T.O.P, the former BIGBANG member, is opening up like never before about his long break from the spotlight. The rapper and actor recently sat down for an interview where he got honest about the emotional moment he finally met his fans again after nearly a decade away. He admitted that seeing them face-to-face almost made him break down.
The 38-year-old artist, whose real name is Choi Seung-hyun, graced the cover of the September issue of Highsnobiety Japan. In the interview that came with the photoshoot, he spoke freely about his roughly 10-year hiatus and what it meant to him.
T.O.P Says His Hiatus Was “A Time When I Found Myself”
Looking back at his time away from music, T.O.P didn’t see it as a loss. He called those years “a time when I actually found myself”. He believes that without that break, he wouldn’t have been able to return to music the way he has.
“Without that time, I don’t think I could have risen again while working on music,” he said.
The long pause gave him space to reflect and restart his career on his own terms. When asked to describe himself in one word right now, he picked “student.” He explained that he lives with the mindset of someone who is always learning, whether from nature, people, or everyday experiences.
The Emotional Reunion After 10 Years
The most touching part of the interview came when T.O.P talked about the moment he reunited with his fans. He didn’t hide how heavy it felt.
“I think I held back a lot of tears when we met again,” he confessed.
He went on to explain why the reunion meant so much to him. “Because there was a time of absence, I deeply realized the preciousness of meeting again,” he said. He added that since it was a reunion after 10 years, he wanted to show a stronger and slightly changed version of himself.
Free Fan Meeting in Japan Drew 10,000 People
Before the interview came out, T.O.P had already made a big move to reconnect with his supporters. On July 9, 2026, he held a free fan meeting called “RE:UNION” at PIA ARENA MM in Yokohama, Japan. The event was open to members of his official fan community TOPSX at no cost.
Around 10,000 fans filled the venue. T.O.P wanted to do something special for the Japanese fans who had quietly waited for him all those years.
“I thought for a long time about how to fill this first reunion after 10 years,” he said. “I wanted to repay the kindness of the Japanese fans who silently waited for me with a pure heart”.
The fan meeting started with T.O.P reading a handwritten letter he had prepared. He talked about his time working on music, his experience filming Netflix’s Squid Game season 2, and even trying out mukbang content on YouTube. He also performed live solo songs and showed off his deep voice and strong rap skills.
Special Moment With 82-Year-Old Fan
One moment from the Japan fan meeting touched people around the world. An 82-year-old Japanese woman, who had been a fan since T.O.P’s debut, got to interact with him on stage.
When the emcee asked what she wanted from the star, she replied, “I’m already a grandma, so seeing him in person is enough for me”. T.O.P looked moved by her words. To show his thanks, he gave her a hug and presented her with a rose while kneeling on one leg.
Fans online called the moment beautiful and said it proved that age should never stop anyone from supporting the artists they love.
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New Album Is Ready, T.O.P Says
T.O.P also shared good news about his music. He revealed that his next album is ready to go. “The album is ready to be released anytime. I think it won’t be long,” he said.
He explained that his first full solo album, ANOTHER DIMENSION, which came out in April 2026, told personal stories about his own life. But the second album will be different. It will talk about the world and people as he sees them.
“There will be quite bold expressions and new expressions that haven’t been seen before. You can look forward to it,” he promised.
At the Japan fan meeting, he also premiered the character music video for the song “After the Play Ends” from his first album.
Asia Tour Is Already Underway
This year marks T.O.P’s 20th anniversary since his debut in 2006. To celebrate, he launched the “T.O.P PRE-STUDIO 2026” brand tour.
The tour kicked off on August 15 in Hong Kong. The Taipei show sold out completely, which led to an extra performance being added. More stops across Asia are planned, including Jakarta on September 19 and Kuala Lumpur on September 27.
T.O.P considers talking directly with fans his top priority right now. After the Japan event, he shared his feelings on social media. He posted photos with Japanese businessman Yusaku Maezawa and a cake that read “Thank you for coming back”.
Fans who attended the events have been sharing their excitement online. Comments included “The stage is still so explosive” and “You can really feel the BIGBANG glory”.
Also Read: BIGBANG’s T.O.P Announces Solo Music Comeback “TOP SPOT – ANOTHER DIMENSION” for 2026
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Sources: Daum
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