REVIEW: MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 ー 'VMAJ”
Exclusive Interviews on Red Carpet! Detailed Artist-by-Artist Report
By: Ayaka Ozaki Mar. 31, 2025
MTV Video Music Awards Japan (“VMAJ"): The Japanese counterpart to the U.S.'s prestigious "MTV Video Music Awards," has been held annually since 2002. Known as the "festival of music videos," it celebrates the most outstanding works across various categories in the music industry. This year’s awards recognized works released between October 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, honoring excellence in each category alongside special awards. This report offers an artist-by-artist breakdown of the performances and key moments from the event held on March 19.
Scroll down for exclusive photos from the red carpet!
Table of Contents
Ⅰ. Artist-by-Artist Breakdown
- Mrs. GREEN APPLE
- SixTONES
- aespa
- XG
- Kocchi no Kento
- Nogizaka46
- ME:I
- INI
- BE:FIRST
- TOMOO
- GEMN (Kento Nakajima & Tatsuya Kitani)
- AiNA THE END
- FRUITS ZIPPER
- ano /Lilas Ikut
- HANA
- Hitsujibungaku
Ⅱ. Other Winners Who Attended the Ceremony
Ⅲ. Other Winners
Ⅳ. Conclusion
Ⅴ. Red Carpet Photo Collection
Ⅰ. Artist-by-Artist Breakdown
Received Awards
- Video of the Year
- Best Group Video -Japan- "Lilac"
- Best Art Direction Video "Lilac"
- Best Cinematography "Lilac"
Ceremony
As "Video of the Year" was announced, the audience erupted in cheers, lighting up the venue with green lights. Vocalist Motoki Ohmori expressed his delight, saying, "We pour our hearts into creating our music videos, so this recognition means the world to us."
Live Performance
"Lilac": The members exchanged smiles as they showcased and polished the vocal abilities. The electrifying performance had the entire venue vibrating with excitement. At the end, they warmly acknowledged the fans’ cheers, waving enthusiastically.
Received Awards
- Group of the Year
Exclusive Red Carpet Comment
Jesse delivered a message to international fans in English: "Thank you! We are SixTONES and we love you all!"
Ceremony
Jesse reflected, "It’s an honor. We've come this far as Team SixTONES together." Juri Tanaka added, "A year ago, we never imagined winning such a prestigious award. We’ll continue working hard and growing steadily."
Live Performance
"KOKKARA": The show kicked off with Jesse’s energetic shout, "Make some noise!" Shintaro Morimoto expressed gratitude mid-performance, while all members ran across the stage, amping up the crowd.
"GONG": The group got up close to fans at the stage’s edge, delivering an intense and engaging performance.
"Barrier": Their latest track showcased an impressive dance routine, blending power and precision seamlessly.
Received Awards
- Artist of the Year
- Best Group Video -International- "Whiplash"
- Best Dance Video "Supernova"
- Best K-POP Video "Armageddon"
Ceremony
aespa entered to thunderous cheers. Giselle expressed her gratitude, saying, "I’m thrilled our music has reached so many people. A huge thank you to our fans."
Live Performance
“Whiplash”: Captivating the audience with intricate choreography and masterful facial expressions, they showcased their exceptional stage presence, equally stunning on stage and on screen. A performance truly worthy of their four-award triumph.
.jpg?format=auto&width=1400 "REVIEW: MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 ー 'VMAJ”")
Received Awards
- Best Visual Effects "WOKE UP"
- Performance of the Year
Ceremony
"Our teamwork is at the heart of our performances, so this award is truly meaningful," they said.
Live Performance
"WOKE UP": Their dynamic rap and synchronized dance moves sent the crowd into a frenzy.
"THIS LOVE": Holding roses, they delivered an elegant performance, offering a striking contrast to their previous act.
〈Click here to see more photos from the Red Carpet!〉
Kocchi no Kento
Received Awards
- Best Animation Video "Hai Yorokonde"
- Future Icons Award
Live Performance
"Hai Yorokonde": With remarkable stage presence, he commanded the entire space solo. His deep bow at the end demonstrated his humility.
Received Award
- Best Pop Video "hodoukyo"
Exclusive Red Carpet Comment
Mao Ioki waved with a smile and greeted overseas fans, saying in English, "Nice to meet you!”
Ceremony
Sakura Endo expressed her joy, stating, "Receiving such a wonderful award at the very location where we filmed (K Arena Yokohama) makes it feel even more special. This place now holds a deeper connection for us."
Live Performance
Award-winning song "hodoukyo": The members captivated the audience with their synchronized choreography, a signature strength of their large ensemble. Their flowing hair and expressive, melancholic gazes beautifully conveyed the song's emotional depth.
Received Awards
- Best New Artist Video - Japan "Click"
Exclusive Red Carpet Comment
MIU delivered a heartfelt message in English to overseas fans: "Thank you for your support. We love you!"
Ceremony
"We will continue striving to be artists who inspire those around us to support and believe in our potential. Moving forward, we will stay true to ME:I and keep giving our best."
Live Performance
"Click": The members charmed the audience with their warm, endearing smiles, creating a heartwarming atmosphere. However, in a striking contrast, the interlude featured an intense dance break, showcasing their versatility.
New song "MUSE" (First Performance): A display of graceful maturity that introduced yet another dimension to their artistry. The members' impeccable synchronization highlighted their strong team spirit.
Received Award
- Best Choreography "WMDA(Where My Drums At)"
Exclusive Red Carpet Comment
FENGFAN XU expressed his gratitude in English: "It’s such an honor to get this award. Please check out our activities. We’re looking forward to seeing our American fans. Thank you!” When asked if fans could expect to see them in the U.S. again, SHOGO TAJIMA responded with a firm, "Yes, absolutely!”
Ceremony
"We've put a lot of thought and effort into this, so receiving this award feels incredibly rewarding," the members shared, expressing their sense of accomplishment.
Live Performance
"WMDA (Where My Drums At)": A powerful performance driven by deep bass beats and dynamic choreography. The immersive stage presence transported the audience into the grand universe of INI.
"FANFARE": One of the undeniable highlights of VMAJ. The members commanded the entire stage, hyping up the crowd from end to end and demonstrating their exceptional Live Performance skills.
Received Award
- Best Editing "Masterplan"
Exclusive Red Carpet Comment
MANATO shared his excitement with overseas fans: "We have a world tour starting in April, and I'm really looking forward to it. We’ll do our best to perform for everyone as soon as possible!"
〈Click here to see another photo!〉
Ceremony
Speaking about the award-winning song "Masterplan," SOTA explained, "This song was created specifically for our first dome concert. We were more involved in the creative process than ever before, pouring our emotions into it.” Looking ahead to their first world tour in July, MANATO added, "The seven of us want to deliver performances that reflect who we truly are. I hope people can experience firsthand what we want to express through our music."
TOMOO
Received Award
- Best Creative Video “Present”
Ceremony
TOMOO shared their aspirations, stating, “We want this year to be where I dig deep into myself and cultivate songs from within.”
Received Award
- Best Trending Video “Fatal”
Ceremony
Kento expressed his joy, saying, “We filmed the music video in Korea for ‘Fatal,’ the theme song of [OSHI NO KO], and I’m thrilled that the two of us were able to share it with the world.” He then added, “Next, I want to create something that surpasses ‘Fatal.’ GEMN might just be eternal,” heightening fans’ anticipation.
AiNA THE END
Received Award
- Best Alternative Video “Love Sick”
Ceremony
Holding the trophy, she remarked, “It’s so heavy—I can feel the history behind it.” Reflecting on the music video, she shared, “Being able to film with such high energy was a treasured experience, and I have no regrets.”
FRUITS ZIPPER
Received Award
- Best Breakthrough Video “NEW KAWAII”
Exclusive Red Carpet Comment
Regarding their growing international fanbase, Luna Nakagawa turned to Noel Hayase and said, “It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Noel continued, “Our concept is ‘From Harajuku to the World.’ We want to visit the United States and other countries more, so we’d love for you all to support us!”
Ceremony
Suzuka Chinzei expressed her gratitude, saying, “It’s all thanks to our fans and staff.”
Live Performance
“NEW KAWAII”: As they lined up and began singing, their infectious energy and adorable performance captured the audience’s hearts.
“Watashi no ichiban kawaii tokoro”: When they performed this hit song, the venue instantly transformed into a vibrant, Harajuku-inspired spectacle.
.jpg?format=auto&width=1400 "REVIEW: MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2025 ー 'VMAJ”")
Videos