The Weeknd turned his latest Japan shows into a major crossover moment, debuting a new song that samples the famous opening theme from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
The Weeknd premiered the track during two stadium shows at Belluna Dome in Tokorozawa, Japan, as the final leg of his After Hours til Dawn tour continues. Complex reports that the unreleased song appears to be titled “Tokyo.”
The track samples Yoko Takahashi’s “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” the instantly recognizable opening theme from the 1995 anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion. Its live debut was paired with visuals presented by Yoko Taro, the director and writer best known for his work on Nier: Automata.
The production mixed imagery connected to both Nier and Evangelion, giving the performance a distinctly Japanese pop-culture framework. The Weeknd has openly shown an interest in Japanese film, music, anime and games, making the presentation more than a random visual reference.
Yoko Takahashi also appeared as a surprise guest and performed “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” in full. The Weeknd remained onstage for the performance, turning the concert into a direct meeting between his current tour world and one of anime’s most enduring musical themes.
The singer has spent time meeting several Japanese creative figures, including Takahashi, filmmaker Takeshi Kitano, musician Tomoko Aran and director Takashi Miike. He has also shared time with game creators Yoko Taro and Hidetaka Miyazaki during his recent visits to Japan.
No official streaming release date or full studio details for “Tokyo” have been announced. For now, the Belluna Dome performances offer the first public look at the song as The Weeknd closes out the current phase of his global tour.
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