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TBS to air sold-out Tokyo Dome show
Japanese broadcaster TBS announced that it will exclusively televise the first night of BTS’ Tokyo Dome concerts on Nov. 28 at 8 p.m., marking the performance’s television premiere.
The program, titled “BTS World Tour ‘Arirang’ in Japan,” will air on TBS Channel 1. It captures the April 17, 2026, opening show of the group’s two-night engagement at the Tokyo Dome. Both concerts sold out in advance, drawing a combined audience of 110,000.
The shows marked BTS’ first appearance at the stadium in seven years and five months, following the group’s “Love Yourself” Japan tour in November 2018. TBS also plans to broadcast 28 BTS-related programs — including concerts, variety shows and films — throughout November under the banner “BTS Special: Precious New Chapter.”
Japanese fans join BTS in singing “Arirang”
A centerpiece of the broadcast is expected to be “Body to Body,” a song from BTS’ fifth full-length album, “Arirang.” The track blends contemporary production with the melody of “Arirang,” Korea’s best-known traditional folk song, which is associated with separation, sorrow and perseverance.
During the Tokyo concert, fans sang the Korean folk refrain with the seven members. TBS described the moment as striking and said music had connected the crowd as one. Japanese outlets also highlighted the singalong, with SPUR calling the scene overwhelming and Real Sound linking the folk song’s emotional themes to the album’s broader meaning.
The moment has been repeated across the tour. Mexican outlet Infobae named the “Arirang” singalong among the 10 most memorable moments of BTS’ May concert there, describing thousands of voices coming together across a language barrier. Rolling Stone Germany reported that about 70,000 people joined in during a July show in Munich, while France’s Le Monde wrote that language was no obstacle as the audience sang along to the group’s Korean-language songs.
A full-group return with Korean roots
BTS released “Arirang” worldwide on March 20, 2026. It was the group’s first full-length album featuring all seven members in three years and nine months, following “Proof.” The title reflects the members’ shared Korean identity; leader RM said their common bond is that all seven are Korean.
The members spent about two months at a songwriting camp in the United States and selected 14 tracks from 120 candidates. The album’s lead single is “Swim.” A day after the release, BTS staged its full-group comeback performance on a temporary stage in front of Gwanghwamun, a prominent historic gateway in central Seoul.
“Arirang” recorded 4.06 million preorders in its first week, surpassing the 3.42 million logged by “Map of the Soul: 7” over the same period. It also exceeded 2 million presaves within four days, prompting attention over whether it could approach Taylor Swift’s record of about 6 million.
A stadium tour spanning 23 countries
The “Arirang” world tour is BTS’ first full-group tour since the members completed South Korea’s mandatory military service. It began April 9, 2026, in Goyang, north of Seoul, and is scheduled to continue through March 16, 2027.
The itinerary includes at least 88 stadium concerts in 34 cities across 23 countries. After performances in Santiago, Chile, BTS is scheduled to continue the South American leg in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and São Paulo, Brazil.
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