On September 21, 2025, Perfume posted an important message to their fan club, P.T.A., announcing that the group will enter "Cold Sleep" starting in 2026. Now, with less than a week left before they cease all activities, I want to take this opportunity to look back on my journey as a Perfume fan.
I grew up in a small city in Northern Malaysia. At the time, my first exposure to Japanese culture came through watching anime and reading manga like Dragon Ball. Once in a while, I would catch J-Dramas on TV; during the 90s, Malaysian channels even broadcasted shows like GTO (starring Sorimachi) and Shomuni. Because of this, I have been interested in Japanese culture since I was a kid, dreaming that one day I could visit Japan and learn to speak like a native. However, I didn’t have much exposure to J-Pop until I eventually moved to Singapore.
In 2010, I moved to Singapore to pursue a degree at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). During my first year, I joined the Japanese Appreciation Club (JAC) to immerse myself in the culture and meet friends with similar interests. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and a major turning point in my life. I made many friends there, some of whom I am still close with today. It is also thanks to them that I was first introduced to Perfume.
Sometime between 2010 and 2011, two senpais shared a YouTube video with me: Perfume’s "Voice." I remember them trying to show me how fun the music video was, especially the way the girls played around with the props. That was the first time I realized there was a girl group in Japan called Perfume. At first, I simply found the song interesting; it was the first time I had ever heard that specific genre - Techno Pop. I started searching for more of their videos on YouTube, and that’s when "Nee" and "Laser Beam" hit me hard. I became obsessed with their music and choreography, playing their songs on repeat. Gradually, I wanted to learn more about the three members—A~chan, Nocchi, and Kashiyuka. I began looking for clips of them on variety shows to see what their personalities were like. It was then that I knew I had officially become a fan.
Fast forward to 2012. That year was a major breakthrough for Perfume because it was the year of their very first overseas tour! Their "World Tour 1st" was held mainly in Asia, and Singapore was the final stop. I remember being so excited when I heard the news; I kept spamming my senpais about it because that was going to be the first concert of my life! ^^In addition to the concert, they held a fan meeting in every country to get to know their overseas fans. It was a balloting system, and buying a Perfume album gave you a chance to enter. At the time, I didn't think too much of it; I purely bought the album to support them. Then, a few weeks before the concert, I received a call congratulating me—I had been picked to attend the fan meeting! OMG! I was one of only 9 lucky fans chosen to meet Perfume. I felt so blessed just to be able to see them perform from close to the stage, but now I was going to meet them in person! What was even better was that all three members came to talk to us one-by-one, shaking our hands as they spoke. They really tried to connect with us. Best of all, this meetup was recorded and broadcast on a Japanese TV channel as part of a Perfume documentary. In that footage, it shows my conversation with Nocchi!!! Argh!!! How lucky can I be?! LOL. I am so grateful for that video because I can always look back at my interaction with her. It is my takara mono (treasure). Hehe.
Blog Post: Perfume World Tour 1st! My FIRST eva concert experience!!
Throughout my university life, I was so glad to be able to share my love for Perfume with other club members. During an event in my final year, I even formed a trio with two friends to perform Perfume songs! It was such a memorable experience to bring their unique choreography to life on stage.
2014 was a big year for me—it was the year I graduated and also the year Perfume launched their overseas fan club, World P.T.A. I joined the moment the news was announced. That same year, Perfume held their 5th Tour, 「ぐるんぐるん」 (Gurungun), in Japan. Since one of the fan club benefits was early ticket balloting, I applied and won! It was my first-ever concert in Japan. Because I had just started working, I had to fly to Japan over the weekend for the concert and rush back to work on Monday. 😅 I went with that same senpai from my university days. A major highlight was during the MC session when the girls asked if anyone was from outside of Tokyo. My senpai shouted at the top of her lungs, "SINGAPORE~!!!!" All three of them were shocked by her loud voice and asked us to confirm where we were from. For a brief moment, we actually had a conversation with Perfume during their concert! It was such an unforgettable moment. Later that year, Perfume embarked on their 3rd World Tour, and Singapore was once again a stop. I went early to queue for merchandise, and somehow, I ended up being featured in the official P.T.A. blog! LOL.
Blog Post: My First Live Concert in Japan! ~ Perfume 5th Tour 2014「ぐるんぐるん」
Blog Post: Perfume World Tour 3rd @ Singapore !!!
My 2015 trip to Japan could truly be called a "Perfume Trip." That year marked their 10th anniversary since their major debut, and they celebrated with a series of events: a documentary movie premiere, a dance contest, and a concert! My main focus was attending these events and visiting their hometown—Hiroshima. During that same trip, I visited Onomichi (尾道) to find all the photo spots showcased in their Hiroshima guidebook. I still remember clearly having a long talk with the owner of the Okonomiyaki shop (the person featured on the front page). I was the only customer at the time, so I could slowly admire the shop and chat with her. Back then in 2015, she mentioned that she had actually wanted to retire before Perfume even visited her shop, but she decided to keep working for the sake of the fans. I am amazed that now, 10 years later, she is still working hard! Her shop has become a "sacred place" (seichi) for Perfume fans. I truly hope I can visit her again soon.
Blog Post: Perfume Anniversary 10days 2015 PPPPPPPPPP LIVE 3:5:6:9
Blog Post: 「泣ける！広島県＼(T▽T)／」 - Perfume photo spot! Part 1
In 2016, Perfume held their 6th Tour, "Cosmic Explorer." Once again, I managed to get a ticket—this time for the concert in Fukui (福井). I had never heard of this prefecture before, so I took the opportunity to explore the Hokuriku area, including Kanazawa. It was my first time attending a concert alone, but I still enjoyed it immensely; everyone around me was jumping and shouting along with the music! LOL.
Blog Post: Perfume 6th Tour [COSMIC EXPLORER]
2017 and 2018 were relatively quiet years for me as I didn't attend any Perfume concerts. I can't quite remember why—most likely, I just couldn't secure any tickets. It wasn't until 2019 that I managed to get tickets for their 4th World Tour. Since Singapore wasn't part of the tour this time, I decided to go to Taiwan. I invited my friends along, and they agreed to join me. We made a short weekend trip out of it, enjoying the sights of Taiwan alongside the concert.
Blog Post: Perfume World Tour 4th Future Pop in TAIWAN
Then came 2020. That year brought the infamous announcement where the concert was cancelled just a few hours before it was set to begin. It was their 8th Tour, "P Cubed in Dome," and I had managed to get tickets for the final show in Tokyo. I reached Tokyo early on the morning of the concert, excited to be back in Japan to see them. However, the COVID-19 outbreak had just begun to escalate. That same day, the Japanese government announced that all major events had to stop with immediate effect. As a result, the concert was cancelled with only a few hours to spare. I was devastated; I had just spent seven hours flying from Singapore specifically to see the three ladies again, only to have it cancelled at the very last moment. T.T
Blog Post: Perfume 8th Tour 2020 - P Cubed in Dome
After that, the world seemed to stop moving for two years. Everyone was confined to their own homes, and overseas travel became impossible. We felt trapped. Luckily, Perfume still found ways to connect with their fans during that difficult period. Every once in a while, they would host a Zoom call or an Instagram Live. Seeing the three of them interact with each other really warmed my heart and kept my spirits up.
It wasn’t until 2024, when they announced their 5th World Tour, that I thought: Finally, I can see them again! This time, I chose to go to Bangkok for the final stop of the tour. It was a special trip for me because it was the first time I created a vlog to document my journey to a concert. That same year, I also entered the ballot for their 10th Tour, "Nebula Romance Episode 1." I was incredibly lucky and managed to secure tickets for both days in Tokyo!
Blog Post: Perfume "COD3 OF P3RFUM3 ZOZ5" Asia Tour 2024 in Bangkok
In early 2025, I was thrilled to finally see them perform in Japan again! Even though I was traveling solo once more, I enjoyed every second of the concert. The passion I felt from the fans was just as intense as it had been years ago. Only a few weeks after that show, they announced a new concert—this time at Tokyo Dome! At first, I hesitated. I wondered if I should really go again so soon after my last trip to Tokyo. However, I thought back to the Tokyo Dome concert I missed five years ago during the pandemic, and I knew I couldn’t let this chance slip away again. I entered the ballot once more and, fortunately, I secured tickets for both days!
Blog Post: Perfume 10th Tour Z0Z5 - "Nebula Romance Episode 1" in Tokyo
While I was in Tokyo this past September, Perfume suddenly teased a "big announcement" for their anniversary. I had a sinking feeling that they might be announcing their disbandment. T.T It would have been an understandable decision; they are 37 years old now, and it must be incredibly tough to maintain such a high standard of performance. On September 21 at 12:30 AM, they posted an important message to the P.T.A. Luckily, it wasn’t a disbandment, but a period of rest. Starting in 2026, Perfume will enter a "Cold Sleep" state, ceasing all group activities. However, they assured us that they will be back and stronger than ever! This meant the Tokyo Dome concert would be their final show for the foreseeable future. Heng ah! I am so lucky I decided to ballot for those tickets. Getting to see them perform one last time before their hiatus was deeply emotional, and I am so grateful I was there.
Blog Post: Nebula Romance -Episode TOKYO DOME- Perfume Z0/Z5 Anniversary
 |
| This photo was taken in 2016 |
No comments:
Post a Comment