“Hoping to be the artist who lit up the year” RIIZE, D-DAY for Tokyo Dome entry - 스포츠경향

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Group RIIZE will take the stage at Tokyo Dome for three days, from the 21st through the 23rd, for special-edition shows on their first world tour, ‘RIIZING LOUD’.

In particular, as this concert sets the record for ‘the fastest Tokyo Dome entry by a K-pop boy group’, it is drawing major attention, and the members shared their thoughts in their own words.

The following is a Q&A about RIIZE’s first Tokyo Dome concert.

Q. How do you feel about setting the record for the fastest Tokyo Dome entry by a K-pop boy group?

- Shotaro: I feel deeply grateful. It means there are people who support us and watch over us. Come to think of it, on a Japanese program I appeared on with NCT’s Yuta in 2022, he asked me what my goal was five years down the line, and I said I wanted to stand on the Tokyo Dome stage. I am thankful to the members who have always been by my side and given me so much strength to make that dream come true.

- Eunseok: I still cannot believe it. Back in my SM Rookies days, it was also where I had my first stage. It feels amazing that we will fill that place only with Briize (our official fan-club name). I am grateful to the members for staying healthy and doing so well, and I want to say let’s create another great stage this time too.

- Sungchan: Just being able to perform is great, and this carries an extra meaning, so I am happy. From the earlier fan-con tours when a dome venue felt so far away until now, I want to say thank you and well done to the members who leaned on and relied on one another and came all this way together.

- Wonbin: When we first started touring under the name RIIZE, my dream was to meet Briize in ever larger venues. I am glad we can achieve that dream once again this time. The ‘RIIZING LOUD’ tour that began last year is nearing its end, and I think I was able to keep going and do well because the members were there all along. Thank you!

- Sohee: I think the very fact that RIIZE has come to a big venue like Tokyo Dome is meaningful in itself. It is a stage we can stand on because we have shared the same dream and worked hard together. Members! You have all worked so hard, and let’s keep showing many good sides going forward.

- Anton: At first I could not believe it. Records are, after all, things someone can break someday. Still, I am proud of who we are right now. I hope we keep working hard so that the team called RIIZE climbs even higher. What I want to say to the members is… being RIIZE’s youngest is not easy (laughs), but thank you for taking good care of me in your own ways.

Q. What are some points to look forward to in this show?

- Shotaro: Although the stage scale is big, we will work so Briize can feel even closer to us. Please look forward to a new setlist as well. The members and company staff put their efforts into the show while discussing everything together. I hope it becomes a concert where Briize can go home happy.

- Eunseok: The ‘All of You’ stage. Since it was released not long ago, I hope it becomes widely known, and it is our first time performing it in such a large place. Also, there is a part of mine that Briize like as a killing point, and I am considering choreography variations for it.

- Sungchan: I am looking forward to the ‘All of You’ stage. As it is a new Japanese song after a while, I feel we need to present it well. We also prepared a cover song; it is famous, so most of you will know it. Many Briize will be coming from far away, and I want to make happy memories over the three days.

- Wonbin: There is a stage device we are using for the first time. The spoiler ends here… Among the stages, I am most excited for ‘Fame’. When I start the song, there are times I shout “Scream!”, and I am curious how loud Briize’s cheers will be.

- Sohee: First of all, I am looking forward to our Briize’s ‘Bag Bad Back’ mass singalong filling the venue. I am counting on you, Briize! And please look forward to the last section before the encore. I cannot tell you which song it is, but I predict the members will probably dance to the point of collapsing then, and Briize will be incredibly hyped.

- Anton: Expressed only in sound, you will encounter a ‘whoosh~’ moment. The stage I am excited for is ‘9 Days’, but the reason is still a secret (laughs). When we look back on RIIZE’s history ten years from now, we will make it a show with no regrets.

Q. Ahead of the concert, what did you say to each other to fire yourselves up? Who seems the most nervous?

- Shotaro: The day before yesterday and yesterday too, after practice we ate together and talked about doing well. Wonbin has a strong sense of responsibility and, by nature, attaches meaning to each and every stage, so I think he gets nervous. On the other hand, Eunseok seems less nervous than the other members. During rehearsal he somehow looked relaxed.

- Eunseok: Rather than particular words, I remember all the moments of practicing together in sync. We simply set the goal of making no mistakes and having fun on stage. And everyone seems to be exactly as nervous as needed, but if I had to choose one person, Shotaro. He said many friends are coming to watch. Unexpectedly, Sungchan looks like he is not nervous. As for me, when I mentally run through a stage simulation, my nerves disappear… I have already run one simulation.

- Sungchan: We tend to share feedback more than shout ‘fighting’ (laughs). Before the final rehearsal, I remember we all greeted everyone who helps make the concert and asked for their support over the three days. Since it is a concert in Japan, I think Shotaro is the most nervous. The member who might cry is also Shotaro! I have gained a lot of composure regarding the stage, and now I am slightly nervous because I want to do a bit better with my remarks.

- Wonbin: I think I am the most nervous… At the ‘2023 MAMA AWARDS’, when I first came to Tokyo Dome as RIIZE, I was so nervous I pricked my finger before going on stage. Compared to then, now I feel a good kind of tensionthe kind you need when performing. I am very exited. With the members, we have often said that as the tour nears its end, let’s work hard on the remaining shows too.

- Sohee: We are not a team that does ‘fighting’ with words. Every practice and every stage itself is RIIZE’s ‘fighting’. If anyone lacks something, we talk, fill it in, and try to fix it together. The member who is nervous is Shotaro. He pays great attention to detail, and even more so this time, right? Conversely, judging by how steady he always is, Eunseok does not seem to get very nervous. As for me, I do not try to shake off nerves; I try to carry an appropriate amount.

- Anton: Among ourselves, we sometimes playfully pick a member and make him do the ‘fighting’. Yesterday, before rehearsal started, Wonbin ended up in charge of the ‘fighting’. In that way, we feel the energy from our own little fun. Honestly, we are all similarly nervous. As we finished rehearsal, we all said it would not feel real until right before the show. I will probably be most nervous when I get on the lift to make my entrance… But being nervous means I want to show something well, so I think it is actually a good thing.

Q. RIIZE have been achieving goals as you speak themif you were to set the next goal?

- Shotaro: I want to see more Briize, more orange light, in even bigger venues. I also want to receive bigger awards with RIIZE’s music.

- Eunseok: Rather than aiming for a particular venue, I want us to become such a great group that everyone knows RIIZE and often listens to our songs. Regardless of venue size, we will work hard to be a RIIZE that keeps soaring anywhere.

- Sungchan: Someday, I want to be the artist who lit up the year. I hope our music and performances receive much love.

- Wonbin: In my view, RIIZE’s goal is to be a team that excels at performing. I said this when the ‘RIIZING LOUD’ tour started too, but I hope even members of the general public who are not Briize feel, ‘I want to see a RIIZE concert’. I think RIIZE has kept growing and has done well, but I want to do even better going forward. We will be a steady, unchanging team, so I hope you look forward to it. We will show you!

- Sohee: First of all, Briize, who brought us this farthank you so much! After the dome, the next goal would have to be a stadium, right? Recently we performed at SMTOWN LIVE in a stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, and I remember Anton saying then that he wanted to stand in a stadium.

- Anton: Like the question says, I hope we keep being known as ‘RIIZE who achieve what we say’. The goal I have talked about since debut is to perform at a stadium in New Jersey, USA, where I lived. A short-term goal is that in 2026, the music of RIIZE reaches more people’s hearts.