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Japanese metal group Babymetal performed in Istanbul for the first time as part of its world tour, bringing together fans of different ages for a night shaped by heavy metal, J-pop energy and theatrical stage culture.
The event opened with a DJ performance before the group took the stage. Some fans attended the concert in cosplay, a form of fan dress-up in which people wear costumes inspired by fictional characters, music acts or pop culture figures.
During the concert, lead vocalist Suzuka Nakamoto, known as Su-Metal, addressed the audience in Turkish, saying: "Merhaba Istanbul, nasilsin?"— meaning "Hello Istanbul, how are you?" in English.
The group went on to perform several of its best-known tracks, including "Gimme Chocolate!!", "KxAxWxAxIxI," "Song 3," and "Ratatata." Throughout the show, fans kept up the energy by clapping along and responding to the performance.
Founded in Japan in 2010, Babymetal built its international following with a style known as "kawaii metal," a genre that blends heavy metal with J-pop elements. The word "kawaii" is commonly used in Japanese to describe something cute or charming.
The group gained global attention with the 2014 release of "Gimme Chocolate!!" and later appeared at major international festivals, including Glastonbury, Summer Sonic, and the Download Festival.
Babymetal also became the first Japanese metal group to headline a concert at London’s Wembley Arena in 2016.
Suzuka Nakamoto leads the group as the main vocalist, while Moa Kikuchi and Momoko Okazaki are part of the performance lineup.
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