At the Belluna Dome outside Tokyo, at the start of the Asian leg of the After Hours Til Dawn Tour, the Weeknd introduced a new song called “Tokyo.” He was joined by Japanese singer Yoko Takahashi, whose 1995 recording “A Cruel Angel’s Thesis” — the opening theme for the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion — forms the basis of the track.
Takahashi performed the original song while Tesfaye played along onstage, giving the sample a direct, physical presence rather than treating it as a detached loop. It follows another new Weeknd track, “Rio,” which appeared in April, and suggests Tesfaye is building out new material without a formal announcement.
The moment also addressed the recent back-and-forth over whether he would retire the Weeknd name. In a new interview with GQ Hong Kong, Tesfaye said, “At one point I thought, ‘What if I just stopped?’ But then I realized what a waste all of that inspiration would be.” He added, “I had a glimpse of what retirement looks like, and it isn’t for me.” His conclusion was plain: “The Weeknd isn’t going anywhere.”
