BTS’ ‘ARIRANG’ Singalong to Move Japanese Viewers: TBS to Air Exclusive Concert on the 28th

A stage steeped in Korean identity shakes Japan

The Japan leg of global supergroup BTS’ ARIRANG world tour, which wrapped up to great acclaim at Tokyo Dome this past April, is coming to Japanese television. Japan’s major broadcaster TBS officially announced on the 17th that it will air BTS WORLD TOUR ‘ARIRANG’ IN JAPAN, featuring footage from the group’s Tokyo Dome concert, exclusively on its Channel 1 at 8 p.m. on the 28th of next month. The broadcast will be the concert’s first on television.

The program will capture the excitement of the first night of the Japan concerts, held on April 17. To mark the exclusive broadcast, TBS has designated all of November as a special programming period, showcasing 28 programs related to BTS, including concerts, variety shows and documentary films that highlight the group’s many facets. The unusual programming lineup underscores BTS’ overwhelming standing and influence in Japan.

A cross-border singalong: a message of unity proven through music

The highlight of the Tokyo Dome concert was undoubtedly the audience’s singalong to the folk song “Arirang” during “Body to Body,” a track from the group’s fifth album. Tens of thousands of local fans joined in singing the traditional Korean melody, creating a stirring spectacle. “Arirang” also echoed through stadiums around the world where the tour stopped, not just in Japan, establishing itself as a symbol of cultural exchange that transcends borders and languages.

A TBS representative praised the performance, saying, “The innate power of music firmly connected the hearts of people from different cultures,” building anticipation for the broadcast. Meanwhile, BTS is continuing its South American tour successfully, with stops in Santiago, Chile; Buenos Aires, Argentina; and São Paulo, Brazil, further cementing its status as a global pop icon.