After quite a few years, the Japanese rock band TsuShiMaMiRe returned to the Netherlands for a live performance. Musicon in The Hague provided the stage for the band’s long overdue return to Dutch soil. The band has since achieved legendary status, with more than 25 years under their belt and an extensive discography filled with energetic and boundary-pushing songs.
The evening kicked off with the band WE.T; the young band started off with a warm-up set in front of a shy audience. After the band members encouraged the audience to come forward, the band really went for it with a mix of their own songs and covers. The musicians played one rocking track after another, providing the perfect warm-up for the headliner: raw yet polished.
TsuShiMaMiRe at Musicon, The Hague on 18 October 2025 | Photography: Francisca Hagen (AVO Magazine) & Yume (Arlequin Photography)
TsuShiMaMiRe got off to a flying start, which immediately got the audience in the right mood for the live show. The bassist, Yayoi, could hardly stand still, so her long, bleached hair whirled through the air, whilst she would occasionally pause for a few seconds behind the microphone before quickly resuming her swaying movements with a big smile on her face. She even took the opportunity to go into the audience to show off her bass guitar skills, which the audience really enjoyed.
It was actually quite surprising that this was only the second time the trio had performed in the Netherlands in the more than 25 years they have been active. They have toured Europe over the years, but the Netherlands was always left out of the tour schedule. Between songs, lead vocalist and guitarist Mari mentioned this fact, as the last time they were in the Netherlands for a show was in 2016. She also mentioned that the drummer Asami was keen to visit new countries as part of the tour, as this was the first time for her to travel outside Japan. Asami has been drumming for TsuShiMaMiRe since the start of 2025. Mari added that her favourite animal is a sheep and that she spotted some sheep straight away after they had driven out of Germany.
TsuShiMaMiRe at Musicon, The Hague on 18 October 2025 | Photography: Francisca Hagen (AVO Magazine) & Yume (Arlequin Photography)
During this tour, the Ice Cream Punk Tour, the United Kingdom was not on the schedule, but that did not stop various fans living there (and even Japan) from travelling a long way to see TsuShiMaMire perform in a country as the Netherlands. In total, the trio performed 13 songs and there was little time to pause. The band opted for a mix of up-tempo and slower tracks to create a good balance; songs as Show You My Soy Sauce, GIRAGIRA HIKARU, Unagi Boogie, No Punk, Color, and Ice Cream Punk were featured in their performance. They were clearly aiming to provide a neat overview of the band’s past and present.
Even so, the audience was far from done with the Japanese band, and TsuShiMaMiRe performed one more song, Time Lag, which clearly pleased the crowd as they immediately started clapping. It eventually led to a mosh pit, and the concert ended, due to the 23:00 curfew, with the audience still singing along even though the instruments had fallen silent.
Photography by: Francisca Hagen of AVO Magazine
and Yume of Arlequin Photography for AVO Magazine
