Hikaru Utada performs “Electricity” for Music Awards Japan, sporting a brand new wig

A screenshot of Hikaru Utada’s Music Awards Japan performance “Electricity” — featuring Hikaru in a short wet wig and a grey dress.

Hikaru Utada performed “Electricity” for the Music Awards Japan. The performance was not live at the show, but pre-recorded. Hikaru Utada was in the Beyoncé phase of their career before Beyoncé was in the Beyoncé phase of her career. ‘I will not be turning up to awards show to perform. I only turn up to my tours to perform. All awards show performances will now be pre-recorded and WeTransferred to the necessary parties.’

But it is a shame that Hikaru wasn’t able to perform live in person. I think them actually being at the Music Awards Japan would have been a real statement. Hikaru is not only somebody who made history in Japanese music, but is an act who is still active and still enjoys commercial success. But they’re also a Japanese act from the early 2000s of the Heisei era who has navigated the shifts in the music business and become mindful of their fans outside of Japan — several of Hikaru’s peers have struggled to maintain the level of relevancy and quality control of their music and branding as they have. Hikaru is a symbol of what the Music Awards Japan seems to want to show Japanese artists and music to potentially be. So for Hikaru to just pre-record a performance, it did feel a bit like a let down. Hopefully there will be a year where they turn up in person. But Hikaru Utada is fully in that period of their career that Beyoncé is famously in and Namie Amuro was in before her — refusing to jump through the hoops and refusing to perform at award shows. And d’you know what? I ain’t mad at it.

I can’t help but wonder when this performance was filmed. Because you’d think a performance of “Mine or Yours” would make more sense, given that it is the most recent single. But I guess Hikaru and their team figured that “Electricity” was more uptempo and fitting for the inaugural Music Awards Japan. And I guess “Electricity” has had a recent push with the remixes and a performance at Coachella, so it does makes sense. Also, sonically it feels YMO adjacent, with YMO being honoured for the show.

Okay. I just talked myself into why “Electricity” was a better choice than “Mine or Yours”.

A screenshot of Hikaru Utada’s Music Awards Japan performance “Electricity” — featuring Hikaru in a short wet wig and a grey dress, on a set on large steps and glowing plinths.

Hikaru Utada performing “Electricity” for Music Awards Japan | CEIPA

I’m over “Electricity” though. And I did not like the wig, the dress or the performance. But the set was gorgeous. It looks identical to the set they performed “Traveling” on for their NHK TV special Utada Hikaru ~Oshiete! Hikaru-san~ back in April 2024. Although I prefer the Utada Hikaru ~Oshiete! Hikaru-san~ performance of “Electricity”, because of the inclusion of Aoi Yamada and Hikaru giving us some choreo.