10 things you shouldn’t miss at HYPER JAPAN 2019

With HYPER JAPAN Festival around the corner, taking place from Friday 12 until Sunday 14 July at Olympia London and celebrating the fact that HYPER JAPAN exists 10 years, it is time for an article with 10 things you shouldn’t miss at HYPER JAPAN!

1. Miura Ayme

Miura Ayme made his debut as a solo artist in 2018, but isn’t exactly new. He is the former singer for Visual Kei rock band Ecthelion, performed over 200 times, has released singles and two albums and performed in Europe a couple of times from Japanicon to Japan Expo and even at HYPER JAPAN itself (under his old name miu.). The musician is also active as a cosplayer and will perform during HYPER JAPAN Festival on the Saturday and Sunday.

2. JAPAN FOOD SHOW

After enjoying the activities, it is also interesting to get informed and inspired by Japanese food. At JAPAN FOOD SHOW, which also took place in 2018, you can discover the secrets behind some of your favourite food. Over 40 producers of Japanese food and drink products are gathered at this food show. You can take the chance to talk with the producers and taste what they have to offer. The event is open on Saturday from 19.00 and Sunday from 11.45.

3. Japanese Garden

Visiting big events like HYPER JAPAN can be overwhelming and a place where you can relax are always welcome. During HYPER JAPAN Festival 2019 it is possible to visit a Japanese Garden in a traditional style that will be created on-site by Rhino Rock. Rhino Rock is a family run company that is specialised in Japanese gardens, water gardens and more.

4. NECRONOMIDOL

Presented as an ultra-dark idol unit, NECRONOMIDOL has become a known name in the scene of Japanese music lovers in Europe and outside, but also, let’s not forget, of course, in the idol scene in Tokyo. The group has been touring Europe a couple of times now, this time they are back for a tour and included a visit at HYPER JAPAN. With a new EP in their pocket and new additions to the group, NECRONOMIDOL will probably share a lot of their new music with the audience. NECRONOMIDOL will perform on Friday from 18.00 and Sunday from 15.45, both at the HYPER Live! stage.

5. Harumi Shuhama

One of the actors that appeared in the Japanese film ONE CUT OF THE DEAD, Harumi Shuhama, will visit HYPER JAPAN for a talk on Friday from 17.15 and Saturday from 18.15. She will answer your questions about the film and her experiences in this project, which became a hit of 2018. The film delighted fans in Japan and outside with the combination of zombie-fest, make-of back story and laugh-out-loud comedy. This made it for many a refreshing film. Harumi Shuhama has over 20 years of experience on stage and screen.

6. KUNI-KEN

Shamisen Rock band KUNI-KEN will perform for the first time in the United Kingdom during HYPER JAPAN Festival 2019. The band consists of brothers Kuniaki and Kenji from Yokkaichi in Mie prefecture and they have been performing their blend of rock and shamisen for over 15 years. They have been performing over the world at huge events, but not yet in the United Kingdom. They will perform on Saturday from 13.15 and Sunday from 15.00.

7. IJEN KAI

The mysterious cyberpunk group IJEN KAI will perform their first European performances at HYPER JAPAN. They present themselves as a band with unidentified origins and unidentified genre, released their first album, with the title SiO1, in March under the independent label Bug Scream Records and have been performing a couple of times in Tokyo. IJEN KAI was formed in 2017 and consists of Ringa, Lee Loi and So-Shin and they are intriguingly dressed in the style of cyberpunk that gives you the feeling that they are from another universe. This band will perform on Friday from 16.30 and Saturday from 19.45.

8. Mitsuhiro Arita

Designer and illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita has been working as an artist in Japan since 1986 and is truly one of the greats of a very vibrant and talented industry. He will be at HYPER JAPAN all weekend to talk about his life, work and experiences with a variety of incredible creations. The first project he worked on was Pokémon Trading Card Game, he also worked on Final Fantasy XI, did concept design for the animation film BERSERK: the golden age I-III, books and magazines. On Friday from 15.45, Saturday from 12.30 and Sunday from 12.30 it is possible to join his talks.

9. choco

choco is a young singer-songwriter and radio personality from Karatsu in Saga prefecture. She has been active since the early 2000s as a performer and even was active as a gravure idol in Tokyo and vocalist for the band RRR. Nowadays active as a solo artist, she has released a couple of singles. choco will perform on Saturday from 11.00 and Sunday from 10.15 as a starter for your day at HYPER JAPAN.

10. Wagashi Japanese Bakery Demonstration

Found out during a demonstration on Friday from 17.30 and Saturday from 19.30, how to make beautiful and delicious wagashi sweets. In the HYPER Kitchen, the highly skilled and talented experts from Wagashi Japanese Bakery will be demonstrating how to make these stunning edible artworks with only a few utensils. There are more workshops and demonstrations in HYPER Kitchen during the weekend.