Event: Hyper Japan Christmas Market 2016 In Pictures

A colourful weekend full of music, food and fun!

Photo feature by James Fielding.

This years’ Hyper Japan Christmas Market took place at Tobacco Dock between the 25th-27th of November.   Although it was three day event, sadly Diverse Japan could only attend on the Saturday.

As usual at Hyper Japan, a wide range of activities took place over the weekend along with some great stage performances.

Music Review: No Cars – YOKO GOES TO BOLLYWOOD

The album gives people lots of smiles, and one can’t resist laughing, thinking ‘they are bonkers’!

Follow NO CARS (read Diverse Japan’s interview with the band) as they travel down the Silk Road to India; their journey is not an easy one as hunger, thirst, and vast amounts of tip-ex await them but it is certainly enjoyable. Luckily for us these intrepid travellers have recorded their adventures as infectious pop-punk melodies in the album YOKO GOES TO BOLLYWOOD.

These three Japanese girls and their Raccoon drummer have created a rather fun story in their latest album. It gives you the chance to imagine the quartet as they walk all the way to

Memorial Concert For Japan Earthquake & Tsunami 2016

Kakehashi Project: “The Unity Bridge Project”

11^th March 2011 was a devastating day in Japanese history. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake, the most powerful to ever be recorded in Japan, hit the country’s east coast and triggered a massive tsunami that devastated the Tōhoku region. The wave travelled 10km inland in some areas of the country, and over 15,000 people were killed by the event. To this day, Japan is still in shock about the disaster but they are determined to remain brave in the

Interview: NO CARS Talk Samosa, Cress, And The Mystery of Yoko

A tongue-in-cheek pub-rock band that merges jazz, punk and even Punjabi!

NO CARS are having the time of their lives on stage as they play their headline show at the Spice of Life in London. Dressed in brightly coloured Saris and a racoon onesie, the band is getting the audience to chant “Samosa” alongside them before they dive head first into their comic set of songs. If there’s one thing that should be taken from this performance, it’s that NO CARS know how to put on an entertaining

No Cars Announce Date For Third Album Launch Party London

PRESS RELEASE – “Yoko Goes To Bollywood”

No Cars are 3 girls and a raccoon!

Date: Friday 4th December 2015
Venue: Paper Dress Vintage Bar & Boutique, London
Doors: 7.30pm / Support acts: 7.45pm / NO CARS: 9.45pm
Address: 352A Mare Street, E8 1HR
Nearest station: Hackney Central (Overground Zone 2)

Audience members are asked to dress up in the theme of India or Bollywood to participate in the 

Event: Hyper Japan 2015 In Pictures

The UK’s biggest celebration of Japanese culture!

Hyper Japan, the UK’s biggest and best-loved annual J-Culture convention, returned on 11th – 13th July for another weekend extravaganza of all things Japanese from the authentic and traditional to the contemporary. Thousands of Japanophiles descended upon London’s O2 in Greenwich over the three days for an exciting time of live music, fashion shows, videogames, manga/anime activities, martial arts demonstrations and

JAPAN NIGHT Comes To The O2 London July 2015

A strong line-up incorporating fresh and established talent!

JAPAN NIGHT – MOVE WITH THE MUSIC OF JAPAN announces its first London shows taking place on 10 & 11 July bringing the best talent from Japan to

Press Release: Hyper Japan Christmas Market 2014

Get ready for a pop culture explosion at the UK’s largest J-culture event!

Date: 14-16 November 
Venue; National Hall, Olympia, London

Music, street fashion and cosplay – 3 pillars of Japanese pop culture which have captivated audiences and amassed devoted fans across the globe. At our HYPER JAPAN Christmas Market, we bring together the best of this trendy crowd and offer visitors the rare chance to experience a range of Japanese musical acts (both real and virtual), and to enjoy our HYPER J-style fashion show and

Event: Japan Matsuri 2014 London Trafalgar Square

The spectacular annual Japan festival returns for more fun and excitement!

Date: Saturday, 27th September 2014

Location: Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN

Time: 11 am – 9 pm

Interview: Mayuko – Singer/Songwriter

A child in a cocoon!

Since making her debut back in 2001, Mayuko’s popularity as a singer and songwriter in Japan and abroad has been steadily growing and she has been gaining much interest from the media since her collaborations with talent like Daniel Wang (Balihu Records) and DJ Kensei as well as Shynola who designed the cover artwork for her first mini-album

Hyper Japan 2014 In Pictures

The UK’s biggest celebration of Japanese culture!

Every year since it first began back in 2010, the annual London event Hyper Japan keeps getting better and better, not to mention bigger and bigger, and this year’s extravaganza held on 25 – 27 July at the Earls Court Exhibition Centre was no exception.

The fantastic line-up catered to all tastes in Japanese pop-culture from traditional dancers and musicians like the very popular Hyper Japan regulars Hibiki Ichikawa and Akari Mochizuki, who this time around were accompanied by guitarist Hide Takemoto, to contemporary

Interview: YANAKIKU – Female J-pop Duo With A Difference

Their mission is to share the wonders of Japan with the world!

Japanese duo YANAKIKU are more than just a pop group. They do KIMONO cosplay and represent Japanese pop & decora culture!

Since forming in 2012, dynamic J-pop duo YANAKIKU have been causing much excitement with their catchy tunes and cool decorative costumes and entertaining performances at packed venues like the Tokyo Dome, the

Music Event: JAPAN NIGHT Kokuritsu Kyogijo May 28 & 29 2014

Line-up includes Perfume and L’Arc-en-Ciel!

Japan’s leading artists, L’Arc-en-Ciel, Perfume, UKASUKA-G (Kazutoshi Sakurai ＆ GAKU-MC), and SEKAI NO OWARI will perform (full details below)!

This will be the last show at Kokuritsu Kyogijo, which will be undergoing renovations for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Don’t miss this event!

Interview: Yoshiki – Rock Star And Co-Founder Of X Japan

“My philosophy is anything is possible, nothing can stop me!” – Yoshiki

Born on 20th November 1965, the immensely talented classically trained musician Yoshiki is one of Japan’s most formidable superstars. In 1982 he co-founded the visual kei pioneering super rock group X Japan (originally called X) who have sold 30 million records and have played sell-out tours all across the world, including the 55,000-seat Tokyo Dome an incredible record-breaking 18 times. As a soloist

The Grammy Museum Unveils X Japan Founder Member Yoshiki Exhibit And World Tour Announced

Opening night hosted by comic book legend Stan Lee!

On February 19th, the GRAMMY Museum unveiled their Yoshiki exhibit which puts the influential rock icon’s signature crystal piano, flamboyant wardrobes, and other items on display. The exhibition explores Yoshiki’s fascinating career and follows the museum’s unique collection on Ringo Starr. Yoshiki is the first Asian artist to be honored with an

J-pop Duo Die Milch To Make Their UK Live Debut At Milk Tea Day UK!

Calling all fashionistas and fans of J-rock and Visual Kei!

Event: Milk Tea Day UK Concert and J-fashion Event

Date: Sunday 8th December 2013

Time: Milk Tea Day 2pm – 4pm (FREE)/Die Milch concert 5pm – 7pm (Tickets: £24.00)

Location: The Nave in Islington, London

J-Pop Idol Group Morning Musume Needs Your Help!

A message from Team J-MELO for all Morning Musume fans out there!

We’ll soon be making our 400th edition of J-MELO. The girls of Morning Musume are going to help us celebrate by recording a track for the J-MELO New Song Project. And they want you to inspire them and their producer by answering a few questions about your feelings. So if you’d like a chance to work on a song with Morning Musume, please check out the details on the J-MELO website then get in touch. We can’t wait

London Anime Convention 20-21 July 2013

An event that includes J-pop, cosplay, special guests, and lots of fun!

Anime League kicks off with their Summer London Anime Convention 20-21 July at the London Rocket Complex, Holloway Road.  Over a thousand people are expected to attend this weekend which is jammed pack full of anime, gaming, Japanese culture and

Music Review: Raychell “L>R”

The eagerly anticipated debut album from Japan’s hottest new singing sensation!

Release date: 24 April 2013

This dazzling assortment of songs which consists of a mixture of styles from rock to dance confirms that Raychell is a singer – songwriter of immense talent who is equally comfortable performing ballads as she is up-tempo songs. Her vocal skills are outstanding. She can make a simple tune sound full of meaning and an intricate melody sound easy on the