BE:FIRST's third documentary film hit theaters on February 6, 2026, capturing 31 days of their first-ever world tour across 12 cities. At a special screening event on February 8, the now six-member group reflected on the journey and shared their ambitions for a landmark stadium show this May.
🎬 From a Japanese audition show to stages around the world — What did this rising boy group discover on their first world tour? Brotherhood, an unexpected lineup change, and the resolve to dream beyond limits. It's all in this documentary, now showing in theaters.
Born from an Audition: The BE:FIRST Origin Story
BE:FIRST is a dance and vocal group under BMSG, a talent agency founded by Japanese rapper-producer SKY-HI. In 2021, SKY-HI invested his own funds — reportedly around $9 million — to launch "THE FIRST," an audition program built on one principle: quality first. The goal was to find artists capable of competing on the world stage through pure skill, not just popularity.
Seven members — SOTA, SHUNTO, MANATO, RYUHEI, JUNON, RYOKI, and LEO — were selected. Their pre-debut single "Shining One" immediately topped multiple Japanese charts, and their official debut single "Gifted." followed in November 2021. Since then, BE:FIRST has accumulated eight No. 1 hits on the Billboard Japan Hot 100, completed a four-city dome tour in late 2024, and established themselves as one of Japan's premier acts.
"Who is BE:FIRST?" — 12 Cities, 31 Days, One Mission
In April 2025, BE:FIRST took their long-awaited first step onto the global stage. The "BE:FIRST World Tour 2025 -Who is BE:FIRST?-" kicked off in Los Angeles and traveled through San Francisco, Taipei, Bangkok, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Chicago, Honolulu, Hong Kong, and Singapore — 15 cities spanning North America, Europe, and Asia.
The documentary film BE:the ONE -START BEYOND DREAMS- follows the group across 12 of these cities over 31 days. Directed by Oh Yundong and Kim Hamin, who helmed the previous two installments in the series, the film captures not only electrifying live performances and rehearsals but also quieter moments — members exploring local cultures, relaxing together off-duty, and even filming each other with their own cameras.
Director Oh made an unusual request before shooting began: he asked the members to treat the camera as "a new member of BE:FIRST." The result is a documentary that feels remarkably intimate, revealing the group's unfiltered personalities in a way the previous films never quite achieved.
A Turning Point Mid-Tour: RYOKI's Departure
What elevates this documentary beyond a standard concert film is the unexpected drama that unfolded during the tour. Mid-way through, member RYOKI stepped away from several shows due to health reasons. His final performance with the group came at the Singapore show on July 5, 2025. He officially departed from BE:FIRST in November 2025, and the group has continued as a six-member unit since then.
The film documents the emotional arc surrounding RYOKI's absence — the remaining members' confusion, their candid feelings about the sudden shift, and ultimately their determination to channel adversity into strength. The footage of the Singapore show, knowing it would be the last time all seven performed together, carries a particular weight.
Stage Greeting: Six Members Share Their Vision
On February 8, 2026, all six current members — SOTA, SHUNTO, MANATO, RYUHEI, JUNON, and LEO — appeared at a screening event at Shinjuku Wald 9 in Tokyo, with the event live-streamed to theaters nationwide for their fans, known as "BESTY."
SOTA spoke proudly about the film's authenticity: "BE:FIRST was born from an audition, and the cameras have always been around. After four years together, we can just be ourselves naturally in front of the lens. This movie really captures who we are." He added a touching observation about the group's chemistry: "We all got tired at the same moments and excited at the same moments. We're truly a miraculous team."
Each member also revealed a personal goal for 2026 using a flip board. RYUHEI wrote a single kanji character meaning "dream" (yume), adding small English annotations that prompted LEO to joke, "That looks like a sign for a traditional Japanese restaurant" — sending the whole group into laughter. RYUHEI then composed himself and declared: "We have the stadium show coming, and beyond that, we're still dreaming. One word says it all."
MANATO offered a cryptic flip reading "Level up every second," adding, "You'll understand what I mean soon enough." JUNON, reflecting on the world tour experience, pledged to become "a group that is loved." And LEO shared his vision of becoming "a team that loves music and is loved by music," revealing that the group is deeply engaged in creating new material.
Year Five: The Stadium Milestone
2026 marks BE:FIRST's fifth anniversary since debut. Their 2025 achievements speak volumes: the hit single "Muchu" (meaning "captivated") surpassed 100 million streams on Billboard Japan charts, and the group appeared at the prestigious NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen (Japan's biggest year-end music show, comparable to performing at the Super Bowl halftime show in cultural significance) for the fourth consecutive year. They also received the Outstanding Work Award at the Japan Record Awards for the fourth straight time.
The next milestone arrives on May 16-17, 2026: their first-ever stadium concert, "BE:FIRST Stadium Live 2026 We are the 'BE:ST'" at Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo. Moving from domes to a stadium — Japan's largest concert venues — as a newly restructured six-member group represents both a bold statement and a testament to their growing momentum.
What BE:FIRST gained from the world tour extends beyond musical experience. They found confirmation that their performances can transcend language and cultural barriers, and they forged an unbreakable bond as a team capable of overcoming any obstacle. How far this Japanese boy group will go, from Asia to the world, remains an unfolding story — and it's only just beginning.
In Japan, the narrative of an audition-born group pursuing a global dream has captivated audiences. How are boy groups or dance-vocal acts from your country received when they aim for international success? We'd love to hear your perspective!
References
- https://natalie.mu/music/news/659322
- https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0153223
- https://befirst-themovie.jp/
- https://www.elle.com/jp/culture/movie-tv/a69962852/be-the-one-start-beyond-dreams-befirst-junon-ryuhei-interview-2502/
- https://www.billboard.com/music/concerts/befirst-first-world-tour-dates-2025-tickets-1235879207/
Reactions in Japan
Just saw the movie. I honestly cried during the behind-the-scenes of the Singapore show. Every expression on the members' faces during their last performance as seven was captured on camera. Nothing but gratitude for the director.
SOTA's words 'a miraculous team' carry so much weight. Those words only come from going through everything they did on tour. You can feel his resolve as a leader.
I expected the world tour movie to be mainly live footage, but it was a full documentary. Members filming each other themselves felt like a travel vlog — so refreshing. I want to see more of this real, down-to-earth side.
I'll be honest. I feel the performances have gotten tighter since they became six. Far from weakening, each member's presence has actually grown.
What did MANATO mean by 'level up every second' and 'you'll understand soon'?! New song? Collaboration? I literally can't sleep thinking about it.
BMSG's approach is really unique. SKY-HI kept saying 'world standard' from the start, and they actually made it happen with the world tour. 2025 proved it wasn't just talk.
RYUHEI's 'Dream' flip board getting roasted by LEO — 'looks like a sign at a traditional restaurant' — cracked me up. This vibe is what makes BE:FIRST great. Close enough to tease each other without holding back.
Going from domes to a stadium is a massive jump. Ajinomoto Stadium for 2 days — that's 60,000 × 2. Some doubt they can fill it, but honestly, with BESTY's current momentum, I think they'll pull it off.
Seeing the European audiences going wild in the footage made me so happy. They had the call-and-response perfect even though the songs are in Japanese. Music really has no borders.
The three BE:FIRST documentaries trace an incredible growth arc: debut to dome, dome to world, and world to a new beginning. It's accidentally become a perfect trilogy in structure.
I support the style of going global with Japanese-language songs instead of releasing English tracks like K-pop groups. I like that they don't force themselves to change.
Watched it in 4DX and the immersion during live scenes was incredible. The wind and vibrations made it feel like being at the venue. Though wind blowing during emotional crying scenes was a bit surreal lol.
LEO's words 'a team that loves music and is loved by music' keep echoing in my head. He mentioned they're working on a lot of new material — maybe the next album will have more member-led tracks. Can't wait.
Loved the scenes of them eating local food and sightseeing in each country. SHUNTO at a two-Michelin-star French restaurant saying 'I don't really get it but it's incredibly delicious' was peak SHUNTO energy.
First time properly seeing overseas BESTY's passion through the film. The fact that these weren't fan meetings but solo concerts with this turnout is amazing. Next time they could do bigger venues, right?
I'm an older BESTY who's been watching since the audition. RYUHEI was 14 and now he's 19. Seeing his growth in the film, I cried like a proud auntie. I'll keep watching over them.
I actually went to the LA show. Honestly, a friend dragged me there and I knew nothing about them, but I was blown away by the performance quality. Their dance synchronization rivals top-tier K-pop. This group deserves way more attention.
Korean dancer here. I've seen BE:FIRST's choreography in analysis videos. SOTA and SHUNTO's dance skills are honestly world-class. But I think some songs don't quite land with international listeners yet. With the right sound direction, they could grow a lot more.
Went to the London show! The atmosphere at O2 Forum Kentish Town was amazing. During the MC, they tried so hard to speak English and it was adorable — the whole venue was wrapped in warmth. Next time, please come to the bigger O2 Academy!
Thai fan here. The Bangkok show sold out immediately. Southeast Asia has a strong J-pop fan community, and BE:FIRST is especially popular with women in their teens and twenties. Please book a bigger venue next time!
From Taiwan. The Taipei Zepp show was incredible. But one thing — the merch operation was weak compared to K-pop concerts. For overseas fans, merch is part of the experience. Hoping for improvement next time.
Saw them at the Bataclan in Paris. It was moving to see a Japanese act perform at that historic venue. Their music naturally blends J-pop with R&B and hip-hop in a way that's pleasant to French ears.
US music blogger. When I think of Japanese boy groups going global, the ATEEZ collab comes to mind, but the key is that BE:FIRST can draw crowds on their own. They're building a fanbase through their own strength, not relying on collabs.
Hong Kong fan here. The HK show was incredible. It was touching when the members greeted us in Cantonese. I wish the movie would screen in Hong Kong too — it's hard to travel to Japan just for that...
German who went to the Frankfurt show. Only knew BABYMETAL and XG before, but I genuinely enjoyed BE:FIRST's show. That said, if they're serious about Europe, they'll need English-language songs. I appreciate the beauty of Japanese, but speaking realistically...
From India. Got into boy groups through BTS and now follow groups across Asia. BE:FIRST isn't well-known here yet, but if a dance video goes viral on YouTube, they'd spread fast. Indians love dancing lol.
J-pop fan from Brazil. So sad South America wasn't on the world tour... But I'm happy to see their journey through the film. Please come to São Paulo on the next tour!
Vietnamese American who went to the Chicago show. Copernicus Center was on the smaller side, but the intimacy meant you could see every expression on the members' faces. Lucky to catch them before they move to bigger venues.
Japanese American here. Saw them at Webster Hall in NYC. I was moved by how many non-Japanese fans were singing along in Japanese. As a Japanese American, it makes me proud to see Japanese culture spreading through music like this.
Singaporean fan. It's an honor that the final show was in our country, but knowing it was RYOKI's last performance makes it bittersweet. If the movie shows what happened behind the scenes, I'll definitely watch it.
Aussie here. Documentary films are trending in K-pop too, but I hear BE:FIRST's is more real because members film each other. Even without understanding Japanese, emotions translate. Please release it internationally.