By 2023.12.10
“2023 MAMA AWARDS Day1 Report!!”
The “MAMA AWARDS”, one of the largest music award ceremonies in KPOP, was held this year on November 28th and 29th at Tokyo Dome. Since my favorite group Kep1er was performing, I couldn’t help but attend Day 1 (28th) where Kep1er appeared.
So, let’s report on the experience of my first MAMA (Day 1) that I felt live!!
As the huge monitors began to show the VCR on time, the excitement in the venue was palpable.
The event started at 18:00, but I took my seat by 17:00, and while munching on a Tokyo Dome burger, I anxiously waited for the opening.
However, perhaps due to the food, I surprisingly started to feel sleepy, but thanks to chatting with my fellow Kep1ian companions, I managed to pull myself together, and before I knew it, it was 18:00.
As scheduled, the huge monitors in the venue began to show the VCR, and the anticipation in the venue grew.
Then, at the end of the VCR, the South Korean solo female rapper Lee Young-ji appeared.
She energized the crowd with her powerful rap performance.
Once Lee Young-ji’s stage ended, a blonde girl sitting at a desk appeared.
As everyone in the audience was wondering “Who? Who?”, the blonde girl shown on the monitor was none other than LE SSERAFIM’s Eunchae!!
With no prior announcement of Eunchae’s appearance, the excitement in the venue went into overdrive immediately.
During Eunchae’s solo performance, the crowd was buzzing the entire time.
Next up was a handsome guy playing the violin.
This also led to the audience asking “Who? Who?”, and the figure shown on the monitor was none other than ZEROBASEONE’s Zhang Hao!!
With a surprise appearance similar to Eunchae’s, the cheers and screams when Zhang Hao appeared almost broke the Tokyo Dome.
Moreover, Zhang Hao performed the signal song “Here I Am” from the audition show “BOYS PLANET,” which gave birth to ZEROBASEONE!
It was absolutely impossible to not get excited about that.
After Zhang Hao’s stage ended, the rap trio of TREASURE—Hyunsook, Yoshi, and Haruto—made their appearance.
This surprise appearance kept the venue at its peak excitement.
The TREASURE trio even went down to the arena where the audience was and treated their fans in the front row to high-fives, showcasing fantastic fan service.
Finally, Lee Young-ji, Eunchae, Zhang Hao, and TREASURE gathered on stage for a performance, magnificently closing the opening of the 2023 MAMA AWARDS.
This alone was compelling enough to assure one of this year’s MAMA’s success.
Day 1 MC Jeong Somi appeared and declared the opening of MAMA.
The first presenter was called out for the announcement of the Worldwide Fans’ Choice winners. This award is given to the top 10 groups selected through online voting in advance.
Day 1 primarily focused on announcing the Worldwide Fans’ Choice awards. The first names called were TOMORROW X TOGETHER and BTS. TOMORROW X TOGETHER made their award comments in Korean, Japanese, and English, showcasing their status as a global idol.
The first performance of the main event was JUST B. To be honest, I wasn’t very familiar with this group, but towards the end of their performance, one of the members took off his jacket, revealing his muscular upper body, causing yellow cheers to erupt from all over.
Following JUST B’s performance, the Favorite New Artist award was announced. This is an award that Kep1er also received last year, making it a personally touching moment. The first winner this year was RIIZE. Next, the Favorite Asian Male Group award was announced, which went to the Japanese group INI.
The presenter Bang Min-young was subsequently called up, and a VCR celebrating TVXQ’s 20th anniversary played, leading to the announcement of the Inspiring Achievement award. The award was, of course, given to TVXQ.
I couldn’t help but laugh at how fluent their Japanese was during the acceptance speech.
The next performing artist was &TEAM.
The performance began with a solo dance by K, and the crowd went wild. Indeed, K is not only an excellent dancer but also has a striking face.
Next was the third announcement for the Worldwide Fans’ Choice award, with ZEROBASEONE being called, marking their second win as newcomers.
The Galaxy Neo Flip Artist award was subsequently announced, and the winner was TREASURE.
The members themselves appeared surprised, and their high-energy comments were quite endearing.
Then, the VCR for the next performing artist began to play. It’s Kep1er!
As the VCR ended, Xiaoting appeared riding a motorcycle. When she took off her sunglasses and her beautiful face was zoomed in on the monitor, the crowd erupted in cheers, and everyone stood up. To be honest, I was worried that no one else would stand and only Kep1ians would be standing during Kep1er’s performance, but my worries turned out to be unfounded.
The performance featured the latest Japanese single “Grand Prix.”
A stunning stage with numerous backup dancers and illuminated flags.
During the interlude, the music stopped momentarily, and a few motorcycle boys came on stage surrounding Kep1er.
Just when it seemed like the bad guys were getting to Kep1er, Xiaoting, Bahie, and Yongun put on an action-packed scene to defeat the bad guys! The excitement in the venue at that moment was something I was proud of as a Kep1ian.
That’s right! Kep1er can do anything!
After the action scene, they captivated the audience again with a powerful dance break. Then, they sang the big chorus, and the performance concluded. Honestly, it was no exaggeration to say that Kep1er showed the most excitement up to that point. Just seeing them perform at Tokyo Dome was incredibly moving, but I was so proud of them for captivating even those who weren’t fans (for the second time).
After a brief 10-minute break, YOSHIKI made an appearance.
YOSHIKI started playing “ENDLESS RAIN” on the piano.
As I was excited to hear who would be singing, it turned out to be TOMORROW X TOGETHER’s Taehyun and Huening Kai! I was moved by their unexpected level of skill.
During the performance, there was also a rap segment by BOYNEXTDOOR’s Jaehyun, offering a different arrangement from the original.
And the biggest surprise was RIIZE’s Anton performing on the cello! The solo dance part featured ZEROBASEONE’s Han Yujin. After that, the lyrics were displayed on the venue’s monitors, creating a touching moment where everyone in Tokyo Dome sang along to “ENDLESS RAIN.”
The final high note from Huening Kai’s “Eeeendless Rain!!” brought me to tears. Overall, it was the best collaboration and personally the highlight of the day.
After the performance, the Favorite International Artist award was announced. And the winner was, of course, YOSHIKI. He expressed his gratitude in Japanese and English, but he spoke so softly through the microphone that I couldn’t quite catch what he said, although I could tell he was happy as he held the MAMA trophy above his head with a smile.
The next performance was by xikers.
This is a new boy group that debuted this year from KQ Entertainment, the agency of ATEEZ, which I also support along with Kep1er. Their passionate performance reminded me how great it is to be young.
Next came the announcements for the 4th and 5th winners of the Worldwide Fans’ Choice award, which went to ENHYPEN and Lim Young-woong respectively.
ENHYPEN expressed their gratitude in Korean, English, and Japanese, while Lim Young-woong delivered his comments through a video message. The cheers during ENHYPEN’s announcement were phenomenal, and the uproar during the Japanese member Niki’s comments made me think that more than half of the audience might be ENGENEs (ENHYPEN’s fan name).
Next up for a performance were JO1 and INI.
JO1 and INI both appeared together and dazzled the audience with a dance performance comprising a total of 22 members.
After each group performed, the collaborative performance between the two groups must have been an absolute delight for fans. As someone who supports Kep1er, who was born from an audition show, I can well understand the feelings of those who support audition program groups. After all, I’ve been watching them since they were nothing, so it’s only natural to develop some affection for them. Regarding Kep1er, I feel like they’re my niece.
Next came the announcement for the second winner of the Favorite New Artist award, which went to ZEROBASEONE, marking their third win of the day.
Next was the solo performance of Day 1’s MC, Jeong Somi.
Her charisma, which she displayed as the center of I.O.I, was still strong in her solo performance.
After another short break of about 10 minutes, I suddenly thought, “Huh? Kep1er hasn’t won anything yet, but could it really be that they’ve performed and received nothing?” This little anxiety crept in.
After the break, a collaboration stage featuring the South Korean hip-hop duo Dynamic Duo and participants from the popular dance survival program “STREET WOMAN FIGHTER 2” began.
This was the first time I learned about Dynamic Duo, but their way of energizing the crowd was impressive. Tokyo Dome instantly transformed into a massive hip-hop club.
Next came the announcement of the 6th and 7th winners of the Worldwide Fans’ Choice award, which went to ATEEZ and NCT DREAM.
Although ATEEZ was set to perform on Day 2, they actually showed up to pick up their award! I was pleased to see ATEEZ, whom I thought I wouldn’t get the chance to see, and to see them receiving their award in suits.
A fan girl holding a slogan for Yosang was shown on the monitor, and when Yosang noticed, he hilariously covered his face and smiled. It’s a must-see moment, for both fans and non-fans alike.
Including the members around him not reacting was also brilliant.
NCT DREAM delivered their acceptance comments via a video message. Despite being a video comment, the cheers were deafening, and perhaps the KPOP urban legend that Shizens (NCT’s fan name) show up everywhere is not entirely false.
Next up for the performance was ENHYPEN.
On this day, the loudest cheers and excitement demonstrated the popularity of ENHYPEN in Japan. No wonder they’re able to have solo dome concerts.
The new song “Sweet Venom” is a blend of 80s New Wave and American disco, which is totally my taste. I was glad I got to see the performance live. The catchy phrase in the chorus, “Heeheehee, heeheehee,” is so addictive. I feel like I end up saying that while washing my hair (probably not true).
Next was the announcement of the Favorite Asian Female Group award. I held my breath, anticipating the name of Kep1er to be called.
And then, the name called was…Kep1er!!
The members looked a bit surprised, but then smiles appeared on all their faces. Seeing the happy expression of Kep1er made me smile as well.
Being able to witness the moment Kep1er won an award, which I had only seen on TV last year, made me incredibly happy. And I was moved to tears when the leader Yujin called out,
“Kep1rians!”
Congratulations, Kep1er!
Next came the announcement for the 8th winner of the Worldwide Fans’ Choice, which went to Stray Kids.
They delivered a video message for their acceptance speech, but it felt somewhat lonely that the now hugely popular Stray Kids weren’t in attendance. I heard that a lot of STAYs (Stray Kids’ fan name) had secured MAMA tickets thinking that Stray Kids would perform. Perhaps that’s why the cheers when the video message played were so loud.
Next, TOMORROW X TOGETHER took the stage for their performance.
As soon as the intro for their hit song “Sugar Rush Ride,” which debuted this year, started, the venue went wild. The fans’ chants were perfect and demonstrated the fervor of the MOAs (TXT’s fan name). They then performed their latest song, “Chasing That Feeling,” showcasing a dance break with a racing concept, lifting the energy level in the venue. They truly proved why they are one of the top groups of the 4th generation.
“Chasing That Feeling” gives off a vibe reminiscent of Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” with an irresistible damp rush reminiscent of 80s UK techno. On a side note, Hyuning Kai, selected as the ending fairy (the person who strikes a pose in front of the camera at the end of a song), looked just like Kep1er’s Hyuning Bahie. Even though they are siblings, their resemblance is uncanny.
Then came the only Japanese presenter, Aoki Takahiro.
Aoki was always high-energy while the other presenter, Lee Jun-young, seemed low-energy. There was a stark contrast in their moods despite being called to the same event, but Aoki remained upbeat the whole time, which slightly boosted his likability.
These two announced the 9th and final 10th winners of the Worldwide Fans’ Choice. The winners were SEVENTEEN and TWICE.
SEVENTEEN also showed up to receive their award, even though their performance was scheduled for the next day. The audience erupted in cheers.
TWICE, the only female group to win, delivered their acceptance comments via video message. However, as it was clear that everyone was in casual wear and it seemed either early morning or late evening, they were huddled together filming outside in the cold. I couldn’t help but think, “Did they shoot this on short notice?” This made me realize once again just how tough it can be to be an idol.
Finally, the closing performance of Day 1 was by TVXQ.
As veterans with 20 years since their debut, their performance was exceptional.
Particularly, Changmin’s high notes were astonishing, making me want to ask, “Where is that voice coming from!?” His pitch was precise, and it really confirmed the prowess of a veteran.
During the classic hit “Rising Sun,” they surprised everyone with a collaboration stage alongside SM Entertainment’s rookie group RIIZE. The heartwarming scene of new and old SM stars sharing the same stage felt like something out of a shonen manga. No doubt, this sparked excitement. I’m sure long-time SM fans must have been thrilled. Fans of both TVXQ and RIIZE were in a frenzy.
Finally came the announcement for the last award of Day 1, the MAMA Award for Worldwide Icon of the Year. This prestigious MAMA award is presented to the group with the most votes out of the 10 groups chosen as Worldwide Fans’ Choice.
The winner was…BTS!!
Even though they had little to no group activities this year, they still received the highest number of votes, proving once again that they are indeed “the world’s BTS.” When Jungkook’s video message played, the venue erupted in deafening cheers. If they had actually shown up, I can’t imagine how wild it would have been.
In the video, Jungkook called out “ARMY!” (BTS’s fan name), and it seemed that most of the audience responded. I was curious about how many true ARMYs were actually there, but I did raise my voice in a “Yeah!” as a secret.
In the end, all the performers gathered on stage for a grand finale.
From 18:00 to 21:00, the three hours flew by in what felt like a blink.
As a KPOP fan, being able to experience MAMA, seeing Kep1er stand proudly on the Tokyo Dome stage and perform, and moreover, receiving an award, made it truly the best day.
This year’s MAMA faced criticisms for not featuring popular groups like Stray Kids, IVE, and NewJeans, but as someone who attended, I felt that even without those three groups, the show was thoroughly enjoyable overall. The collaboration stage with YOSHIKI and young KPOP stars was a unique experience that could only be seen at MAMA. Indeed, MAMA showcased the splendor of being the largest music award ceremony in KPOP.
On Day 2, I quietly watched on TV at home, where the grand finale featured SEVENTEEN alongside ZEROBASEONE, RIIZE, ATEEZ, TREASURE, (G)I-DLE, and LE SSERAFIM. The luxurious stage performances, as well as a superb collaboration stage featuring Kep1er’s Xiaoting, LE SSERAFIM’s Yunjin, and (G)I-DLE’s Minnie, were all incredibly satisfying to watch.
Especially Xiaoting’s solo performance of “Snake” (from the Gals Planet challenge!) with backup dancers caused a huge stir among Galaxy Planet fans, resulting in a flurry of posts on X (formerly Twitter).
In summary, thank you MAMA. Love you, Kep1er. That’s all there is to say.
The End
SKOOTA KPOP Department
List of Winners for the “2023 MAMA AWARDS”
MAMA Award for Worldwide Icon of the Year
BTS
Artist of the Year
NewJeans
Song of the Year
“Ditto” NewJeans
Album of the Year
“FML” SEVENTEEN
Best Male Group
SEVENTEEN
Best Female Group
NewJeans
Best Male Artist
JIMIN (BTS)
Best Female Artist
JISOO (BLACKPINK)
Best New Male Artist
ZEROBASEONE
Best New Female Artist
tripleS
Best Vocal Performance Solo
Park Jae-jung
Best Vocal Performance Group
AKMU
Best Collaboration
JUNG KOOK (BTS) – Seven (feat. Latto) – Clean Ver.
Best Dance Performance Male Solo
JUNG KOOK (BTS)
Best Dance Performance Female Solo
JISOO (BLACKPINK)
Best Dance Performance Male Group
SEVENTEEN
Best Dance Performance Female Group
NewJeans
Best Rap & Hip Hop Performance
Agust D (BTS SUGA)
Best OST
BTS – The Planet (BASTIONS OST)
Best Music Video
“FLOWER” JISOO (BLACKPINK)
Favorite Global Performer Male Group
ATEEZ
Favorite Global Performer Female Group
(G)I-DLE
Favorite Dance Performance Male Group
TREASURE
Favorite Dance Performance Female Group
LE SSERAFIM
Favorite Asian Male Group
INI
Favorite Asian Female Group
Kep1er
Favorite New Artist
ZEROBASEONE RIIZE
Favorite International Artist
YOSHIKI
Inspiring Achievement
TVXQ
Galaxy Neo Flip Artist
TREASURE
MAMA Award for bibigo Culture & Style
SEVENTEEN
Worldwide Fans’ Choice
TOMORROW X TOGETHER Lim Young-woong ZEROBASEONE ATEEZ Stray Kids BTS SEVENTEEN TWICE NCT DREAM ENHYPEN
Written by: Nekomachi Peco
Head of SKOOTA KPOP Department
〈Originally a Western rock music fan, I once considered working for a music magazine. After discovering KPOP through BTS and later falling into BLACKPINK, I started to seriously immerse myself in KPOP. I became a major fan of Kep1er, who debuted from the survival audition program “Girls Planet 999,” resulting in me fully diving into the KPOP scene.〉
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