By kathy garcia | july 28, 2025
Last Friday, July 25, the Hammerstein Ballroom at Manhattan Center transformed into a dazzling J‑pop dreamland as Travis Japan returned to New York City for their VIIsual World Tour. The iconic venue buzzed with anticipation from the moment doors opened, VIP fans lining up early, waving tiger shaped penlights and handmade posters, ready to sing and dance all night.
NYC fans were treated to vibrant opening acts by elite World of Dance competitors, seamlessly setting the tone with powerful choreography before Travis Japan took the stage. They really set the tone for the night. Opening acts were: Luka & Jenalyn, Brickhouse NYC, and The Hott boyz.
When the seven members: Chaka, Umi, Shime, Noel, Shizu, Genta, and Machu emerged, the energy soared. They launched into fan‑favorite tracks like “99 Percent” and “Love Tag” with razor‑sharp precision, followed by “Crazy Crazy,” whose choreography and catchy beat had the entire room on their feet.
The production was equally impressive: the “VIIsual Road,” a runway of embedded LEDs running through the crowd, pulsed with vibrant cityscapes and animations, turning the stage into a fully immersive experience.
Fan favorites like “RUSH” and “BO$$Y” closed the main set with bursts of fire along the runway and synchronized penlight choreography. The encore, rotated specially for the New York show, left the sold out crowd roaring.
From start to finish, Travis Japan lit up the night with their glowing stage presence, playful energy, and those sweet, shout-it-from-the-heart chants of “Do you love Travis Japan? We love you too!” It wasn’t just a concert, it felt like a giant love fest between the group and their fans. You could feel the connection growing stronger with every smile, wave, and moment of eye contact.
The show itself was for the senses, visually stunning, full of emotional highs, and packed with surprises that kept everyone cheering. Whether it was the perfectly synchronized dance moves, or the unexpected special moments, it all came together to create something really special for NYC.
In the end, the whole night captured what Travis Japan is all about: mixing the heart and soul of J-pop with a global, show-stopping dance moves and making sure every single fan feels like they’re part of the journey. I am excited to see what is in store for Travis Japan.
Kathy Garcia is a freelance photojournalist for Majestic Music Magazine. See more of her work here.
