When I first heard about Zipangu Festival, I thought the idea of a Japanese music festival at the Rose Bowl was pretty exciting. Actually attending, however, never felt like more than a possibility even though Man With a Mission, Atarashii Gakko and Ado had been on my concert bucket list for quite some time. What can I say? Money has been tight for the longest time with other priorities coming up (Dragon Con and Japan say hi). So you can understand that concert tickets wouldn’t exactly be the biggest priority for me.
Then one day, after a particularly bad day at work, I bought a ticket on impulse. Retail therapy at work, everyone!
Present me would like to thank past me for that decision because Zipangu ended up being one of my favorite concert experiences ever. That’s not just because my music library already leans heavily toward J-Pop and J-Rock, it was simply a fantastic event from start to finish.
For those unfamiliar, Zipangu Festival brought together a diverse lineup of Japanese artists spanning multiple genres for a full day of music in the shadow of the Rose Bowl. As a first-year event, it was an ambitious undertaking, and aside from a few hiccups, it delivered.
Unfortunately, the main hiccup for me happened before I even got inside. The entry lines were absurdly long, causing me and many others to miss both TeddyLoid and HANA entirely. A disappointing start, sure, but not enough to derail the day.
Aside from the three artists I came specifically to see, I wasn’t very familiar with much of the lineup. By the end of the night, though, both 10-FEET and CHANMINA had gained a new fan. Their performances were excellent, and several of their songs have already found their way into my ever-growing music library.
Then Man With a Mission blew the nonexistent roof off the venue with a 40-minute set packed with fan favorites, including my personal favorite, “DATABASE,” and a surprisingly fun cover of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”
Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos from their set because, like Ado later in the evening, there was a strict no-photo and no-video policy. Honestly I was happy to abide by it, sometimes music is meant to be experienced in the moment rather than through a phone screen.
Atarashii Gakko delivered exactly the kind of controlled chaos I was hoping for. Between their energy, choreography and uniquely quirky songs, they easily put on one of the most entertaining sets of the night. If you asked me to describe them in one word, I probably couldn’t, you just have to experience them for yourself. Even without any photo restrictions, I found myself spending less time reaching for my phone and more time simply enjoying the show, something that became a recurring theme throughout the evening.
By this point, after several hours of standing, walking and jumping around, my feet were filing a formal protest. Knowing Ado was still to come, I decided to find a relatively quiet spot to rest both my feet and my ears.
Unfortunately, that meant I missed most of Yuki Chiba’s set. I’m sure he’s a talented performer, but between my exhaustion and my focus on saving energy for the final act, I never really gave his performance a fair chance.
After another short break, it was finally time for Ado. Of the three acts I was most excited to see, Ado sat firmly at the top of the list. Her previous Los Angeles appearances had conflicted with other plans, and before I go any further, let me just say this: the second she announces another Southern California show, that date is getting blocked off on my calendar.
She really is that good live.
Even with a festival length set of just over an hour, Ado completely owned the stage. If I walked away that impressed after 60 minutes, I can only imagine what one of her full headline shows is like with an even larger production behind it.
Her 14-song set featured many of her biggest hits, including “Usseewa,” “Gira Gira” and “Tot Musica,” which was absolutely spine-tingling to hear live. She also performed the live debut of her new song “Kira,” a certified banger that immediately earned a permanent spot in my playlist rotation.
After closing with a beautiful cover of Miki Matsubara’s iconic “Stay With Me” and the always-powerful “New Genesis,” the first-ever Zipangu Festival came to an end.
My ears were ringing, my feet were exhausted. And I’d do it all again in a heartbeat, because Zipangu was worth every penny, and I sincerely hope it becomes an annual event. If it does, there’s a very good chance you’ll find me back at the Rose Bowl next year.