Review: TUBE LIVE AROUND 2025-2026 KEEP ON SAILIN’
Celebrating Four Decades of Songs That Define the Japanese Summer
TUBE : Formed by vocalist Nobuteru Maeda, guitarist and keyboardist Michiya Haruhata, bassist Hideyuki Kakuno, and drummer Ryoji Matsumoto, TUBE is a four-piece band that has long defined the sound of Japanese summer. Since their debut in 1985, the group has built an enduring legacy through sun-drenched songs. Launched in July 2025, their nationwide tour TUBE LIVE AROUND 2025-2026 Keep On Sailin’ spanned an extraordinary ten months, traveling from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. Now that this passionate journey, befitting the band’s 40th anniversary, has reached its triumphant conclusion, this review looks back on one of its highlights: the January 11, 2026 performance at Grand Cube Osaka.
Even before the show began, spontaneous “TUBE” chants and rhythmic clapping rippled through the venue, steadily building anticipation. At the scheduled time, silhouettes appeared behind a white curtain as a quiet a cappella passage filled the air. The moment the curtain rose and TUBE stepped into view, the atmosphere instantly ignited.
The opening number, “onajisoranoshitade (同じ空の下で),” set the tone from the first note. As the audience swayed from side to side, moving instinctively with the rhythm, Nobuteru raised his fist and delivered a powerful, emotionally charged vocal. Each phrase drew the crowd closer, forging a strong sense of unity right from the start.
“Smile Flower (スマイルフラワー)” followed, bathing the stage in rainbow-colored lights. Nobuteru’s gentle, conversational delivery was met with perfectly synchronized hand movements from the audience, creating a different kind of exhilaration, warm, shared, and deeply communal.
During the first banter, Nobuteru joked, “There isn’t a single song that matches today’s weather,” drawing laughter with a comment that only a band synonymous with summer could make. He noted that the tour, running through May 30, had reached its midpoint. Sharing behind-the-scenes stories from appearances at the NHK “Kohaku Uta Gassen (紅白歌合戦)” and the Japan Record Awards, he revealed that practicing choreography with FRUITS ZIPPER had been so intense that he dreamed of being scolded by them, an anecdote that delighted the crowd. He also explained that the setlist was designed as a countdown, tracing TUBE’s releases from their most recent songs back to their debut era.
Reflecting on 2011 and the Great East Japan Earthquake, Nobuteru spoke candidly about the conflict he felt continuing to sing songs about the sea during such a difficult time. Encouragement from people in the affected areas, however, became a source of strength. That experience gave birth to “A Day In The Summer – Omoide wa Egao no Mama – (A Day In The Summer～想い出は笑顔のまま～),” performed with heartfelt sincerity. The emotion carried seamlessly into “syakunetsu love (均熱らぶ),” leaving a lasting impression.
A natural singalong emerged during “Minna no Umi (みんなのうみ),” as the expansive vocals and instrumentation painted a vast seascape before the audience’s eyes, earning a wave of applause throughout the hall.
With “Namida wo Niji ni (涙を虹に),” the venue literally shook as fans jumped in unison. The thunderous guitar from Michiya and the driving bass lines from Hideyuki during the instrumental break further amplified the song’s energy. “Miracle Game” followed, featuring light, playful steps that added a visual spark to the performance.
For the second half, the band returned in jackets, trading their aloha shirts for a more refined look. Opening with a beautifully seamless introduction, “Melodies & Memories” unfolded under deep blue lighting. The emotionally rich vocal performance held the audience in rapt silence.
“Glass no Memories (ガラスのメモリーズ)” came next, with Nobuteru sharing that the song had once been used as the theme for the long-running TV program “Sekai Fushigi Hakken! (世界ふしぎ発見！)”. As soon as he began singing “Natsu wo Machikire Nakute (夏を待ちきれなくて),” the crowd’s excitement surged, as if to say, “This is it.” Every lyric landed with weight and resonance.
Eyes closed, Nobuteru delivered “Shonan My Love (湘南My Love)” with a crystal-clear voice. The song painted vivid images of Enoshima, mirrored by a crowd swaying like waves and handclaps rippling softly like the sound of the shore.
When the iconic intro of “Ah Natsuyasumi (あー夏休み)” rang out, the biggest reaction of the night erupted. Thunderous clapping, jumping fans, and a visibly shaking venue marked the peak of the celebration, with Nobuteru’s voice cutting straight to the soul.
As “Beach Time” began, silver streamers burst into the air, wrapping the venue in a festive glow. The audience’s energy hit its absolute maximum as the band briefly exited the stage amid unrelenting cheers.
Responding to nonstop “TUBE” calls, the encore began. Wearing a white T-shirt emblazoned with “TUBE” in blue lettering, Nobuteru reflected, “If this song hadn’t existed, I wonder where I’d be now,” before launching into “Season in the Sun (シーズン・イン・ザ・サン).” The line “I want to stay like this a little longer” echoed the shared feelings of both the band and their fans. In the final moments, Nobuteru altered the lyrics to “I want to stay ‘with you’ forever,” bringing the audience to an emotional high point.
“Thank you for following a band that’s only about summer for 40 years. Thank you for loving us for 40 years,” Nobuteru said with heartfelt sincerity. The four members lined up at the front of the stage, removed their microphones, and called out together, “Thank you very much!” This simple gesture that said everything.
It was a night where TUBE’s desire to stand by their listeners and lift their spirits came through with absolute clarity. The passionate vocals, lyrics filled with warmth, and moments of dance-driven fun showcased the band’s versatility. A deliberately simple stage design only highlighted their performance power, while the overwhelming enthusiasm of the audience stood as undeniable proof of the show’s impact.
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