On September 13, SUGA posted a photo on his personal Instagram, showing that he had stopped by a convenience store or supermarket selling a wide range of ARIH food and beverages — the brand that is collaborating with BTS. Along with the photo, he wrote a very short but adorable caption: “Nice to see you,” seemingly also as a way to promote the products the group is representing.

Interestingly, this very story answered a question that fans had been discussing ever since BTS returned to South кσяєα after completing the North αмєяι¢αn leg on September 8: Where had SUGA been while the other six members returned to кσяєα? On the shelves behind SUGA, several product names and prices were written in נαραиese. It turned out that he had traveled to the Land of the Rising Sun, and fans were quite surprised by his low-key trip.

The revelation also sparked another discussion: What was the actual purpose of SUGA’s trip to נαραи right after the North αмєяι¢αn leg ended? Many fans believe that it may have been more than just a typical vacation to sightsee and relax.

One theory gaining a lot of attention on social media suggests that SUGA may have gone to נαραи to watch a basketball game. One fan υиєχρє¢тє∂ly speculated, “Maybe he's there to see the basketball tournament. South кσяєα beat נαραи 100-83.” The fan also explained the basis for the theory: “He went to the נαραи Games in 2022. The Asian Games are being held in Nagoya, נαραи right now. I'm not saying he's there, but he could be.”

In fact, the 2026 Asian Games are currently being held in נαραи, specifically in the Aichi–Nagoya area. This is the 20th Asian Games, with the men’s 5x5 basketball competition taking place from September 10 to 26. The timing also happens to coincide perfectly with BTS and SUGA’s schedule: the group had just wrapped up the North αмєяι¢αn leg on September 7 and officially entered a break from September 8. While the other six members returned to South кσяєα, SUGA headed to נαραи instead.

More notably, on September 13, right around the time SUGA shared his story, the South кσяєαn men’s basketball team had also just faced נαραи in a group-stage match at the Asian Games. South кσяєα won 100-83, finishing at the top of Group A with three straight wins, while נαραи placed second. Lee Jung-hyun was South кσяєα’s top scorer with 25 points and 7 αѕѕists, while Jang Jae-seok contributed 18 points and 8 rebounds.

As someone with a strong pαѕѕion for basketball, SUGA has attended basketball games both in South кσяєα and abroad whenever he has had free time. Notably, also in נαραи in September 2022, SUGA attended the game between the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards as part of the 2022 NBA נαραи Games at Saitama Super Arena. During the same trip, he also met and took photos with Stephen Curry, the star of the Golden State Warriors.

At this point, fans became even more convinced by the theory that SUGA’s trip to נαραи may have been planned to coincide with the Asian Games — an event featuring the basketball competition he loves. The theory quickly received the strongest support on social media, as fans felt that no other connection make sense more:

- The timing is WAY too perfect. He loves basketball, he’s in נαραи, and the Asian Games are happening right now…I honestly wouldn’t be surprised

- Honestly, this theory makes SO much sense! Him flying to נαραи right around the Asian Games just to catch the basketball matches? That’s the most 'him' thing ever

- Okay, whoever came up with this Asian Games theory deserves a medal because there is literally no other explanation that makes this much sense

- He really said “Nice to see you” and casually dropped a נαραи location reveal while we were all wondering where he went

- If Yoongi actually planned his trip around the basketball tournament, that is SO him. He would absolutely turn his vacation into a basketball trip

- I was wondering why נαραи and why now, but the basketball/Asian Games connection just cleared up all my doubts

- The math is finally mathing! Traveling to support his favorite sport during a major tournament is such a wholesome and logical reason

- He really combine his vacay with his basketball hyperfixation. He really is a longtime basketball fan after all!