The Anime Blog

If you’re in Japan for four successive weekends starting at the end of July, you will have a chance to see the Big Four Rock Festivals…Fuji Rock Festival, Rock in Japan, Summer Sonic, and Rising Sun Rock Festival In Ezo.

Fuji Rock Festival

The Fuji Rock Festival is arguably Japan’s premier rock festival. This year, there will be more than 200 acts performing on more than 10 stages. Some of the Western acts includes some older artists like The Cure, Beastie Boys, and Iggy & The Stooges as well as more recent artists like Fountains of Wayne, Mika, and Lily Allen. Japanese artists include Shonen Knife, Boom Boom Satellites, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Shinichi Osawa, Kan Mikami, and Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra.

• Dates: July 27-29
• Time: From 11 a.m.
• Venue: Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata Prefecture
• Information: www.fujirockfestival.com (Japanese & English)

Rock In Japan

Rock in Japan is Japan’s largest rock festival for domestic artists and second largest overall. While the other festivals feature camping facilities, this festival is more for day-trippers. Over 100 artists are expected to perform on the four main stages including The Cro-Magnons, Asian Kung-Fu Generation, Dragon Ash, Mars Eurythmics, Ai, and Bump of Chicken.

• Dates: Aug. 3-5
• Time: From 10:30 a.m.
• Venue: Hitachi Seaside Park in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture
• Information: www.rijfes.co.jp (Japanese only)

Summer Sonic

The next weekend will feature Summer Sonic…a two day festival with two venues (Tokyo and Osaka). The artists who perform in Tokyo on day 1 will perform in Osaka on day 2 and vice versa. The Western acts include Cyndi Lauper, Pet Shop Boys, Avril Lavigne, The Black Eyed Peas, and Gwen Sefani. The Japanese acts include The Pillows, Puffy AmiYumi, Remioromen, Kaela Kimura, Yanokami, and Polysics.

• Dates: Aug. 11-12
• Time: From 11 a.m.
• Venues: Chiba Marine Stadium and Makuhari Messe in Chiba; Maishima Summer Sonic Osaka Site in Osaka.
• Information: www.summersonic.com (Japanese & English)

Rising Sun Rock Festival

The Rising Sun Rock Festival In Ezo will be held the following weekend. Like Rock in Japan, the Rising Sun Festival features domestic artists. Unlike the other three festivals, the Rising Sun Festival is held on the northern island of Hokkaido while the other three are held on the main island of Honshu. The artists include Tha Blue Herb, Hidefumi Ino, Scoobie Do, The Cornelius Group, Lost in Time, and Ellegarden. Also, there will be some artists who performed at the earlier festivals like The Pillows and Boom Boom Satellites.

• Dates: Aug. 17-18
• Time: From 11 a.m.
• Venue: Ishikari Bay New Port Tarukawa Futoyoko Special Outdoor Stage in Ishikari, Hokkaido.
• Information: http://rsr.wess.co.jp (Japanese only)

Ryukyu Festival

Fans of Okinawan music who are in the Tokyo area in late July can go to the Ryukyu Festival. This annual event showcases traditional island songs to current pop. Featured artists include Misako Oshiro and the group Pasha Club.

• Date: July 29
• Time: From 4 p.m. (rain or shine)
• Venue: Hibiya Yagai Ongakudo (Hibiya Outdoor Amphitheater), Hibiya Park
• Information: mandicompany website (Japanese only)