TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A fervent crowd of nearly 400 fans converged at Taipei Songshan Airport (台北松山機場), Taiwan's secondary international airport, on Friday (April 18) to welcome the popular Japanese idol girl group Sakurazaka46 (櫻坂46). The 16-member ensemble arrived for their performance at the highly anticipated J-pop music festival "CENTRAL," scheduled for Saturday at Zepp New Taipei (新北市Zepp), a major concert venue in Taiwan's most populous municipality.
The ensemble, featuring 16 of its members for this Taiwan tour, touched down around 1 p.m., generating palpable excitement among the assembled devotees. The timing proved especially meaningful as it coincided with member Rei Ozono's (大園玲) 25th birthday. In a heartwarming display of affection, fans broke into an impromptu rendition of "Happy Birthday" while the performers posed for media photographs. Visibly moved by the gesture, a bashful Ozono covered her mouth in surprise before turning to acknowledge the fans with gratitude.
Although this marks Sakurazaka46's first official concert in Taiwan, the country is not entirely unfamiliar territory for the group. Two members, Ten Yamasaki (山﨑天) and Karin Fujiyoshi (藤吉夏鈴), previously visited the island in February, conducting media interviews and participating in a fashion photo shoot that heightened anticipation for the full group's arrival.
The group's appeal extends beyond Taiwan's borders, attracting regional devotees like Kelly, a fan who traveled from Hong Kong for the occasion. "I couldn't sleep the night before and woke up at 6 a.m. to be here," she told reporters, embodying the enthusiasm shared by many attendees. Demonstrating similar dedication, local fans identified as SHIO and SHUN arrived wearing carefully crafted outfits decorated with images of group members, replicating costumes previously worn by Sakurazaka46 during a Japanese variety television program. ★
