BE:FIRST release BRUCE WAYNE feat. Flo Milli, ATL Jacob on July 31, 2026. Five months after drawing 100,000 people to a Tokyo stadium, the six-piece plays a 650-capacity New York theatre in October. How a Japanese boy group is entering the U.S. on a route that is not the K-pop playbook.
On June 6, 2026, seven-member group XG became the first Japanese act to perform at Capital's Summertime Ball and the first Japanese group ever to play Wembley Stadium. They delivered three songs to 80,000 people, including a one-off cover of UK garage classic 'Flowers.' The set, the 29-year gap since Eikichi Yazawa, and how XG built up to this.
Kenshi Yonezu has written 'Karasu' (Crow) as NHK's 2026 World Cup soccer theme. Combined with Ado's 'Kira' (adidas Japan uniform song), ORANGE RANGE's DAZN anthem, and JI BLUE's 'Keshiki' (JFA official theme), Japan's top J-pop artists are forming an unprecedented multi-platform soundtrack for FIFA World Cup 2026.
TOBE founder Hideaki Takizawa hinted that 'just one more piece' is needed before a major Number_i announcement after their May Sapporo show. We trace the trio's recent moves since signing with WME and unpack what the missing piece could realistically be.
Fujii Kaze's official Coachella 2026 Week 2 performance of 'Prema' is now on YouTube. On the same day, he announced Asian dates for his 'Prema World Tour' (Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Seoul), plus a 2027 summer run through Germany, UK, France, and six North American cities. After calling Week 1 'messy' and bouncing back in Week 2, here's where he goes next.
Japanese R&B and soul singer-songwriter Furui Riho, whose voice is rooted in gospel, will hold her Billboard Live Tour 'The Garden' across Tokyo, Osaka, and Taipei in September 2026. The Taipei show marks her first-ever solo overseas concert. Here's the full schedule, venue access, and how international fans can buy tickets through her official fan club DAYSY.
YOASOBI announces 'NEVER ENDING STORIES', their biggest-ever North American tour. 8 dates including OSHEAGA and Lollapalooza, closing at LA's 17,500-capacity Hollywood Bowl. Powered by Crunchyroll, with English EP 'E-SIDE 4' dropping alongside. Full dates, venues, and ticket info.
Fujii Kaze made his Coachella debut on the Mojave stage, delivering 10 songs over 50 minutes that captivated the desert crowd. Here's a roundup of Japanese media coverage, domestic fan reactions, and how the global audience responded.
YOASOBI vocalist Lilas Ikuta and legendary Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi join forces to create the main theme for Professor Layton and the New World of Steam. Hisaishi composes while Ikuta writes lyrics and sings, a dream pairing that has anime, gaming, and music fans worldwide buzzing with excitement.
King Gnu's 'AIZO' hits No.1 on Billboard JAPAN's Global Japan Songs chart, marking their second chart-topper after 'SPECIALZ.' The Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 finale triggered a 190% streaming surge to 5.46 million plays. We explore King Gnu's four-song history with JJK and the anime's global music impact.
After making history as Japan's first IFPI top-15 artist, Mrs. GREEN APPLE launches Phase 3 with a 6-day stadium tour including the National Stadium, the Frieren Season 2 opening theme, an NHK morning drama song, and a new album planned for autumn 2026.
Arashi's final concert on May 31 at Tokyo Dome will be livestreamed worldwide. Here's everything international fans need to know about tickets, viewing, and what this farewell means.
Fujii Kaze makes his Coachella debut in 2026 with an all-star band featuring Suchmos guitarist TAIKING, WONK keyboardist Fumitake Ezaki, and more. Full set time details for the Mojave stage, his global credentials with 7.9M Spotify listeners, and why his performance is a must-see.
Wu-Tang Clan's farewell tour hits Japan on May 24 at K-Arena Yokohama, their first solo show in 29 years. Special guests Awich, King Giddra, Hannya, and ¥ellow Bucks represent four generations of Japanese hip-hop in a historic crossover event.
Japan's two biggest music labels, Universal Music and Sony Music, have formed NINE BY NINE, a joint venture to produce Japanese music festivals across Asia starting 2027. Here's what this means for J-pop's global push.
UVERworld and ONE OK ROCK performed a joint live show at MUFG Stadium (National Stadium) in Tokyo on April 4, 2026. The event fulfilled a promise made roughly 15 years ago between vocalists TAKUYA∞ and Taka to meet at the biggest stage possible. Here's why this concert matters for Japanese rock, and for the world.
FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2026 has announced its second wave of artists, adding 13 acts including Sakanaction frontman Ichiro Yamaguchi, Denki Groove's Takkyu Ishino, Thurston Moore, and Geordie Greep. Full day-by-day lineup, ticket guide, and everything international fans need to know about attending Japan's biggest outdoor music festival at Naeba Ski Resort.
Ado has been announced as the final headliner for SUMMER SONIC 2026, joining The Strokes and L'Arc-en-Ciel. This marks the first time in the festival's 25-year history that two Japanese acts have been selected as headliners. The organizer revealed behind-the-scenes details about a rapper originally planned for the slot whose deal fell through. BE:FIRST, MAZZEL, and Aina The End are also confirmed for the three-day event in Tokyo and Osaka this August.
From Kyary Pamyu Pamyu to Atarashii Gakko!, FRUITS ZIPPER, and CANDY TUNE — Asobisystem CEO Yusuke Nakagawa has spent 18 years turning Harajuku's Kawaii culture into a global pop ecosystem. Discover how his KAWAII LAB. project produced two NHK Kohaku acts and a Tokyo Dome headliner in 2025.
Japanese boy group JO1 became the first Japanese artist ever nominated for World Artist of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026. Alongside global stars Ayra Starr, Jackson Wang, and Tyla, three JO1 members made a surprise appearance at the ceremony in Hollywood's Dolby Theatre. From their Jingle Ball debut to upcoming Tokyo Dome shows, JO1's global rise continues.