TAIPEI, Taiwan — The iconic Taiwanese idol group F4 made a rare and emotional reunion on Saturday night, sharing the stage for the first time since 2016 during the final night of Mayday’s eight-concert series at the Taipei Arena.
The surprise performance was part of Mayday’s ongoing “Back to That Day” anniversary tour, which began in Taichung in 2023 to celebrate the pop-rock band’s 25th year in music. The tour’s nostalgic theme set the perfect stage for F4’s return — a group whose legacy helped define a generation of Taiwanese pop culture.
As the concert reached its emotional peak, Mayday frontman Ashin referenced the landmark 2001 idol drama Meteor Garden, which launched F4 into stardom. He described the evening not just as a moment of personal memory but as a celebration of an entire era. “It was a time when you’d see meteor showers when you looked up and gardens beneath your feet,” Ashin told the crowd before introducing the group.
The four original members — Jerry Yan, Vic Chou, Ken Chu, and Vanness Wu — appeared onstage and performed their signature ballad Meteor Rain alongside Ashin, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
“This reunion took two years to make happen,” Ashin said after the performance. “Everyone overcame a lot to make this moment possible.”
Vic Chou expressed gratitude toward Mayday for coordinating the schedules that allowed the reunion to take place. “I’m deeply touched. This is my first time attending a Mayday concert, and it’s such an honor,” he said.
Vanness Wu promised to return as a guest in future Mayday concerts to jam with the band. “Thank you all for sharing this beautiful night with us,” he said in English. “God bless you.”
Ken Chu, known for his candid humor, joked about the secrecy of the event. “I had to keep pretending I didn’t know anything. Whenever someone asked me, I just said, ‘I’m not close with them,’” he laughed.
Jerry Yan closed the reunion segment with a heartfelt message: “I feel like I’m dreaming. I never thought in my lifetime that all four of us would be back on stage together. It’s truly amazing.”
To cap off the night, F4 and Mayday performed The Song of Laughter and Forgetting (笑忘歌) together, giving fans a finale they’ll never forget.
F4 rose to fame in the early 2000s as Taiwan’s first idol boy group, formed following the immense success of Meteor Garden, the local adaptation of Japan’s Boys Over Flowers manga by Yoko Kamio. The group later rebranded as JVKV to avoid legal issues related to the original manga’s name.
Though F4 officially disbanded in 2009, their impact on Asian pop culture remains influential, with members continuing to work in various entertainment industries across Asia. Saturday night’s performance served as a powerful reminder of the group’s lasting legacy.
