J-POP SUMMIT 2017 CELEBRATES JAPANESE POP CULTURE THROUGH AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH “ARTS, EATS AND INNOVATIONS

The San Francisco Bay Area’s Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Event

Concludes Another Successful Annual Festival Showcasing Live Music,

Pop Art, Sake And Ramen, Travel And Cutting Edge Technology

The J-POP SUMMIT delivered another colorful edition this past weekend with a multifaceted celebration of Japanese pop culture for its 9th annual Festival held in San Francisco. The Festival took place at the expansive Ft. Mason Center for Arts and Culture on the San Francisco Bay.

This year’s theme was ARTS, EATS, and INNOVATIONS and the program delivered a vibrant array of Japanese pop culture genres that featured live music, food and travel attractions, and interactive technology displays and artistic demo opportunities. The Festival was further accented by ramen vendors, sake tasting, and appearances by several celebrity Guests of Honor. Attendance this year topped 20,000.

“The annual J-POP SUMMIT continues to be one of the preeminent platforms for showcasing unique aspects of Japanese pop culture in the United States and we want to thank all of the talented artists, sponsors and people that continue to make this one-of-a-kind event so special,” says Seiji Horibuchi, Chairman of the J-POP SUMMIT Committee. “We look forward to the continued evolution and growth of the J-POP SUMMIT brand and to begin working on the 10th anniversary of the event!”

This year’s artwork featured throughout the festival venue was designed by guest artist Hiroyuki-Mitsume Takahashi, who drew a huge crowd for his digital live painting collaboration with Bay Area local VJ Tim Abad. Other notable live acts on the main stage included BAND-MAID, May’n, Babyraids Japan, Misaki Iwasa, YANAKIKU, Zoomadanke, TOKYO GEGEGAY, Azumi Inoue & Yuyu, Mitz Mangrove and LINQ OG.

J-POP SUMMIT attendees also enjoyed the festival’s inaugural ARTIST PROJECT, a DIY area where one-of-a-kind artwork was created. Participating brands included CHIKAKEN x TAKEKICHI, MAMARACHO, Ukiyo-e Heroes, and s | kubo.

Another iconic performance artist that participated this year was Ken Hamazaki, who presented the Red Tea Ceremony in collaboration with ITO EN, one of Japan’s most popular tea brands, along with the best-selling shochu brand, iichiko USA, and SOU・SOU KYOTO San Francisco, a Kyoto-based apparel brand that features kimono-inspired contemporary designs.

Ramen Summit and Sake Summit
Japanese ramen and sake, as well as the opportunity to “virtually travel to Japan,” were among the highlights from this year’s summit. Now in its second year, the Ramen Summit featured top-rated ramen restaurants based in San Francisco including Nojo Ramen Tavern, Orenchi Beyond, Marufuku Ramen, Hinodeya Ramen & Bar and Yoroshiku, from Seattle. Each ramen booth featured their own unique style of ramen and over the weekend guests enjoyed more than 4,000 ramen bowls. Guests also treated themselves to a variety of popular snacks, drinks of various Japanese food and beverage companies from around the Bay Area and Japan, as well as good eats from local food trucks including JapaCurry, J-Shack, We Sushi and Wapioca.

The Sake Summit featured prominent sake-makers and distributors from Japan and the U.S., where guests were able to enjoy a one-hour tasting of a variety of sakes and whiskeys. Participating brands included Kikusui, Hakutsuru, Ohishi Whisky, Midorikawa,Takara Sake USA, Sasaiwai, and Hatsumago among others. New this year was the Sake Summit Premium – for guests who wanted to go beyond the daytime sake tasting. This Premium event featured an educational lecture by Todd Eng from Sake Brothers, small bites from Shige Sushi, Kemuri Japanese Baru x UZUMAKIYA and Dandelion Chocolate, and a sampling of rare premium bottles of Japanese sake, Okinawa Awamori and rice whisky from Sake Summit sponsors such as SUSHI RAN, Sakenomy, and Ohashi Ryoki. Attendees were also invited to join sake club Kampai Sake Box, a sake subscription and gifting service.

Travel Pavilion
Back after popular demand from last year’s J-POP SUMMT, the Travel Pavilion featured Japankuru’s virtual trip to Japan, “Japanimmersion” where guests were able to dive deep into Japanese culture and “visit” three zones - fusing the past, present, and future. Guests were also able to meet Go-Torch characters and regional mascot characters from multiple cities in Japan, as well as witness traditional dances, tea ceremony demonstrations, practice Japanese calligraphy and play interactive games. The entire Travel Pavilion was a true immersion into Japanese culture.

Interactive Summit
This year’s edition displayed cutting edge Japanese and US technologies collaborating exclusively at J-POP SUMMIT. With the theme of “Open Playground,” J-POP SUMMIT engaged leading corporations, emerging start-ups and J-Pop stars alike by collaborating to bring out the best of the burgeoning worlds of technology and entertainment. Panasonic and Fujitsu engaged in a “tech hug” revolution, where attendees’ whole bodies were transformed into remote controls that could make a jacket light up (A.C.T by Fujitsu) or control IoT objects (hugpathy technology by Panasonic).

At the forefront of gaming novelties, Interactive Summit gave visibility to the growing community of Dendama players led by guest stars Jake Wiens from Kendama USA (US) and Zoomandanke (Japan). The device is a new take on traditional “kendama” game turned into a highly addictive IoT agility game where friends can battle across continents. Panasonic exhibited interactive game “Samurai Battle” by using “Hugpathy,” and NTT Solmare brought their famous dating simulation game series "Shall we date?”

VR and AR was also big this year, as the Festival displayed new ways to showcase and engage virtual worlds. These places with clever, directional vibration patterns were sent to participants’ remote controls (Miraisens’ next generation 3D haptics). Visitors enjoyed the Milky Way galaxy like never before with footage captured in stunning 8k 360° resolution (NHK TV programs). Other technology put the rest of attendees’ bodies to use such as the challenging virtual drone battles (Xooms), AR concert digital graphic effect (Comusumegane by NTT West), and VR professional baseball training (VR sport coaching by NTT Data).. Attendees were also introduced to the modern singing synthesizer, Vocaloid by YAMAHA, which makes a virtual singer sing.

J-POP SUMMIT was a vibrant demonstration of Sci-Fi dreams; introducing products available to every type of consumer. Topology offered custom-made pairs of glasses molded to fit only the wearer’s face (goodbye sore ears!). Atmoph gave visitors the power to turn a bare wall into a vivid window to virtual lavender fields or snowy mountain landscapes at the touch of a button. Sound Table (KAMARQ) rendered audio speakers, weather stations and phone chargers obsolete by incorporating them all into a dining room table, leaving more space to enjoy with friends and family. SoftBank brought Dendama, Sound Table and Atomoph to J-POP SUMMIT as a part of their Future Marketing Unit project to showcase unique start-ups.

J-POP SUMMIT 2017 ANNOUNCES ITS PREMIUM LINE-UP OF RAMEN, SAKE AND FOOD VENDORS

Hinodeya Ramen

The San Francisco Bay Area’s Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Event

Announces A Slate of Japanese Food and Drinks Participants at

Fort Mason Center For Arts and Culture This September

J-POP SUMMIT 2017, one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, announces another exciting year with a diverse line-up of Japanese ramen chefs, sake producers, and food and drink vendors to be featured on Saturday, September 9th and Sunday, September 10th starting at 11:00am at the Fort Mason Center For Arts and Culture’s Festival Pavilion, located at 2 Marina Blvd in San Francisco, CA. The two-day slate of Japanese food and drinks are paired alongside an extensive roster of attractions, participants, exhibits, and other live programming. Tickets are available now starting at $35 for adults and $15 for kids ages 6+ at: www.J-POP.com.

Ramen Summit
Launched in 2016, Ramen Summit returns this year featuring top-rated ramen restaurants from around the Bay Area as well as Seattle. The ramen restaurants will show off their best broth and noodles from 11:00am-6:00pm in the Festival Pavilion Parking Area inside Fort Mason Center. A J-POP SUMMIT pass is required to get into Ramen Summit, and you must purchase a ramen ticket (only available on-site) for $8/bowl. The Ramen Summit is curated by RAMEN SUMMIT producer Mr. Maruyama, and sponsored by Yamachan Ramen, Sun Noodle, and Kikkoman. More details at http://www.j-pop.com/2017/ramen-summit/

Slurp a variety of ramen from:
• nojo ramen tavern
• Orenchi Beyond
• Marufuku Ramen
• Hinodeya Ramen & Bar
• Yoroshiku

Sake Summit
Prominent sake-makers and distributors from Japan and the U.S. will gather at the Festival Pavilion inside Fort Mason Center from 11:30am-4:30pm. A J-POP SUMMIT pass is required to get into Sake Summit, and you must purchase a sake tasting ticket for $10/per person (21 years and older) for a one-hour tasting. The featured tasting menu includes a variety of sakes from:
• GRC Imports
• Hosoda Brothers Inc. (Sat. only)
• JFC International
• NA Sales
• Sake Brothers (Sun. Only)
• Sushi Ran (SAKE SUMMIT Premium only)
• Takara Sake U.S.A. (Sat. only)
• Wismettac (Sat. only)

Guests can download the app, Sakenomy, that lets you study sake, record your impressions, and find the sake you’ve been looking for. Guests can also join sake club Kampai Sake Box, a Sake subscription and gift service, that delivers the hand-selected finest sake from Japan right to your doorstep.

For guests who want to go beyond the daytime Sake Summit, J-POP SUMMIT is offering a new Sake Summit Premium event on Saturday, September 9th from 6:30-9:00pm at the Fort Mason Center Firehouse. A J-POP SUMMIT pass is required, as well as the purchase of a Sake Summit Premium ticket for $30. (https://sakesummitpremium.eventbrite.com/）

This Premium event will include a fun and educational lecture by Todd Eng (founder of Sake Brothers.com and a Advanced Sake Professional certified by the Sake Education Council), small bites from Shige Sushi, Kemuri and Dandelion Chocolate, and sampling of the premium $40 – $100+ bottles of sake, most of them prepared in small batches with a high degree of hands-on artisan care. Come treat yourself to the celebration of Japanese tradition and innovation! This event is limited to 80 attendees, so purchase tickets in advance to guarantee entry. Sake Summit Premium is presented by JFC International, NA Sales, GRC Imports, Takara Sake USA Inc., Hosoda Bros Inc and SUSHI RAN.

Snacks, Drinks & Food Trucks
A variety of Japanese snacks, drinks, and local food trucks will also be offering Japanese fare available for purchase. The food trucks will be stationed in the Food Park located outside the Festival Pavilion.

Food trucks will include:
• JapaCurry
• J-Shack
• We Sushi
• Wapioca

Inside the Festival Pavilion is the Food Court that will feature samplings and sales of popular and delicious Japanese snacks and drinks offered by:

• iichiko
• SAPPORO
• Kikkoman
• ITO EN
• Choya
• Takara Sake U.S.A.
• Minamoto Kitchoan
• Hirotako
• Shige Sushi
• Shimadaya

Tickets
A variety of affordable ticket options will give J-POP SUMMIT attendees the maximum amount of flexibility to customize their memorable festival experience. Adult single-day passes start at only $35.00 each; 2-day passes start at only $50.00 each. Ticket details are available at www.j-pop.com/tickets/.

Additional dance and music artists to perform at J-POP SUMMIT 2017

J-POP SUMMIT 2017 ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL

MUSIC AND DANCE ARTISTS AND

OTHER KINETIC LIVE PERFORMERS

The San Francisco Bay Area’s Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Event

Presents Anison Singer May’n, Kendama Performers Zoomadanke,

Vogue-Inspired Dance Team TOKYO GEGEGAY, And Renowned

Studio Ghibli Singer Azumi Inoue And Daughter Yuyu

J-POP SUMMIT 2017, one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, has announced additional dance and music artists set to perform at this year’s festival.

This year’s event will be highlighted by an exciting 2-day slate of live music from a wide range of top Japanese pop, anison (anime song), dance, electronica, enka (Japanese soul) and rock artists that will complement an extensive roster of immersive experiences and attractions inspired by the wonders of Japanese pop culture.

Just-added artists that are scheduled to perform include anison rock singer, May’n, world-renowned professional Kendama performers from Japan, Zoomadanke, the vogue-inspired dance performance group, TOKYO GEGEGAY, and the mother and daughter singing duo of Azumi Inoue & Yuyu; the widely renowned singer of theme songs to beloved anime films from the legendary Studio Ghibli, and her daughter Yuyu.

The newly added artists complement other live performers previously announced that include BAND-MAID, Babyraids Japan, Misaki Iwasa (Former AKB48) and YANAKIKU.

J-POP SUMMIT 2017 takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 9th and 10th at the Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture located in San Francisco’s Marina district. Attendees will experience the festival’s theme of ARTS, EATS and INNOVATIONS; a vibrant celebration of Japanese pop culture featuring live music, Japanese food and travel attractions, and interactive technologies. The festival is accented by ramen vendors, sake-tasting, and additional events highlighted by celebrity Guests of Honor. Festival details are available at www.J-POP.com.

J-POP SUMMIT 2017 (Fort Mason Center-only) Tickets are available for VIP, 1-Day, 2-Day, and Kid’s Passes (ages 0-12). Adult single-day passes start at only $35.00 each; 2-day passes start at only $50.00 each. Additional ticket purchase details can be found at: http://www.J-POP.com/2017/Tickets.

About May’n

As one of the must-see Japanese female rock vocalists of a new generation, May’n has performed a wide array of music for anime. She drew initial acclaim as the singing voice of Diva of the Galaxy, Sheryl Nome, in the anime series, Macross Frontier. In 2014, she made a long-time dream come true by completing her biggest world tour ever consisting of 47 cities in Japan and multiple foreign countries, including her first-ever appearance at J-POP SUMMIT in San Francisco. More details available at: http://www.j-pop.com/guests/mayn.

About Zoomadanke

Zoomadanke is one of the most famous professional Kendama performers in Japan. The duo consists of Takeshi Kodama (Kodaman) and Hiroki Iijima (Easy). They are pioneers who blend the elements of Kendama, which is a traditional Japanese wooden toy, with dance and music to create a new style of live performance. Their stylish and acrobatic performances also have captured a growing international following. More details are available at: http://www.j-pop.com/guests/zoomadanke.

About TOKYO GEGEGAY

TOKYO GEGEGAY is an eccentric art and dance performance group led by Munetaka Maki, aka MIKEY, along with four girls: housewife BOW, yoga instructor MARIE, University student MIKU, and the Colleen Bawn of the group, YUYU. TOKYO GEGEGAY recently won the 10th Japan Dance Forum Award. This award is given to an individual or a group with a remarkable year of creative activity and who has made a major contribution to dance scene in Japan. The group also has performed in the Philippines and Thailand. By crossing cultural borders, the troupe has leveraged the power of dance and has received extremely positive coverage from fans and the media. More details available at: http://www.j-pop.com/guests/tokyo-gegegay.

About Azumi Inoue & Yuyu

Making her debut in 1983, Azumi Inoue first gained notice as the singer of the end theme for Hayao Miyazaki’s Studio Ghibli anime movie, Laputa: Castle In The Sky with “Carrying You.” Performing as a singer on many early Studio Ghibli movies, she is also known for such favorites as the opening and closing themes for My Neighbor Totoro: “Stroll” and “My Neighbor Totoro;” and incidental music for Kiki’s Delivery Service: “Changing Seasons” and “Maho No Nukumori.”

Yuyu is the daughter of Azumi Inoue. In 2012 Yuyu made her debut at the age of seven on the public broadcasting channel NHK, performing the song “6 Sai No Ballad” (6 Year-Old’s Ballad) for the TV show, Minna No Uta, which has a 50-year history, was bombarded with requests for the song, making it a huge hit. In 2014, her song, “Hanbun Otona” (Half an adult), a duet performed with her mother Azumi Inoue, was also broadcast on NHK’s Minna No Uta, making it her third consecutive song to be shown on the program. She is currently a 12-year-old junior high school student. More details are available at: http://www.j-pop.com/guests/azumi-inoue-yuyu/.

Visit www.J-POP.com for additional festival information and a comprehensive listing of all the J-POP SUMMIT 2017 attractions and events.

About J-POP SUMMIT
J-POP SUMMIT is one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events held annually in San Francisco, CA. As an open playground of discovery and diversion inspired by the wonders of Japanese pop culture, J-POP SUMMIT presents ARTS, EATS and INNOVATIONS; a vibrant celebration of Japanese pop culture featuring live music, Japanese food and travel attractions, and interactive technologies. With more than 20,000 attendees for two days, the festival has become an immersive landing platform for new trends from Japan.

Official website: www.j-pop.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JPOPSummit/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JpopSummitFest
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jpopsummit

NHK WORLD culinary and pop culture personalities will be coming to J-POP SUMMIT 2016

Chef Tatsuo Saito and Yu Hayami of Dining with the Chef

NHK WORLD’s Chef Tatsuo Saito and Show Host Yu Hayami,

Artist/Japanese Pop-Culture Provocateur Sebastian Masuda and

Domobics to Highlight San Francisco’s J-POP SUMMIT 2016

Prominent Japanese Chef, Renowned Kawaii

International Art Director and Domo/Dance Group

Join Annual Festival to Celebrate Japanese Culture

NHK, Japan’s sole independent public broadcaster, will bring NHK WORLD culinary and pop culture personalities to the 8th annual J-POP SUMMIT in San Francisco.

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 takes place Saturday and Sunday, July 23rd and 24th at the historic Fort Mason Center located in San Francisco’s Marina district.

Chef Tatsuo Saito and Yu Hayami of “Dining with the Chef,” Sebastian Masuda, art director of “Kawaii International” and Domo, the official mascot of NHK, who will appear with the J-POP idol group, Tokyo Performance Doll (TPD) to perform on-stage Domobics, will convene in San Francisco to participate in the two-day Japanese pop culture extravaganza. NHK WORLD is the all-English language channel of NHK and is available in Washington, D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Charlotte.

Chef Saito and Yu Hayami, internationally-acclaimed singer and actress with deep passion for food, will introduce “JAPANESE FOOD,” NHK WORLD’s new website launching June 20. The website will include an array of recipes, tutorials, relevant articles and NHK WORLD program information for viewers to experience and try Japanese cooking at home. The duo will also demonstrate cutting technique of raw fish “Sashimi” and vegetables specific to Japanese cuisine preparation on the J-POP SUMMIT main stage. At the NHK WORLD booth #412, they will have a “Chef Saito’s Cook and Chat” show, demonstrating how to prepare an easy-to-make Japanese popular casual dish for U.S. home cooks. Sebastian Masuda is the art director of “Kawaii International,” NHK’s pop culture program that explores everything from Tokyo street fashion to art and design. He will welcome visitors to his “TIME AFTER TIME CAPSULE” workshop, which includes an interactive art installation in the shape of NHK mascot, Domo. Domo will accompany J-POP idol group, Tokyo Performance Doll (TPD) as they make their U.S. debut performing Domobics, a fun, rhythmic dance exercise.

A prominent master of Japanese culinary arts around the world, Chef Tatsuo Saito has served as head chef at the Japanese embassies in Paris and Washington D.C. He also runs a cooking school in Tokyo, works in TV, magazines and on the lecture circuit, and is also a prolific author. In “Dining with the Chef,” Chef Saito takes audiences to the heart of Japanese cuisine through insightful analysis of the culinary techniques used with various ingredients and provides inside instruction on everything from basic to startling professional skills.

Creator of the art project “TIME AFTER TIME CAPSULE” and vanguard of Japan’s Kawaii culture, Sebastian Masuda, art director of “Kawaii International”, is celebrated for his film, theatre and clothing designs. Mr. Masuda speaks internationally at museums and conferences and often discusses the culture of Kawaii and its impact on pop culture in Japan and around the world. At this year’s J-POP SUMMIT, Mr. Masuda’s interactive “TIME AFTER TIME CAPSULE,” in the form of Domo, will be available for fans to insert Kawaii memorabilia into, which will return to Tokyo to be displayed during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 announces variety of festival contests

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 ANNOUNCES A FUN VARIETY OF JAPANESE

POP CULTURE INSPIRED SONG AND DANCE CONTESTS

The San Francisco Bay Area’s Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Event

Announces The Return Of J-POP IDOL Karaoke Contest,

Odottemita Dance Contest And Popular Cosplay Masquerade;

First-Ever “J-POP Queen” Drag Contest Also Announced

J-POP SUMMIT 2016, one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, has detailed a fun and colorful variety of festival contests, open to attendees and set to be hosted and judged by notable festival Guests of Honor.

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 takes place Saturday and Sunday, July 23rd and 24th at the historic Fort Mason Center located in San Francisco’s Marina district. This year, J-POP SUMMIT attendees will be able to experience a vibrant 2-Day celebration of Japanese pop-influenced culture including edgy fashion events, pop art exhibits, live music, interactive showcase and session, accented by ramen vendors, sake-tasting, and additional attractions also highlighted by celebrity Guests of Honor. Full details on 2016 J-POP SUMMIT are available at: www.J-POP.com.

Complementing this year’s dynamic live music program that features some of Japan’s hottest pop, rock and dance artists, J-POP SUMMIT 2016 will deliver a brand new edition of J-POP IDOL, karaoke contest with the support from The Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco. The participants are invited to pay tribute to their favorite Japanese pop stars. This year’s J-POP IDOL will be judged by featured Guest of Honor, pop stars, Silent Siren. The video submission period is from June 3rd to June 15th, and the winner will receive a special gift from Silent Siren, in person. Entry guidelines are available at: www.j-pop.com/j-pop-idol-contest-2016/.

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 is also proud to announce the launch of the festival’s first ever “J-POP Queen” Drag Contest that will feature special celebrity judge and Japanese drag royalty, Mitz Mangrove, and will be hosted by San Francisco’s most sought after gay icon D’Arcy Drollinger. Contestants are invited to empower their inner J-POP Queen and don their most extravagant costumes to compete with lip sync performances based on pop-inspired themes such as kimono, school-girl, cosplay, and Harajuku-looks. The submission period for performance videos runs from June 20th to June 30th. Full contest details and complete entry guidelines are available now at: www.j-pop.com/drag-contest.

Guest of Honor Mitz Mangrove is a celebrated Japanese TV personality and has used her gender fluidity, eloquent speech and powerful personality to help bring gay culture into the mainstream in Japan, smash stereotypes and redefine how it is perceived. Mitz Mangrive made her professional debut as a singer in 2011 through the Nippon Columbia label with the single, “Wakaitte Subarashii.” She is currently also an active member of the choral trio, Hoshikuzu Scat. Mitz Mangrove is also a star and host a variety of TV and radio shows, and has become a familiar face of everyday Japanese entertainment. For additional artist information, please visit: www.j-pop.com/guests/mitz-mangrove.

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 also celebrates the return of the Odottemita Dance Contest, an online dance phenomenon-inspired competition that has been part of the J-POP SUMMIT main stage program since 2011. This year, the competition will take the form of contestant created video submissions, with the pre-selected winners to the stage and perform as part of their prize. The contest will be judged by festival Guest of Honor and featured performers, GARNiDELiA. Join the competition now by submitting a dance video. The winner will receive an exclusive gift from GARNiDELiA in person. Entry guidelines are available at: www.j-pop.com/odottemita-dance-contest-2016/.

Finally, attendees are invited to join in, or simply witness the creativity and colorful spectacle of the JPOP SUMMIT 2016 Cosplay Masquerade, hosted by leading online cosplay community, Coskami. Winners will receive special prizes from JPOP SUMMIT 2016 co-host Coskami. Pre-registration is ongoing at: www.j-pop.com/cosplay-contest-2016/.

Jaoanese pop art illustrator KAORI WAKAMATSU to be a guest of honor at J-POP SUMMIT 2016

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 WELCOMES JAPANESE POP

ART ILLUSTRATOR KAORI WAKAMATSU

AS A GUEST OF HONOR

The San Francisco Bay Area’s Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Event

Presents The Renowned Artist And Illustrator For Her First-Ever U.S.

Professional Appearance As A Special Guest Of Kinokuniya Bookstores

J-POP SUMMIT 2016, one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, has announced that it will welcome pop art creator – Kaori Wakamatsu – as a Guest of Honor at this year’s festival.

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 will take place Saturday and Sunday, July 23rd and 24th at the historic Fort Mason Center located in San Francisco’s Marina district.

Kaori Wakamatsu is acclaimed for her vivid illustrations highlighted by delicate and stylized imagery and her innovative use of patterns, manga and fashion-esque themes. The artist will make her first-ever U.S. appearance for several exclusive autograph sessions on both days of the J-POP SUMMIT at the Fandom Booth powered by 2016 festival sponsor, Kinokuniya Bookstores.

Passes to attend one of the autograph sessions will be available to the first 200 people that purchase at least $20.00 of Kaori Wakamatsu products or a Kinokuniya Gift Card ($20.00 or more) from the Kinokuniya’s Retail Booth during J-POP SUMMIT. Autograph sessions will take place inside the Fandom Booth by Kinokuniya, located adjacent to main Kinokuniya’s Retail Booth. See more details at http://www.j-pop.com/kaori-wakamatsu-autograph-sessions.

This year, J-POP SUMMIT attendees will be able to experience a vibrant 2-Day celebration of Japanese pop-influenced culture including edgy fashion events, pop art exhibits, live music, a technology summit and display, and interactive activates, accented by ramen vendors, sake-tasting, and additional attractions also highlighted by celebrity Guests of Honor. Full details on 2016 J-POP SUMMIT are available at: www.J-POP.com.

A variety of affordable ticket options and V.I.P packages will give J-POP SUMMIT attendees the maximum amount of flexibility to customize a memorable festival experience. Adult single-day passes start at only $25.00 each; 2-day passes start at only $40.00 each. Ticket details are available at www.J-POP.com/Tickets.

Kaori Wakamatsu began her career as an illustrator in 2002. Her artwork is featured on a variety of consumer products including postcards, calendars, and book covers. The artist uses both traditional and digital tools to create her work and effectively conveys a vivacity that appeals to today’s digital generation while also incorporating delicate and whimsical details. Kaori Wakamatsu has gained widespread notoriety in Japan and also internationally among those interested in Japanese pop art and culture. She says, “When illustrating characters, I try to put the atmosphere and the world around the person into the picture.”

Kaori Wakamatsu’s notable works include the character designs for a popular Japanese social game, “Brilliant Thieves Royale (Kaito Royale).” Her bold and stylish designs have helped the game attract over 10 million players and prompted it to be adapted into a TV series. Wakamatsu also has designed cover illustrations for more than one hundred books across multiple genres including historical novels, detective stories, and youth fiction. In 2014, Kinokuniya bookstores in San Francisco and Seattle featured one of Wakamatsu’s designs on their loyalty cards.

Official Artist Website: www.graffiti-bunny.com
Official Artist Blog: http://gb-blog.seesaa.net.

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 announces advance ticket sales and V.I.P. special packages

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 ANNOUNCES ON SALE

TICKETS AND V.I.P SPECIAL PACKAGES

The San Francisco Bay Area’s Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Event Announces

Advance Tickets Including Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Opening Night Bundles;

1-Day & 2-Day Festival Passes; Artist Meet & Greet Packages

J-POP SUMMIT 2016, one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, has announced advance tickets for this year’s 3-day festival will go on sale today, Friday, May 6th at 12pm (PST) at: www.J-POP.com.

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 commences with, “Kyary Pamyu Pamyu LIVE at J-POP SUMMIT OPENING NIGHT - KPP 5iVE YEARS MONSTER WORLD TOUR 2016 in San Francisco,” on Friday, July 22nd at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, CA.

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 continues Saturday and Sunday, July 23rd and 24th at the historic Fort Mason Center located in San Francisco’s Marina district. Attendees will experience a vibrant celebration of Japanese pop-influenced culture including edgy fashion shows, pop art, live music, technology exhibits and interactive activates, accented by ramen vendors, sake-tasting, and additional attractions highlighted by celebrity Guests of Honor.

A variety of affordable ticket options and V.I.P packages will give attendees the maximum amount of flexibility to customize a memorable J-POP SUMMIT 2016 experience.

This year, packages will be available offering ticket options to attend the Kyary Pamyu Pamyu OPENING NIGHT concert as well as multi-day V.I.P. options for Fort Mason.

Standard J-POP SUMMIT 2016 (Ft. Mason-only) 1-Day, 2-Day, and Kid’s Passes (ages 6-12) also will be offered. Adult single-day passes start at only $25.00 each; 2-day passes start at only $40.00 each. Ticket details can be found at www.J-POP.com/Tickets.

Visit www.J-POP.com for festival programming information and secure online advance purchase and a complete listing of all the available J-POP SUMMIT 2016 ticket packages.

About J-POP SUMMIT J-POP SUMMIT is one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, held every summer in San Francisco, CA. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, fashion, film, art, games, tech-innovations, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a landing platform for new trends from Japan.

Official website: www.j-pop.com
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JPOPSUMMIT/featured

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 announces first line-up of concert and muscial artists

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 ANNOUNCES FIRST LINE-UP

OF LIVE CONCERT AND MUSICAL ARTISTS SET

TO PERFORM AT THIS SUMMER’S FESTIVAL

The San Francisco Bay Area’s Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Event

Announces Exciting Slate Of Top Japanese Pop/Rock/Electronica/Dance

Artists To Play at Fort Mason Center This Summer

J-POP SUMMIT 2016, one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, has announced an exciting and diverse first line-up of music artists set to perform this year. This summer’s festival will be highlighted by an exciting 3-day slate of live music from a wide range of top Japanese pop idol, ani-pop (anime pop), electronica, and rock artists that will complement an extensive roster of attractions, participants and exhibits, and other live programming. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, May 6th at: www.J-POP.com.

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 starts with “Kyary Pamyu Pamyu LIVE at J-POP SUMMIT OPENING NIGHT - KPP 5iVE YEARS MONSTER WORLD TOUR 2016 in San Francisco” on Friday, July 22nd at The Regency Ballroom. Other musical guests to perform at J-POP LIVE concert on Saturday and Sunday July 23rd and 24th at Fort Mason Center include electronic dance group, WORLD ORDER, all-female pop rock band, Silent Siren, pop house unit, Wednesday Campanella, and ani-pop duo, GARNiDELiA. Additional live artists and specific set times will be announced soon.

About WORLD ORDER
WORLD ORDER is an electronic dance performance group produced by Genki Sudo, the legendary mixed martial arts fighter. The group is known globally for its pop and sensitive dance music and the choreographed performances that feature tightly syncopated movements by suited members. Their monotonous black suits and eerie, robot-like movements are deliberate and prompt the audience to reflect on contemporary society, working styles, global culture, and images of modern Japan. From its inception, WORLD ORDER aimed to become a globally known group and has gained widespread support in Asia, North and South America, and EU countries.
Official artist web site: http://worldorder.jp
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/crnaviofficial.

About SILENT SIREN
Silent Siren is a 4 piece all-female band formed by Su (Sumire Yoshida on vocals and guitar), Hinachu (Hinako Umemura on drums), Ainyan (Aina Yamauchi on bass), and Yukarun (Yukako Kurosaka on keyboards). Silent Siren held its first overseas concert in Hong Kong in 2014. Since then, they have actively performed overseas. An Asian tour in 2015 saw the group perform 20 shows in over 16 cities, and a solo concert in Jakarta, Indonesia was celebrated by over 2,000 local fans. Silent Siren made history as being the first all-female band to perform a solo concert at Nippon Budokan the legendary hall for singers in Japan. All of their 12 singles and albums after their 3rd album have been ranked in the Top 10 in the national music charts.
Official artist web site: http://silent-siren.com/en

About WEDNESDAY CAMPANELLA
Wednesday Campanella is a pop house unit that delivers a mixture of house, techno, and trance style music. The unit is formed by Kom I (front man), Kenmochi Hidefumi (composer), and Dir.F (all the rest). Of the three, Kom I will be the only one to perform at the J-POP SUMMIT this year. The group is recognized for its comical and sensational music videos and for the singer’s very unique personality. The group’s recent activity includes release of the album, “Zipangu” based on a concept of traveling around Eurasia and looking back to Japan from overseas. Wednesday Campanella has performed major music festivals such as South by Southwest 2016, Summer Sonic 2015, Rising Sun Rock Festival 2015, and the Rock in Japan Festival 2015.
Official artist web site: www.wed-camp.com
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/wedcamp

About GARNiDELiA
GARNiDELiA is a Japanese ani-pop duo consisting of vocalist, MARiA, and composer, toku. Their first major single, “ambiguous” was used as the opening theme of the anime series, Kill la Kill. Many of the duo’s subsequent singles have been used in popular anime series such as The Irregular at Magic High School, Gundam, Reconguista in G, Linkage Ring, and Gunslinger Stratos. GARNiDELiA actively performs both inside and outside of Japan. Their recent global activity includes performances in Anime Festival Asia 2014 Indonesia, Anime Festival Asia 2014 Singapore, SakuraCon in the U.S., Anison Dream Stage 2015 in Hong Kong, and SMASH in Australia. The duo is on their way to becoming one of the hottest ani-song units in recent years.
Official artist web site: www.garnidelia.com
YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/GARNiDELiAVEVO

About J-POP SUMMIT
J-POP SUMMIT is one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, held every summer in San Francisco, CA. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, fashion, film, art, games, tech-innovations, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a landing platform for new trends from Japan.
Official website: www.j-pop.com
Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/JPOPSUMMIT/featured

Japan's Pop Princess KYARY PAMYU PAMYU to kick off J-Pop Summit 2016

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 ANNOUNCES OPENING

NIGHT LIVE CONCERT WITH JAPAN’S POP

PRINCESS KYARY PAMYU PAMYU

Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Festival Welcomes Return

Of Edgy Pop Singer For Special Live Concert Performance

In San Francisco At The Regency Ballroom For

“KPP 5iVE YEARS MONSTER WORLD TOUR 2016”

J-POP SUMMIT 2016, one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, proudly presents pop princess -- Kyary Pamyu Pamyu – for a very special live concert performance in San Francisco at the Regency Ballroom on Friday, July 22nd to kick off the weekend-long J-POP festivities.

Tickets will go on sale on Friday, May 6th. KPP Concert Ticket BASIC and PREMIUM packages, along with KPP + J-POP SUMMIT Combo Tickets, will be available for purchase at www.J-POP.com. The Regency Ballroom is located at 1290 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94109.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is one of Japan’s biggest pop and fashion stars and represents the dynamic fusion of Japanese pop culture, fashion and music.

The singer is currently marking her 5-year anniversary as an artist with an international concert tour “KPP 5iVE YEARS MONSTER WORLD TOUR 2016” supporting the upcoming release of her very first retrospective album, KPP BEST. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu was a headliner at the J-POP SUMMIT 2013 and returns to San Francisco to celebrate her anniversary with fans on Friday, July 22nd at J-POP SUMMIT 2016 Opening Night.

J-POP SUMMIT 2016 continues Saturday and Sunday July 23rd and 24th at the historic Fort Mason Center located in San Francisco’s Marina district. Attendees will experience a colorful assortment of Japanese pop-influenced culture including fashion, pop art, live music and technology, accented by ramen vendors, sake-tasting, and other attractions to be complemented by celebrity Guests of Honor, anime programming, cosplay and karaoke contests, and a wide assortment of vendors and other programming.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu LIVE at J-POP SUMMIT OPENING NIGHT – KPP 5iVE YEARS MONSTER WORLD TOUR 2016 in San Francisco ticket options include:

*KPP Concert Ticket BASIC • $40 each
Includes general admission at Regency Ballroom

**KPP Concert Ticket PREMIUM • $150 each
Includes general admission at the Regency Ballroom, exclusive meet & greet with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, and a special gift.

**Both options DO NOT include entrance to the J-POP SUMMIT at Fort Mason.

KPP + J-POP SUMMIT Combo Tickets -- including J-POP SUMMIT 1-day and/or 2-day passes that each include a KPP Concert Ticket BASIC starting from $55 each – will be also available on Friday, May 6th at www.J-POP.com.

Additional news will be coming soon on J-POP SUMMIT tickets, including V.I.P packages, and information on other artists set to perform.

About Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
Born in Tokyo 1993, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu began her career as a model for several Harajuku fashion magazines while she was still in high school. Her unique look and uninhibited, self-expressive personality quickly garnered the attention of Japan’s bustling fashion and music scenes. In 2011, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu released her debut mini-album, MOSHI MOSHI HARAJUKU (Hello, Harajuku) under Warner Music Japan. The music video for its single “PONPONPON,” has been played over 93 million times on YouTube. Her first full-length album, Pamyu Pamyu Revolution, was released 2012. The following year was Nanda Collection, and another release, Pika Pika Fantajin in 2014. Last year, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu released the single, Mondai Girl, which was followed by a Halloween-themed single, Crazy Party Night (Pumpkin no Gyakushu).

In May 2016, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu will release her first retrospective album, KPP BEST, a collection of 23 career-spanning tracks that includes infectious hit singles such as Invader Invader, Kira Kira Killer, Fashion Monster, as well as 5th anniversary song “5iVE YEARS MONSTER”.

About J-POP SUMMIT
J-POP SUMMIT is one of the world’s biggest Japanese pop culture events, held every summer in San Francisco, CA. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, fashion, film, art, games, tech-innovations, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a landing platform for new trends from Japan.

J-POP SUMMIT to return to Fort Mason Center in July 2016

Photo © David-Toshiyuki

J-POP SUMMIT WILL RETURN TO

HISTORIC FORT MASON CENTER

IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR 2016

The Bay Area’s Premiere Japanese Pop Culture Event

Announces Dates For Summer 2016 Festival At Expansive

New Home In San Francisco’s Historic Marina District

The J-POP SUMMIT Committee, the organization that presents the Japanese pop culture celebration held annually in San Francisco, has announced that the 2016 J-POP SUMMIT will be held at the historic Fort Mason Center, the weekend of Friday, July 22nd thru Sunday, July 24th.

The Bay Area’s popular celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, art, anime, fashion, food, technology, travel and film, marked its evolution into a ticketed event this year, and attracted more than 30,000 people to its first Festival staged at the historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco’s Marina district earlier this summer. It was also complemented by additional events in Union Square and at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema in Japantown. Full details and images from the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT are featured at: www.J-POP.com.

“As we look ahead to presenting the 8th consecutive J-POP SUMMIT, we will continue to deliver a unique showcase of Japan’s latest pop trends,” says Seiji Horibuchi, Chairman of the J-Pop SUMMIT Festival Committee and the founder of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “Every year we add new attractions and special events to highlight not only popular current trends but also emerging new aspects of Japanese pop culture. Fort Mason gives us many possibilities for future growth and we look forward to presenting another extraordinary line-up of artists and programming for 2016!”

Held since 2009, the J-POP SUMMIT is a one-of-a-kind, yearly event that has developed a unique festival format to present a diverse array of the latest in pop-influenced culture and artists from Japan. J-POP SUMMIT began as an annual street fair-style outdoor festival held in San Francisco’s Japantown and has drawn as many as 125,000 people in past years. Previous notable J-POP SUMMIT headliners have included Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, May’n, Tadanobu Asano, Takako Tokiwa, Tomomi Itano, Eir Aoi, Gacharic Spin, Tokyo Girls Style, and JAM Project.

About J-POP SUMMIT
The J-POP SUMMIT is an annual Japanese Pop Culture celebration held in San Francisco, CA that features live bands and artists from Japan, pop culture panel discussions, film premieres, fashion shows and events, food and spirits, art, and celebrity appearances. Details on J-POP SUMMIT are available at www.J-POP.com.

Additional events announced for J-POP SUMMIT's "Interactive Pavilion"

2015 J-POP SUMMIT ANNOUNCES

TECH-FOCUSED KEYNOTES, PANELS,

PITCH EVENTS AND “IDEA-THONS”

FOCUSING ON INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT)

AND THE GLOBAL MAKER MOVEMENT

S.F.’s Annual Japanese Pop Festival Adds A First-Of-Its-Kind Showcase

Of Attractions That Showcase How Japanese Innovation Is

Driving Creativity And Linking Technology And Culture

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT, the Japanese pop culture event held annually in San Francisco, augments its just-announced “Interactive Pavilion,” with a special series of technology-focused keynotes, panel discussions, “idea-thons,” and pitch events focusing on the burgeoning “Maker Movement” and the evolving Internet of Things (IoT) to be led by several notable technology luminaries from San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and Japan.

The J-POP SUMMIT “Interactive Pavilion” is a first-of-its-kind showcase of cutting edge Japanese technology, consumer product design and innovation from a diverse range of large, as well as start-up companies, pushing the limits of Japanese technical innovation and development. The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT takes places Saturday and Sunday August 8th & 9th at the historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco’s Marina district.

Throughout the weekend, J-POP SUMMIT attendees to Fort Mason can enjoy a colorful assortment of Japanese pop-influenced culture, fashion, pop art, live music, technology, and travel attractions that will be complemented by celebrity Guests of Honor, Panels, Music live concert, and a wide assortment of vendors and other programming. Tickets and V.I.P Passes are available now at: www.J-POP.com.

J-POP SUMMIT Interactive Pavilion Keynote & Panel Discussion

An Interactive Technologies Keynote will be delivered by one of the world's leading digital creators, Kaoru Sugano, on Sunday, August 9th on the Fort Mason Main Stage. The Creative Director of Dentsu Inc. will speak on how pop culture and technology are driving the creation of digital content. Through case studies of past projects such as Sound of Honda - Ayrton Senna 1989, which won the Grand Prix at Cannes Lions Titanium and Grand Prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival. The film features legendary Formula One driver Ayrton Senna driving through a dazzling environment of digital light and sound. Mr. Sugano will show how he utilizes data that is undetectable to the naked eye to create revolutionary emotional productions with lasting emotional resonance.

The Interactive Technologies Panel Discussion will take place on Sunday, August 9th on the Fort Mason Main Stage and will focus on “Manufacturing That Links Tech & Culture -- The Future of the "Maker Movement." This panel will examine the transition from mass production to an age of individual manufacturing, and what that means for the tech world. With the emerging "Maker Culture" as a theme, the J-POP SUMMIT presents this session specially focused on the maker movement.

J-POP SUMMIT Interactive Pavilion Technology Forum

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT “Interactive Pavilion” also presents a special Interactive Technology Forum, to take place on Saturday and Sunday, August 8th & 9th at the Firehouse, located adjacent to the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion. As part of this event, a pair of “Idea-thons” and a technology “pitch event” will focus on the theme of the "Internet of Things” (IoT).

J-POP SUMMIT IoT Idea-thon Vol. 1: "Build-Up Smart Home with MESH!"
With the spread of Nest and Smartthings, there has been a surge of interest in smart homes being built around Silicon Valley. This Idea-thon will offer attendees a glimpse into a new type of IoT x DIY construction using MESH and a cardboard building kit to build a prototype design of a smart house.”

J-POP SUMMIT IoT Idea-thon Vol. 2: "Hack the Data with Yamaha Motor and more!"
With the growing popularity of activity tracking using technology like FitBit, Apple Watch and other devices that collect environmental data from sensors attached to homes and cars, a fast emerging topic is how to utilize all the acquired information. How will the world change when this data can be used to highlight areas of daily human life that were previously overlooked? This will be an IoT x Data Idea-thon debating the truel nature of IoT.

J-POP SUMMIT Interactive Pavilion Technology Pitch Contest

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT “Interactive Pavilion” presents a Japanese-American start-up pitch contest “POP Tech Pitch / Innovation Weekend SF x Japan X” co-sponsored by SunBridge Global Ventures, Inc. and the Women's Startup Lab that will take place Saturday, August 8th at the Firehouse.

Startups and entrepreneurs using premier technologies from Japan and America will gather to present a variety of innovative business plans. Judges will include a panel of technology investors and business accelerators active in various markets. The contest winner and runner-up will be awarded a trip to Japan and pitch at the ’Innovation Weekend Grand Finale’ in Tokyo at the end of the year along with other winners from all over the world.

About The "Interactive Pavilion"
Emphasizing 3 distinct categories, the “Interactive Pavilion,” is presented with support and cooperation from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) San Francisco Office and presents a dynamic array of technology and interactive product exhibits from 21 companies highlighting a diverse range of large, as well as start-up companies, pushing the limits of Japanese technical innovation and development. "HOME,” focusing on individuals and families; "WORK,” focusing on the office lifestyle; "MOBILITY,” focusing on links between home-life and office-life.

Sixteen movies added to 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco

2015 JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO

EXPANDS PROGRAM SLATE AND ADDS

16 MORE ACCLAIMED MOVIES

3rd Annual Japanese Film Festival For S.F. Bay Area Presents Biggest Program

To-Date With Additional New Action, Sci-Fi Anime, Documentary,

Historical Drama, Crime Drama, Short Film, And Romantic Mystery

Films Scheduled To Premiere At NEW PEOPLE Cinema

The 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF), the first and only fully-dedicated Japanese film celebration for the S.F. Bay Area, has just announced 16 additional films that will screen as part of this year’s program.

Presenting a diverse array of current and acclaimed Japanese cinema, this year’s slate features a number of notable Japanese films across a variety of genres such as action, anime sci-fi, documentary, short film, historical drama, crime drama, coming-of-age, and romantic mystery. The just-announced films augment an extensive roster of titles already announced to run during the weekend of the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT, taking place at Fort Mason on Saturday and Sunday August 8th and 9th. A complete listing of film summaries, trailers, screening times and advance tickets are available at: www.JFFSF.org.

The 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco opens in conjunction with the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT on Friday, August 7th at the Castro Theatre, and runs thru Sunday, August 16th at NEW PEOPLE Cinema located inside the NEW PEOPLE entertainment complex in Japantown at 1746 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115 (www.newpeoplecinema.com). Tickets to individual screenings are $13.00 each, unless otherwise noted.

The latest announced films will run at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema beginning the week of Monday August 10th with screenings continuing until Sunday, August 16th.

THE KINGDOM OF DREAMS AND MADNESS
Monday, August 10th, 7:00pm
Granted near-unrestricted access to the notoriously isolated Studio Ghibli, director Mami Sunada follows the three men who are the lifeblood of Ghibli – the eminent director Hayao Miyazaki, producer Toshio Suzuki, and the elusive and influential “other director,” Isao Takahata – over the course of a year as the studio rushes to complete two films, Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises and Takahata’s The Tale of Princess Kaguya.

HARAJUKU DENIER
Monday, August 10th, 9:20pm
This film unfolds in Harajuku, the melting pot of Tokyo and the epicenter of many popular sub-cultures. The lives of many young and dream-filled eccentrics, teenyboppers, narcissists, tourists, and workers from various countries – cutting-edge filmmaker Shuta Tanaka humorously captures the amalgamation of cultures found in today’s Harajuku in an ensemble cast comedy.

LITTLE FOREST – SUMMER & AUTUMN
Tuesday, August 11th, 7:00pm
Here comes the farm-to-table film for foodies! Little Forest, Summer ＆ Autumn is a beautiful adaptation of the popular comic by Daisuke Igarashi about a young woman’s self-discovery through farming, cooking, and eating to live through the changing seasons. Ichiko moves back from the city to the tiny village in Northeastern Japan where she grew up and starts living a sustainable lifestyle that she learned from her mother.

THE WIND RISES
Tuesday, August 11th, 9:15pm
Hayao Miyazaki pays tribute to engineer Jiro Horikoshi and author Tatsuo Hori in his creation of the fictional character Jiro – the center of the epic tale of love, perseverance, and the challenges of living and making choices in a turbulent world. Inspired by the famous Italian aeronautical designer Caproni – Jiro dreams of flying and designing beautiful airplanes and grows to become one of the world’s most accomplished airplane designers.

UZUMASA LIMELIGHT
Wednesday, August 12th, 7:00pm
A nostalgic portrait of kirare-yaku - an actor whose forte is being "cut to death" with a sword in samurai films, Uzumasa Limelight goes behind the scenes of the distinctive film genre. A professional extra named Kamiyama (played by real-life kirare-yaku Seizo Fukumoto) has devoted 50 years of his life as a kirare-yaku. When the studio decides to discontinue its productions, he finds himself at a loss. Will the art of dying by the sword live on?

WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE
Wednesday, August 12th, 9:00pm
The newest feature from Japan’s famed Studio Ghibli is a sweeping story of friendship, mystery and discovery that delivers breathtaking animation that only Ghibli can bring to life. When shy and artistic Anna moves to the seaside to live with her aunt and uncle, she stumbles upon an old mansion surrounded by marshes, and a mysterious young girl named Marnie. The two girls instantly form a unique connection that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality.

THE CASE OF HANA AND ALICE
Thursday, August 13th, 7:00pm
Directed by multi-faceted filmmaker Shunji Iwai, The Case of Hana & Alice follows Tetsuko Arisugawa (a.k.a. Alice), a transfer student at Ishinomori Middle School. She hears a strange rumor about a murder case in school. Meanwhile, Alice’s classmate Hana is said to know something about the case… Was Judas really murdered? Hana and Alice embark on an adventure to solve the mystery of the “smallest murder in the world.”

HAVE A SONG ON YOUR LIPS
Thursday, August 13th, 9:00pm
This touching school drama unfolds around Yuri Kashiwagi, a former piano prodigy, who returns to her hometown to work as a temporary music teacher and supervise the chorus members at the local middle school. While practicing for the regional contest, chorus members get an assignment from Yuri to write a letter to themselves in 15 years. Facing their personal issues, Yuri and her students begin to find their own voices.

OUR FAMILY
Friday, August 14th, 7:00pm
From Yuya Ishii, the award-winning director of The Great Passage, comes this honest adaptation of a semi-autobiographical novel about a family that pulls together to fight a terminal illness will resonate close to the heart. Reiko’s daydreams and forgetfulness were not concerning to her broken family until a trip to the doctor reveals that she has brain cancer. With Reiko given only one week left to live, how will this dysfunctional family keep from falling apart?

KABUKICHO LOVE HOTEL
Friday, August 14th, 9:20pm
Directed by Ryuichi Hiroki, one of Japan's leading directors in the erotic fantasy genre known as pinku (pink films), Kabukicho Love Hotel is an erotically charged drama that traces the intersecting stories of a group of employees and visitors at a notorious "Love Hotel” (a type of short-stay hotel in Japan used primarily for sexual activities) in Tokyo's red-light district- from a sexless young couple with broken dreams to a middle-aged couple on the run.

100 YEN LOVE
Saturday, August 15th, 12:00pm
32-year-old slacker Ichiko lives with her parents until a fight with her disapproving sister escalates, prompting her to move out and start working at a local 100-yen shop. One day she meets boxer Yuji, whom she has seen passing by on his way home and becomes attracted to him. After her life takes more unexpected and unwanted turns, she takes up boxing herself and attempts to change her ways.

TOKYO SHORT SHORTS 2015: A New Generation of 5 Short Films
Saturday, August 15th, 2:30pm
Co-presented by Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia. By popular demand, JFFSF teams up again with the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia to present the exclusive SF premiere of five outstanding short films directed by several up-and-coming filmmakers from Japan! Enjoy a colorful mix of comedy and drama that reflect life in Japan with a delicate and witty touch.

THE BIRTH OF SAKÉ
Saturday, August 15th, 4:30pm & Sunday August 16th, 12:00pm – Director Erik Shirai will attend both screenings followed by Q&A sessions
The Birth of Saké is a cinematic documentary that reveals the story of passionate saké-makers and what it takes to make world-class saké at Yoshida Brewery, a 144-year-old family-owned small brewery in Northern Japan. Director Erik Shirai and producer Masako Tsumura were granted unprecedented full access to film at the brewery and capture the intense and relatively unknown process (even within in Japan), of traditional saké making.

THE TALE OF PRINCESS KAGUYA
Saturday, August 15th, 7:00pm
This Academy Award nominated film is legendary Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata’s (Grave of the Fireflies, Pom Poko) rendition of Japan’s most famous folktale, that has been decades in the making. Found inside a shining stalk of bamboo by an old bamboo cutter, a tiny baby girl grows rapidly into an exquisite young lady. The mysterious young princess enthralls all who encounter her – but ultimately she must confront her fate, the punishment for her crime.

INITIATION LOVE
Sunday August 16th, 2:30pm
Co-starring ex-AKB star Atsuko Maeda and Shota Matsuda, this romantic mystery is based on the bestselling novel by Kurumi Inui. In the late 1980s, a college student in Shizuoka Prefecture named Suzuki begins a romance with a dental hygienist named Mayu. However, when Suzuki moves to Tokyo for his job and the two are forced into a long-distance relationship, their relationship starts to fall apart as Suzuki begins spending time with another woman named Miyako.

0.5MM
Sunday August 16th, 5:00pm
Co-presented by the Legacy Film Festival on Aging. Director Momoko Ando takes on the big subjects of Japan’s historical, social and emotional psyche with her second feature epic. Based on the director’s own novel and starring her sister Sakura Ando in the leading role of Sawa, an oddly determined caregiver for the elderly, the film is a lengthy yet magnetic road movie that brilliantly captures Sawa’s unexpected encounters and unique relationships with the elderly.

NEW PEOPLE Cinema is a 143-seat cinema located in the underground floor of NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco. Equipped with a cutting-edge HD digital projection and THX®-certified sound system, NEW PEOPLE Cinema is home for local film festivals and entertaining events. www.newpeoplecinema.com

2015 JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO announces film lineups

 2015 JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO ANNOUNCES

FILM LINEUPS FOR THE J-POP SUMMIT WEEKEND

The Bay Area’s Only Dedicated Japanese Film Festival Complements

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT With Premiere Screenings And Special

Guest Appearances At NEW PEOPLE CINEMA;

Additional Films To Be Announced Shortly

The 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF), the first and only fully-dedicated Japanese film celebration for the S.F. Bay Area, has announced an exciting schedule of screenings and special guest appearances taking place during the weekend of the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT.

Opening in conjunction with the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT on Saturday, August 8th and running thru Sunday, August 16th, the 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco will take place at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema, located inside the NEW PEOPLE entertainment complex in Japantown at 1746 Post St., San Francisco, CA 94115 (www.newpeoplecinema.com). Tickets to individual screenings are $13.00 each, unless otherwise noted. Film summaries, trailers, screening times and advance tickets are available at www.JFFSF.org.

The 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco proudly presents more than 25 celebrated films, many premiering in the U.S. for the first time, showcasing a wide range of Japanese cinema, including live-action, anime, short film, and documentary titles across a range of genres such as action, science fiction, historical drama, crime drama, coming-of-age, and romantic mystery.

Special guests for the 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco will include acclaimed Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano, who is widely known for roles in movies such as Ichi the Killer, Zatoichi, Thor, 46 Ronin, and Battleship, as well as one of Japan’s top anime directors, Koji Morimoto, who is a founder of renowned Studio 4℃ and known for works such as Animatrix and Genius Party Beyond.

A special Opening Night Event on Friday August 7th at The Castro Theatre kicks off the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT and Japan Film Festival of S.F. with a special 35mm presentation of director Sogo Ishii’s Electric Dragon 80000V, a rollicking comic-book style action film that stars top Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano.

The evening will be highlighted by a personal appearance by actor Tadanobu Asano, who will introduce the film and participate in an audience Q&A, as well as a live DJ set collaboration by one of Japan’s legendary techno DJ and producer, Ken Ishii, along with Japan’s top anime director Koji Morimoto. Advance tickets to the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT/JFFSF Opening Night Event at the Castro Theatre are available now for $25.00 each from http://jpop2015.brownpapertickets.com.

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT takes place Saturday and Sunday August 8th & 9th at the historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco’s Marina district. Tickets and V.I.P Passes to the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT are available now at www.J-POP.com. Throughout the weekend, attendees can enjoy a colorful assortment of Japanese pop-influenced culture, fashion, pop art, live music, technology and travel that will be complemented by celebrity Guests of Honor, anime programming, cosplay and pop idol contests, and a wide assortment of vendors and other programming.

NEW PEOPLE Cinema is a 143-seat cinema located in the underground floor of NEW PEOPLE in San Francisco. Equipped with a cutting-edge HD digital projection and THX®-certified sound system, NEW PEOPLE Cinema is home for local film festivals and entertaining events. www.newpeoplecinema.com.

2015 J-POP SUMMIT announces DAY 1 programming

JAM Project

2015 J-POP SUMMIT ANNOUNCES DAY 1 PROGRAMMING OFFERING A

CAPTIVATING MIX OF LIVE MUSIC AND COMEDY AND OTHER ACTS

First Day Of S.F’.s Annual Japanese Pop Culture Fest Presents Live Performances

By JAM Project, Eir Aoi, Gacharic Spin, JinnyOops!, Akabane Vulgars

on Strong Bypass, Faint★Star, FES★TIVE, Comedy Duo Jaru Jaru,

A Cappella Group Little Glee Monster And More!

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT, the Japanese pop culture event held annually in San Francisco, has announced DAY 1 programming. This year’s festival is highlighted by live music from a wide range of pop, ani-pop, electronica, punk/alternative, and a cappella artists, as well as live comedy and other acts to complement an extensive roster of attractions, participants and exhibits, and other live programming.

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT takes place Saturday and Sunday August 8th & 9th at the historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco’s Marina district. Tickets and V.I.P Passes are available now at: www.J-POP.com. Both types of passes include access to daytime programming as well as the J-POP LIVE NIGHT concert. V.I.P Pass holders will have priority access to a premium viewing area and also will be invited to an exclusive Meet & Greet Event with JAM Project on Saturday, August 8th and Eir Aoi on Sunday, August 9th respectively. Details to be announced soon.

This year’s live performers reflect the diversity and unique creative expression that is burgeoning in Japan and capturing a global following. The first-ever 2-night event J-POP LIVE NIGHT tops off DAY 1 Saturday, August 8th, with an evening concert by anime music super-group – JAM Project – as well as live sets from pop singer, Eir Aoi, frenetic rock band, Gacharic Spin, and returning all-girl punk rock acts, JinnyOops! and the Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass.

During the afternoon of Saturday, attendees also will be treated to the U.S. debut of Little Glee Monster, an extraordinary 6-member female a cappella group that has received wide acclaim in Japan for their unique vocal treatments to a range of popular Japanese and English songs. Also making their debut at J-POP SUMMIT will be FES★TIVE, a unique act built around the concept of Japanese “festivals” that has garnered a global following with their up-tempo, catchy sound. The hilarious antics of the comedy duo, Jaru Jaru, also come to U.S. shores for the first time as does the stylish female pop duo, Faint★Star.

J-POP SUMMIT also introduces attendees to a brand new way to show their love of favorite Japanese idols with the Cheerz App, on which users can upload photos to show support for a wide array of top artists, including ones performing at J-POP SUMMIT. Cheerz users also can receive additional opportunities for visibility and promotion based on their photo’s popularity among other users of the app. Over 300 top Japanese artists are currently active on Cheerz and since its launch in December 2014, fans have cheered on their favorite idols over 40 million times. More information at: https://cheerz.cz/.

Special Opening Night Event planned for 2015 J-POP SUMMIT and 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco

Actor Tadanobu Asano

SPECIAL OPENING NIGHT EVENT AT S.F’s HISTORIC

CASTRO THEATRE LAUNCHES THE 2015 J-POP SUMMIT

& 2015 JAPAN FILM FESTIVAL OF SAN FRANCISCO

Opening Night Event On August 7th Will Screen Electric Dragon 80000V

Starring Actor Tadanobu Asano And Feature A Live Performance

By Techno DJ Legend Ken Ishii

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT, the Japanese pop culture event held annually in San Francisco, and the 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF), the Bay Area’s first and only fully-dedicated Japanese film celebration, announce a special Opening Night Event on Friday August 7th at The Castro Theatre.

Advance tickets to the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT/JFFSF Opening Night Event at the Castro Theatre are available now for $25.00 each from http://jpop2015.brownpapertickets.com.

The event begins at 8:00pm kicking off both annual festivals and will feature a special 35mm presentation of director Sogo Ishii’s Electric Dragon 80000V, a rollicking comic-book style action film that stars acclaimed Japanese actor Tadanobu Asano, who is widely known for roles in movies such as Ichi the Killer, Zatoichi, Thor, 46 Ronin, and Battleship.

The evening will be highlighted by a personal appearance by actor Tadanobu Asano, who will introduce the film and participate in an audience Q&A, as well as a live DJ set collaboration by one of Japan’s legendary techno DJ and EDM producers, Ken Ishii, along with Japan’s top anime director Koji Morimoto, widely known as a founder of renowned Studio 4℃ and his works such as Animatrix and Genius Party Beyond.

Tadanobu Asano, Ken Ishii, and Koji Morimoto will also attend the special events at 2015 J-POP SUMMIT as official Guests of Honor on Sunday, August 9th at Fort Mason Center. Appearance times and event details will be announced shortly.

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT takes place Saturday and Sunday August 8th & 9th at the historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco’s Marina district. Tickets and V.I.P Passes to the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT are available now at: www.J-POP.com. Throughout the weekend, attendees can enjoy a colorful assortment of Japanese pop-influenced culture, fashion, pop art, live music, technology and travel that will be complemented by celebrity Guests of Honor, anime programming, cosplay and pop idol contests, and a wide assortment of vendors and other programming.

The 2015 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco takes place August 7th to 16th at the city’s historic Castro Theatre and also at NEW PEOPLE Cinema, located in Japantown at 1746 Post St. San Francisco, CA 94115 (www.newpeoplecinema.com). This year’s JFFSF will showcase a dazzling array of new and recent Japanese live-action as well as anime film release, many as first-run U.S. premieres. Tickets and film schedules are available at: www.JFFSF.org.

“This Opening Night event will be an unforgettable way to kick off the 2015 J-POP SUMMIT and the Japan Film Festival of San Francisco and we are planning an exciting evening filled with film, music and personal appearances by notable Japanese entertainers,” says Seiji Horibuchi, chairman of the J-POP SUMMIT Festival Committee. “Join us for what promises to be a truly electrifying evening.”

In the film, Electric Dragon 80000V, Dragon Eye Morrison (played by Tadanobu Asano) is a reptile investigator who suffers from an intermittent explosive disorder caused by brain damage he sustained in a childhood accident. He manages to find a way to survive and control his urges to destroy with his love of reptiles and an electric guitar. Meanwhile, Thunderbolt Buddha (played by Masatoshi Nagase), an electric repairman turned vigilante who has acquired powerful electro-conductive powers after sustaining a childhood accident, goes after crime bosses and gangsters that take advantage of electric signals. Holding an obsessive hatred towards Morrison, Thunderbolt Buddha challenges him to a final showdown on the rooftops of Tokyo.

Actor Tadanobu Asano (www.anore.co.jp/artist/actor/asano) is an award winning Japanese actor, who has acted in notable roles in both Japan and the U.S. Most recently, he appeared in the Marvel Studios film, Thor, as well as its sequel Thor: Dark World. His film roles have earned him many awards from international film festivals including his leading role in the Oscar-nominated film, Mongol. He also owns and manages a talent agency called Anore Inc. with his family, and works with many of Japan’s most talented and up-and-coming actors and actresses.

Techno DJ and producer Ken Ishii

Ken Ishii (http://kenishii.com/) is a legendary techno DJ and producer who has composed music for many different media outlets. Rising from the club scene in the 90’s, Ishii’s work first became internationally recognized when his single, “Extra,” won a music video award at the MTV Music Awards in 1996. He is also known for composing the music for the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony as well as various video game soundtracks, He has performed live internationally and enjoys a worldwide fan base in the electronic music scene.

Koji Morimoto (http://kojimorimoto.com/) is widely known as the co-founder of the renowned anime studio, Studio 4°C, and also for his animated works, MAGNETIC ROSE, from the trilogy, MEMORIES, as well as Ken Ishii’s EXTRA (music video), Animatrix, and Genius Party Beyond. In 2011, he received the Cannes Cyber Lions Silver for a French interactive anti-smoking campaign, Attraction. His collaborative work for LEXUS Short Films called, A Better Tomorrow, world-premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013. The same year, he also directed the opening segment for the acclaimed animated omnibus, SHORT PEACE by Katsuhiro Otomo (the creator of Akira).

2015 J-POP SUMMIT to feature interactive POP TRAVEL AREA

The kimono cosplay duo YANAKIKU will serve as the cultural ambassadors of the Ryokan Pavilion.

2015 J-POP SUMMIT LETS ATTENDEES EXPERIENCE

JAPAN AND ITS SPIRIT OF HOSPITALITY AT UNIQUE

INTERACTIVE POP TRAVEL ATTRACTIONS

S.F.’s Annual Japanese Pop Festival Teams With Global Daily

To Present Life-Sized Display Of Renowned Ryokan Traditional Inns

And Japanese Travel Possibilities Recreated In Amazing Detail

The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT, the Japanese pop culture event held annually in San Francisco, offers a fun and interactive experience of what it’s like to travel to Japan as it announces the POP TRAVEL AREA. The 2015 J-POP SUMMIT takes places Saturday and Sunday August 8th & 9th at the historic Fort Mason Center in San Francisco’s Marina district.

Throughout the weekend, J-POP SUMMIT attendees to Fort Mason can enjoy a colorful assortment of Japanese pop-influenced culture, fashion, pop art, live music, technology, and travel that will be complemented by celebrity Guests of Honor, anime programming, cosplay and J-pop idol contests, and a wide assortment of vendors and other programming. Tickets and V.I.P Passes are available now at: www.J-POP.com.

The POP TRAVEL AREA builds on ongoing interest to spotlight new and interesting sides of Japanese travel that often overlooked by Western travelers. It was developed in cooperation with the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and features a “Ryokan Pavilion,” presented by 2015 J-POP SUMMIT sponsor, Global Daily, showcasing the unique experience “Ryokan” traditional Japanese inns offer visitors.

The kimono cosplay duo, YANAKIKU, which was a festival favorite from last year’s J-POP SUMMIT, return to serve as the cultural ambassadors of the Ryokan Pavilion. With their cute, pop-inspired look and sound, mixed with Japanese traditional accents, YANAKIKU is a wonderful complement to the travel-themed attractions. Inside this pavilion, J-POP SUMMIT attendees can get detailed information about a variety of Japanese tours and activities and also make reservations to visit a Ryokan.

Ryokans are traditional inns found widely across Japan and have been a central part of Japanese culture for centuries. In the West they are comparable to a bed & breakfast, but Ryokans usually also offer dinner (and breakfast) and are located near “onsen” hot springs and other sightseeing spots and are popular getaway locations for tourists throughout the year. Ryokans are also patterned on classical Japanese houses and often contain “tatami” woven mat flooring accented by “shoji” screens (sliding paper doors), “zabuton” (sitting cushions), and floor sleeping on “futon” (sleeping quilts).

Rendition of The Ryokan Pavilion

The Ryokan Pavilion will feature interactive mini-theater displays about several award winning Japanese Ryokans that each display the warm spirit of “omotenashi,” or hospitality, in a distinct way. These establishments preserve the essence of Japanese tradition in their architecture, food, guest appointments, and local attractions.

Attendees are invited to don “yakuta” (traditional Japanese robes) and “geta” (Japanese wooden sandals) that will be provided to enhance the Ryokan experience. Several “mini-theatres’ will recreate Ryokan stays at a selection of award winning establishments through a combination of HD video projection and life-sized scale model rooms. Visitors can immerse themselves with the smell of incense and stunning virtual tours actual Ryokan inns, local hot springs, and the breathtaking seasonal scenery of Japan.