2PM
The group 2PM (Jun.k, Nichkhun, Taecyeon, Wooyoung, Junho, Chansung) has enchanted the archipelago.
2PM held its concert celebrating the 15th anniversary of its local debut, “2PM JAPAN 15TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT ‘THE RETURN’ IN TOKYO DOME” (“THE RETURN”), on May 9 and 10. This comeback show at the Tokyo Dome, realized after 10 years, gathered a total of 85,000 spectators over two sessions. They, who made their official debut in the music world in 2008, debuted locally in Japan in 2011 and entered the Tokyo Dome in 2013, thus kept their promise to “return” made when they stood on the Tokyo Dome stage in 2016, 10 years later.
JUN. K, NICHKHUN, TAECYEON, WOOYOUNG, JUNHO, CHANSUNG welcomed a huge crowd with the richness of a show lasting more than 3 hours per session, filled with national and international hits as well as locally released songs.
Starting with the first Japanese debut single “Take off” released in May 2011, 25 songs resonated in the Tokyo Dome, including the second single “I’m your man” from August 2011, which engraved the unmatched charm of the K-pop boy group on the local music market, the third single “Ultra lover” from November 2011, which recorded three consecutive single hits in the year of their debut, and the single “Guilty love”, which reached number one on the ORICON daily and weekly charts in Japan upon its release in January 2015. 2PM, who delivered a live performance with six distinct vocal timbres, sparked support by stating:
“This concert at the Tokyo Dome is a tracklist condensing ‘everything about 2PM’; we thought about including more ballads, but we wanted to properly show the typical image of 2PM, which is why we composed (intense) performances this way. The shirts under our jackets are all soaked; we ask for cheers as great as the sweat we have shed.”
When the members addressed their greetings in Japanese: “We are back. This is 2PM”, the audience responded with a loud voice: “Welcome”.
The addictive melodies of the original Japanese songs, as well as the romantic message “regardless of the difficulties, I will protect this destiny with you until the end”, further heated up the atmosphere of the concert. Added to this were the patented “human pyramid” choreography of “Heartbeat”, the key “head movement” point of “My house” which also shines in the Japanese version, and especially in “I’m your man”, when the 6 members presented a performance by tearing their shirts, an overwhelming clamor that seemed to pierce the ceiling of the Tokyo Dome broke out, showing that the temperature of the HOTTEST (fandom name) had not changed, just like the talent of 2PM. The dynamic configuration of the stage movements, the use of screens, the mobilization of a large team of dancers, and toward the end of the show, the members traveled to every corner of the Tokyo Dome sky aboard machines reminiscent of hot air balloons.
2PM conveyed their sincerity filled with gratitude:
“To be able to meet again on the dream stage that is the Tokyo Dome is something miraculous. It is a truly unforgettable day. We will return without fail. The HOTTEST are the stars that shine in the night sky of 2PM. By being together like this, I feel that I am a happy person. You are an emotion, a treasure, and a pride. Thank you for protecting us for so long.”
Also asked about their impressions, the HOTTEST who came to the venue said with one voice, as if they had consulted each other: “2PM is our strength”. Ms. Watanabe Naoko responded while shedding tears of emotion: “2PM is the ‘strength to live’ on a daily basis. It is a group whose charm increases tenfold when the six are together”. Rie, who came to the Tokyo Dome with her mother, expressed her enthusiasm: “The first time I saw a 2PM concert was at the first Tokyo Dome in 2013, and to see them make such a comeback is ‘truly 2PM’. Since half of my life has been HOTTEST, they are an indispensable ‘youth’ for me”.
JYP ENTERTAINMENT, which occupies a solid pillar in the lineage of male idols, saw 2PM successfully complete this concert at the Tokyo Dome, confirming the group’s concept of longevity and the powerful relationship between fans and artists transcending generational divides. The members dramatically sang “I’ll be back -Japanese ver.-” as the last song of the encore section during the two days, affirming that the promise between the HOTTEST and 2PM would continue.
Furthermore, 2PM announced the holding of its exclusive full-group concert in Korea, “2026 2PM CONCERT ‘THE RETURN’ IN INCHEON”, at the INSPIRE ARENA in Incheon on August 8 and 9. This comes approximately 3 years after the 15th anniversary concert “IT’S 2PM” in September 2023.
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: SNS 2PM
