A brand new music festival is headed to the City of Angels!
Zipangu, a new festival event featuring an all-Japanese lineup of musicians, is headed to the Brookside at the Rose Bowl this May. When it debuts in May, the one-day event will reportedly become the largest Japanese music event ever held on U.S. soil.
That’s right, an entire day dedicated to Japanese music and culture!
“Japanese music has a universe of creativity that the world is only beginning to discover,” said the Zipangu team in a statement. “Zipangu is the beginning of a new story, one that connects artists and fans through the power, vibrancy, and individuality of this scene.”
They went on to share some Japanese history. “Japan is an island nation where people feel the changing of the seasons and find beauty in wabi-sabi, the appreciation of impermanence and imperfection. In Japanese culture, there is the concept of the “Dō” — the Way, which values not only technical mastery but also courtesy, respect, and spiritual discipline. Through Zipangu, we invite audiences to see, hear, and feel Japan’s “Way of Music” — the Ongaku-dō — and experience the spirit of Cloud Nine-dō, celebrating artistry, dedication, and the heart of Japanese musical expression.”
Who’s headlining?
The event will be headlined by Ado, an electronic musician who uses an avatar on stage. Other performers include ATARASHII GAKKO!, CHANMINA, HANA, MAN WITH A MISSION, Yuki Chiba, and 10-FEET. These artists, a press release says, “represent the cutting edge of Japan’s genre-blurring, visually bold, and globally influential music scene.”
Many of the artists don’t often have the chance to perform in the U.S., so it’ll surely be a unique show fusing J-Pop influences like anime, fashion, fandom, manga, film, online culture, and more.
With one of the largest Japanese populations outside of the home country, L.A.’s own Japanese population is surely ready and willing to join in on the celebrations. Though it hasn’t been announced yet, we’ll hopefully see Japanese food vendors and merch on site as well.
You can find ticket information here. See you there?
📍Where: Brookside at the Rose Bowl
📅 When: Saturday, May 16, 2026