ADO WORLD TOUR 2025
【Hibana】
On June 29th, NIPPONGAKU attended Ado’s concert in Barcelona, one of the stops on her Hibana world tour. It marked the first time the mysterious Japanese singer had ever set foot in Spain—and she made it count, taking the stage at none other than the massive Palau Sant Jordi.
The 22-year-old artist first rose to fame back in 2017, at the age of just 15, by uploading Vocaloid covers to the Japanese video platform Nico Nico Douga. In 2020, she made her official debut under Universal Music Japan, and has since contributed to the soundtracks of globally renowned franchises like SPY×FAMILY and One Piece.
Excitement was in the air from early morning, as fans had already started lining up to secure their merchandise—knowing full well from previous tour stops that it would likely sell out in no time. The entry queues were just as long, and the sweltering Barcelona heat (which Ado herself would later comment on during the show) only added to the intensity of the wait.
Once inside, it was clear that Ado remained faithful to her signature style of performing without revealing her face. At the center of the stage stood the now-iconic dark cage known as the Ado Box, from where she would deliver her entire performance. Behind it loomed a giant screen that served as the primary visual support throughout the show. To ensure both safety and respect for the artist’s wishes, repeated announcements—both spoken and written—reminded the audience that filming was strictly prohibited, a rule familiar to anyone who’s attended concerts in Japan. Even the use of binoculars was banned. But Ado doesn’t need a visible image to shine—her voice alone is more than enough to capture hearts.
A large portion of the audience came prepared with official lightsticks, making it clear they weren’t just casual listeners. Some fans even dressed entirely in blue, Ado’s signature color, with a few donning full-on cosplay or even tokkōfuku embroidered with references to the singer.
The concert officially kicked off at 8:35 PM, just five minutes behind schedule. One by one, the musicians accompanying Ado took their places on stage, met with roaring applause. And then, she appeared—ushering us into two full hours of a one-of-a-kind world shared only by those present.
The first song was “Usseewa” her explosive debut single from 2020 that made waves for its provocative lyrics. Instantly, both the floor and the stands lit up in a sea of red from the lightsticks. Ado’s voice live was far more powerful than expected—raw, fierce, and laced with youthful rebellion.
The second song of the night was “Lucky Bruto.” The audience switched their lightsticks to a deep blue, Ado’s signature color. With it, she showcased her impressive vocal range, while fans cheered her on with all their energy. Next came “Gira Gira” also from her debut album, a track with a noticeably poppier tone compared to the previous ones.
“Gira Gira,” known for its deep message about self-perception and individuality, marked the moment for the first pause of the night. The crowd broke into rhythmic chants of “Ado, Ado, Ado!” before the artist herself chimed in with a short but clear “I’m Ado!” and jumped straight into the fourth song: “Show”.
For the fifth track, “Kura Kura” (the second opening theme for SPY×FAMILY), the cage enclosing Ado lit up in changing colors. The lightsticks turned pink, and the audience’s chorus echoed through the venue.
Then came the electrifying “Readymade” Stunning visuals of mannequins in boxes mirrored Ado’s own box, while the venue was once again bathed in red light. The set continued with “MIRROR” driven by a striking bass line; “Charles” a balloon cover; and the emotional “Elf”.
The next song was “Value” her 23rd single. Spotlights drifted over the arena floor and stands, simulating a school of fish swimming beneath the sea. The track began with a soft, delicate tone that gradually built into the powerful voice that defines Ado.
It was followed by “Stay Gold” the ending theme for Beyblade X, then “RuLe” and “Utakata Lullaby” used in One Piece Film Red.
Despite already being 13 songs into the setlist, Ado’s energy hadn’t dropped for a second. She proved it once again with the next piece—a haunting cover of Kikuo’s iconic “Aishite Aishite Aishite” The crowd roared with lightsticks raised high as Ado showcased her full vocal range, hitting piercing high notes that sent chills through the venue.
Then came the moment to introduce the band accompanying her on this tour: Takuma Kaneko on bass, Ryunosuke Morita on drums, Hajime Okada on keyboards, and Takafumi “CO-K” Koukei on guitar, who also served as band director. Each of them treated the audience to a short solo while their name appeared on the massive screen—though they had already more than proved their talent throughout the 14 songs that came before.
After a sudden blackout that left everything in darkness—except for the sea of red lights and the fireworks on stage—“Gyakkou” began to play, another song featured in the previously mentioned One Piece movie. It was followed by “Hibana” an original track by DECO*27 which, fittingly, also lends its name to this tour. At that moment, the lights shifted once more to blue, and the screen displayed the characters “ひばな” (Hibana), the Japanese word for “spark”—perfectly matching the fiery visuals that unfolded during the song.
Following “Episode X” Ado surprised us with a short interlude. She opened with a cheerful “Hola, buenas noches, soy Ado” in Spanish, before switching to English to share that this was her first time in Barcelona—and in Spain—and that although it was incredibly hot, she was thrilled to have eaten paella (which prompted the loudest applause of the night so far).
For the rest of her speech, she switched to Japanese, expressing her gratitude for having another chance to tour the world and reach even more people than the first time.
“Like a spark that becomes a flame, I want you all to be happy—even if the flames consume me. Your happiness is my happiness. Thank you—let’s meet again.”
What was introduced as the final song of the night came with Ado shouting:
“ARE YOU READY TO SING? TO DANCE? SHOW ME EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT!”
That song was “Odo” one of Ado’s most iconic and technically complex tracks, blending EDM, house, dubstep, trap, and R&B influences into a genre-defying anthem.
Right after it ended, the Ado Box turned completely blue, and the stage was engulfed in total silence and darkness. It was obvious what was coming next: an encore. The crowd began chanting her name, clapping, stomping, and shouting “¡OTRA!”—Spanish for “one more!” After a suspenseful five minutes, the opening of “Rockstar” echoed through the venue. This first encore song was a full-on rock session, driven by the power of its guitar lines. It was followed by what can now be considered a modern classic: Ado’s emotionally charged cover of “Chandelier” by Sia.
Before the very last song of the night, Ado spoke to us one final time. Unfortunately, the simultaneous subtitles couldn’t keep up with her pace, and much of the message was lost for most of the audience.
“I started singing alone inside my closet. My mom used to tell me to shut up because I was so loud. That’s why I’m so happy my music has reached all the way to Spain.”
She continued with a heartfelt monologue about loneliness, personal goals, and the lack of support people often face—reminding us that we’re never truly alone, regardless of age, gender, or anything else, because she’s with us.
In a confessional tone, she opened her heart before closing with a message full of hope:
“Let’s look at this beautiful view together. Let’s keep making our dreams shine like a spark.”
The crowd erupted, chanting her name louder than ever, touched by her honesty. Ado shyly responded with a quiet “thank you” and moved on to the final performance.
With a venue packed with nakama (comrades), the entire Palau sang at the top of their lungs with Ado during “Shin Jidai” also known as “New Genesis”—the main theme from One Piece Film Red. Even those who had been seated the entire concert stood up for this final moment, waving their lightsticks with all the energy they had left.
Thunderous cheering, applause, whistling, and the most spectacular fireworks of the entire setlist followed. After thanking Barcelona for its passion, Ado said her final goodbye, closing what was undoubtedly an unforgettable night for her devoted Spanish fans—who gave her their all, from the very first second.
ADO WORLD TOUR 2025【Hibana】(Palau Sant Jordi)
SETLIST
M01 Usseewa
M02 Lucky Bruto
M03 Gira Gira
M04 Show
M05 Kura Kura
M06 Readymade
M07 MIRROR
M08 Charles (balloon cover)
M09 Elf
M10 Value
M11 Stay Gold (Jax Jones & Ado song)
M12 RuLe
M13 Utakata Lullaby
M14 Aishite Aishite Aishite (Kikuo cover)
M15 Gyakkou
M16 Hibana (DECO*27 cover)
M17 Episode X
M18 Odo
EN1 ROCKSTAR
EN2 Chandelier (Sia cover)
EN3 New Genesis