Ongaku to Hito September 2025 Issue
Editor's File: "Nebula Romance" Comes to an End (Part 2/2)
At the same time, however, I also wonder if deciding to create Meguru-pu and include it on the album caused the overall story to change from what had originally been envisioned.
Kashiyuka's comment—"After this, no more songs came in"—also gives that impression.
The story depicted in Nebula Romance feels like a series of flashbacks, recalling all the countless moments Perfume has experienced throughout their career.
There was also a-chan's striking remark:
"I thought we'd quit while we were at our absolute peak. But that peak has already passed."
Perhaps back then they were working as hard as they could to be "Perfume," whereas now, Perfume has simply become who they are. The balance between those two states is different.
As you move through the story that is life, you come to realize many things.
And that's very similar to the story in Nebula Romance, where the three protagonists gradually discover who they really are.
At this milestone—25 years since forming and 20 years since debuting—Yasutaka Nakata, who has witnessed their changes all this time, may now be closing the loop that has continued until now in search of a new beginning. Perhaps this means the three members will no longer carry only other people's hopes and dreams, but will begin pursuing dreams of their own as well.
Put simply, perhaps they've just... become adults.
For twenty-five years they've felt they had to remain "Perfume." They've barely even changed their hairstyles, continuing to exist within a fixed image of what that group should be.
But perhaps, in this final chapter of the anniversary project, the day has come to step outside that mold.
If that's true, then even the choreography of "Meguru-pū" suddenly makes perfect sense.
The loop closes once—and then begins again.
Tokyo Dome will be the culmination of these past twenty-five years.
Perfume was born from the dreams and hopes of countless people, and grew through them. Now they may become a Perfume that still carries those dreams—but is ultimately driven by the will and determination of the three members themselves. Whether this interpretation—or perhaps fantasy—is actually correct will be revealed by Nebula Romance Part Two, and by the September 22–23 concerts, Perfume ZO/25 Anniversary "Nebula Romance Episode TOKYO DOME."
My heart is filled with both excitement and anxiety.
But one thing alone is certain:
That much, at least, is beyond doubt.
