Music Jun 2, 2022
Japan's music festivals are prepping for a summer comeback
by Patrick St. Michel
Music acts are coming in from overseas and a hobbled festival scene is hoping to have its best year since the pandemic began.
National / Media | Japan Pulse Sep 10, 2021
Hip-hop is getting a bad rap this summer
by Patrick St. Michel
After footage of unmasked, crowded rap fans at a festival spread online, mainstream news outlets zeroed in on hip-hop itself.
National Sep 8, 2021
Aichi music event sees government cash pulled over lax virus measures
Alcoholic drinks were sold at the venue despite the prefecture's request not to sell such beverages and social media videos showed audience members not practicing social distancing.
Music Aug 30, 2021
Aichi hip-hop event organizer slammed for lax coronavirus steps
Namimonogatari2021 festival defied live concert industry guidelines on alcohol and ticket sales, as well as social distancing, says Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura.
Music Jul 31, 2019
Fuji Rock '19: The 'international' festival gets more worldly
by Philip Brasor
On the Thursday night before the Fuji Rock Festival begins in earnest, part of the festival site is open to everyone free of charge.
Music Jul 27, 2019
The Japan Times is up the rainy, windy mountains of Niigata to cover the weekend’s fun-for-all Fuji Rock Festival, where the headliners this year are The Chemical Brothers, SIA and The Cure. But that’s just a tip of the iceberg.
Music Jun 20, 2019
Japan's summer festivals plan for a final party before Olympic fever hits
by James Hadfield
As Yo La Tengo once sang, "summer's what you make it," and that's especially true in Japan this year. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics are likely to throw a major wrench (or should that be hammer?) in the works for next summer's festival ...
Music Feb 8, 2019
Chemical Brothers, The Cure and Sia among first batch of acts for Fuji Rock Festival '19
by Jordan Allen
Also appearing on the bill are Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke, James Blake, Mitski and Janelle Monae, with many more still to be announced.
Music | Sound Off Oct 25, 2018
Amid Japan's multitude of music festivals, Frue is worth celebrating
by James Hadfield
As the opening set started at Festival de Frue last year, it was clear the organizers wouldn't be making a profit. Quirky J-pop act Wednesday Campanella, who had played to a capacity crowd at Fuji Rock Festival a few months earlier, kicked off its ...
Music Aug 3, 2017
The 2017 edition of the Fuji Rock Festival boasted one of the more eclectic lineups the long-running gathering has had in recent years. It was also one of the wettest ones on record.
Music Jul 26, 2017
With Fuji Rock happening this weekend, it's time to start making sure you've got everything you need to make the festival an unadulterated success. Here's a list of essential items you should consider trying to squeeze into your bags: Footwear: You're likely to need rain ...
Music | Sound Off May 18, 2017
Taicoclub's role in Japan's electronic music scene will be missed, so catch it while you can
by James Hadfield
When I interviewed Taro Yasuzawa this time last year, he didn't let on that he was about to pull the plug on the event he'd been organizing for the past decade. A few weeks later, it was official: Taicoclub, the plucky all-night music festival ...