Courtesy Photo
Recently, Crystal Kay brought her CK25 THE TOUR to North America, celebrating a quarter-century in music. Born in Yokohama to an American father and a South Korean mother, she debuted as a teenager and has spent her career bridging Japanese pop with the American and Korean sounds that shaped her upbringing.
Kay first rose to prominence within R&B before pivoting toward mainstream J‑pop in 2005 with the blockbuster single “Koi ni Ochitara” (When You Fall in Love). Since then her repertoire has expanded to include jazz, covers, voice acting, and stage work — credits that range from voice roles in animated features to parts in stage musicals such as Pippin and RENT.
Fluent in English and comfortable working across cultures, she frequently collaborated with U.S. producers. One standout is “Kirakuni” (2006), produced by the renowned Jam & Lewis, which introduced authentic American R&B textures to her Japanese audience. After years off streaming services, that track was returned to platforms ahead of her recent tour, delighting longtime fans.
Kay’s North American run was made possible in part by Tremaine “Six7” Williams, who joined the effort as U.S. manager and tour director. The live band — a tight three-piece featuring seasoned players on drums, bass and keyboards — added a dynamic, soulful foundation to her set.
For the Los Angeles date of the seven-city tour, Kay performed at The Miracle Theater in Inglewood, a venue that has emerged amid the area’s recent redevelopment. The marquee proclaimed “CRYSTAL KAY CK25 THE TOUR SOLD OUT,” and the packed house buzzed with anticipation as the show began.
Opening shortly after schedule, she stepped onstage in a sleek sequined top and black ensemble as her band launched into “hard to say.” From that moment the audience was on its feet — Kay delivered high-energy numbers like “Ex-Boyfriend” and “Girl U Love” with commanding vocals and playful stage presence.
Between songs she spoke to the crowd in both Japanese and English, warmly welcoming fans and urging everyone to dance and sing along. The set included tender revisitations of early material such as “Eternal Memories,” which she first performed as a preteen, and a dynamic rendition of “No Pressure” that moved from intimate piano to a bold, uptempo climax.
She then treated the audience to a medley of nostalgic fan favorites — from “TEENAGE UNIVERSE ~ Chewing Gum Baby” to “Sweet friends” — that transformed the theater into a communal celebration of her catalog.
In a heartfelt moment, Kay expressed gratitude for the fans who have supported her over the years and described the tour as the realization of a long-held dream: to connect directly with audiences around the world.
The show balanced hits and surprises: anime-theme powerhouses, rhythm-driven tracks where she showcased rap and vocal versatility, and soulful covers including Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature” and Janet Jackson’s “I Get Lonely.” Fan participation reached a peak during “Boyfriend -part II-” and the climactic performance of “Kirakuni,” a song that reunited many concertgoers with a beloved deep cut.
After an encore, the evening closed with an intimate performance of “Motherland.” Smartphone lights swayed across the room as the crowd sang along — a fitting finale to a roughly 90‑minute set that left the audience elated.
Overall, the L.A. show distilled Kay’s career into a vivid, well-curated program that appealed to longtime devotees and newcomers alike. The audience — predominantly local and youthful — demonstrated how Japanese music continues to find enthusiastic listeners abroad. Kay’s fluency in English helped her forge a genuine connection with the crowd, allowing her to convey stories and emotions across language barriers. With this momentum, she’s well positioned to broaden her international presence in the years ahead.
