The HIPHOP mixed-media project Paradox Live held 「Paradox Live Dope Show 2026」 on May 30-31 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo. It was the largest live event since the project began in 2019, and the highlight of the May 31 performance was the announcement that 「Paradox Live THE ANIMATION」 will be made into a film.

Seven Teams Took the Stage on Day Two

The second-day performance featured voice actors from seven teams: The Cat’s Whiskers, cozmez, 悪漢奴等 (Akkan Yatsura), VISTY, AMPRULE, 1Nm8, and 獄Luck (Goku Luck).

悪漢奴等 and cozmez Open with Full Power

The first team to take the stage was 悪漢奴等, made up of Takayuki Kondo, Shuichi Toki, Tasuku Hatanaka, and Shogo Yano. The four pulled the audience into a blazing atmosphere with 「風林火山韻雷 -Bring It Back-」, 「REBELLION -悪漢奴等 is still Burning-」, and 「ファンファーレ – CLIP..CLIP CLOP!! -」, maintaining the group’s close, charismatic sense of masculinity.

They were followed by cozmez, with Yusuke Kobayashi and Toshiyuki Toyonaga quietly walking onto the stage before expressing the bond between their characters, Kanata and Nayuta, through 「We gotta go」, 「Trust Nobody」, and 「Day to day」. Their delicate gazes and expressions made the audience feel the special connection between the pair.

VISTY and AMPRULE Command the Stage in Different Styles

VISTY, featuring Yoshiki Nakajima, Kashitaro Ito, Aimi, and Tetsuei Sumiya, appeared in pastel-colored outfits like princes. They performed 「Linger」, 「Endless Dream」, and 「NEVER END」 with cute idol-style choreography and lyrics that felt as though they were speaking directly to fans.

AMPRULE, with Marina Inoue as family head Natsu Azuma and Ryotaro Okiayu as butler Tadanari, dominated the stage with elegance through 「ONE WAY」, 「Nobody But Me」, and 「GLORY」, impressively sampling 「Pomp and Circumstance」. The four teams 悪漢奴等, cozmez, VISTY, and AMPRULE also performed 「The REVENGERS」 together as winners of the Battle of Unity. Kondo, as Iori Suiseki, also known as the “kashira,” thanked fans by saying, “Thank you all for cheering. Okini,” as loud cheers filled the venue.

The Cat’s Whiskers, 1Nm8, and 獄Luck Keep the Energy Rising

The Cat’s Whiskers, featuring Ryota Takeuchi, Isamu Hayashi, Natsuki Hanae, and Junta Terashima, drew the audience into the team’s world with Takeuchi’s deep bass before performing 「TIME 4 GAME」, 「BLUE FLAME」, and 「No Matter What」 with smooth harmonies.

1Nm8, made up of Amatsuki, Ryo Kitamura, and Shoya Chiba, delivered songs with heavy beats while keeping their vocals clear through 「Grace И Guilt」, 「EGOlution」, and 「Яesonance」, taking the audience into ever more intense emotions.

獄Luck then flipped the entire atmosphere with the imposing low voice of Makoto Furukawa as Yuto Inukai, declaring, “It is time for punishment!” Furukawa, Katsuma Batori, Shinnosuke Tachibana, and Chiaki Kobayashi then exploded with energy through 「Scarface」, 「Trigger」, and 「S.W.A.G.」, delivering high-speed rap and fierce power that nearly blew the stage apart.

An Exciting Finale Before a Major Surprise

Near the end of the show, each team passed along the energy with specially selected songs: cozmez with 「Instinct」, VISTY with 「Stay Right Here」, 1Nm8 with 「Break Outta Here」, AMPRULE with 「Again And Again」, 獄Luck with 「Born this way」, The Cat’s Whiskers with 「Shooting Arrows」, and finally 悪漢奴等 with 「祭馬鹿 -DAWN!! DAWN!!-」, as the performers waved towels and drove the heat to the final moment.

After each team leader gave their closing remarks and Kobayashi was about to end the event, a voice shouted, “Wait!” Then Gakuto Kajiwara, who plays Suzakuno Allen, leader of BAE, made a surprise appearance despite not being listed as a performer that day. He announced, “I brought some big news!” The screen then played a special trailer announcing that 「Paradox Live THE ANIMATION」 will become a film. Cheers rang throughout Ariake Arena, and Kobayashi closed by saying, “Please keep Paradox Live, which will never stop moving forward, in your hearts!”

Archive Streaming on SPWN

Both days of 「Paradox Live Dope Show 2026」 are available as archive streams on SPWN until June 7 at 11:59 p.m. Tickets are on sale until 6:00 p.m. on the same day.

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Source: natalie