The Weeknd has debuted an unreleased song inspired by one of anime’s most recognizable theme songs, bringing a surprise collaboration to the opening of the Asian leg of his After…
Kayla Morgan
Published Sep 22, 2026 10:30 AM EDT
The Weeknd has debuted an unreleased song inspired by one of anime’s most recognizable theme songs, bringing a surprise collaboration to the opening of the Asian leg of his After Hours Til Dawn tour.
The singer, whose real name is Abel Tesfaye, performed the track, reportedly titled “Tokyo,” on Friday (Sept. 19) at Belluna Dome in Saitama, near Tokyo. The song incorporates elements of “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis,” the 1995 J-pop song recorded by Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi for the opening of the landmark anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Takahashi joined Tesfaye for the live debut, later performing “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” in full while The Weeknd watched from the rear of the stage.
The collaboration combined music, animation and imagery from two major Japanese <a href="https://comicvibe.com/hometown-entertainment-rajasthani-caravan-brings-manganiyar-music-tradition-to-roanoke/” title=”HOMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT: Rajasthani Caravan brings Manganiyar music tradition to Roanoke”>entertainment franchises. The accompanying visuals were directed by Yoko Taro, the creative director behind the NieR video game series, and featured inspiration from Neon Genesis Evangelion and 2017’s NieR: Automata.
Tesfaye credited the performance on social media only as “Presented by YOKO TARO ft. YOKO TAKAHASHI.”
The limited details surrounding the song leave its official release plans unclear. However, the performance adds another unreleased track to a tour that has recently featured city-inspired collaborations and new creative projects.
The Weeknd Continues Introducing Unreleased Music on Tour
“Tokyo” marks the second unreleased, city-linked song The Weeknd has debuted during the current tour.
In April, he introduced a track called “Rio” with Brazilian singer Anitta during a concert in Rio de Janeiro. The performance included an animated film directed by Japanese filmmaker Takashi Miike.
The new material arrives after Tesfaye previously indicated that he planned to retire the Weeknd name following his 2025 album Hurry Up Tomorrow. The album completed a trilogy that began with After Hours in 2020 and continued with Dawn FM in 2022.
Tesfaye has since changed his position on retirement, telling fans that he intends to continue performing.
“I’ll never disappear. I love this too much to ever disappear,” he told a Stockholm crowd last month. “I tested retirement a little bit, and I don’t like the way it feels. Imma be here forever with you.”
He also addressed the subject in an interview with GQ Hong Kongthis week.
“I had a glimpse of what retirement looks like, and it isn’t for me… There’s nothing else like this job.”
His recent performances suggest that the singer continues to explore new music and collaborations, despite earlier plans to move away from the Weeknd identity.
After Hours Til Dawn Tour Continues in Asia
The After Hours Til Dawn tour, which launched in 2022, has become the highest-grossing tour by a male solo artist in history.
Following the Japan performance, the Asian leg is scheduled to continue in Jakarta on Sept. 26 and 27. Additional stops include Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok and Hong Kong, before the tour concludes in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 4.
With “Tokyo” and “Rio” joining his recent live debuts, The Weeknd is continuing to introduce new material while bringing high-profile creative collaborations to audiences around the world.
Whether “Tokyo” receives an official release remains to be seen, but its debut gives fans another reason to pay attention to what the singer has planned for the rest of the tour.
The Weeknd
Kayla MorganWriter
Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She’s made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.
She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.
A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community.
She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.
