'Horizon'—Popular Japanese band back number confirms first Korea concert in September

Japanese J-pop “King of Love Songs” “back number” has confirmed its “Korea concert” for the very first time since its formation. As part of an Asia tour following a stadium tour with an audience of 500,000, it’s a historic stage that has captured the attention of global music fans.

Organizing company MPMG announced on the 14th that back number will hold its first Korea concert at KINTEX Hall 9 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on September 12 and 13.

“King of Love Songs” back number, driving the J-pop boom with countless hit songs

Formed in 2004 and officially debuting in 2011, back number is a three-member band made up of Iyori Shimizu (vocals/guitar), Kazuya Kojima (bass), and Hisashi Kurihara (drums). With lyrics and heartfelt melodies that allow the public to strongly relate—stories of love and goodbyes, youth and everyday life—the group is called the “King of Love Songs” not only in Japan, but also in South Korea, building a solid fan base in both markets.

In particular, it has produced many hit tracks, including “Horizon (水平線),” “Happy End (ハッピーエンド),” and “Christmas Song (クリスマスソング)”, showcasing an overwhelming streaming power, with more than 30 songs surpassing 100 million streams. Among them, “Horizon,” created based on the stories of high school students wounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, held the No. 1 spot for 9 weeks in a row on major Japanese streaming charts, firmly establishing itself as the band’s signature song.

First Seoul show made possible as part of an Asia tour

Starting next month, back number will kick off its own largest-ever tour, “Grateful Yesterdays Tour 2026”, drawing in more than 500,000 spectators at stadiums across five cities in Japan. This first Korea concert was arranged as part of the Asia tour planned as an extension of that tour.

MPMG said, “At this first Korea concert, back number plans to deliver to local fans not only performances of its representative songs that have received popular love, but also live performances that have evolved even further through many years of building.”