≠ME Pilgrimage: Hiroshima Food, a Kochi Music Video Location, and Concert Venues

Enjoy grilled conger eel over rice at Miyajimaguchi, then view the Great Torii from the ferry. Along the approach to the shrine, compare momiji croissants with pie momiji. A trip through Hiroshima’s food and scenery begins with ≠ME’s television program.

≠ME is an idol group produced by Rino Sashihara. In the Hiroshima episode of Noimi Station TV, broadcast January 16, 2026, Natsune Kawaguchi and Shiori Nagata, who are from Hiroshima, recommended places that Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda visited. This guide covers those five spots, the Ohki Coast filming location for the music video “Natsu ga Kita kara,” and five venues from the group’s first Nippon Budokan show through its seventh anniversary—for 11 places in all.

Hiroshima television locations, a seaside music-video setting, and concert stages

The five Hiroshima spots are places Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda visited on the program. The sales period for the tie-in tour has ended, but each facility remains open for ordinary meals, shopping, worship, and other visits.

Anagomeshi Ueno, Miyajimaguchi Main Store | Conger eel rice enjoyed by Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda

Cross the underpass after leaving Miyajimaguchi Station, and you will see the yellow Anagomeshi Ueno sign. The restaurant serves anagomeshi, grilled conger eel arranged over rice, either as a sit-down meal or in a boxed lunch.

Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda visited during the Hiroshima episode of Noimi Station TV, broadcast January 16, 2026. The Japan Travel tie-in feature introduced the stop as an anagomeshi boxed lunch. The itinerary was recommended by Natsune Kawaguchi and Shiori Nagata, who are from Hiroshima.

Anagomeshi was first sold as a station bento in 1901 and remains the restaurant’s signature dish. Founder Takichi Ueno replaced plain white rice with rice cooked in a soy-seasoned broth made from conger eel scraps, then arranged the fish on top. The rice itself is seasoned, as well as the grilled eel. Visitors can choose a meal in the dining room or a takeaway bento.

The Miyajimaguchi main store is at 1-5-11 Miyajimaguchi, Hatsukaichi. Bento sales begin at 9 a.m. and the dining room opens at 10 a.m. The store usually closes at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. on Wednesdays; service ends when sold out). Seats in the first-floor dining room cannot be reserved, but bentos can be. Preordered bentos are collected in the same line as same-day purchases, so waits are possible on busy days.

Location

1-5-11 Miyajimaguchi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture

Connection to the group

A long-established shop founded in 1901 where Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda ate its specialty anagomeshi on Noimi Station TV’s Hiroshima episode

Hours and access

Bento sales: 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.; dining room: 10:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. (until 6:00 p.m. Wednesday; closes when sold out). A short walk from JR Miyajimaguchi and Hiroden Miyajimaguchi stations.

Sources: Japan Travel and tabiwa — Noimi Station TV Hiroshima tie-in tour (sales ended) (in Japanese) / Anagomeshi Ueno — Miyajimaguchi Main Store, hours, and bento information (in Japanese)

JR West Miyajima Ferry | A boat ride to see the Great Torii from the sea

Take a boat from Miyajimaguchi and view the Great Torii and Itsukushima Shrine from the water. Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda rode the Great Torii Route on the JR West Miyajima Ferry during the Hiroshima episode.

Boats departing Miyajimaguchi from 9:10 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. take the route closer to the Great Torii. From the right side in the direction of travel, passengers can see the Great Torii in front and the shrine straight ahead. The ferry offers a different view of Miyajima than the land-based approach, from boarding through arrival on the island.

The Miyajimaguchi ferry terminal is at 1-11-5 Miyajimaguchi, Hatsukaichi. A one-way adult fare is ¥200, and a separate ¥100 Miyajima Visitor Tax is charged when entering the island. Check the operator’s official updates for weather and service conditions on the day.

Location

1-11-5 Miyajimaguchi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture (Miyajimaguchi ferry terminal)

Connection to the group

The ferry Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda rode during the Hiroshima shoot, taking the Great Torii Route toward Itsukushima Shrine’s Great Torii from the water

Fare and route

¥200 one way for adults (plus a ¥100 Miyajima Visitor Tax); departures from Miyajimaguchi around 9:10 a.m.–4:10 p.m. operate as the Great Torii Route

Sources: Japan Travel and tabiwa — Noimi Station TV Hiroshima tie-in tour (sales ended) (in Japanese) / JR West Miyajima Ferry — Fares and Miyajima Visitor Tax (in Japanese) / JR West Miyajima Ferry — Access and terminal information (in Japanese) / JR West Miyajima Ferry — Great Torii Route and schedule (in Japanese)

Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street | Shops to compare momiji sweets

The approach to Itsukushima Shrine is lined with shops selling momiji manju and Miyajima rice paddles. In the Hiroshima episode, Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda compared creative momiji sweets at Tori-ya and Daikon-ya.

Tori-ya introduced the momiji croissant, while Daikon-ya featured pie momiji. Daikon-ya’s pie momiji wraps a whole momiji manju in pie pastry and bakes it. Visitors can choose sweets with different shapes and crusts, along with traditional momiji manju.

Tori-ya is easy to spot by its large “Tori” sign on Omotesando. Visitors can also watch the momiji manju production process on the first floor. Daikon-ya has a shop selling sweets directly from the producer, as well as a garden and rest area toward the back. Both shops offer a chance to experience their distinct spaces while shopping.

Sales of the program’s travel package have ended, but the shopping street remains open for regular shopping and dining. Business hours and sweets selection vary by store.

Location

Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture (Omotesando Shopping Street)

Connection to the group

The shopping street leading to Itsukushima Shrine, where Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda compared momiji croissants and pie momiji

Visitor conditions

Open pedestrian street (more than 80 shops; business hours and closing days vary by store)

Sources: Japan Travel and tabiwa — Noimi Station TV Hiroshima tie-in tour (sales ended) (in Japanese) / Miyajima Tourism Association — Omotesando Shopping Street (in Japanese) / Tori-ya — Store profile, hours, and address (in Japanese) / Daikon-ya — Pie momiji introduction (August 3, 2020) (in Japanese)

Itsukushima Shrine | A place to worship and draw a fortune

Follow the corridors around Itsukushima Shrine, whose vermilion buildings extend out over the sea. Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda visited and drew fortunes in the Hiroshima episode. After seeing the Great Torii from the ferry, this is a chance to view the shrine buildings up close.

At high tide, the shrine buildings appear to float on the sea; at low tide, a tidal flat emerges around them. The scenery changes with the time of your visit, so tide information can help you choose how you would like to see the Great Torii and sea. Whether visitors can walk out onto the tidal flat depends on the tide and posted local access guidance.

The shrine is at 1-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi. Admission to the shrine buildings is ¥300 for adults; the Treasure Hall requires a separate fee. Visiting hours vary by season. Follow the designated worship route through the corridors.

Location

1-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture

Connection to the group

The shrine Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda visited during the Hiroshima shoot, worshipping at the vermilion buildings over the sea and drawing fortunes

Admission and access

Shrine worship fee: ¥300 for adults (Treasure Hall admission is separate); hours vary by season; about a 10-minute walk from Miyajima Pier

Sources: Japan Travel and tabiwa — Noimi Station TV Hiroshima tie-in tour (sales ended) (in Japanese) / Itsukushima Shrine — Visiting hours and shrine admission (in Japanese)

Orizuru Tower | Take in the city and place a folded paper crane

Take in Hiroshima from Hiroshima-no-Oka, a rooftop observation deck with wooden flooring. Orizuru Tower is a Hiroshima City attraction Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda visited after exploring Miyajima. The program’s travel feature introduces the observation deck and the experience of placing a folded paper crane.

At Orizuru Square on the 12th floor, visitors can fold a crane using the special paper and toss it into the “Orizuru Wall.” A web app explains how to fold one, making it easy to follow the steps even if you are new to origami. It is a place to do more than see the view: you can make a crane yourself and leave it there.

Usual hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with last entry at 5:30 p.m. Adult admission is ¥2,200; crane toss is an additional ¥100. The observation deck may close in strong winds, and hours can change for events, so check the visitor information for your date.

Location

1-2-1 Otemachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture

Connection to the group

The facility where Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda visited the rooftop deck Hiroshima-no-Oka and tried placing a paper crane in the Orizuru Wall during the Hiroshima shoot

Hours and admission

Usually 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. (last entry 5:30 p.m.); admission to the observation deck and crane toss are paid; next to the Hiroden Genbaku Dome-mae stop

Sources: Japan Travel and tabiwa — Noimi Station TV Hiroshima tie-in tour (sales ended) (in Japanese) / Orizuru Tower — Hours and last entry (in Japanese) / Orizuru Tower — Access and transportation (in Japanese) / Orizuru Tower — Observation deck and crane-toss fees (in Japanese)

Ohki Coast | White sand and sea from “Natsu ga Kita kara”

White sand and green woods form a gentle curve along the roughly 1.6-kilometer Ohki Coast. Stand on the broad beach and look out at the sea while listening to the waves. In 2024, ≠ME’s “Natsu ga Kita kara” music video was filmed in Tosashimizu, including at this coast.

The Kochi Prefecture Tourism and Convention Association has described filming at Ohki Coast and Cape Ashizuri in official posts. The official music video also states that it was filmed in Tosashimizu. Along with Yokohama Arena, where the song was first performed, these locations trace both the setting and the live performance.

Ohki Coast is popular with surfers and is also a beach where loggerhead sea turtles come to lay eggs. Center your visit on walking and enjoying the coastal scenery, and follow posted access restrictions to protect the environment. Rather than expecting the same weather or waves as in the video, enjoy the beach as it is that day.

The coast is in Ohki, Tosashimizu City. Plan the trip to western Kochi Prefecture separately from local transportation within Tosashimizu. Check the city’s tourism and transit information for bus and road conditions before visiting.

Location

Ohki, Tosashimizu City, Kochi Prefecture

Connection to the group

The white-sand beach and sea from “Natsu ga Kita kara”

Sources: Kochi Prefecture Tourism and Convention Association — Music-video filming at Ohki Coast and Cape Ashizuri (in Japanese) / Kochi Film Commission — “Natsu ga Kita kara” supported production (in Japanese) / Tosashimizu City — Ohki Coast scenery and nature (in Japanese)

Nippon Budokan | A dream stage with the group’s first live band

Walk through Kitanomaru Park to reach Nippon Budokan, with its distinctive octagonal roof. On June 29 and 30, 2023, ≠ME held its first Budokan concerts as the finale of the national tour “We shout I am me.” About 16,000 people attended over the two days.

It was the group’s first concert to feature a live band. In “P.I.C.,” Hani Ogi performed baton twirling. The concert also featured duets: Shiori Nagata and Miyuki Honda sang “2:30 Rock ’n’ Roll,” while Moeko Kanisawa and Nanaka Tomita performed “Peonies.” The larger venue gave individual members room to express themselves.

A regular visit centers on walking through Kitanomaru Park and viewing the building’s exterior. It is about a five-minute walk from Kudanshita Station. Admission to the seats inside follows the ticket conditions for each event.

Location

2-3 Kitanomaru Park, Chiyoda City, Tokyo

Connection to the group

Venue for ≠ME’s first two-day Nippon Budokan concert, which concluded the national tour “We shout ‘I am me.’” on June 29 and 30, 2023, with a live band

Visiting and access

View the exterior from Kitanomaru Park (seating inside requires a concert ticket); about a five-minute walk from Kudanshita Station

Sources: KING RECORDS TODAY — “‘Please stay with us from now on. It’s a promise!’ ≠ME’s two days at the promised land of Nippon Budokan bridge to their next dream” (in Japanese) / Nippon Budokan — Address and access (in Japanese)

Keio Arena TOKYO | Duet songs shuffled at the fifth anniversary

Keio Arena TOKYO is about a five-minute walk from Tobitakyu Station. When ≠ME held its first standalone arena concert, the fifth-anniversary show on March 3, 2024, the venue was called Musashino Forest Sport Plaza. It has used its current name since May 1, 2025.

About 16,000 people attended the fifth-anniversary concerts across the afternoon and evening. The group premiered “Last Chance, Last Dance.” The show also led into the first album, Springtime In You, released that month.

At the evening show, members switched the singers for several duet songs. Hitomi Suzuki and Saya Tanizaki sang “2:30 Rock ’n’ Roll,” Shiori Nagata and Miyuki Honda sang “Peonies,” and Moeko Kanisawa and Nanaka Tomita performed “Summer Chocolate.” This anniversary show offers a chance to compare those arrangements with the usual pairings.

The venue is at 290-11 Nishimachi, Chofu. Visitors can usually view the exterior; entry to concert seating follows each event’s rules. This is separate from ordinary sports use such as swimming.

Location

290-11 Nishimachi, Chofu, Tokyo

Connection to the group

Arena where the fifth-anniversary concerts were held on March 3, 2024, including the first unit-song shuffle and recording for a video release

Visiting and access

Generally, view the exterior (formerly Musashino Forest Sport Plaza); about a five-minute walk from Tobitakyu Station on the Keio Line

Sources: KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME celebrates its fifth anniversary with two shows and 16,000 attendees, surprising fans with a hometown tour announcement for April (in Japanese) / Musashino Forest Sport Plaza — Access (in Japanese) / Keio Arena TOKYO — Address and access (in Japanese)

Yokohama Arena | Tour finale sharing hometown pride and a new song

On July 15, 2024, Yokohama Arena hosted the final show of ≠ME’s national tour “Yatto, Onaji Class.” It concluded an eight-venue, 15-show tour through members’ hometowns, and was also a homecoming for Moeko Kanisawa and Momo Sakurai, who are from Kanagawa.

At the show, the music video for “Natsu ga Kita kara,” filmed in Tosashimizu City, was unveiled, and a new song premiered. Nanaka Tomita performed a flying sequence in “Tenshi wa Doko e.” Filming by the sea and stage effects extending over the audience came together in a single concert.

Yokohama Arena is at 3-10 Shinyokohama, about a five-minute walk from Shinyokohama Station. After viewing the exterior, fans can revisit the concert in the official tour video release. The recorded evening show on July 15 includes the premiere of a new song. Entry to the seats inside requires an event ticket.

Location

3-10 Shinyokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture

Connection to the group

Venue for the July 15, 2024 finale of the national tour “Yatto, Onaji Class,” a homecoming for Kanagawa natives Moeko Kanisawa and Momo Sakurai

Visiting and access

Generally, view the exterior (entry inside requires an event ticket); about a five-minute walk from JR and Yokohama Municipal Subway Shinyokohama Station

Sources: KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME captivates 20,000 at Yokohama Arena tour finale, unveils “Natsu ga Kita kara” music video and performs it for the first time (in Japanese) / Yokohama Arena — Access (in Japanese)

Kanadevia Hall | A different side of the members in improv and sports-day games

Kanadevia Hall in Meets Port at Tokyo Dome City hosted the Noimi School Festival on October 22, 2024. At the time, it was called TOKYO DOME CITY HALL; it is a hall separate from the stadium dome.

Shintaro Morimoto of Tontsukatan hosted the event. The members took part in activities and games including a self-portrait quiz, improvisational acting, a nine-meter race, and a tricycle relay. Alongside anniversary concerts centered on songs, this event documents the members’ interactions familiar from their television program.

The venue was renamed on April 1, 2025. Admission to the audience area depends on each event, but Meets Port nearby has restaurants and a garden. Visitors can combine seeing the building with a meal or break.

Location

1-3-61 Koraku, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, inside Meets Port

Connection to the group

Hall (now Kanadevia Hall) where the Noimi School Festival was held in October 2024, with improvisational acting, quizzes, and sports-day activities

Visiting and nearby facilities

Restaurants and garden at Meets Port are generally open to visitors; hall seating requires an event ticket; next to the east exit of JR Suidobashi Station

Sources: KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME holds Noimi School Festival at TOKYO DOME CITY HALL, unveils jacket for the November 20 video release “≠ME 5th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM CONCERT” (in Japanese) / Official ≠ME — Noimi School Festival announcement (in Japanese) / Kanadevia Hall — Access (in Japanese) / Tokyo Dome City — Meets Port restaurants and garden (in Japanese)

K-Arena Yokohama | Unit songs differed between the seventh-anniversary shows

At K-Arena Yokohama in Minato Mirai, ≠ME held its seventh-anniversary concert on February 23, 2026. It was another anniversary stage following the group’s first Nippon Budokan show and fifth-anniversary standalone arena concert.

The show opened with “Haita-teki Fighter,” and its middle songs differed between the afternoon and evening performances. The afternoon set included “Summer Chocolate” and “Marcato,” while the evening included “Hakumei Kosen” and “2:30 Rock ’n’ Roll.” During the evening double encore, the group performed its beginning song, “≠ME,” once more.

Music Terrace nearby has businesses that operate as usual, so visitors can eat or take a break when viewing the exterior. Check the venue’s operating information for access conditions inside the arena and at its bars.

The Blu-ray of the seventh-anniversary concert is KIXM-680 and is scheduled for release December 2, 2026. As of writing, it is available for preorder; it is listed separately from releases already on sale.

Location

6-2-14 Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture

Connection to the group

A music-focused arena where the seventh-anniversary concert took place as two shows on February 23, 2026, and “≠ME” was performed again during the double encore

Visiting and nearby facilities

Music Terrace and Arena Bar 7 (open on operating days) next door are open to the public; within walking distance of Yokohama and Shin-Takashima stations

Sources: KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME releases a set-list playlist for its 7th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM CONCERT (in Japanese) / ≠ME 7th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM CONCERT — King Records official site (in Japanese) / K-Arena Yokohama — Access and parking (in Japanese) / K-Arena Yokohama — Shop guide (in Japanese)

Learn more about ≠ME | Travel recommendations, singers, and song stories

Shiori Nagata, who made the Hiroshima recommendations, and Miyuki Honda, who traveled to the locations, form a duet pair that performs “2:30 Rock ’n’ Roll” at live shows. This section introduces how members’ roles shift between a travel program and music, using specific concert moments.

The “different self” in the group name

≠ME is produced by Rino Sashihara. The final audition took place on January 26, 2019, and the group was introduced and named on February 24. Its name expresses the hope that members will experience a self different from the one they have known.

The group’s major-label debut came with the mini-album Chotokkyu ≠ME Yuki, released April 7, 2021. It took place about two years after the group formed; anniversaries are counted from its introduction in 2019.

The official profile in October 2026 lists 11 members. An announcement on May 11 of that year stated that Mirei Suganami would graduate on June 12. Videos of the 2023 Nippon Budokan and 2024 fifth-anniversary concerts document the 12-member lineup at the time.

Sources: Official ≠ME — Formation, major-label debut, and the meaning of the group name (in Japanese) / Official ≠ME — Current member profiles (in Japanese) / Official ≠ME — Announcement about the group leader (in Japanese) / Official ≠ME — Mirei Suganami graduation announcement (May 11, 2026) (in Japanese)

Two members recommended Hiroshima; two others traveled there

The member who recommended the Hiroshima trip, Shiori Nagata, and traveler Miyuki Honda are members of the duet pair for “2:30 Rock ’n’ Roll.” The members’ roles on the travel program and in music differ; here they are introduced through specific moments from their concerts.

The Japan Travel feature tied to the program introduced anagomeshi at Miyajimaguchi, a ferry route that approaches the Great Torii from the sea, sweets on the approach to the shrine, shrine worship, and an observation experience in Hiroshima City. The facilities remain open to regular visitors, but the JR and accommodation package sold at the time is no longer available.

Nagata and Honda perform “2:30 Rock ’n’ Roll” as a duet at concerts. Their connection as the Hiroshima recommender and trip participant leads naturally to the two-person song at Budokan.

Source: Japan Travel / tabiwa — Noimi Station TV Hiroshima tie-in tour (sales ended) (in Japanese)

Get to know the members through their voices and movement

Leader Moeko Kanisawa is from Kanagawa Prefecture. At the Yokohama Arena tour finale, she returned to her home region alongside fellow Kanagawa native Momo Sakurai. They also performed different cover songs in the afternoon and evening and shared wishes written on paper strips. In her fifth-anniversary remarks, Kanisawa said that while telling the stories in their songs, the members and fans had also built their own youth together.

During “P.I.C.” at the first Budokan show, Hani Ogi performed baton twirling with a performer dressed as a clown and a cane routine. At that same show, Momo Sakurai tried a drum performance for the first time in “Hanikami Short.” Kirari Ochiai led a dance segment at the 2025 sixth-anniversary concert.

The youngest member, Natsumiko Kawanago, took center in “Kimi wa Sparkle,” also performed at Yokohama Arena, and showed off her clear, expressive voice. Hitomi Suzuki was the center for “Ponytail Kyurun” and, with Saya Tanizaki, formed a well-synchronized pair in “Summer Chocolate” and “2:30 Rock ’n’ Roll” at the fifth-anniversary evening show.

Nanaka Tomita leads the vocals on title tracks and also tried a flying performance that used the full stage space during “Tenshi wa Doko e” at Yokohama Arena. Honda’s nickname, “Miruten,” appears in the title of “Teyuuka, Miruten tte Nani?,” the song where she is center. At the fifth-anniversary concert, she sang it while riding a cart around the audience.

Sources: KING RECORDS TODAY — “‘Please stay with us from now on. It’s a promise!’ ≠ME’s two days at the promised land of Nippon Budokan bridge to their next dream” (in Japanese) / KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME celebrates its fifth anniversary with two shows and 16,000 attendees, surprising fans with a hometown tour announcement for April (in Japanese) / KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME premieres new song “Kamisama no Iu Toori!” in full at sixth-anniversary show and announces a 2025 national tour (in Japanese) / KING RECORDS TODAY — 2024 national-tour finale at Yokohama Arena (in Japanese)

Compare the duet songs

At Budokan, Nagata and Honda sang “2:30 Rock ’n’ Roll,” while Kanisawa and Tomita performed “Peonies.” At the fifth-anniversary evening show, Suzuki and Tanizaki took the first song, while Nagata and Honda sang the second. Compared with the usual afternoon pairings at the fifth anniversary, the evening changed both the singers and the order.

Kanisawa and Tomita sang “Summer Chocolate” at the fifth anniversary. The evening show featured a different pair from the one who performed it in the afternoon. Since the fifth-anniversary video records the evening performance, the change is reflected in the track listing and singer credits.

By contrast, the four-member song “Gekkabijin” is performed by Kanisawa, Kawanago, Sakurai, and Tomita. The fifth-anniversary show moved from a group dance song at the start to this quartet, then to the duet segment. The unit size changed as the concert progressed.

Sources: KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME celebrates its fifth anniversary with two shows and 16,000 attendees, surprising fans with a hometown tour announcement for April (in Japanese) / ≠ME 5th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM CONCERT (Blu-ray) — King Records official site (in Japanese)

New-song premieres that led to the next concert

“Last Chance, Last Dance” at the fifth anniversary and “Natsu ga Kita kara” at Yokohama Arena were each premiered at their respective venues. “Last Chance, Last Dance” became the lead track on the first album released that month, while “Natsu ga Kita kara” was the title track of the ninth single released the following month.

At the sixth-anniversary concert on February 1, 2025, “Kamisama no Iu Toori!” was performed in full for the first time. An announcement from composer and arranger Kanata Saito’s agency states that a TV-size version had been released earlier, on January 22. The song was first heard in a shorter form, then presented in full live.

The sixth-anniversary concert at Saitama Super Arena was based on the concept of an “≠ME Theme Park,” with video announcements by the members playing in the corridors as well. The group introduced a movable stage that brought performers closer to the audience for the first time, including a move toward the stands during “Hanikami Short.” The afternoon and evening sets differed, and the evening double encore brought back “Saikyo no Love Song.”

1. First Budokan → Fifth-anniversary evening

   2:30 Rock ’n’ Roll

   At Nippon Budokan, the original pair of Shiori Nagata and Miyuki Honda performed it; at the fifth-anniversary evening show, Hitomi Suzuki and Saya Tanizaki took over.

2. First Budokan → Fifth-anniversary evening

   Peonies

   At Nippon Budokan, Moeko Kanisawa and Nanaka Tomita sang it; at the fifth-anniversary evening show, they handed it over to Shiori Nagata and Miyuki Honda.

3. Fifth-anniversary evening → Seventh-anniversary afternoon

   Summer Chocolate

   The song usually performed by Hitomi Suzuki and Saya Tanizaki was sung by Moeko Kanisawa and Nanaka Tomita at the fifth-anniversary evening show. It was also included in the set list for the seventh-anniversary afternoon concert at K-Arena Yokohama.

Sources: KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME celebrates its fifth anniversary with two shows and 16,000 attendees, surprising fans with a hometown tour announcement for April (in Japanese) / KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME captivates 20,000 at Yokohama Arena tour finale, unveils “Natsu ga Kita kara” music video and performs it for the first time (in Japanese) / KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME premieres new song “Kamisama no Iu Toori!” in full at sixth-anniversary show and announces a 2025 national tour (in Japanese) / HOVERBOARD — Kanata Saito songwriting and arrangement credits for “Kamisama no Iu Toori!” (in Japanese)

From formation to the seventh anniversary | History and concert videos

This timeline covers major events from ≠ME’s formation and introduction in 2019 through its major-label debut, first Nippon Budokan concerts, Hiroshima television shoot, and seventh-anniversary concert. Follow the growth of its concert venues alongside its releases.

1. 2019January 26Final audition. The group was introduced and named on February 24, beginning its journey as ≠ME.Formation
2. 2021April 7Major-label debut with Chotokkyu ≠ME Yuki, a milestone in bringing the group’s work to audiences after its activities began.Music
3. 2023June 29–30First Nippon Budokan concerts, performing over two days with the group’s first live band.Concert
4. 2024March 3First standalone arena concerts at the fifth anniversary, with new songs and a duet shuffle at the evening show.Concert
5. 2024March 20First album, Springtime In You, released, bringing the group’s songs together in an album alongside its live performances.Release
6. 2024July 15Tour finale at Yokohama Arena, where “Natsu ga Kita kara” premiered. The CD single followed on August 28.Concert
7. 2024October 22Members take on improvisational acting and sports-day events at the Noimi School Festival. A fifth-anniversary concert video is released on November 20, making the stage performance available to revisit at home.Event
8. 2025January 22TV-size version of “Kamisama no Iu Toori!” released. The full version premieres at the sixth-anniversary concert on February 1.Music
9. 2026January 16Hiroshima episode airs, with Tomita and Honda visiting places recommended by two members from the region. The seventh-anniversary concert follows at K-Arena Yokohama on February 23.Broadcast
10. 2026May 11Announces Mirei Suganami’s graduation, scheduled for June 12. The announcement date and graduation date are different.Group activity

Sources: Official ≠ME — Formation, major-label debut, and the meaning of the group name (in Japanese) / KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME celebrates its fifth anniversary with two shows and 16,000 attendees, surprising fans with a hometown tour announcement for April (in Japanese) / KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME captivates 20,000 at Yokohama Arena tour finale, unveils “Natsu ga Kita kara” music video and performs it for the first time (in Japanese) / Official ≠ME — Noimi School Festival announcement (in Japanese) / KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME premieres new song “Kamisama no Iu Toori!” in full at sixth-anniversary show and announces a 2025 national tour (in Japanese) / KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME releases a set-list playlist for its 7th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM CONCERT (in Japanese) / Official ≠ME — Mirei Suganami graduation announcement (May 11, 2026) (in Japanese)

≠ME 5th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM CONCERT Blu-ray of the fifth-anniversary evening show

The main concert runs about 144 minutes, and the making-of footage about 55 minutes. The release includes 24 songs after the Overture and shows the evening performance’s shuffled duet sequence. The video helps viewers understand how the audience and stage related to each other, something not apparent from viewing the venue exterior alone.

The evening set begins with Tomita singing “Tenshi wa Doko e,” followed by “Chocolate Melancholy” and “Momoiro Daybreak.” A rising center stage and early dance numbers using fire and lasers create a different atmosphere from the duet segment later in the show.

The encore includes “Kimi wa Sparkle,” “Jibun Sanka,” “Himitsu Incident,” and “≠ME.” The count of 24 songs excludes the Overture and includes the encore. The main concert and about 55 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage fit on one Blu-ray.

The first production run came with a 24-page booklet and a slipcase-style outer box, differing from the standard package. The title and product number KIXM-598 identify the Blu-ray recording of the fifth-anniversary evening concert.

Sources: ≠ME 5th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM CONCERT (Blu-ray) — King Records official site (in Japanese) / KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME celebrates its fifth anniversary with two shows and 16,000 attendees, surprising fans with a hometown tour announcement for April (in Japanese)

“Natsu ga Kita kara,” premiered at Yokohama Arena, and how the stage expanded

At the Yokohama Arena finale of the national tour “Yatto, Onaji Class,” the group unveiled the music video for its ninth single, “Natsu ga Kita kara.” The members premiered the new song in summer-style denim outfits. The concert then moved into a set featuring a live band.

The KIXM-624 Blu-ray records the Yokohama Arena evening show. On track seven, “Marcato,” Kirari Ochiai, Natsumiko Kawanago, Nanaka Tomita, and Shiori Nagata sing together. Next, “Haru no Koibito” features Hani Ogi, Moeko Kanisawa, Natsune Kawaguchi, Momo Sakurai, and Mirei Suganami, followed by “Date Zenya Requiem” with Hitomi Suzuki, Saya Tanizaki, and Miyuki Honda. The 12 members perform in groups of four, five, and three, offering a different unit arrangement from the duet shuffle at the fifth anniversary.

Sources: KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME captivates 20,000 at Yokohama Arena tour finale, unveils “Natsu ga Kita kara” music video and performs it for the first time (in Japanese) / Official ≠ME — National Tour 2024 “Yatto, Onaji Class” Yokohama Arena Blu-ray (in Japanese)

Field notes | Business perspective: Turn local recommendations into a bookable trip

For ≠ME’s Hiroshima feature, Natsune Kawaguchi and Shiori Nagata, who are from the area, recommended places that Nanaka Tomita and Miyuki Honda visited. The plan included both the perspective of local members making recommendations and of first-time visitors. A travel company partnered with the program to sell JR and accommodation packages. Instead of simply using members in tourism advertising, the feature also gave them a role in showing what to choose and how to enjoy it. Different businesses shared responsibility from generating interest in the program through to arranging travel.

A useful approach for a region is to turn recommendations from people who know it into concrete ways to use transit, lodging, and local businesses. A program that shows who made the recommendation needs different information from a travel company that explains booking conditions. Connecting the two can help turn the desire to visit into an itinerary. Although this partnership package is no longer on sale, updating the information to guide visitors to businesses and ferry services that remain open for regular use can keep the program as a travel reference. This is an example worth studying for both its sales period and the way its information remains useful afterward.

Sources: Japan Travel and tabiwa — Noimi Station TV Hiroshima tie-in tour (sales ended) (in Japanese) / ABC TV — Noimi Station TV program information (in Japanese)

Sources

• Japan Travel and tabiwa — Noimi Station TV Hiroshima tie-in tour (sales ended) (in Japanese)
• Anagomeshi Ueno — Miyajimaguchi Main Store, hours, and bento information (in Japanese)
• JR West Miyajima Ferry — Fares and Miyajima Visitor Tax (in Japanese)
• JR West Miyajima Ferry — Access and terminal information (in Japanese)
• JR West Miyajima Ferry — Great Torii Route and schedule (in Japanese)
• Miyajima Tourism Association — Omotesando Shopping Street (in Japanese)
• Tori-ya — Store profile, hours, and address (in Japanese)
• Daikon-ya — Pie momiji introduction (August 3, 2020) (in Japanese)
• Itsukushima Shrine — Visiting hours and shrine admission (in Japanese)
• Orizuru Tower — Hours and last entry (in Japanese)
• Orizuru Tower — Access and transportation (in Japanese)
• Orizuru Tower — Observation deck and crane-toss fees (in Japanese)
• Kochi Prefecture Tourism and Convention Association — Music-video filming at Ohki Coast and Cape Ashizuri (in Japanese)
• Kochi Film Commission — “Natsu ga Kita kara” supported production (in Japanese)
• Tosashimizu City — Ohki Coast scenery and nature (in Japanese)
• KING RECORDS TODAY — “‘Please stay with us from now on. It’s a promise!’ ≠ME’s two days at the promised land of Nippon Budokan bridge to their next dream” (in Japanese)
• Nippon Budokan — Address and access (in Japanese)
• Official ≠ME — Springtime In You first album, regular edition (in Japanese)
• KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME celebrates its fifth anniversary with two shows and 16,000 attendees, surprising fans with a hometown tour announcement for April (in Japanese)
• Musashino Forest Sport Plaza — Access (in Japanese)
• Keio Arena TOKYO — Address and access (in Japanese)
• Official ≠ME — National Tour 2024 “Yatto, Onaji Class” Yokohama Arena Blu-ray (in Japanese)
• KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME captivates 20,000 at Yokohama Arena tour finale, unveils “Natsu ga Kita kara” music video and performs it for the first time (in Japanese)
• Yokohama Arena — Access (in Japanese)
• KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME holds Noimi School Festival at TOKYO DOME CITY HALL, unveils jacket for the November 20 video release “≠ME 5th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM CONCERT” (in Japanese)
• Official ≠ME — Noimi School Festival announcement (in Japanese)
• Kanadevia Hall — Access (in Japanese)
• Tokyo Dome City — Meets Port restaurants and garden (in Japanese)
• KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME releases a set-list playlist for its 7th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM CONCERT (in Japanese)
• ≠ME 7th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM CONCERT — King Records official site (in Japanese)
• K-Arena Yokohama — Access and parking (in Japanese)
• K-Arena Yokohama — Shop guide (in Japanese)
• ABC TV — Noimi Station TV program information (in Japanese)
• Official ≠ME — Current member profiles (in Japanese)
• Official ≠ME — Mirei Suganami graduation announcement (May 11, 2026) (in Japanese)
• KING RECORDS TODAY — ≠ME premieres new song “Kamisama no Iu Toori!” in full at sixth-anniversary show and announces a 2025 national tour (in Japanese)
• Sony Music Labels — Three groups produced by Rino Sashihara—=LOVE, ≠ME, and ≒JOY—hold joint concert “Ikonoi Joy 2024” (in Japanese)
• DISK GARAGE — Venue and access information for Fuji-Q Highland Conifer Forest (in Japanese)
• Official ≠ME — Formation, major-label debut, and the meaning of the group name (in Japanese)
• Official ≠ME — Announcement about the group leader (in Japanese)
• ≠ME 5th ANNIVERSARY PREMIUM CONCERT (Blu-ray) — King Records official site (in Japanese)
• HOVERBOARD — Kanata Saito songwriting and arrangement credits for “Kamisama no Iu Toori!” (in Japanese)

Event dates, opening hours, and ticket information are current as of writing. Check each official website for the latest information before your visit.