BINI gave their Filipino hits a Japanese twist as they made their Summer Sonic 2026 debut in Japan.
The Nation’s Girl Group brought the special renditions to the Mountain Stage at the festival’s Osaka leg on August 14. Composed of Jhoanna, Aiah, Mikha, Sheena, Maloi, Stacey, Colet, and Gwen, the octet appeared onstage in colorful feathered outfits that appeared inspired by the Philippines’ Sarimanok.
READ: BINI on how their 'sisterhood' brought 'A Parallel World’ to life: 'It was relatable to us'
They immediately brought their signature energy to the stage, performing alongside their Besties and showing off the vocals, choreography, and stamina that have become hallmarks of their live performances.
BINI opened their set with “Cherry on Top,” followed by “Zero Pressure,” “Out of My Head,” "Born to Win," “Step Back,” “Blush,” “Sugar Rush,” and "Salamin, Salamin," before wrapping up their set with “Pantropiko.”
"Mabuhay ang musikang Pilipino," leader Jhoanna shouted as they ended their set.
Among the biggest highlights of their Japan debut was performing two of their well-loved songs, "Salamin, Salamin" and "Born to Win," with Japanese lyrics.
Released in 2021 under ABS-CBN’s Star Music, “Born to Win” has had a Japanese version available to fans for years, making its Summer Sonic performance a special moment as BINI finally brought the rendition to the live stage.
Meanwhile, “Salamin, Salamin” retained its original Filipino lyrics while incorporating Japanese lines, giving the hit song a Japan-inspired rendition without taking away its Filipino character.
Salamin, Salamin Japanese version 🇯🇵
— Mariel (@mariel_1001) August 14, 2026
BINI MAKES OSAKA BLOOM#BINI_SummerSonic_Osaka#BINIxSummerSonic2026 pic.twitter.com/H0V1jYQiTV
The performance allowed BINI to meet their Japanese audience halfway, bringing their own sound and Filipino roots while adding a touch of the local language to their highly anticipated festival debut.
The girls also showed off their Japanese-speaking skills as they introduced themselves in the foreign language in front of the festival crowd.
BINI introduces themselves in Japanese at Summer Sonic Music Festival 2026 in Osaka, Japan.#BINI_SummerSonic2026 #BINIxSummerSonic2026https://t.co/D8LRLY1NVa
— About BINI (@AllAboutBINIPH) August 14, 2026
Although WOWOW On Demand is the official livestream partner of Summer Sonic and its coverage is only available in Japan, several fans who attended the festival shared clips of BINI’s performance online, giving fans around the world a glimpse of their historic debut.
Some Blooms in the crowd were also seen waving Philippine flags as they cheered for the eight-member group.
Following the performance, fans took to social media to celebrate the group’s Summer Sonic debut and their effort to incorporate elements of Japanese culture into their set.
“Waaahhh!!! BINI Introduction in Japanese! Ang galing nyong mag-Japanese!!!! Parang nanonood lang ako ng anime!!! Sobrang napabilib nyo ako!!!!” one fan wrote on X.
“Ang saya nung little Japan-inspired touches sa intro. You can tell na pinag-isipan talaga nila kung paano babagay yung performance sa Summer Sonic without losing that BINI flavor. Ang satisfying ng execution!" another added.
“Vocals are vocals-ing! Choreo is choreo-ing! BINI, as always, is BINI-ing! Meaning? they never disappoint!! NEVER EVER!!” a netizen wrote.
The excitement surrounding their first Summer Sonic appearance extended beyond the festival grounds, as BINI became the No. 1 worldwide trending topic on X, reflecting the massive buzz generated by their performance.
Official fancams of their “Born to Win” and “Sugar Rush” performances were also shared on their social media platforms.
BINI will likewise take the Mountain Stage on August 16 for the festival’s Tokyo leg. It is the second-largest venue at Summer Sonic.
Joining BINI in representing Filipino talent at this year’s festival are Filipino-Japanese singer Ena Mori and fellow P-pop group SB19.