Hamasaki Ayumi performs cancelled Shanghai concert without audience for recording

Japanese pop icon Hamasaki Ayumi performed a full concert in Shanghai without an audience on 29 November, 2025, despite the show having been officially cancelled the previous day.

The concert, part of Hamasaki’s Asia tour, was scheduled to take place at a large venue in Shanghai, with over 14,000 fans expected to attend. However, the event was abruptly cancelled on 28 November by the organiser, citing “force majeure” as the reason.

According to statements made by Hamasaki on social media, she was informed of the cancellation on the morning of 28 November. She expressed disbelief and deep disappointment, stating, “I still cannot believe it. I don’t even know how to express my feelings.”

The cancellation is believed to be linked to recent diplomatic tensions. Earlier in the month, Takaichi Sanae, a Japanese political figure, made comments in the Japanese Diet regarding a potential emergency involving Taiwan. The remark reportedly triggered backlash from Beijing, leading to disruptions in cultural and entertainment exchanges.

Since the statement, several Japanese performers have seen their events in China cancelled or postponed, with Hamasaki’s Shanghai concert becoming a high-profile example.

Despite the setback, Hamasaki chose to proceed with the concert in a symbolic gesture to her supporters. On 29 November, she and her full crew—comprising approximately 200 Chinese and Japanese staff, including band members and dancers—took to the stage at the originally scheduled venue.

A tweet by user @Cait_Sith_co highlighting Hamasaki’s gesture has since gone viral, amassing over 10 million views and more than 100,000 likes.  The post stated that Hamasaki “performed a full-stage concert in an empty venue” to record it for fans, and called her “a professional artist,” while also criticising the environment that led to the cancellation.

Other social media users echoed the sentiment. One wrote, “This is what it means to be a real professional,” while another remarked, “I wasn’t a fan before, but I’ve come to respect her deeply.”

Praise also came from public figures. Renowned Hong Kong actor Anthony Wong (also known as Anthony Huang) called Hamasaki “a real artist” in his social media post, aligning with a broader wave of admiration across Asia.

In her Instagram post on 30 November, Hamasaki reflected on the moment, writing, “With 14,000 empty seats but felt so much love of TAs from all over the world, it was one of the most unforgettable shows ever to me.” She went on to thank the entire team for making the performance possible, expressing gratitude “from the bottom of my heart.”

Photos shared from the event showed Hamasaki and her performers smiling despite the absence of a live audience. The singer explained that the entire concert, including the encore, was performed in full as originally planned. She added, “We gave it our all with the same spirit as a regular concert.”

According to fan groups and online sources, the recorded performance is expected to be released at a later date. No official announcement has yet been made regarding the distribution format or timing.

The Shanghai concert was one of the major stops in Hamasaki's ongoing Asia tour, which began earlier this year in Hong Kong. Following a tragic residential fire in the city, Hamasaki had also expressed solidarity with residents, stating, “Our prayers go to Hong Kong.”

Her decision to carry out the Shanghai performance privately has been widely praised among her fanbase, known collectively as Team Ayu or TAs. Many have shared messages of support online, commending her for demonstrating commitment to both her team and her fans in difficult circumstances.