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Celebrating 15 years of active presence on the metal scene is quite an achievement—especially when your last birthday cake held just 27 candles. Lead vocalist Suzuka Nakamoto (Su-metal) started at 12, while Moa Kikuchi (Moa-metal) and Yui Mizuno* (Yui-metal) began at just the age of 11.
Their paths crossed in the idol group Sakura Gakuin, specifically in its “Heavy Music Club” subunit named Babymetal, debuting with the song “Doki Doki Morning” in November 2010.
To some, this may be bizarre even by Japanese standards, but that’s how the journey began—one that has since earned the girls awards from MTV Music Awards (Europe, Japan), Loudwire Annual Music Awards, and even Vogue.
I already wrote about them last year, when they were touring Europe and performed in Warsaw—unfortunately without us attending. But we weren’t about to miss their anniversary BABYMETAL UK & EUROPE ARENA TOUR 2025, especially since they chose Kraków’s Tauron Arena this time, instead of Warsaw.
From the apartment to the concert in under three hours.
I honestly don’t think they’ll ever come to the Czech Republic—so this was probably as close as it gets. Some of their Asian “neighbors” tend to stick to the usual Paris–London–Berlin circuit, but Babymetal take luckily a broader approach. Still, do they even know a place like Opava for example? Anyone? Anybody?!
At least there’s Kraków. For the purposes of this article, let’s call it the second most beautiful city in Europe and as expected, its Tauron Arena offered endless queues…
…for merch.
There were two support acts, though we really got into it only with Poppy (Bambie Thug already had a full crowd, but we only caught their final song).
It took me a while to realize that the backdrop said “Poppy.” 😀
And then finally—Babymetal live!
The recipe for fame according to the queens of kawaii metal? Use simple song titles:
Use simple lyrics too:
Look, you’re still at a metal concert—you’ll have to look elsewhere for lyrics resembling philosophical essays. And the activities at such events? Also rather… “simple in nature.”
In this case, “simple” doesn’t mean meaningless—on the contrary, mosh pit is pretty intense and looks stylish, so kudos to them.
But most of all, you’re here to enjoy the music!
Gimme Chocolate
Ratatata
Target audience? From little girls to adorable grandpas. Men, women, young, old, dressed in black or neon colors. You’re here to have fun—everyone is here to have fun. And if it doesn’t work out this year, you’ll get the chance another time—just give Babymetal a shot. 🙂
DONKEY’S SPECIAL:
*Yui-metal left the band in 2019 for health reasons. She was replaced by 16-year-old Momoko Okazaki—Momometal—who officially became a Babymetal member in 2023.
-mj-