Taylor Swift Eras Tour Tokyo starts, Travis Kelce new album

Music

By Jack Hobbs

Is Japan ready for it?

Taylor Swift is officially back on the road with her world-famous Eras Tour, kicking off her first show in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday.

The “Love Story” singer swiftly took the stage in front of a sold-out crowd at the Tokyo Dome stadium, which holds 55,000 attendees.

Prior to the show, several fans were spotted braving the snow in order to secure their spot in line for merchandise.

The weather conditions have grounded several flights and derailed train schedules.

Swift, 34, is set to play at the sold-out venue through Saturday night before booking it back to the US to watch boyfriend Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Fransisco 49ers in Sunday’s Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

While several Swifties have expressed their concern that the “Lover” singer will be cutting it very close, the Japanese Embassy in Washington, DC, issued a press release on X (formerly Twitter) stating that it’s certain the singer will arrive in time.

“The Embassy of Japan in the United States is aware of recent media reports concerning the steps Taylor Swift will need to take to travel from Tokyo after her concert on February 10th to Las Vegas in time to watch the Kansas City Chiefs play in Super Bowl LVIII,” the statement began. “Despite the 12-hour flight and 17-hour time difference, the Embassy can confidently Speak Now to say that if she departs Tokyo in the evening after her concert, she should comfortably arrive in Las Vegas before the Super Bowl begins.”

“We know that many people in Japan are excited to experience Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, so we wanted to confirm that anyone concerned can be Fearless in knowing that this talented performer can wow Japanese audiences and still make it to Las Vegas to support the Chiefs when they take the field for the Super Bowl wearing Red.”

The pun-riddled statement was issued just days before Swift made music history by becoming the first artist to secure four Album of the Year awards at the 2024 Grammys in LA on Sunday.

Swift, who also won an award for Best Pop Vocal Album, announced during an acceptance speech that she’s dropping a 17-track album titled “The Tortured Poets Department” in April.

“I want to say thank you to the members of the Recording Academy for voting this way. But I know that the way that the Recording Academy voted is a direct reflection of the passion of the fans,” Swift said onstage at the Crypto.com Arena in LA. “So I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the last two years, which is that my brand-new album comes out on April 19.”

“It’s called ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’ I’m gonna go and post the cover right now backstage. Thank you. I love you. Thank you,” she added.

Conspiracy theories about her new music have already run wild, with many speculating that several songs are about her former beau, British actor Joe Alwyn. The release date also marks the start of the American Revolutionary War, when America begam to separate from Britain.

Kelce, 34, revealed during a pre-Super Bowl press conference that he has heard “some” of his girlfriend’s new album.

When pressed for further comment, the tight end stated: “I can’t give you anything. I’ll leave that up to her.”

The athlete did, however, squash rumors that he planned to propose to the singer at the football game.

“I’m focused on getting this ring, and that’s all that my mind’s focused on right now,” Kelce said.

Swift’s Eras Tour will continue to run through December 2024.