Perfume brought their 25th anniversary year to a symbolic pause at Tokyo Dome on September 22nd–23rd with Perfume ZO/Z5 Anniversary “Nebula Romance” Episode TOKYO DOME, their final shows before entering “cold sleep”, a hiatus announced the day before opening night.
The shows picked up from the planned February 26th, 2020 Tokyo Dome finale of their P Cubed tour, which COVID-19 forced to cancel just before doors opened. Perfume returned to settle unfinished business and opened with ‘GAME’, the song slated to start that show.
Photo by Yosuke Kamiyama
Tying together Perfume’s ‘Nebula Romance’ concept albums, a two-part cosmic drama, the Dome shows followed a retro-sci-fi arc that echoes Perfume’s own history. Video segments reintroduced ally-narrator Kikimo and revealed antagonist Kakimoto as the trio’s creator and father. After the moon’s bombardment wakes them, they descend to Earth, fight, vanish, and return “reborn”.
Built around ‘Nebula Romance: Part II’ (released August 18th), the production mixed cinematic interludes with large-scale effects. The main set split open during ‘Cipher’ to unveil new Part II costumes, ‘FUSION’ threw their silhouettes onto the Dome ceiling, and story cues like the Mr. MIC SHOW sting and Kikimo’s narration kept the retro-sci-fi arc in view. Extended runways and lifts pulled the trio across the arena, while a darker mid-section added red-laser staging, black-clad dancers and a club atmosphere in the 55,000-capacity venue.
Photo by Yoshihiro Mori
The setlist combined new material with milestones from across their career. Alongside ‘Nebula Romance Part II’ tracks such as ‘Saikidō Sekai’, ‘Teenage Dreams’, and the first live performance of ‘Human Factory – Denzo Ningen’, the shows folded in long-standing staples like ‘Polyrhythm’, ‘Butterfly’, ‘edge’, and ‘Chocolate Disco’.
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Throughout the night, the trio addressed the announcement and their history. “We’ve already decided we’ll come back, just with a little makeover, powered up, in our own renewed way”, A-chan told the crowd. Kashiyuka added, “I think many people’s hearts must feel unsettled. Ours too. But today, I want us to make the best live together, with not a single person left behind”. Nocchi said, “We’re lucky that none of us feel tired or like we want to be alone. That’s why we were able to make this choice. It feels like the future has suddenly opened up before us”.
“This announcement was our declaration to take on new challenges so we can always, always be together”, A-chan said. “We definitely want to return to this time again. Until that day, please stay well”.
Ahead of the finale, ‘Meguru-pu’ saw the trio emerge in the same white layered dresses from the track’s music video, tying the set directly to the conclusion of the Nebula Romance story. The show then closed with ‘GISHIKI’, reworked from their 2010 Dome opener into a countdown from 25 to 1. As the members disappeared beneath the stage, three glowing figures made up of floating spheres of light remained before the screen read, “SEE YOU AT THE NEXT STAGE”.
By reclaiming the Dome show lost in 2020 and distilling 25 years into two nights, Perfume affirmed why they remain one of J-pop’s most influential acts, leaving fans with a vivid celebration and a clear promise to return.
Perfume
Nebula Romance: Part 1
Release Date: 20/09/2024
Label: Universal Music
Stream: Spotify | Apple Music
CD: Regular
Perfume
Nebula Romance: Part 2
Release Date: 18/08/2025
Label: Universal Music
Stream: Spotify | Apple Music
CD: Regular | Limited DVD | Limited Blu-ray
