by frame, in glorious high-definition. And if you thought Richard Keita Kusama’s eyes sparkled in photos, just wait until you see them glisten in 1080 HD.

He’s beautiful. They all are.

In my last review, I mentioned how excited I was for 「Banzai Disco」 — and now, setting it again here –  it’s every bit of the crazy fun I wanted it to be: playful, dazzling, pure fun. You can see it in the way they move, how their smiles don’t quite fade even when the song ends.

It brings me joy. They bring me joy. And one of the best things about these Blu-rays is that I can relive my favorite moments over and over again — no ticket queue required.

That’s the thing about STARTO. They’re masters of the art of escape. For a couple of hours, they lift you out of the everyday world and remind you what it feels like to be enchanted and Ae! group is a sound worth getting lost in.

Now… how do I get lost with?

With SixTONES YOUNG OLD dropping at the end of the month, there are more STARTO concert reviews on the horizon, so…

Stay tuned!