The Weeknd, real name Abel Tesfaye, unveiled the unreleased song 'Tokyo' during the initial shows of the Asian leg of his 'After Hours Til Dawn' tour. The debut took place yesterday, September 19, at Belluna Dome in Saitama, near Tokyo.
Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi, known for 'A Cruel Angel’s Thesis' from 'Neon Genesis Evangelion', joined Tesfaye for the performance. 'Tokyo' features elements of 'A Cruel Angel’s Thesis', with accompanying visuals showcasing characters from 'Neon Genesis Evangelion' and the video game 'NieR:Automata'. Yoko Taro, creative director for the 'NieR' series, was responsible for the visual presentation.
Following their collaboration, Takahashi also performed 'A Cruel Angel’s Thesis' for the audience. 'Tokyo' was played again during The Weeknd's second show at Belluna Dome today, September 20. The 'After Hours Til Dawn' tour will proceed to Jakarta on September 26 and 27, before visiting Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok, and Hong Kong, concluding in Kuala Lumpur on November 4.
This marks the second unreleased song The Weeknd has performed live this year, following 'Rio' in April. Tesfaye had previously suggested he would retire his stage name after his 2025 album 'Hurry Up Tomorrow', but reversed this stance at a Stockholm concert last month and reiterated his commitment to his career in a recent interview.