On February 26, 2025, the official Perfume channel dropped a bombshell.
However, as September approached, I had a period of genuine worry that I wouldn't be able to attend. I had switched my citizenship in May and was concerned that the administrative process might take too long, leaving me without a new passport in time. Thankfully, everything was settled by August, and I was all set for my trip to Tokyo in September!
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| Early morning flight |
On September 18th, Perfume suddenly posted a notice stating that on September 21st—their major debut anniversary—they would be releasing a very important message. They asked all of us fans to make sure we read it. The moment I saw that post, I had a sinking feeling. My mind immediately jumped to the worst-case scenarios: were they going to disband or go on an indefinite hiatus? I scoured Twitter and Threads to see what others were saying. Some of the more optimistic fans suggested it might actually be happy news—perhaps an announcement that they were getting married! I honestly hoped that was the case. Haha.
メジャーデビュー20周年を迎える2025年9月21日(日) に、
— Perfume_Staff (@Perfume_Staff) September 18, 2025
私たちPerfumeから大切な大切なメッセージがあります。
読んでくれたら嬉しいなぁ。
Perfume
On September 21st at 12:30 AM, Perfume finally released their message to the P.T.A. They announced that starting in 2026, the group will enter a "Cold Sleep" state, ceasing all activities as Perfume. In other words, it meant that the Tokyo Dome shows would be their final concerts for the foreseeable future. Even though I had mentally prepared myself for an announcement like this, tears still began to flow the moment I read their words 😢. I felt even more grateful that I had secured my tickets and that my new passport had arrived just in time. It felt like destiny—I was actually going to see them perform live one last time. 😭
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| I prepared a fan letter to all 3 of them after reading their message |
On September 22nd, I headed to Tokyo Dome around 11:00 AM. Even that early, a long queue had already formed for the merchandise.
Sales officially began at 12:30 PM, and fortunately, the line moved quite quickly; it was already my turn to buy everything I wanted after just fifteen minutes!
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| The goods I bought this time and it almost cost 30k yen |
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| The ticket to be scanned at the entrance |
On Day 2, I had my upgraded ticket, which felt like a completely different experience. In addition to the VIP arena seat, it came with some exclusive commemorative gifts! Being in that premium area for their final performance before the "Cold Sleep" made everything feel even more special.
After collecting my tickets and merchandise, I still had a few hours to kill before the doors opened. After grabbing some lunch, I spent most of my time wandering around Tokyo Dome, taking photos and admiring the fans who were cosplaying as Perfume. The costumes were such high quality! It was so easy to recognize exactly which iconic era or music video they were cosplaying.
Perhaps because this was Perfume’s final concert for the foreseeable future, the rules around photography seemed a bit more relaxed. While they still strictly prohibited photos, videos, and sound recording during the performance, they didn't stop us from taking photos of the stage before the show began. This was a big change from their previous concert at Ariake, where photography was strictly forbidden even before the start. I took full advantage of this and captured as many photos as I wanted! Haha. I felt incredibly lucky to have secured center arena seats for both days! Having that central view made the entire production look spectacular. On Day 2, my seat was so good that I could see the members clearly whenever they walked to the edge of the stage. 😁
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| My seat on Day 1 |
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| My seat on Day 2 |
This concert served as the sequel to their previous tour, "Nebula Romance -Episode 1-," so the setlist focused heavily on songs from their latest album. However, likely because this was their final show for a while, they incorporated many elements from their past Tokyo Dome performances. This was actually Perfume’s fourth time performing at the Dome, following their shows in 2010, 2013, and 2020. Since I hadn't been able to attend those previous Dome concerts, I didn’t recognize the references immediately. It was only after the show that I realized how much homage they paid to their history on that stage. It must have been such a nostalgic and emotional experience for the longtime fans who have been there since the very beginning. 😊
Fifteen minutes before the scheduled start time, the entire stadium stood up and began to clap in unison. Some fans couldn't hold back their excitement, shouting the members' names: "Nocchi!!!", "A~chan!!!", "Yukachan!!!" This energy continued for thirty minutes until the final announcement regarding the concert rules was made. This was the signal—it was finally starting! The cheers and applause grew even louder. Then, the entire Dome plunged into darkness, and the first notes of the opening song began to play. It was "GAME"! What an incredible start! The lady sitting next to me was already in tears as the song began. It was only later that I realized this was the exact same opening as the 2020 Dome concert—the one that had been cancelled and that I never got to see! Arghh! I was finally experiencing the opening I had missed out on five years ago. 😭
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| Credit to Perfume |
After that powerful opening, they performed「再生」next. It has been one of my favorite songs in recent years, so hearing it live was incredible. Following that, they provided a recap of the story from the "Episode 1" concert before diving into the new tracks from the latest album. To close out that segment, they struck a final pose that perfectly matched the album cover jacket. It felt just like the grand opening of a movie! LOL.
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| Credit to Perfume |
After「ネビュラロマンス」, it was time for the first MC segment. Instead of their iconic "Kashiyuka desu! A~chan desu! Nocchi desu!" introduction, they used their character names from the movie: "Yuka desu. Ayaka desu. Ayano desu." LOL! When they did their individual MCs, we all cheered for them using their character names instead of their stage names. A~chan joked that it was the first time so many people had called her "Ayaka." She said that ever since she was a kid, everyone has called her "A~chan"—the only exception was when she was about to get scolded, and her dad would call her "Ayaka!" LOL😂
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| Credit to pia |
The second part of the show kicked off with「エレクトロ・ワールド」. I absolutely love this song, especially the part where Nocchi does her iconic punch! 😍 Following that, they performed more new songs from the album while moving around the stage. Nocchi came right to the edge of the center stage, and I could see her so clearly! OMG! 💕 Then, scooters rose up from the stage, and the three of them rode them to the other end. As usual, Nocchi sped off while Yukachan took her time and rode slowly. LOL. It immediately reminded me of the scooter competition they had during one of their previous tours! Haha 😂
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| Credit to Perfume |
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| Credit to Perfume |
After the new songs, they performed 「Perfumeの掟」! It was almost identical to the version from their first Tokyo Dome concert. It started with Yukachan’s solo dance alongside multiple "clones" on the screen, followed by A~chan shooting balloons with a laser gun. Finally, Nocchi performed a sequence of poses representing every song released between 2012 and 2025. When I first saw the numbers "12 to 25" on the screen, I figured it represented the years, but I wondered what happened to numbers 1 through 11. Later on Twitter, I saw an explanation that answered my question: this was a direct continuation of the 2010 Dome performance! Back then, Nocchi had already posed for numbers 1 to 11. Seeing it pick up right where it left off 15 years ago... Naruhodo!
Perfumeの掟「10人のかしゆか」-2010年vs2025年
— キュー (@macq999) September 24, 2025
完璧に踊りきり15年ぶりに払拭！
かしゆかのわだかまりを浄化したMIKIKO先生、素敵すぎ(*´-`)https://t.co/A1P5M2kauy pic.twitter.com/R9T4ZJdLm6
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| Credit to Perfume |
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| Perfumeの掟 in 2010 |
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| Credit to Perfume |
The concert continued with the final tracks from the latest album, reaching the "movie" finale where the three characters disappeared. However, Kikimo discover that while they may be gone from that specific world, they still exist in another universe—the Perfume we know and love today 💕Just like in the music video for「巡ループ」, after they vanished, the ending shifted to the rooftop of a school. There, we see three school girls practicing the choreography for "Linear Motor Girl." It felt like everything was returning to the very beginning. It’s so similar to the situation we are in now... a loop that leads back to the start. 😭
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| Credit to Perfume |
Then came a massive remix set by the "GOD" himself, Nakata Yasutaka, starting with「ポリリズム」—the song that changed everything for Perfume! Hearing the older hits really hyped up the crowd; everyone was jumping and cheering at full volume. The energy during "Chocolate Disco" was particularly legendary. The thunderous roar of 45,000 fans shouting "DISCO!" in unison was superb—it was probably the loudest I’ve ever heard at any of their concerts. Without missing a beat, they transitioned straight into the P.T.A. Corner, the most iconic part of any Perfume show 😂. They finished the high-energy set with another remix, ending on the uplifting notes of "My Color."
The final MC segment was likely the longest I’ve ever experienced, lasting nearly thirty minutes. Each member took the time to convey a deeply personal message to us. They acknowledged that after the sudden announcement on the 21st, many fans might still be in shock or struggling to digest the news. However, they expressed how blessed they felt to see so many fans accepting the decision and offering their blessings for the members' individual happiness. The bond between Perfume and their fans is truly extraordinary. They assured us that this isn't the end, but rather the beginning of a "new" Perfume. To ensure they can remain as Perfume for a long time to come, they decided to take this break to recharge and return even stronger. They promised they would be back and urged us all to stay healthy while we wait for their return. Most of the fans were in tears listening to their heartfelt words 😭. Then, for the last time before their hiatus, they bowed and gave their iconic sign-off: "それでは、Perfumeでした！ありがとうございました！"
A short video began to play, chronicling Perfume’s entire journey to the beautiful melody of「願い」. It showed clips from their early days practicing choreography, the emotional moment they found out the GAME album hit #1 on the Oricon chart, and the three of them crying together with Mikiko-sensei. Watching their history unfold like that made everyone’s tears flow non-stop 😭. Finally, they performed the last song of the night and the album「巡ループ」. It was the perfect, circular end to an unforgettable experience.
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| Credit to Perfume |
The finale of "Nebula Romance -Episode Tokyo Dome-" was a brilliant, mirrored tribute to their very first Tokyo Dome concert in 2010. While they rose up from the stage back then, this time they descended down into the stage to signal the end. As they disappeared, three glowing light-bulb silhouettes were left in their place on the empty stage. It was a hauntingly beautiful image—the physical Perfume had gone into their "Cold Sleep," but their light remained behind with us.
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| Credit to Perfume |
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| Credit to Perfume |
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| Credit to Perfume |
After the lights came up and I finally exited Tokyo Dome, I couldn't bring myself to leave the area right away. I stayed outside for quite awhile, just standing there in the shadow of the Dome. I didn't want to go back to the hotel yet, because leaving the grounds felt like truly acknowledging the end of this chapter for Perfume. It was a quiet, bittersweet moment—just me and thousands of other fans, all lingering in the same space, not quite ready to say goodbye. 😢
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| I managed to meet this lady who I coincidently saw her Tweet posting the photo of the Singapore fans greeting in 2012 and I replied back the Tweet that it's me in the photo. LOL |
In next day morning, Perfume's last concert is showing in the morning news.
It is still hard to believe that this is the end for now. With a few months left in 2025, I’m holding onto the hope of seeing them on shows like Kouhaku one last time before the clock strikes 2026. Once the new year begins, I know it will feel lonely (寂しいな～), but I fully support their decision to take this break. They have lived as "Perfume" since they were young girls, and they truly deserve this time to live for themselves and find new forms of happiness. I am so deeply grateful that I discovered them 15 years ago and have been a loyal fan ever since. No matter how long the "Cold Sleep" lasts, I will be right here, ready for their comeback. Perfume, 25年間本当にお疲れ様でした！そして、ず～っと！
Perfume大好き！！！
Set list:
- GAME
- 再生
- Cipher
- 再起動世界
- ネビュラロマンス
- MC
- エレクトロ・ワールド
- ソーラ・ウィンド
- Virtual Fantasy
- FUSION
- EPISODE 0
- Perfumeの掟(2010Ver. Update)
- Flow
- Teenage Dreams
- Human Factory
- Navigate
- Moon
- exit
- Remixed by YASUTAKA NAKATA
- ポリリズム
- Butterfly
- edge (オリジナル)
- チョコレイト・ディスコ (オリジナル)
- P.T.A.のコーナー
- Remixed by YASUTAKA NAKATA
- NIGHT FLIGHT
- MY COLOR
- MC
- 映像BGM：願い (Album-mix)
- 巡ループ
- GISHIKI
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