The UK’s largest Japanese culture event HYPER JAPAN is returning for a special Christmas Market next weekend.
The event will see the usual exciting range of activities and guests covering both traditional Japanese culture as well as contemporary culture across a wide range of topics including food, fashion and performances. This includes the World Cosplay Summit which promises to once again draw dozens of cosplay candidates competing to represent the UK at the World Cosplay Summit in 2015.
Music and performance once again plays a big part of Hyper Japan. Here’s our pick of the performers, along with a handy guide to schedules:
HATSUNE MIKU makes her Hyper Japan debut with special screenings in the concert room to enable fans to watch Miku in action – with the added bonus of green (of course) glowsticks to wave around during the performance. Each performance will run for around 30 minutes, with 100 people able to watch at a time.
There will also be other Vocaloid-themed talks, events and activities throughout Hyper Japan. The Miku element of the show has been brought about largely due to a collaboration with the grass-roots Vocaloid outfit Mirai no Neiro (Sound of the Future). This volunteer group aim to spread the word about Vocaloids globally and have pulled off successful performances in the US, Germany, Taiwan, Denmark, Switzerland, Mexico and Chile.
MIYU KOIKE will be making her UK debut at this November’s Hyper Japan. The Idol star clocked up seven indie singles before signing to Victor Entertainment this summer.
A regular fixture on Japanese TV and radio shows, Miyu is known for her quirky sense of humour and her Dojikko personality.
Schedule:
SUNDAY
14:00-14:40 Main Stage
ANNA YANO returns after her Hyper Japan debut in the summer.
Anna is an Aomoji-kei model affiliated with ASOBISYSTEM. She’s also a singer, having combined her work with her love of anime by performing ‘All Over’ and ‘Shape My Story’, the opening theme songs for Magica Wars and Stella Women’s Academy, Class C3 respectively.
Schedule:
FRIDAY
17:30-18:00 Main Stage
SATURDAY
13:00-14:00 Main Stage as part of HYPER J-Style Collection
16:30-17:30 Main Stage as part of HYPER J-Style Collection
SUNDAY
13:00-14:00 Main Stage as part of HYPER J-Style Collection
JOE INOUE is a musician born in the USA to Japanese parents, who credits anime and manga for helping him speak fluent Japanese despite growing up in Los Angeles.
He’s best known for ‘Closer’ used as the fourth Naruto Shippuden opening song and ‘Kaze no Gotoku’ which featured in a season of Gin Tama. He’s also a regular part of the J-MELO TV series.
Schedule:
SUNDAY
16:00-17:00 Main Stage with Diana Garnet
DIANA GARNET grew up in the US and developed a strong interest in Japanese pop culture from anime to music. She contributed a variety of cover songs for the Disko Warp record label and became a regular performer at anime conventions.
Working as an English teacher in Japan, in 2013 Diana won the Nihon TV Spring 2013 Nodojiman THE WORLD contest. Diana released her first single ‘Mata Kimi ni Koishiteru’ in October 2013 and followed it up with her first album COVER ☆ GIRL in November the same year.
Schedule:
SATURDAY
18:20-19:00 Main Stage
SUNDAY
16:00-17:00 Main Stage with Joe Inoue
SCARLETT YOUNG is best known for winning the UK Kawaii Star contest at Hyper Japan in 2011 and singing on Japanese TV show Nodojiman The World in 2013.
A member of UK outfit Oishii!Ichigo and MK Dance Group, Scarlett will be returning to Hyper Japan with performances on the sub-stage across the weekend – both as a solo artist and also as part of dance outfit MK Dance Group.
Schedule:
FRIDAY
19:30 – 20:00 Solo set at the Sub-Stage (Theme: Cute and Cool J-pop/Anison)
SATURDAY
18:20 Judge for the HYPER UTAU Karaoke contest at the Main Stage
SUNDAY
14:20 – 14:50 Solo set at the Sub-Stage (Theme: Cute and Cool J-pop/Anison)
KELSEY ELLISON has rapidly become a rising star of the UK performer scene on the back of her YouTube popularity as well as the many events she takes part in (Kelsey was part of J-Pop Go’s line-up at the recent Anime Attacks event).
The release of her single ‘Pom Pom’ raised her profile significantly and she returns to Hyper Japan next weekend with a special Christmas themed setlist.
Schedule:
FRIDAY
17.00-17.30 Sub-Stage with KleptoPenguin
18.40-19.10 Sub-Stage (with a chance to get signed polaroids after)
SATURDAY
10.30-11.00 Sub-Stage with KleptoPenguin
12.50-13.20 Sub-Stage (with a chance to get signed polaroids after)
16.30 Hyper Japan Fashion Show on the Main Stage
18:20 Judging the HYPER UTAU Karaoke contest on the Main Stage
SUNDAY
9.10-9.40 Performing with MKDanceUK on the Sub-Stage
11.10-11.40 Sub-Stage with KleptoPenguin
13.00 Hyper Japan Fashion Show on the Main Stage
HIMEZAWA has established herself on the UK scene with some stirring performance slots at events such as MCM Expo and Anime Attacks.
Himezawa also recently traveled to Japan to take part in the Moshi Moshi Nippon Festival. Hyper Japan marks her final performance slot of the year and promises a special goodbye setlist to celebrate.
Schedule:
FRIDAY
14.30 Sub-Stage
Also appearing on the bill will be performances from SIRO-A, Akari Mochizuki & Hibiki Ichikawa and a performance from Japanese fusion outfit NeM.
HYPER JAPAN Christmas Market takes place on 14th-16th November at Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, London W14 8UX
Nearest Tube: Kensington or Kensington Olympia
Opening Hours:
Friday 14th November – 14:00-20:00
Saturday 15th November – First Session – 09:00-15:00 Second Session – 15:45-21:00
Sunday 16th November – 09:00-18:00
Tickets:
Tickets cost £12 for the Friday and Saturday sessions, and £15 for the longer Sunday session.
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