From a Flying “Spear of Longinus” to Megumi Ogata’s Tearful Confessions and Gratitude! Evangelion 30th Anniversary Fest 【DAY 2】

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Evangelion series, the festival event "EVANGELION:30+; 30th ANNIVERSARY OF EVANGELION" was held at Yokohama Arena over three days, from Saturday, February 21 to Monday, February 23 (a national holiday), 2026. This report covers the events of the second day, Sunday, February 22, when the venue was overflowing with excitement.

■The Venue Reaches a Fever Pitch with a Special Live Performance by Yoko Takahashi

The highlight of the second day was the special live performance EVANGELION FLASHBACK by Yoko Takahashi. As a countdown video played on the large monitors on stage, Takahashi appeared accompanied by dancers, and the venue was instantly bathed in the light of cross-shaped glowsticks. The set began with "Shibashi Sora ni Inorite" and "Shiawase wa Tsumi no Nioi," featuring visual effects behind her that evoked iconic scenes from the series.

During her MC segment, Takahashi greeted the crowd: "Good evening, everyone. Thank you so much for gathering here today. It is truly because all of you are here that we can have this Eva 30th Anniversary Fest. We are supported by your incredible love and support." She also addressed the livestream viewers and international fans in English, saying, "Thank you for watching this! And I hear some of you have traveled from overseas to be here. I'm so happy to be here with you all, it's been 30 years of Evangelion. Thank you for your love and support. Please enjoy until the very end!"

Following this, she performed "Tsumi to Batsu: Inorazaru Mono yo" and "FLY ME TO THE MOON 2020." When she asked, "I bet some of you weren't even born yet when Evangelion first started, right?" a sea of glowsticks waved back in response, highlighting the large number of new-generation fans. She energized the crowd with "Kokoro yo Genshi ni Modore 2020," arranged to appeal to the younger generation, "Mugen Houyou" (which she composed herself), and a call-and-response during "Tamashii no Refrain."

A giant "Spear of Longinus" appeared on stage, and during the finale of "what if?", a performance where the spear soared through the air toward the audience drew massive cheers. After singing "Akaki Tsuki" and "final call" to end the main set, she returned for an encore in response to the crowd's cheers. The live show concluded with "teardrop of hope," which she wrote and composed, and her signature song "A Cruel Angel's Thesis," ending with a commemorative photo with the audience.