YOASOBI was scheduled to appear in a pre-recorded video segment on Nippon Television's four-hour music special "120 Million Thank-Yous! Song Thanksgiving" (1億2000万人のありがとう 歌の感謝祭) on the evening of September 23, 2026. Rather than a live studio performance, the duo's appearance took the form of a VTR—a recorded video interview—as part of a feature exploring "thank-you songs" that hold special meaning for fans. Here's everything we know about what this appearance entailed and why it connected to the duo's recent North American tour.
The Quick Version
- YOASOBI appeared in a pre-recorded VTR segment on NTV's "Song Thanksgiving" special, which aired from 7:00 p.m. to 10:54 p.m. JST on September 23, 2026
- The segment featured interviews with fans who attended YOASOBI's concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
- The Brooklyn concert was part of the duo's largest-scale North American tour, "NEVER ENDING STORIES," which began in August 2026
- YOASOBI's segment was part of a program feature investigating "thank-you songs" fans are grateful for
- The four-hour special was hosted by Shota Watanabe of Snow Man and actress Mai Higa, featuring more than 100 well-known songs
What the VTR Segment Featured
The term "VTR" in Japanese television refers to a pre-recorded video segment, as opposed to a live in-studio appearance. For YOASOBI's participation in the September 23 special, this meant that viewers wouldn't see the duo performing live on the NTV stage. Instead, the segment centered on fan interviews and the duo's connection to their audience during their North American tour.
According to the program's announced format, the segment was part of a larger feature investigating songs that fans want to express gratitude for—songs that have meant something special to them or helped them through difficult times. YOASOBI's music, known for its emotionally resonant storytelling drawn from novels and short stories, has built exactly the kind of deep connection with listeners that this theme explores.
The interviews were conducted with fans who attended YOASOBI's concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, one of the major stops on their 2026 North American tour. We can imagine these segments captured the atmosphere of that show and gave Japanese television audiences a window into how YOASOBI's music resonates with international fans—a perspective that feels particularly meaningful as the duo continues to expand their global reach.
The Context: YOASOBI's North American Tour
The Brooklyn concert that served as the backdrop for the VTR segment was part of YOASOBI's "NORTH AMERICA TOUR 2026 'NEVER ENDING STORIES,'" which launched in August 2026. This tour represented the duo's most ambitious North American venture to date, bringing their signature blend of J-pop and narrative-driven songwriting to audiences across the continent.
The Barclays Center show in particular holds significance as one of the tour's marquee venues. Located in Brooklyn, the arena is a major destination for international artists, and YOASOBI's ability to draw crowds there underscores how far they've come since their formation. For a Japanese music act to fill venues of this caliber in North America speaks to both the growing international appetite for J-pop and YOASOBI's particular appeal—their music transcends language barriers through melody, production, and the universal emotions their songs convey.
By featuring this concert in the NTV special, the segment likely highlighted not just YOASOBI's music but the broader story of Japanese pop culture's expanding footprint worldwide. We're witnessing a moment when Japanese artists are connecting with global audiences in unprecedented ways, and YOASOBI sits at the forefront of that movement.
About the Song Thanksgiving Special
The program that featured YOASOBI, "120 Million Thank-Yous! Song Thanksgiving," was a four-hour music special that aired on Nippon Television from 7:00 p.m. to 10:54 p.m. JST on September 23, 2026—a date that happened to fall on a Japanese public holiday, making it prime viewing time for families and music fans.
Hosted by Shota Watanabe of the popular idol group Snow Man and actress Mai Higa, the special brought together more than 100 well-known songs united by the theme of gratitude and appreciation. The format combined live performances from various artists, fan stories about meaningful songs, and pre-recorded segments like YOASOBI's VTR appearance.
This type of large-scale music special is a staple of Japanese television, particularly around holidays. They serve as cultural moments that bring together multiple generations of viewers and celebrate music's role in people's lives. The "thank-you songs" theme gave the program an emotional throughline—rather than just being a parade of hits, each song carried personal meaning for someone, somewhere.
Why a VTR Rather Than a Live Performance?
You might wonder why YOASOBI appeared via pre-recorded video rather than performing live on the special. The most straightforward answer is logistics: the duo was in the middle of an extensive North American tour in August and September 2026, making it difficult or impossible to return to Japan for a television taping on a specific date.
But there's another dimension worth considering. The VTR format allowed the program to tell a different kind of story than a standard performance would. Rather than simply watching YOASOBI sing one of their hits in a studio, viewers got to see the duo's impact on international fans and witness the cultural exchange happening at their overseas concerts. This documentary-style approach arguably served the special's "thank-you" theme more effectively than another performance would have.
It also reflects how television production works in the streaming era. Networks increasingly understand that not every appearance needs to follow the traditional talk-and-perform format. Pre-recorded segments can be richer, more cinematic, and more contextual—they can show us things we wouldn't otherwise see.
What This Means for YOASOBI's Trajectory
YOASOBI's inclusion in a major network music special, even via VTR, signals their continued prominence in Japan's music landscape. Despite spending significant time touring internationally in 2026, they remain central to conversations about contemporary Japanese pop music.
The duo—composed of composer Ayase and vocalist Ikura—broke through in 2019 with their distinctive approach to music-making: transforming novels and short stories into songs. Hits like "Yoru ni Kakeru" (Racing into the Night) and "Idol" have racked up hundreds of millions of streams and views, making them one of the most successful Japanese acts of the 2020s both domestically and internationally.
Their 2026 North American tour, which provided the footage for this NTV appearance, represents a natural evolution. As their music reaches more listeners worldwide—helped by anime tie-ins, social media virality, and the general growth of interest in Japanese pop culture—they've been able to expand from streaming success to filling concert venues across multiple continents.
What People Are Saying
Fans on social media expressed excitement about seeing YOASOBI featured on the special, with many noting how meaningful it was to see the duo's international reach acknowledged on Japanese television. "It's amazing to see how YOASOBI is connecting with fans all over the world," one viewer commented, reflecting pride in the duo's global success.
Others appreciated the format of the segment, noting that the fan interviews from Brooklyn added depth beyond what a standard performance would have offered. "I loved seeing the reactions of the American fans," another viewer wrote. "It shows how universal their music really is, even across language barriers."
Some fans who attended the Barclays Center concert itself shared their excitement at potentially appearing in the broadcast. "I was at that show and talked to some camera crews—I'm dying to know if I made it onto Japanese TV!" one concertgoer posted, capturing the thrill of being part of the story being told back in Japan.
The special's theme of "thank-you songs" resonated with many viewers who have their own deep connections to YOASOBI's music. "Their songs have helped me through some really tough times," one fan shared. "I'm glad a program like this recognizes how much music can mean to people."
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the NTV special featuring YOASOBI air?
The "120 Million Thank-Yous! Song Thanksgiving" special aired on Nippon Television from 7:00 p.m. to 10:54 p.m. JST on September 23, 2026. The program was a four-hour music special broadcast on a Japanese public holiday.
Did YOASOBI perform live on the program?
No, YOASOBI appeared via a pre-recorded VTR (video) segment rather than performing live in the studio. The segment featured interviews with fans from their Barclays Center concert in Brooklyn as part of a feature about "thank-you songs."
Where was YOASOBI's footage from?
The VTR segment included footage and fan interviews from YOASOBI's concert at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. This concert was part of their "NORTH AMERICA TOUR 2026 'NEVER ENDING STORIES,'" which began in August 2026.
Who hosted the NTV Song Thanksgiving special?
The special was hosted by Shota Watanabe of the idol group Snow Man and actress Mai Higa. The program featured more than 100 songs centered around the theme of gratitude and appreciation.
Can I watch the special if I missed the broadcast?
The availability of the special for streaming or on-demand viewing hasn't been officially confirmed in available information. Japanese television networks sometimes make programs available through their streaming platforms or apps, but we'd recommend checking Nippon Television's official channels for the most current information about viewing options.
Looking Ahead for YOASOBI
YOASOBI's appearance on NTV's "Song Thanksgiving" special—even in pre-recorded form—reinforces their position as one of Japan's most significant musical exports of the current era. The fact that a major television special chose to highlight their international tour success, rather than just featuring another in-studio performance, tells us something about how Japanese media is recognizing and celebrating its artists' global reach.
As the duo continues to tour internationally and release new music, we're likely to see more of these cross-cultural moments where their overseas success becomes part of the story back home. The September 23 broadcast gave Japanese audiences a glimpse of what YOASOBI means to fans halfway around the world—and for many viewers, that perspective probably made the duo's achievements feel even more meaningful.
Whether you caught the special when it aired or you're learning about it now, YOASOBI's journey from internet phenomenon to arena-filling international act remains one of the most compelling stories in contemporary Japanese music. And if this NTV appearance showed us anything, it's that the story is far from finished.
