Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s Epic Dome Tour: A Babel-Inspired Journey
Hey there, Japanese learners! If you’ve ever been curious about how Japanese pop culture blends ancient stories with modern spectacle, you’re in for a treat. On December 20, 2025, the sensational band Mrs. GREEN APPLE wrapped up their first-ever five-major-dome tour at Tokyo Dome, drawing a jaw-dropping 550,000 fans across 12 shows. Named Mrs. GREEN APPLE DOME TOUR 2025 “BABEL no TOH” (Babel no Tō, "Tower of Babel"), this wasn’t just a concert series—it was a full-blown narrative experience. Let’s dive into the magic of their finale, explore the cultural layers behind it, and pick up some authentic Japanese along the way, just as it’s taught in Japan.
The Grand Finale at Tokyo Dome
Picture this: stepping into Tokyo Dome as one of 50,000 fans, instantly transported to the ancient city of バビロン (Babiron, Babylon). For their final show, Mrs. GREEN APPLE turned the venue into a living, breathing world inspired by the biblical Tower of Babel. The stage and audience areas were split into 22 unique “occupations”—think knights, fortune-tellers, and blacksmiths—with actors in costume mingling among the 観客 (kankyaku, audience) to create an immersive vibe before the music even started. This kind of 演出 (enshutsu, staging or production) is a signature of their “storyline” tours, where every 公演 (kouen, performance) feels like stepping into a 物語 (monogatari, story).
The concert exploded into life with the band—Motoki Ohmori, Hiroto Wakai, and Ryoka Fujisawa—emerging in royal costumes. Their opener, “Love me, Love you,” filled the dome with vibrant energy, golden confetti, and fan chants. Songs like “CHEERS” and “Feeling” kept the festive mood alive, while “Public” shifted to a darker tone, reflecting the 混沌 (konton, chaos) of human nature as the storyline depicted the building of the バベルの塔 (Babel no Tō, Tower of Babel). It was a 壮大 (soudai, grand) experience that left everyone in awe, a true testament to the band’s ability to mobilize—動員 (douin)—such massive crowds.
A Band Shaping Modern Japanese Music
Since forming in 2013, Mrs. GREEN APPLE has redefined Japan’s music landscape. After signing with EMI Records in 2015, they’ve delivered hits like 青と夏 (Ao to Natsu, "Blue and Summer") and ケセラセラ (Keserasera, "Que Sera Sera"), the latter clinching the Japan Record Award in 2023. Their journey, marked by a hiatus in 2020 and a powerful “Phase 2” comeback in 2022, has seen milestones like performing at the iconic NHK紅白歌合戦 (NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen, NHK Red and White Song Battle) and achieving 10 billion domestic streams. This 2025 dome tour, with its record-breaking 動員 (douin, mobilization) of fans, cements their status as a cultural force.
Cultural Context: Babel Through a Japanese Lens
You might wonder why a Japanese band chose the Tower of Babel, a story from the Bible, as their tour theme. In Japan, where Christianity isn’t widely practiced, such tales are often viewed through a secular, artistic perspective rather than a religious one. The バベルの塔 (Babel no Tō, Tower of Babel) here symbolizes ambition and division, woven into a 壮大 (soudai, magnificent) narrative that resonates emotionally rather than spiritually. This reflects a broader trend in Japanese entertainment to adapt universal myths into creative spectacles.
Moreover, the band’s immersive approach—turning fans into “citizens” with roles—mirrors Japan’s obsession with 世界観 (sekaikan, worldview or sense of a created world). From theme parks to theater, Japanese culture loves crafting holistic experiences where every detail builds a believable universe. As a learner, noticing this focus on storytelling over standalone performance gives you insight into how Japanese creativity operates, far beyond what Western textbooks might teach.
Learn Japanese from This Article
Ready to pick up some authentic Japanese from this epic event? Let’s break down key vocabulary and grammar inspired by Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s tour, taught the way Japanese kids learn—through context and real usage.
Key Vocabulary
Here are some words you’ll encounter in discussions of concerts, storytelling, and grand events in Japan:
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 動員 | douin | mobilization, gathering (of people) |
| 壮大 | soudai | grand, magnificent |
| 公演 | kouen | performance, show |
| 物語 | monogatari | story, tale |
| 混沌 | konton | chaos, disorder |
| 観客 | kankyaku | audience, spectators |
| 演出 | enshutsu | direction, staging, production |
These terms aren’t just for music fans—they’re everyday words you’ll hear in news, literature, and conversations about events. Try using 壮大 (soudai) to describe something awe-inspiring or 物語 (monogatari) when talking about a favorite story!
Grammar Spotlight: 〜を経て and 〜のもと
Let’s look at two useful grammar patterns that pop up when discussing journeys or conditions, much like the band’s progression or the tour’s theme.
〜を経て (o hete, "after passing through" or "after experiencing") This pattern shows a process or experience leading to a result. It’s often used in formal or narrative contexts.
- Structure: Verb (dictionary form) + を経て + result
- Example 1: 多くの試練を経て、成功した。 (Ookuno shiren o hete, seikou shita., "After passing through many challenges, they succeeded.")
- Example 2: 休止期間を経て、バンドが復活した。 (Kyuushi kikan o hete, bando ga fukkatsu shita., "After experiencing a hiatus, the band made a comeback.")
- When to use: Perfect for talking about personal growth, historical events, or, as with Mrs. GREEN APPLE, a comeback after a break.
〜のもと (no moto, "under" a condition or basis, "with") This expresses doing something under a specific condition, theme, or guidance.
- Structure: Noun + のもと + action
- Example 1: バベルの塔のもとで、物語が展開した。 (Babel no Tō no moto de, monogatari ga tenkai shita., "Under the theme of the Tower of Babel, the story unfolded.")
- Example 2: 新しいリーダーのもと、チームが強くなった。 (Atarashii riidaa no moto, chiimu ga tsuyoku natta., "Under the new leader, the team became stronger.")
- When to use: Great for describing events with a guiding concept (like this tour) or actions under someone’s influence.
Practice these by describing events or personal experiences—maybe a concert you attended 多くの準備を経て (ookuno junbi o hete, "after much preparation") or a project done 友達の助けのもと (tomodachi no tasuke no moto, "with a friend’s help").
Continue Learning
Want to build on what you’ve learned here? Check out these lessons to deepen your Japanese skills, rooted in authentic usage:
- Ni, De, and E: Mapping Directions and Locations: Ready to dive deeper? Our lesson on Ni, De, and E: Mapping Directions and Locations will help you master these concepts.
- Wa vs. Ga: Emphasizing Importance in Sentences: Curious about the Japanese used here? Our Wa vs. Ga: Emphasizing Importance in Sentences lesson covers this in depth.
- The Unique Sounds of Japanese: Retraining English Ears: Ready to dive deeper? Our lesson on The Unique Sounds of Japanese: Retraining English Ears will help you master these concepts.
Thanks for joining me on this journey through Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s incredible tour and the language behind it. Keep exploring Japanese as it’s lived and breathed in Japan, and you’ll uncover even more cultural gems. これからもよろしくお願いします。 Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
