The ancient Japanese art of calligraphy is brought right up to date by the exciting performance artist Rio Haruki at this year’s HYPER JAPAN Christmas Market. Calligraphy has been practiced for centuries in Japan, and the flow of the brush strokes on the paper has always been intrinsic to it as an art form.

Rio Haruki gives a modern twist to this ancient skill by expressing herself on large canvases to the backing of 21^st century musical accompaniment. Her performance calligraphy is a spectacle not to be missed.

BIOGRAPHY

A native of snowy Niigata prefecture, Rio Haruki has been practising Japanese calligraphy for over 20 years, and since 2012 it has been her main occupation. As well as teaching calligraphy in Japanese schools, she travels around Japan and elsewhere, taking part in exhibitions, events and movies to showcase her unique skills. She is becoming increasingly renowned around the world, having performed in France, the USA and now the UK.

HYPER JAPAN Christmas Market showcases the latest Japanese musical trend for modern acts inspired by the past, in the form of Misaki Iwasa and Hayabusa. From being a member of the phenomenally successful idol girl group AKB48, Misaki Iwasa has gone on to reinvent herself as a successful singer of enka, or traditional Japanese ballads. Her wide range of ability allows her to effortlessly bridge traditional and modern, and marks her out as a unique talent in today’s Japanese music scene.

Misaki Iwasa will be wowing the crowds alongside male pop trio Hayabusa. Like Misaki, this group gives a modern twist to a slice of Japan’s musical heritage, in this case 1970s-style J-POP ballads. They are proud to be making their debut appearance at HYPER JAPAN, and with their upbeat performances and catchy tunes, they are bound to put a smile on everyone’s face.

BIOGRAPHY

Misaki Iwasa was a member of AKB48 from 2010 to 2015. In 2012, she simultaneously launched a solo career as a singer of enka Japanese ballads. Her first single was a top five hit, and she has gone on to a string of successful releases.

Hayabusa formed in 2012, and since then they have released several successful singles and a hit album. They rose to further prominence this year when their song Eborebo! was used as the opening theme for the popular TV animation Dual Masters VSR.

Experience the unique talents of Ekotumi at HYPER JAPAN Christmas Market 2016. She’s a singer, songwriter and storyteller who dedicates herself to conveying the spirit of Japan’s ancient myths and legends to a modern global audience.

Ekotumi’s soulful singing is accompanied by traditional Japanese percussion with an unmistakably modern twist. She is particularly interested in the origins of words, and her performances are praised for their poetic lyrics set to haunting melodies.

BIOGRAPHY

Ekotumi is a graduate of Tokyo’s prestigious Waseda university, and during her time there she already performed in many musicals, plays and even movies. Since 2010, she has embarked on an ambitious series of performances called “New Translation KOJIKI”, which references Japan’s oldest existing written chronicle, the eighth century “record of ancient matters”. Since 2015, she has expanded her activities to a global scale, to bring Japanese myths and legends to new audiences around the world.

Witness the rebirth of one of J-POP’s most iconic names of the 1980s at this year’s HYPER JAPAN Christmas Market, as the new line-up of SHOHJYOTAI take to the stage. Though they take their name from a hugely popular band from 30 years ago, these three young girls, the eldest of whom is still only 16, have been making waves in their own right. They recently performed at ChinaJoy 2016 in Shanghai, which is the largest gaming and digital entertainment exhibition in China. Their musical style takes everything that made their 1980s namesakes so popular and brings it bang up to date.

BIOGRAPHY

SHOHJYOTAI, or Girl’s Group, is a name synonymous with the 1980s golden age of pop idols in Japan. The original band debuted in 1984, and had a string of successful hits before disbanding in 1989. In Spring 2015, the new line-up appeared, comprising Saya Nishino, Hazuki Kimura and Minami Kawano, with an average age of 13. They have since released songs including Golden Road, The Future Is Waiting and Forever.

Yes, a band of fearless warlords are making their way to this summer’s HYPER JAPAN Festival, but don’t worry; they come in peace. Their mission is to entertain you with their unique musical sound. That’s because The Age of Civil Wars is a mysterious rock band who so far have only appeared in animated form in the two music videos they have released so far. Amazingly, their appearance at HYPER JAPAN will be the first time they’ve ever appeared in the flesh anywhere in the world!

The Sengoku Jidai or age of civil wars in Japanese history took place around the fifteenth century, and was a period of violence and intrigue when great warriors roamed the country. The band’s imagery and music capture the excitement and romance of this time and bring it bang up to date.

PROFILE
The mysterious band calling themselves The Age of Civil Wars first appeared on January 1, 2017. Appearing only as animated avatars in their stylish music videos, the musicians are vocalist Nao-A, Kz on guitars and vocals. So far they have released two singles, Kyoka Ranbu and SAKURA.

Website: http://sengoku-jidai.jp/

HYPER JAPAN Christmas Market is proud to play host to a double musical treat this December, as London-based singer-songwriter Kohei Okutani performs supported by SeN-SA-ShuN, a self-styled “Japanese-Brazilian, funky, psychedelic rock & roll punk band!” With a master’s degree in English poetry, Kohei combines sensitive lyrics with traditionally-influenced music that resonates deeply with audiences in London and elsewhere.

BIOGRAPHY

Kohei Okutani styles himself as a “troubadour of the Heisei era,” referencing the reign of the current Japanese Emperor which began in 1989. After the release of his first single in 2010, he performed at live events in the Kansai region of Japan, and since the Autumn of 2015 he has based himself in London, where he has performed in pubs and bars and busked on the streets, as well as recording.

Spellbinding young magician Taijyu Fujiyama will be amazing the crowds with displays of the traditional Japanese magic known as Tezuma at this year’s HYPER JAPAN Christmas Market. Tezuma has evolved as a distinctive form of magic where, it is said, the hands move as fast as lightning. Taijyu will be performing a number of jaw-dropping tricks, including making Japanese umbrellas appear from this air and making faces change in the blink of an eye.

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Tokyo in 1987, Taijyu Fujiyama is one of Japan’s most exciting young magicians, and a leading proponent of the traditional Japanese performing art of Tezuma magic both domestically and internationally. In recent years he has travelled the world showcasing his talents at magic conventions and other events in America, Asia and Europe.

Get ready to strike a pose! Our friends at Tofu Cute are helping us to furnish a special, super-cute photo booth, populated by a host of cuddly critters that will serve as the perfect backdrop for a commemorative snap of your visit to the HYPER JAPAN Christmas Market 2016.

If you’re planning to attend the event resplendent in your full cosplay regalia, you’ll want to record the moment for posterity, and where better than in this purpose-built cocoon of cuteness? Even if you’re not dressing up to attend the event, you can still make use of the booth to take a few photos to remind yourself of all the fun you’ve had at HYPER JAPAN!

You can take your own photo (don’t forget your selfie stick!), or have one taken for you. The exact design of the booth will be a closely guarded secret until the event itself, so be sure to check it out when you arrive at the 2016 Christmas Market!