Taylor Swift will celebrate making Grammy history with a run of concerts in Tokyo starting Wednesday, kicking off a month of sold-out shows in Asia that will include a quick run home to see her boyfriend contest the U.S. Super Bowl.
Excited fans lined up in the cold from morning to buy merchandise at Tokyo Dome before the first of four Tokyo shows, part of the megastar’s global Eras Tour — the first billion-dollar-tour ever.
“It’s us, hi! We are Swifties from Taiwan!” read a huge fabric banner featuring 10 pictures of Swift’s face, held up by a group of fans outside the 55,000-capacity arena.
Results of a hotly contested ticket lottery for Swift’s Japan dates were announced in July, with some fans traveling to Tokyo, even if the tour was coming to them.
“We came just for the concert as we couldn’t get tickets in Australia,” laughed 18-year-old Ebony Donohue. “I’m so excited to finally see her. All her music is so different. She’s so relatable, and strong and amazing.”
Other fans from places Swift won’t stop this time, including Thailand, the Philippines, and China, joined the vast crowd that gathered in the afternoon before the gig.
Some donned tassels, bright sequins, and high-heeled boots in homage to their favorite Swift looks, while others came dressed as unicorn angels or wore official tour T-shirts.
Saya Matsuo, 25, said he had been waiting years for this moment.
“I’ve been listening to her songs since I was in middle school, about 10 years. This is the first time I’ll see her in concert, and I’ve been so excited since the moment we were able to get tickets,” he said. “She is someone who can grab people’s hearts, make people sing and dance. I love her personality.”
Swift-mania has reached fever pitch worldwide after the 34-year-old received her fourth Album of the Year prize at the Grammys on Sunday.
That is the most held by any artist and breaks the joint record of three previously held by Swift and the likes of Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon, and Stevie Wonder.
