(2026.3.12 Ariake Arena) LUNA SEA • LUNATIC X’MAS 2025 -OUR JOURNEY CONTINUES-

LUNA SEA’s first show after drummer Yamada Shinya (真矢) passed away on February 17, 2026.  This concert turned out to be a great celebration of his life/legacy; the show opened with a small part of his drum solo from what was his final appearance with the band back at their 2025 Millenium Eve show with GLAY at Tokyo Dome on February 23, 2025 along with montages of the five together at the end of that concert while part of the speech he gave at LUNATIC FEST (where he said that “LUNA SEA must not end”), played.  In hindsight, while he had been very driven to return to playing at this show, it seems he also used this choice of words “just in case”.

The drum kit that he had been working on for this XMAS show had also been setup on stage next to Jun-ji’s kit (seeing this arrangement made me smile).  For a few of the songs in the setlist, videos of Shinya playing were shown; it was never overdone (which IMHO, would’ve detracted from the actual performances of those carrying on the group as he had wished for during LUNATIC FEST and then by his wife Aya after he had passed).  During the short MC’s between songs, the band also made it clear they wanted this to be a fun show (and that it was).  Ryuichi’s vocals struggled at times (from his own past surgeries on his vocal chords to remove cancerous lesions) but he was also giving it his all.

Heading into the portion after a 30 minute intermission, a longer portion of Shinya’s drum solo from that February 23, 2025 show was played; that was a great closing tribute.  Plus even though he is physically gone, the memories that people have of moments like this from prior concerts, are what keeps him alive.  In that regards, it was like he was there for many of the fans in attendance (or for those watching the live stream).

What was a really final nice touch was just before the 2nd encore when a video was played of Shinya trying out this new drum kit in a practice studio (tracking over the song HOLY KNIGHT) as the other members watched the video playback.  It highlights just how much he was planning to resume playing with the band again.  They closed out the show playing HOLY KNIGHT which at the ending, transitioned into an outro video of their 2026 national tour dates (signifying the band will continue their journey as per what Shinya had said/requested).  This tour is being called LUNA SEA TOUR 2026 UNENDING JOURNEY -FOREVER- (kind of reminding me how BUCK-TICK has continued moving forward after “A-chan” passed away).

Shinya’s disciple Jun-ji (whom Shinya handpicked to fill in for him for LUNATIC FEST) said on his YouTube livestream that he knows no one can ever replace Shinya or fully replicate his sound; but that he will continue filling in for his mentor (so long as asked) to make sure that LUNA SEA doesn’t end.  He’s definitely going to have a packed schedule since TM Revolution (which he has also been a longtime support drummer for) will be touring during the same time frame.

As for this show, they really put together a quality production to honor his memory and to make a statement about moving forward.