HYDE achieves a new expression of 'stillness' after a quarter-century, opening an orchestra tour that will run from Koriyama to Vienna
The opening day of HYDE's orchestra tour, "HYDE Orchestra Tour 2026 JEKYLL," was held yesterday, January 17, at Kenshin Koriyama Bunka Center (Koriyama Civic Cultural Center) in Fukushima.
What is "HYDE Orchestra Tour 2026 JEKYLL"?
"HYDE Orchestra Tour 2026 JEKYLL" is a tour supporting his new album "JEKYLL," scheduled for release this spring. The tour expresses a worldview of "stillness," inheriting the lineage of his first album "ROENTGEN," released in 2002. In addition to 15 domestic performances, it will include a special performance at the Wiener Konzerthaus in Vienna, Austria, in May. HYDE has frequently held large-scale orchestra concerts since 2017, but this marks his first in a tour format in about five years. This article reports on the opening night of this long-awaited orchestra tour. Please note that this article contains spoilers regarding some song titles and stage production, so those planning to attend should be aware.
Into the world of "JEKYLL" with a sweet singing voice
Based on the concept of "allowing the audience to thoroughly enjoy HYDE's singing along with the performance of skilled musicians," his orchestra concerts are always held in a fully seated style. In a calm atmosphere different from that of a live house, the hall was enveloped in darkness as if the curtain of night was falling. As the gauze curtain that covered the stage smoothly rose, the audience was greeted by the sight of HYDE seated on a stately chair adorned with wings, accompanied by a 22-member orchestra featuring a string double quartet, a wind section, and a chorus. The moment HYDE casually stood up, brought the microphone to his lips, and softly uttered a sweet note, everyone in the audience was drawn into a dreamlike state.
As HYDE had previously announced, the concert was centered around songs from his upcoming album "JEKYLL," interspersed with self-covers and other pieces. While his first album "ROENTGEN" was primarily composed of introspective and serene songs, the tracks from "JEKYLL," created a quarter-century later, are remarkably diverse, ranging from classical elegies featuring prominent strings and stylish songs with a chanson-like approach to seductive numbers with a jazzy atmosphere. In his self-cover of "SSS (Sending Secret Signals)," a song he provided to TOMORROW X TOGETHER, HYDE delivered a sweet, whispering voice, while in "DEFEAT" and "THE ABYSS," he unleashed intense, shout-filled vocals reminiscent of his "active" side.
Furthermore, during "SO DREAMY," which HYDE introduced by saying, "This is a cute song. I wrote it with the feeling of being a restaurant owner," he captivated the audience with his embracing and charming singing voice. Supported powerfully by the orchestra's rich ensemble and the chorus's supportive harmonies, HYDE used nuanced vocal expressions to evoke different scenes and emotions in the minds and hearts of the audience with each song.
Considering the nature of the performance and the scale of the venue, direct visual elements like videos and special effects were mostly omitted. However, the lighting, which used a rich palette of colors that changed at perfect moments, enhanced HYDE's appeal. In addition to the songs and arrangements, the two contrasting types of outfits and the meticulously detailed production contributed to the quality of the entertainment show. HYDE's desire to "deliver 100% of the song with a beautiful voice and beautiful performance" was evident throughout.
Eating a cream box and talking about Toshiyuki Nishida
While delivering a breathtakingly precise performance, HYDE's MC segments remained relaxed throughout. He began munching on Koriyama's local specialty, a cream box pastry, on stage and joked that his outfit was inspired by the famous Koriyama-born actor Toshiyuki Nishida. He also promoted one of Nishida's films, exclaiming, "The movie 'Suteki na Kanashibari' is the best!" engaging in talk unique to a regional show. At one point, he mentioned the unusually high demand for tickets for his January 29 birthday performance at Tokyo Garden Theater and asked the audience, "Do you love me that much?" Hearing the warm, love-filled applause, he broke into a smile, creating a heartwarming atmosphere for everyone in the venue.
"From now, with these members, I will tour Japan and then go all the way to Vienna." When HYDE announced this at the end, thunderous applause and enthusiastic cheers echoed through the hall, and the first day of the "HYDE Orchestra Tour 2026 JEKYLL" came to a successful close.
"HYDE Orchestra Tour 2026 JEKYLL" will continue at halls across Japan before concluding with a performance at the Wiener Konzerthaus in Vienna, Austria, on May 25. The January 29 performance at Tokyo Garden Theater will be broadcast live in movie theaters across Japan and streamed worldwide.
Performance Information
HYDE Orchestra Tour 2026 JEKYLL (※Past dates omitted)
Tuesday, January 20, 2026 - Osaka - Festival Hall
Wednesday, January 21, 2026 - Osaka - Festival Hall
Friday, January 23, 2026 - Hokkaido - Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru
Sunday, January 25, 2026 - Saitama - Omiya Sonic City Large Hall
Thursday, January 29, 2026 - Tokyo - Tokyo Garden Theater
Sunday, March 1, 2026 - Kagawa - Rexxam Hall (Kagawa Prefectural Hall)
Friday, March 13, 2026 - Hiroshima - Hiroshima Ueno Gakuen Hall
Saturday, March 14, 2026 - Yamaguchi - Yamaguchi KDDI Ishin Hall
Saturday, March 21, 2026 - Aichi - Aichi Prefectural Art Theater Large Hall
Sunday, March 22, 2026 - Aichi - Aichi Prefectural Art Theater Large Hall
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 - Fukuoka - Fukuoka Sunpalace
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 - Kanagawa - Pia Arena MM
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 - Kanagawa - Pia Arena MM
Monday, May 25, 2026 - Austria - Wiener Konzerthaus Great Hall
Source: Music Natalie
*This content has been translated from Japanese into English using machine translation. We apologize for any mistakes in the current version, and will update accordingly.