In less than a week, veteran J-rock band RADWIMPS are finally set to hold the Manila stop of their ‘The way you yawn, and the outcry of Peace’ tour.

Happening next week, Wednesday, on May 1 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the show has been something heavily anticipated by the dedicated Filipino fans of the Japanese group. For those unfamiliar with the band, you may be wondering “Why, exactly?” For the fans, both old and new, you already know why and it’s definitely a reason to celebrate this long-awaited concert on our shores.

In the spirit of celebrating the arrival of RADWIMPS to Manila next week, Billboard Philippines decided to compile a list of reasons why you should be excited for this long-awaited show by one of the most iconic Japanese rock bands to ever grace the earth in the last two decades.

It will be the band’s first concert in the Philippines

RADWIMPS TOAKA 2

Courtesy of @toaka_desu, photographed by Takeshi Yao.

While the band has seen a long-standing career of two decades as a band and 13 albums and counting, it is only this year that RADWIMPS is finally set to grace to stage of Manila. Long-awaited is definitely the right term and the concert will definitely be one magical, memory-making night to remember with the beloved Japanese rock outfit.

The band will definitely perform songs from your favorite Makoto Shinkai movies and more.

It doesn’t matter if you became a fan through the Makoto Shinkai films or by simply coming across their music on your favorite streaming platforms. Every single fan in attendance next Wednesday is sure to be in for a treat as RADWIMPS is sure to have carefully curated a setlist of songs from their 20-year long career, including many undeniable fan favorites from Your Name, Weathering With You, and Suzume.

The concert is completely sold-out

Courtesy of @RADWIMPS, photographed by Takeshi Yao.

Speaking of their songs, can you imagine singing it with thousands of others inside a packed-to-the-brim arena? Unreal, right?

But that will definitely be the case as RADWIMPS’ concert next week is completely sold-out so definitely expect to sing, shout, and cry your hearts out to their beloved hits alongside countless others whom their music has deeply resonated with over the years.

There will be a diverse offering of merchandise for fans to choose from

Japanese bands have always been known to have fun and unique collections of merch for sale whenever they go out on tour. For RADWIMPS’ Manila concert, it’s definitely no different.

From the staple offerings of band shirts to the more unique one of special hand towels, and even a beach towel, of all things, there’s definitely a good range of merchandise for fans the band to take home with them.

There will be a very special guest performer

Toaka: courtesy of @toaka_desu.

Definitely what makes the upcoming concert extra special is RADWIMPS’ special guest: Toaka.

An up-and-coming Japanese singer-songwriter, Toaka is the heavenly voice behind RADWIMPS’ most streamed track yet: “Suzume”, the first theme song of the aforementioned 2022 Makoto Shinkai-directed animé film of the same name. With this track having touched millions of listeners worldwide, Toaka’s addition to the concert is definitely one that will make it even more of a night to remember.

The band members themselves promised it would be a special and unique live experience

For any fan who will be in attendance next week, it is only right to expect how special of a show the concert will be.

In an interview with Billboard Philippines earlier this year, frontman Yojiro Noda himself said that it’s RADWIMPS’s style to “keep variables and be impromptu” during their shows. Bassist Yusuke Takeda even promised that the shows on their current world tour would be better than last year’s, saying, “Hope you look forward to it.”

Without a doubt, the band is also looking forward to the Manila concert for a long time, as Noda even expressed his anticipation, stating, “It’s our first time in the Philippines. I can’t even imagine what’s going to happen there but I have been waiting for this tour for so long.”

To get yourselves ready for RADWIMPS’ first Manila concert next week, listen to their live album BACK TO THE LIVE HOUSE TOUR 2023 (Live) below:

How about you? Why are you excited for RADWIMPS’ first Manila concert next week? Let us know!