Japanese musicians celebrate major career milestones

The Japanese entertainment scene celebrated significant milestones for two musical acts. The idol group 4U announced their long-awaited CD debut during a 15th-anniversary concert at the Nippon Budokan on August 13. The group, whose members are all 39 years old, revealed the news of their scheduled debut on November 11, 2026, as a surprise during the performance.

Separately, blues-rock guitarist ichiro held a 35th-anniversary special live performance at Robin Club Omotesando in Tokyo on August 6, 2026. The event supported his mini-album ‘Burning Souls’ and featured a large band including a horn section. The concert included performances of classic tracks and new material, alongside a guest appearance by young guitarist Ray.