At the height of her superstardom, Janet Jackson made history by setting the record for the fastest sellout at the Tokyo Dome with her Rhythm Nation World Tour 1990. More than three decades later, her bond with Japan remains as powerful as ever. Over the past week, the pop icon returned for four arena shows in Yokohama and Kobe while simultaneously scoring a new number one hit with a remix of ‘Doesn’t Really Matter’ alongside Japanese boy group Be:First. The collaboration rocketed to the top of the Japan iTunes all-genre chart within an hour of its release.

The celebration reached its peak on June 14 at K Arena Yokohama, where Janet and Be:First shared the stage for a performance of their chart-topping collaboration. It was a rare cross-generational moment: longtime fans who grew up with The Velvet Rope and All For You stood shoulder to shoulder with a younger audience drawn by one of Japan’s biggest contemporary groups. The result was a reminder of music’s ability to bridge eras, cultures, and generations.

Janet said, “Japan has always been part of my journey. Experiencing Japanese culture from such a young age helped shape a part of me and my understanding of the world. This moment with Be:First reminds me that culture is the through line of our human experience, and I’m honored to continue building that connection in a place that has always held a special place in my heart.”

Check out Janet Jackson and Be:First’s live performance of ‘Doesn’t Really Matter’ remix below.