EXILE, the iconic Japanese music powerhouse, made history with their first-ever solo live performance overseas at the TAIPEI MUSIC CENTER. The group's leaders, including AKIRA, TAKAHIRO, Tachibana Kenchi, TETSUYA, NESMITH, and SHOKICHI, graced the stage in representation of the group, marking a significant expansion into a new territory two decades after their formation.
Amid unseasonably warm temperatures approaching 30 degrees Celsius in Taipei, EXILE ignited a fervor among the 5,000 attendees. AKIRA, displaying his fluency in Taiwanese, expressed his joy, saying, "I've finally seen you all in Taiwan, and I'm thrilled to finally meet you all in Taiwan." Despite being on foreign soil, they delivered a performance as passionate as any in Japan.
The live event encountered a minor hiccup during the third song, "VICTORY," where a sound problem brought the music to a halt. TAKAHIRO, undeterred, rallied the crowd, stating, "You never thought the song would stop. Something that has never happened before will remain in your memory." The group went on to successfully perform 23 songs, including the popular "Choo Choo Train," well-received in Taiwan.
This momentous occasion marked the realization of a dream for EXILE, and AKIRA shared his sentiments, saying, "I thought EXILE would be the first group in Taiwan. The six members strongly carry on the EXILE-ism that HIRO-san established. It makes sense for us to explore and penetrate Asia with these members."
In a surprising revelation, this was AKIRA's first solo live performance overseas. Reflecting on his decision to actively pursue international ventures, he explained, "Until now, I had pride in having overseas fans come to Japan, and in a good sense, doing live shows in Japan. However, I have been doing this for over 20 years, and from now on, I want to actively go overseas and give back."
AKIRA's marriage to popular Taiwanese actress Lin Chi-ling in 2019 contributed to EXILE's growing popularity in Taiwan. Since then, the group has made significant appearances at various Taiwanese events, including the prestigious "Super Giant Kohaku Arts Awards" and Taipei's major music festival, "SUPER SLIPPA."
In November, AKIRA assumed the role of the representative director of LDH's Taiwan base, "LDH Aimeng Yue," paving the way for this groundbreaking live performance. The warm welcome at Taipei airport and the enthusiastic reception at the press conference underscored EXILE's growing connection with the Taiwanese audience.
Looking forward, AKIRA expressed his aspirations, "I want to bring many EXILE TRIBE groups to Taiwan and hold fan meetings. I want to spread the name of LDH from Taiwan to the world," hinting at a promising future of cross-cultural musical collaboration.
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