It has been a irritating couple of years for music followers in Japan with so many occasions being canceled. Fortuitously, issues appear to now be again on monitor. Regardless of the report variety of Covid instances, the central authorities says there aren’t any quick plans to return to restrictions noticed throughout earlier waves of the virus. So long as issues keep that means, there ought to be loads to sit up for within the coming weeks and months. Here is a have a look at a number of the greatest and finest Japanese music festivals this summer time.
1. Fuji Rock
Japan’s most well-known music pageant is situated nowhere close to the enduring mountain it is named after. It was initially, although, again in 1997. Crimson Scorching Chili Peppers had been the headliners on the opening evening on the Fuji Tenjinyama Ski Resort in Yamanashi Prefecture. Lead singer Anthony Kiedis had a damaged arm and a storm threatened to place a halt to proceedings. They performed on, although, in a present that has gone down in music historical past. The next evening was cancelled, nonetheless, because of the excessive climate. The transfer to Tokyo in 1998 proved too humid, so a 12 months later the pageant discovered its residence within the cooler mountains of Naeba in Niigata the place it has remained ever since.
Headlining the Inexperienced Stage this 12 months are Vampire Weekend, Jack White and Halsey. Different names to look out for in Naeba embrace Mogwai, Foals, Cornelius, Tom Misch, The fin. and Bloodywood.
when: Jul 29–Aug 31
2. Rock in Japan
In distinction to festivals dominated by overseas acts like Fuji Rock, Rockin’On journal founder Yoichi Shibuya wished to create an occasion in Honshu led by Japanese teams. And so, he did, with Rock in Japan debuting in 2000. The primary 12 months, held in Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki Prefecture, was a two-day occasion that includes simply 16 artists that was lower brief because of the climate. Organizers, inspired by crowds of greater than 60,000, added a 3rd day the next 12 months. A fourth was added in 2014 and fifth in 2019 to commemorate the twentieth anniversary. Near 340,000 individuals attended three years in the past to see bands equivalent to Sekai no Owari, The Oral Cigarettes and Fragrance.
Amongst these acting on the opening weekend in 2022 are Yoasobi and King Gnu. From the eleventh to the thirteenth followers can see acts like Bump of Rooster, Hyde and One OK Rock.
when: Aug 6–Aug 13
3. Obtain Pageant
Conceived as a follow-up to Monsters of Rock, the Obtain Pageant was first held on the Donington Park motorsport circuit in Leicestershire in 2003. The massive-scale heavy metallic occasion ultimately spreads its wings past the UK, to international locations equivalent to France and Australia earlier than debuting in Japan in March 2019. Held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Ozzy Osbourne was introduced as the primary headliner however he pulled out due to pneumonia. Judas Priest then topped the invoice forward of bands equivalent to Sum 41 and Slayer. The 2020 occasion, slated to characteristic the likes of My Chemical Romance, The Offspring and Jimmy Eat World, was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
This 12 months’s occasion can be headlined by Dream Theater and Bullet for My Valentine. Additionally scheduled to seem are Mastodon, Metal Panther, Soulfly, On the Gates, Code Orange and The Halo Impact.
when: Aug 14
4. Rising Solar Pageant
For the final 20 years, the Rising Solar Rock Pageant has welcomed a number of the greatest names within the Japanese music business. It kicked off in 1999 with acts equivalent to Ringo Sheena, Thee Michelle Gun Elephant, Dragon Ash and Sunny Day Service enjoying to crowds of round 26,500. Initially simply in the future and evening, it expanded to 2 in 12 months three. Since then, artists and bands like Eikichi Yazawa, Tomoyasu Hotei, Ken Yokoyama, Mr. Youngsters and LiSA have graced the primary stage. The most important attendance on the massive house in Ishikari, Hokkaido was round 80,000 in 2008. The second evening all the time finishes shortly after 4am, when the solar begins to rise, therefore the identify.
Acting on the Solar Stage on Friday are Asian Kung-Fu Era, CreepHyp, Tremendous Beaver, Sumika and Yoasobi. Highlights on Saturday embrace King Gnu, BiSH and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra.
when: Aug 12–13
5. Summer time Sonic (and Sonic Mania)
With Fuji Rock having moved removed from Mount Fuji, Creativeman Productions CEO Naoki Shimizu felt there was a chance to stage one other worldwide pageant close to Japan’s most well-known vacationer web site. He established Summer time Sonic in 2000 with one half of the occasion debuting at Yamanashi Prefecture’s Fuji-Q Highland amusement park and the opposite in Osaka. The opening weekend was headlined by Inexperienced Day and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Different massive names included James Brown and Weezer, whereas decrease down the checklist had been up-and-coming bands like Muse, Sigur Rós and Coldplay. The next 12 months, the pageant was moved to Chiba. Sonic Mania, an all-night musical feast on the eve of the primary occasion, debuted in 2011.
Headline acts this 12 months on the Marine Stage in Chiba and the Ocean Stage in Osaka are Put up Malone and The 1975. Primal Scream will carry out the Screamadelica album at Sonic Mania.
when: Aug 20–21 (Sonic Mania takes place on Aug 19)
6. Music Circus
An upbeat pageant that includes a variety of DJs, bands and solo artists, Music Circus launched within the spring of 2014 on the Kobe Worldwide Exhibition Corridor. Greater than 50 acts carried out throughout 5 phases together with the likes of Steve Aoki, Showtek, Cedric Gervais and Deorro. In 2016, the pageant moved to Tarui Southern Seaside in Sennan Metropolis, Osaka, a man-made white sand seashore with palm timber throughout the water from Kansai Worldwide Airport. Described as the most important seashore social gathering in western Japan, can splash round within the water or take pleasure in a barbecue whereas listening to some high-quality music. After sundown the Senshu Firework Pageant illuminates the sky above.
DJs performing this 12 months embrace Jeffrey Sutorius, Yellow Claw, Banvox and former Exile member, DJ Makidai. Different names to look out for embrace AwichAklo, Electrical Dragon Japan and Cream.
when: Aug 27–28
7. Extremely Japan
Whereas Japan’s summer time season is alleged to be between June and the tip of August, it is nonetheless typically very popular in mid-September when Extremely Japan takes place, so we’ll embrace this one within the checklist too. It started in Miami in 1999 earlier than changing into a worldwide occasion when it debuted in São Paulo, Brazil in 2008. The primary Extremely Japan pageant came about in 2014 at Odaiba Extremely Park II in Tokyo. That 12 months was dominated by Dutch DJs equivalent to Martin Garrix, Hardwell, W&W, Fedde Le Grand and Afrojack. Huge names which have featured since embrace Underworld, David Guetta, Carl Cox, Steve Aoki, Empire of the Solar and The Chainsmokers.
The lineup for 2022 has but to be introduced.
when: Sep 17–18