Exploring the hidden depths of Japan could be more accessible than you think, thanks to The Dragon Trip’s budget adventures to the country. As well as being cost-effective, their trips offer an opportunity to really get under the skin of Japan.

The Dragon Trip helps travellers to foster a connection to – and sense of respect for – the places we visit. The guides you have will be local experts, leading you through fascinating, cheap, authentic experiences. And your fellow travellers? Well, they’ll be a group of like-minded, global citizens, united by their curiosity and excitement.

Over nearly six years, The Dragon Trip have welcomed over 4,000 people on life-changing adventures across China and Japan, with thousands more expected in 2017. Their diverse groups now consist of budget backpacking tours (including the young and young-at-heart), family tours, and student groups.

Website: https://thedragontrip.com/

The mission of specialist tour operator InsideJapan is to help their customers to get beneath the surface of Japan to gain a deep and fulfilling insight into the country, rather than just tick a few destinations off a sightseeing list.

Set up in 2000 by its two directors who had both lived in Japan, InsideJapan is staffed by expert consultants who have all many years’ experience of living and working in Japan. They can offer truly informed advice and guidance to help find the perfect holiday for you.

Whether you are considering an accompanied tour or wish to travel independently on a fully tailored itinerary, InsideJapan aims to offer you a first class service and great value for money to make your holiday of a lifetime to Japan the very best it can be.

Website: https://www.insidejapantours.com

The SHINOBI-TRY performance ninja group will be making a triumphant return to the HYPER JAPAN Festival with a fantastic fusion of martial prowess and acrobatic display. Swords will flash and bodies will twist and turn through the air as the members show off the limits of the human body, in a display that showcases precision and dedication to a martial art form. The action will be non-stop and viewers will find themselves watching with bated breath for the next incredible feat!

PROFILE
Founded in 2006, the group has earned its stripes performing at countless shows and stages across Japan. In 2010, the group performed in New York as a part of the JAPAN DAY festivities. More recently, the group performed at the Japan Expo in Paris, and made their UK debut at the HYPER JAPAN Christmas Market.

Website: http://shinobi-try.club/

Experience master shamisen player Hibiki Ichikawa at the HYPER JAPAN Festival this July. The strong sounds of Hibiki’s three-stringed tsugaru shamisen are the sounds of the old country of Japan, a tug on the heartstrings to start planning your next visit to Japan. Some of Hibiki’s students will be joining him on stage for a stunning ensemble of music, an event truly not to be missed.

PROFILE: Hibiki Ichikawa
Hibiki Ichikawa is the UK’s only professional player of the tsugaru shamisen; a traditional 3-stringed instrument played using a large pick called a bachi. In recognition of his great skill, he has been qualified to perform under a “Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Visa”, which is granted only to the most proficient artists.

Website: www.hibikishamisen.com

DJ anime characters aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, but believe it or not, we have a (live!) one coming to HYPER JAPAN – Minami Momochi! Looking as though she’s just stepped out of an anime, Minami is a DJ specialising in anison – the ridiculously catchy and memorable music that accompanies Japan’s wildly popular animated series. Be sure not to miss this, the first chance to see her in the flesh (?) here in the UK!

PROFILE
Minami hails from Fukuoka in Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, though she made her debut on TV Tokyo’s anime news variety show Anison Live. Since then, alongside her work as a TV personality she has made DJ appearances at events all over Japan, Asia and Europe. She has also appeared at the Sanrio Puroland theme park in Japan alongside the one and only Hello Kitty! At HYPER JAPAN, she’ll be playing a wide range of tunes, from well-loved standards to the latest hits.

Website: http://en.momochi373.com/

Experience a scintillating blend of everything that’s great about both traditional and modern Japanese music at HYPER JAPAN Festival 2017, with the UK debut performance by talented singer and performer Fuka Mariwo. Playing her special shamisen and dressed in her beautiful kimono, she may look like a traditional Japanese entertainer, but her sound is eclectic and up-to-the-minute, blending traditional genres with modern genres and instruments.

PROFILE
Fuka Mariwo is dedicated to discovering new musical possibilities by fusing traditional Japanese music with modern sounds to striking effect. She’s pushing geographic boundaries too, by performing in the UK for the first time ever at the HYPER JAPAN Festival 2017. Fuka is particularly passionate about the nagauta genre of music, originally developed to accompany kabuki theatre, which she grew up listening to. She has introduced her unique sound to audiences in France and Germany, and is looking forward to doing the same for the HYPER JAPAN audience.

Website: http://mariwonette.com/

Here’s yet another first for music fans at this year’s HYPER JAPAN Festival, as Visual-kei virtuoso SHIN gives his first performance outside Japan as a solo artist, and his first ever appearance in London! Formerly lead singer of the band ViViD, SHIN’s sweet but strong vocals combined with the rock vibes of the support band will surely appeal to both fans of visual-kei and general fans of Japanese music.

PROFILE
605 days after his previous band disbanded, SHIN made a debut as a solo artist at ROPPONGI EX THEATER in front of over 1,000 fans. With multiple tie-ups songs with anime series such as “Mobile Suit GUNDAMN AGE” and “BLEACH”, and overseas performances at various countries during his band era, SHIN has built a strong fan base in and out of Japan. Even though it still hasn’t even been a year since his solo debut, he will be performing at HYPER JAPAN this year, after which he will join THE SIXTH LIE for a European tour with shows in Paris, Cologne, Munich and Hamburg.

SHIN x THE SIXTH LIE EUROPE TOUR 2017 “THE INCEPTION”
2017/07/14 (Fri) Hyper Japan, London, UK
2017/07/15 (Sat) Hyper Japan, London, UK
2017/07/16 (Sun) Backstage, Paris, FR
2017/07/18 (Tue) MTC, Cologne, DE
2017/07/19 (Wed) Feierwerk, Munich, DE
2017/07/21 (Fri) Headcrash, Hamburg, DE

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
HYPER Live at HYPER JAPAN Festival 2017
14th(Fri) July　13:30
15th(Sat) July 20:30

Book Your Tickets Now!

SHIN Recommends

Website: https://shin-project.jp/

This summer’s HYPER JAPAN Festival offers a rare opportunity to learn about Chiptune music from two masters of the genre in an exclusive workshop. Acclaimed artist TORIENA, who is also performing at the festival, will be teaming up with electronic musician Shirobon, who started making music using a Nintendo Game Boy in 2006 and went on to release his first album ‘Golden Apples’. He also runs his own record label, Hyperwave.

In the workshop, Shirobon will explain how to create music using a Nintendo Game Boy. Using the original Game Boy and a cartridge with a music making ROM known as LSDJ burnt onto it, Shirobon will explain step-by-step how Chiptune is created. From the very basics up to sound design and song arrangement there will be something to learn for all levels.

Expect to learn some cool tricks and a bit of history on the Chiptune scene direct from someone who has been involved with it for over ten years! After a fun lesson in pure video game music creation Shirobon will also answer any questions that anyone may have.  Don’t miss this unique opportunity!

Participants will need to bring the following equipment with them to the workshop:

• A Game Boy that supports the larger cartridges (e.g. original Game Boy, Colour, Advance, etc.)
• A copy of LSDJ, the music making software for Game Boy, which can be downloaded at http://www.littlesounddj.com/lsd/
• A flash cartridge to burn the rom onto. Shirobon recommends a Drag’n’Derp cartridge or Overdrive GB which can both be found at http://www.retrotowers.co.uk/flash-carts (These two are best as you can connect via USB or SD cart making transferring files very easy)

Better yet – if you don’t have a Game Boy of your own, they’ll be available for sale from one of our exhibitors! More details to come.

Check out Shirobon at Square Sounds here!

Shirobon Website: https://shirobon.bandcamp.com/

Yes, rock bank THE SIXTH LIE will be performing for the first time ever outside Japan at this summer’s HYPER JAPAN Festival. The group’s towering ambition is reflected in their novel naming. Referencing Debussy’s quotation that art is the most beautiful of all lies, the band aim to create a lie so beautiful that it cannot be full experienced by the five senses. To this end, they combine an eclectic mix of genres ranging from danceable EDM to rock music with stunning live performances to create a truly memorable experience.

PROFILE
THE SIXTH LIE first performed live in March 2015, and followed this with their inaugural music video, entitled Wake Up Your Fire, which gained a lot of critical acclaim. Their debut album was released in September 2016, and in the same year the band was selected to appear at Knotfest in Japan; the prestigious rock festival created by the bank Slipknot. THE SIXTH LIE’s second album, entitled Differential, was released in January this year.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
HYPER Live at HYPER JAPAN Festival 2017
14th(Fri) July　16:30
15th(Sat) July 10:15

Book Your Tickets Now!

Website: https://thesixthlie.jp/

HYPER JAPAN is working together with Dreamy Bows this year, to transform our HYPER J-Style Fashion show into something extra special with an extra special host! – the Dreamy Bows x Kurebayashi Harajuku Show! Dreamy Bows is excited to present their incredible guest all the way from the heart of Harajuku; kawaii model, musician and designer, HARUKA KUREBAYASHI!

The Dreamy Bows x Kurebyashi Harajuku Show will be a kawaii extravaganza featuring a Harajuku runway show, styled and coordinated with help from Kurebayashi herself. The Harajuku Show models will walk the runway, decked out in cute attitude-filled outfits including pieces from LISTEN FLAVOR, a brand which Kurebayashi is known for representing and which is readily available to buy from Dreamy Bows at HYPER JAPAN.

The show will close with a cute and fun musical performance by Kurebayashi, encapsulating a snapshot of the Harajuku scene, right here at HYPER JAPAN – the UK’s biggest and most exciting showcase of Japanese kawaii culture!

If you’ve ever dreamed of strutting your stuff on stage and showing off your enthusiasm for Japanese street style, this is your chance!
If you think you have what it takes to represent Harajuku loudly and proudly, in Kurebayashi’s signature Decora or pastel style, this is also your opportunity to represent Dreamy Bows, model Listen Flavor and be super cute alongside Kurebayashi herself, on stage!
Not Decora or Fairy Kei? That’s ok – we would like show of a range of Harajuku Street Styles along side our Dreamy Bows models. Apply now for your chance to join in the fun.

If you have already submitted an application to model for the Hyper J-Style Fashion Show, your application will be still included in the model selection for the Dreamy Bows x Kurebayashi Harajuku Show.
Participants will benefit from free access to the event, as well as memories of their onstage experience to cherish forever.

Applications are now closed

Successful applicants will be notified by e-mail

We’re excited to announce that competitive cosplay will be returning to the HYPER JAPAN Festival stage with our brand new COSTest! While HYPER JAPAN welcomes cosplayers of all experience levels, and our well-known COSParade catwalk show welcomes all-comers, this competition celebrates the skills of those cosplayers who go the extra mile to make bespoke costumes that show their love for the characters they portray. With exciting prizes to be won, it’ll be a spectacle to behold and unforgettable fun for participants.

COSTest: Sunday July 16th

Applications close Midnight, Tuesday May 30th 2017

Rules and full details for the COSTest can be found in the application form below:

The HYPER JAPAN Festival 2017 will of course play host to another amazing installment of our beloved COSParade! The COSParade has always been an opportunity for cosplayers to strut their stuff on stage before an appreciative crowd, and this summer is no different. Our stage at Tobacco Dock will host an array of cosplayers who are eager to show off their skill and craftsmanship, from rookies to veterans, so come along and give this vibrant and hard-working community your full support! What’s more, this year all participants will receive an exclusive HYPER JAPAN towel, and one lucky winner will scoop an amazing present thanks to a prize draw on stage.

Applications close Midnight, May 30th 2017.

Yet another exciting musical experience is appearing for the first time ever in the UK at HYPER JAPAN Festival 2017, and this one is sure to have you up and dancing! KAIEN is a genre-breaking group of musical artists, including DJs, videographers, producers and dancers, who come together to create world-beating dance music with a distinctly Japanese flavour. Their distinctive sound combines the likes of electronic dance music (EDM), dubstep, progressive house and techno in new and exhilarating ways.

At HYPER JAPAN, expect a stunning performance involving dance, technology, video and performance, and yes, even 3D holograms! Don’t miss this…

PROFILE
With no regard for geographic or gender boundaries, KAIEN are a group devoted to creating exciting new musical and video experiences for their audiences. Their first, eponymous EP was released in 2015, while 2016 saw two singles, JUBILATION and Black Ship. Their second album, entitled 1853, was released last November, and HYPER JAPAN Festival 2017 marks their live debut here in the UK.

Website: http://wmg.jp/artist/kaien/

You can experience an authentic evocation of the real essence of Japan thanks to a ground-breaking group of artists who are performing at this summer’s HYPER JAPAN Festival. Encompassing dance, music and calligraphy, the group expresses traditional Japanese myths and stories using modern artistic techniques. The centrepiece is KIRIE or “mist painting”, a unique approach pioneered by group member Miko.

PROFILE
The group’s director is  Hirokazu Kumagai. A former model and photographer, he met Miko and was inspired to create the KIRIE group. Miko herself was born in Osaka, and her kimono-inspired body art was met with critical acclaim back in 2009. Their partnership acts as a focal point of the group, which now encompasses dancers, vocal percussion artists and even an animation expert. KIRIE have mesmerised audiences in Japan and elsewhere around the world in recent years. Now it’s London’s turn!

Website: http://kirie-jp.com/

This summer’s HYPER JAPAN Festival is going to be tastier than ever before, thanks to our special visitors Urban Food Fest. Yes, the hippest street-food vendors this side of Shoreditch are rocking up in their charmingly retro food trucks.

Amazing food is always one of the main attractions at our events, and this year there’ll be more choice than ever before. As Mike Egerton, founder of Urban Food Fest explains, “we are extremely excited to be a part of the incredible HYPER JAPAN 2017. We will be bringing 7 delicious gourmet global Urban Food Fest street food trucks and stalls to the Quayside food court at Tobacco Dock. We look forward to all the wonderful visitors enjoying our delicious street food dishes and drinks.”

There’s bound to be something to tantalise all taste buds, with a brilliant range of delicious cuisines on offer, all washed down with a tempting range of beverages. Urban Food Fest’s markets in a car park on Shoreditch High Street have become a mecca for the capital’s foodies, and now you can sample their wares whilst enjoying all the fun of the HYPER JAPAN Festival. It’s a truly lip-smacking combination!

Arancina

Menu

• Home-made risotto balls
• Margherita
• Vegetariana
• Carnivora
• Romana
• Nduja’e’Talegg
• Bona Vera
• Nobile
• Sottobosco

Japanese Fusion Dish

• Marherita base + + soy sautéed mushrooms and beans sprout + fresh parsley

Mai Taiko

Menu

• Chicken Katsu Burger
• Fish Burger
• Kara-age (JFC) chicken
• Wakame salad
• Coleslaw
• Edamame

Rolling East

Menu

• Saigon Spring Rolls: Deep fried thin pastry, generously filled with your choice of lean pork or lean chicken
• Summer Rolls: Delicious fresh rice paper rolls filled with fresh herbs, prawns and pork
• Frites: Seasoned with your choice of *Lemongrass & Garlic *Shallots & Garlic * Plain

Japanese Fusion Dish

• Bánh Mì: Light crispy guilt free baguettes filled with pâté, homemade pickled carrots & daikon, coriander and your choice of meat fillings

The Jerk Joint

Menu

• Jerk Chicken meal with rice, peas, and salad
• Curry goat meal with rice, peas, and salad
• Saltfish fritters
• Plantain
• Sweet potato Fries
• Patties

Japanese Fusion Dish

• Japanese Inspired Salad

Yorica

Menu

• Vanilla Fro-Yo
• Mango, Rainbow Candy, Chocolate & Orange, Cookies & Cream, Daisy’s Special and Peanot Butter (soy) Ice cream
• Toppings: Cream choco cookie, jammy wheels, marshmallows, gummy bears, coconut flakes, popcorn
• Sauces: Chocolate sauce, caramel sauce, raspberry coulis

Japanese Fusion Dish

• Matcha Fro-Yo

*Food truck lineup is subject to change

Join us for fun (and food!) in the sun!

Website: http://www.urbanfoodfest.com

The sakura cherry blossom viewing season is drawing to a close in Japan. If you were lucky enough to be there in person, we hope you enjoyed it! If you’re not, then don’t worry; this time of year also coincides with the build-up to the annual HYPER JAPAN Festival, which is the UK’s biggest celebration of Japanese culture, food and drink.

To say that the Japanese take cherry blossom-viewing seriously is an understatement, with the most celebrated viewing spots crammed full at this time of year, and even the smallest sakura tree fair game for a hanami (blossom-viewing) party complete with sake. More and more international visitors are seizing the opportunity to visit Japan at this special time of year, and manufacturers of food and drink products get in on the act with limited editions of their most popular wares.

By the time the HYPER JAPAN Festival rolls around in July, the cherry blossoms will be a distant memory for another year, but there will be many other aspects of Japanese culture to immerse yourself in. Sake first and foremost, but also great music, food and traditions to give you the best possible Japanese experience this side of Okinawa.

Some people say that the blossoms are at their most beautiful when they scatter, and in a similar vein we have a deluge of exciting new acts and attractions to announce over the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

No HYPER JAPAN Festival would be complete without an opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of Japanese sake, and this year’s Sake Awards and Sake Experience offer an unrivalled chance to sample and learn about some of the best sake coming out of Japan right now.

As Europe’s largest public tasting event for sake, there will be an unbeatable array of different sakes to choose from, to suit all palates and occasions. Whether you’re a seasoned sake sampler or a complete beginner, you’re sure to find something new and interesting to tempt your taste buds.

As well as getting to try what’s on offer, there’s a rare opportunity to speak directly with sake brewers and learn about their craft. To add to the experience further, attendees will be able to vote for their favourite, with all those taking part eligible for a draw to win fabulous prizes.

Last year’s event showcased dozens of sakes from eight sake breweries from across the length and breadth of Japan, and attendees got the chance to sample for themselves some of the country’s most exciting brews. To make sure you don’t miss out, book your ticket without delay!

• Tickets for the Sake Experience 2016 are now on sale for £15.
• Tickets are only available to those aged 18 or over
• An entry ticket to HYPER JAPAN Festival must be purchased separately
• Tickets are available through advance bookings only.

For the first time at HYPER JAPAN, we’re offering a special discounted rate on tickets for those aged 11 and above with a disability, while children aged 0-10 with a disability will be able to enter the event free of charge at any time over any combination of sessions. Discounts for adults are available for all sessions and ticket types, including Saturday dual-session and three-day tickets. As before, one accompanying carer will be offered free admission alongside a child or adult with a disability. Carer tickets can be collected on the day with proof of disability. This includes (but is not strictly limited to) Access cards, DID, GP letters, and proof of disabled allowance. Disabled visitors will be welcomed at the Pennington Street entrance.

A concession will also be available for senior citizens aged 60 and over.
Unfortunately, students do not qualify for the concession.

HYPER JAPAN always brings together the very best collection of live performances by Japanese artists to be found anywhere in the UK, and this summer’s festival is shaping up to be no exception. If you can’t wait until July to experience the exciting and eclectic sounds, however, help is now at hand in the form of our specially-curated Spotify playlists.

We’ve brought together a selection of our favourite Japanese tracks in a selection of genres, which are bound to get you in the mood for the upcoming musical treats on offer at the HYPER JAPAN Festival 2017.

We’re pleased to announce that this year’s HYPER JAPAN Festival will be more accessible to visitors with disabilities than ever before, in a number of different ways. As well as the range of discounted tickets being offered for the first time, the venue is being made more accessible in a number of ways.

In order to make entry to the Tobacco Dock venue as smooth as possible, visitors with disabilities will be able to use the Pennington Street West entrance instead of the regular entrance/exit. We are planning other innovations to make the event as accessible and enjoyable as possible for all our visitors!