RADWIMPS is celebrating their 20th anniversary in 2025 with more than just nostalgia; they will make a strong comeback to the music industry that demonstrates resiliency, development, and artistic renewal. The band is back stronger than ever after a difficult year filled with both personal and professional upheaval. They are reestablishing their connection to their roots while embarking on an exciting new chapter in their musical journey.
In addition to celebrating their 20th anniversary, RADWIMPS is making a powerful statement: they are still alive, well, and stronger than ever. Our favorite Japanese rock group is getting back in touch with their fans, playing live again, and coming up with new music with a new mission. RADWIMPS is making a strong comeback with the release of their new single, “Tamamono,” and confirmed appearances at important music festivals like Fuji Rock Festival and Wild Bunch Fest 2025.
Weathering the Storm
The past year has not been easy for RADWIMPS. In October 2024, longtime guitarist and founding member Akira Kuwahara officially left the band. His departure came as a shock to many fans, especially after nearly two decades of working alongside Yojiro Noda. Kuwahara’s guitar work had become a signature element of the band’s identity, and his exit inevitably left a creative and emotional void.
But rather than let the loss define them, RADWIMPS chose to face it head-on. They took time to reflect, regroup, and reevaluate what RADWIMPS truly means—not just to themselves, but to the millions of fans who have supported them since their early indie days.
As one of their fans, of course I had mixed feelings about Kuwa’s departure. I know that guitarist is a crucial position in a band. However, I recalled that he had previously taken a hiatus, and RADWIMPS managed to function effectively even without Kuwahara. With this release of “Tamamono,” I already know that RADWIMPS is fine.
The Comeback: A 20th Anniversary Celebration
To commemorate their 20th anniversary, RADWIMPS has launched a series of special projects. They began by unveiling a new band photo and launching a dedicated anniversary website. As part of their celebrations, the band is releasing five of their early albums on vinyl for the first time. These limited edition vinyl releases offer fans a chance to experience the band’s early works in a new format.
– Batsu To Maru To Tsumi To – May 7
– Zettaizetsumei – June 4
– Arutokoroni No Teiri – July 9
– RADWIMPS 4 -Okazu No Gohan – August 6
– RADWIMPS 3 -Mujintou ni Motteikiwasureta Ichimai – September 3
The Stage Beckons: Fuji Rock and Wild Bunch Fest 2025
While “Tamamono” offers a tender glimpse into the band’s rebirth, RADWIMPS is also gearing up for a thrilling return to the live stage. In July, they will perform at the iconic Fuji Rock Festival 2025, held at Naeba Ski Resort. Scheduled for July 27, their set is expected to blend old favorites with newer material like “Tamamono,” offering a full-circle moment for fans who’ve followed them since their early days.
Shortly after, they’ll appear at Wild Bunch Fest 2025, another highlight of Japan’s summer music scene. These performances will mark their most high-profile shows since the start of their anniversary year and fans are already buzzing with anticipation.
The festival slots also signal another potential highlight: the long-awaited live return of Satoshi Yamaguchi. Though not yet officially confirmed, there are strong hints that he may join the band for select performances, making the celebration all the more meaningful.
Oh, I wish I could attend Fuji Rock and Wild Bunch Fest too. But, can you tell us when the 20th anniversary concert will be held? As overseas fans, we want to come too and prepare well in advance. As we may know, if we buy plane tickets well in advance, it will be cheaper. We really want to come, so if you want to make an announcement, we hope it won’t be too sudden.
RADWIMPS Reflects on “Tamamono,” Changes, and Their 20th Anniversary in Billboard Japan Interview
In a recent depth interview with Billboard Japan, RADWIMPS opened up about the journey behind their single “Tamamono,” their transformation as a band, and what their 20th anniversary means to them. It was a rare and heartfelt conversation in which the remaining members, Yojiro Noda and Yusuke Takeda, reflected on both the challenges and the beauty of continuing their creative path after a year of significant transitions.
“Tamamono” is also RADWIMPS’ first major release as a duo member band following the official departure of Kuwahara. That shift, though difficult, marked a turning point in their creative identity.
“Tamamono”: A Song Born from Reflection and Renewal
The centerpiece of the conversation was “Tamamono,” a song that carries a deep emotional resonance for both the band and their fans. Commissioned as the theme for NHK’s 2025 morning drama “Anpan”, the song is inspired by the lives and love of Takashi and Nobuyo Yanase—the creators of “Anpanman”. But for RADWIMPS, the song took on an even more personal meaning.
Yojiro described the process of writing “Tamamono” as one of introspection and emotional honesty. “The song is about the small but irreplaceable gifts we receive in life—people, memories, and moments that shape us,” he said. The word “Tamamono” can mean “a blessing” or “a precious gift,” and that theme guided the tone of the song from the beginning.
Yojiro explained that the project gave him the opportunity to think deeply not just about the characters of the drama, but also about his own sense of gratitude for the past 20 years; for the fans who have stayed by their side, and for the relationships within the band itself. The lyrics emerged as a tribute to both personal and collective endurance.
In the interview, Yusuke Takeda shared how the absence of Kuwahara changed their dynamic, but not necessarily in a limiting way. “We were worried at first, of course,” Yusuke admitted. “But it also gave us room to explore. There’s a kind of intimacy now in our sessions. We’re able to be more honest and rawer.”
Yojiro echoed the statement, adding that they deliberately chose to keep the arrangement of “Tamamono” simpler. With fewer instrumental layers and a focus on lyrical clarity, they hoped to let the emotional weight of the song come through. “In a way, it’s a return to our roots,” Yojiro said. “When we first started, it was always about the feeling before the form.”
The interview also touched on RADWIMPS’ 20th anniversary since their major debut. As I mentioned before, the band launched a special website in early 2025 to mark the milestone, along with a vinyl reissue campaign featuring five of their early albums. But Yojiro and Yusuke made it clear that the anniversary is not about nostalgia, it’s about evolution.
“When I think about 20 years, it doesn’t feel like a completed chapter,” Yojiro said. “It feels like an ongoing story. And there’s still a lot we want to say.”
They also noted that the band’s hardships over the last year, whether personal, internal, or professional, have deepened their creative voice. “It’s not just about survival,” Yusuke added. “It’s about making something meaningful with what we’ve learned.”
Ultimately, “Tamamono” is more than just a theme song for a drama—it’s RADWIMPS’ message to the world. A reminder that, even in the face of change, uncertainty, and loss, there are gifts waiting to be recognized. Small and quiet blessings that carry us forward.
As RADWIMPS steps into their third decade as a band, their message is clear: they’re not done yet. Not even close, “Music has always been that gift for us,” Yojiro said in closing. “And now, we just want to give it back.”
“It’s been almost a year of looking purely at why I make music, and facing the instruments, the words, the notes. While I’m immersed, I’ve been playing music for more than 30 years, but I still have first discoveries and encounters like, “There’s such a chord moving” or “Is it possible to accumulate this sound” and I’ve relied on them to find the direction this song should head. The further you push, the less you get right. What a joyful and painful journey in music. That’s what I thought,” Yojiro said on his Instagram post.
We can tell how much soul they have tapped into and how freely they have used their musical creativity just by listening to the song. The characteristic of RADWIMPS is blended throughout a sophisticated and multi-layered sound production, creating a song with a timeless quality. With a brand-new rock sound that no one has ever used before, an amazing song has been created. The song even tells the tale of how it became so successful. The fact that this song will be the theme music for the morning drama every morning at 8 a.m., Monday through Saturday, is noteworthy and energizing.
How I Became A Fan of RADWIMPS
I’ve loved music and playing guitar, and I’ve loved to watch MTV after school since I was a kid. I did a pop punk band when I was in junior high school and an HC/punk band when I was in high school until the middle of my college era. I’ve got a lot of friends from the HC/Punk scene too. But honestly, I have never been a die-hard fan of any other artist or musician before.
Since I did some bands, I used to listen to Indie music, my friend’s songs, pop punk, and HC/punk music, but I rarely listened to Japanese music. Maybe I was just loved listening to HI-STANDARD and Ghibli songs. Suddenly, from nowhere, I found out about RADWIMPS through my Twitter timeline circa 2019; someone uploaded the ending of Kimi No Nawa, and Nandemonaiya came up. I was searching on YouTube and found your Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra video. Since then, I fell in love with RADWIMPS and began to listen to other Japanese music too. RADWIMPS was like a door that opened mw up to Japanese music and musicians.
RADWIMPS has had a huge impact on my life in these past few years. Especially during the Covid period. From listening to RADWIMPS, I’ve made so many new friends who are fellow RADWIMPS fans. Not only Indonesian, but also Japanese, Philippines, Singaporean, Argentinian, and many more other countries. We, ID WIMPERS, even have a chat group since 2020 and now it has more than 350 members.
We are very grateful for each other because we both have friends who share the same hobby. When I was a teenager, I thought that women in their 25s or 30s were too old to do a hobby such as reading manga, watching anime, or even joining a fandom. I thought that women after marriage were just focusing on the family that she built together with her husband. But I was wrong. I still can do whatever I love in my 30s.
However, being an overseas fan is harder than we think. First, we can’t speak Japanese, so we have to translate songs, interviews, content, etc., one by one. Then, we have to wait for them to hold a world tour if we want to watch their concert in our country, or we have to fly to another country, which, of course, costs more. Lastly, we have difficulty if we want to buy CDs or other merchandise. Not to mention if the band doesn’t provide international shipping, we have to use a consignment service, which automatically makes the price much more expensive than the original price. Import tax in Indonesia is also too expensive. Like some time ago, when RADWIMPS collaborated with Converse, we tried to find the addresses of our Japanese friends to borrow theirs, but it turned out we failed too. Lol. We have to wait until the general sale, but also, we don’t know when? Sometimes I wonder, “Is it that hard to be a fan?“
Anyway, thank you for coming to Jakarta in 2023 and 2024. It was such a very precious moment in my life and in my fellow ID WIMPERS’ lives. We still talk about the concerts even until now. Our memories are still sticking in our heads. We often hanging out, watching DVDs together, and WIMPERING together. We miss you guys very much. I’m sorry that my friends and I are usually too noisy in comments or anywhere. Actually, we are that noisy in real life. Lol. I hope someday we can go to RADWIMPS’ concert in Japan. Maybe the 20th anniversary concert? And please come to Jakarta again someday.
UPDATE FOR RADWIMPS 20TH ANNIVERSARY LIVE CONCERT AND NEW ALBUM
PS: I edited this post days after RADWIMPS announces that they will hold a tour around Japan for their 20th Anniversary.
“RADWIMPS will hit the road starting October for arena tour in Japan, visiting 9 cities for the total of 17 shows! 3 shows in Yokohama Arena, including the actual major debut anniversary day, will welcome special guests; day 1 BUMP OF CHICKEN, day 2 Vaundy and day 3 YOASOBI.”
RADWIMPS really back stronger and stronger in their 20th anniversary! The announcement of this tour really surprised us, because it was placed at the end of the video when RADWIMPS released their latest MV, Tamamono live version, on their YouTube. We screamed, and our group chat was also very chaotic. In addition to the announcement of a special concert to celebrate their 20th anniversary, they also announced that they will be releasing a new album on October 8, 2025. That was so crazy. We couldn’t sleep for two nights, felt dizzy, and wanted to throw up. Lol. I don’t know; we couldn’t digest the good news at once, which was actually news that we had been waiting for a long time.
Some of us decided to buy the concert tickets through a lottery on Bokunchi’s account. It was very tricky because the concert in Yokohama would feature Bump of Chicken, Yoasobi, and Vaundy as special guest stars. I couldn’t imagine how fans of the four bands would join the lottery. However, with high confidence, we chose the concert in Yokohama because that was the only date we could go to Japan. Wish us luck, so our dream to attend RADWIMPS’s 20th Anniversary in Japan really do come true!
LIVE REPORT: RADWIMPS ASIAN TOUR 2023 IN JAKARTA
LIVE REPORT: RADWIMPS WORLD TOUR 2024 IN JAKARTA
Messages For RADWIMPS from ID WIMPERS
I asked my friends in the group to write notes and congratulations for the 20th anniversary of RADWIMPS, and there are the messages (some of them I’ve already translated to English).
“Happy 20th birthday, RADWIMPS! Two incredible decades, filled with music that has touched the hearts and inspired many. Thank you for coming with such profound and meaningful works. May there always be more songs that remind us of the true meaning of life, love, and dreams. May your music continue to live, grow, and touch the hearts of the next generations. 🎶💫” (Hadap)
“Happy 20th birthday Radwimps, thank you for the beautiful songs, thank you for making my day colorful by sparkling every day.” (Miki)
“Just say, happy 20th anniversary, don’t be afraid to go to Jakarta again for a concert even though the tickets are not sold out.” (Arman)
“When will you come to Indonesia again?” (Fikri)
“We want to see you guys again here” 🥳 (Anin)
“Always success for Radwimps on their 20th birthday, I always like Radwimps songs 🥰” (Laila)
“Happy 20th aaniversary and keep on succeeding until 1000 years. Come back to Jakarta and meet us with the sweetest smile” 😍😍 (Titi)
来年、またワールドツアーを行っていただいてください。(Irman)
“Happy birthday, RADWIMPS. May your music bring blessings!” (Lou)
“Thank you for all the music you’ve made, it’s really lucky to be born in the same era as you guys so I can continue to witness your development” (Irma)
“Happy Anniversary RADWIMPS, thank you for making one of the best concerts I’ve ever seen ✨️. Hopefully you can always provide warm and magical works in the years to come 🫶” (Nia)
“Dear Radwimps, I wish you nothing but success, no matter how high you bounced or hit the bottom 🫶” (Agnez)
“Thank you Radwimps for being my running friend’s playlist until the finish line. Keep up the spirit to always create 🔥🔥 In every step I run, I Love you.” (Fiany)
“To the 20-year-old RADWIMPS, your 20th might be challenging, but trust me, in the years ahead, you’ll look back with joy and gratitude for the adventures and experiences that shaped you and us, WIMPERS. 20th annive concert after October, ok? Ps: I didn’t win the lottery for the shoes, so you better sell it as general sale!! ” (Arianti)
Last but not least, from me to Yojiro, thanks for making magical music for almost two decades. I know how much you love music and put all of your efforts on it. But, please get some rest, enough sleep, and eat well. I always wondering, what time does Yojiro sleep? It seems like you wake up a lot. Take care of yourself!
For Yusuke, thank you for still making music while being a father and take care of your family. I know it’s not easy, but you did very well.
For Satoshi, I know what you’ve been through. Watching you comeback to be able to play drum again makes me burst on tears. I can’t wait to see you come back to the stage again. Pixel by pixel, little by little, you can do it!
Good luck for your journey. Happy 20th anniversary and thank you for coming back stronger. Love yaa!!
PS: Can I interview RADWIMPS someday for my blog?
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