Taylor Swift fans in Tokyo share why she means so much to them
TOKYO — Fifty-five thousand fans packed inside the Tokyo Dome for night one of the 2024 Eras Tour. Each fan had a different journey, but they all have one thing in common: an adoration for Taylor Swift. Every era was on display from "Junior Jewels" T-shirts to velvet green "Willow" cloaks to the supportive father sporting a "Swift Dad" tee.
As they piled into the arena, they shared their stories. Among them was a Japanese fan who learned English by listening to Swift's songs, an American influencer who has been to six tour stops and 3,000 Chinese Swifties who held a 50-foot banner.
Taylor Swift teaches English
"I've been her biggest fan for 10 years," Mao Oishi said, "and it's my first time to see her."
Oishi held a carabiner with hundreds of friendship bracelets that took her more than a month to make. When I asked her what she would say to Swift if given the chance, she took a moment, covered her mouth in surprise at the idea and replied, "The biggest reason why I speak English is because of her. Because of her songs, now I am able to speak English."
Her favorite song is "This Is Me Trying" from "Folklore."
Chris Olsen is 'repping' all black
TikTok star Chris Olsen jetted from the Grammys where he watched Swift announce her 11th album, "The Tortured Poets Department," to Japan with one of his best friends, Mae Hurtig. The two work black, head-to-toe, because they're in their "Reputation" era.
"Every time you hear a Taylor song, you hear something new," Hurtig said. "Her lyrics are just that rich. I'm excited to go in, listen to the setlist that I've heard a billion times and discover something new."
Hurtig and Olsen went to the Los Angeles show that was taped for the Eras Tour film. Olsen then went to Argentina and heard her sing, "Karma is the guy on the Chiefs coming straight home to me." And now he's watching the tour kickoff in Japan.
"The crowd always gives different energies," Olsen said. "The Tokyo crowd already seems amazing."
3,000 Chinese Swifties fly to Japan
Outside of the Tokyo Dome about 100 fans with the Swiftie LuoSifen Group SN held a banner that read, "We will stand by you forever. Please don’t have Chinese Swifties waiting on you."
"We want her to come to China," Tang Jun Yu said. "She is with me a lot. When I feel sad, I listen to her and I cheer up."
Around 3,000 members of the group made the trip and had white towels with black letters that said, "Chinese Swifties will always be your A-Team."
Swift continues her Japan leg for three more nights. Her next tour stop is Melbourne, Australia.
Follow Bryan West, the USA TODAY Network's Taylor Swift reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @BryanWestTV.