On 19 and 20 July, the Japanese pop culture festival Atsusacon returns to Ghent ICC for a new edition with the theme A Journey to Mount Fuji. The Belgian event has been on hiatus for a year, but has a full programme planned for this year, including music. Recently, the organisation announced that the alternative pop-rock group SOSOSO will be performing at Atsusacon 2025.
The Japanese-English duo, consisting of model Miyu Ukiyo and German producer DRFTR (Read: Drifter), has been making music since late 2022 that is described as futuristic pop rock, blending fashion, art and music. The end result is a fusion that combines the cute aesthetics of Tokyo with the edgy atmosphere of Berlin, the duo’s two home cities.
Recently, the indie band has been trying to gain more international recognition by performing at various Japan-related events, including MEX Berlin, Main Matsuri, Nippon Connection, Japan markets in Lübeck, Leipzig and Berlin, RiminiComix, and now also Atsusacon. They also performed in Japan several times last year. During Atsusacon, they will perform on Sunday afternoon in the Auditorium, starting at 2 p.m.
On the topic of music, Atsusacon will have much more planned, including various performances by idols and idol groups, but there is also an opportunity to showcase your singing skills through a karaoke singing competition or listen to Korean pop music and show off your dancing skills. There is much more to do during Atsusacon 2025, all related to Japan, from cosplay to all things trains in Japan, (video) games, screenings, stories of Japan, competitions, workshops, panels and activities related to the theme, but there is also an opportunity to relax with Japanese food and drinks. The full programme is now online on the official Atsusacon website.
Tickets are available online, both for one day and for the entire weekend, as well as for a number of workshops. The doors are open on Saturday from 10:00 to 23:00 and on Sunday until 18:00.
