In a headline-making reunion, singer-actor T.O.P, formerly of BigBang, marked his 20th debut anniversary by meeting Japanese fans for the first time in years and opening up about his candid feelings on returning to the spotlight.
On July 9, T.O.P held a free fan meeting titled 'REUNION' at Yokohama PIA Arena MM for members of his official fan community. About 10,000 fans filled the venue — and notably, it was his first solo fan meeting since his 2006 debut.
Dressed in an all-black suit, T.O.P took the stage and read a handwritten letter to greet fans. Reflecting on the past decade, he spoke honestly about the process of joining the Netflix series Squid Game: Season 2 and his attempt at YouTube mukbang content, sharing a range of personal updates.
He also explained why he made the event free. "I thought long and hard about how to make this first reunion in 10 years truly meaningful," he said, adding, "I wanted to repay our Japanese fans who waited so patiently with nothing but a pure heart."
Fans responded with unwavering support. Banners cheering for T.O.P were spotted throughout the venue, and thunderous cheers welcomed his return after a long hiatus.
He also performed his solo tracks live. Showcasing his signature deep tone, powerful rap, and commanding stage presence, T.O.P made the years-long gap feel irrelevant. Fans reacted, saying, "The stage is still intense" and "You can feel his BigBang-era presence." He then talked about new music, premiering on-site the character music video for 'After the Play Ends,' a track from his first full-length album 'ANOTHER DIMENSION' released in April. He further revealed that his next album is already complete, heightening anticipation for his future music activities.
"I was truly excited right up until I stepped on stage," T.O.P shared. "Now that I've seen you in person, my desire to meet fans on many more stages has grown even stronger." He promised, "I'll be back with even better music and performances."
Meanwhile, T.O.P faced trial in 2017 on marijuana charges and spent an extended period in self-reflection, officially leaving BigBang in 2023. He has since resumed activities with Squid Game: Season 2.