Japanese Music Takes the Global Stage at Zipangu 2026

On May 16, Cloud Nine and Goldenvoice brought the Zipangu Music Event 2026 to the historic Rose Bowl area in Pasadena, California, a physical epitome of Japanese music’s growing stateside influence.

What went down at the one-day-only event marked a convergence of multiple pillars of the Japanese zeitgeist – music, fashion, and food– in a palpable celebration of community and culture. According to a report by Billboard JAPAN, following the festival, the streaming numbers for the performing artists in the Los Angeles area surged by an average of 2.4 times compared to the same day of the previous week. But it goes beyond just the numbers.

We went behind the scenes at the Zipangu with American A-list rapper Cordae, a massive fan of Japanese culture, to immerse ourselves in the monumental moment. Find all of our favorite moments from the festival below.

Cordae dons his affinity for Japanese culture – specifically different hyperlocalized pockets of the music scene – on his sleeve, making him the perfect tour guide to show us around the event. is an avid fan of Japanese artists such as Awich and Gen Hoshino, holding immense respect for their music. “The best thing about the Japanese music scene is that while drawing massive inspiration from Black culture, hip-hop, and Black music,” Cordae shared with us in a brief interview. “They add their own unique interpretation and express it with the utmost respect and homage.” Together with Cordae, we explored the “Rose Bowl Yokocho,” an outdoor food court area modeled after a classic Japanese alleyway.

Beyond the A-list lineup of performing talent, Zipangu was a holistic cultural experience. Over a dozen food vendors showed up with booths in the Yokocho, including sandos, noodles, shaved ice, and everything in between. Vendors spanned Soma Suisan, Tokyo Yakisoba, Tenkatori, Onigiri by Hyuga, and Kuramoto Shavery. Benches were scattered across the grass, with string lights hanging atop, perfect for when the sun went down.

The main stage was home to a star-studded slate of performers. Global superstar Ado led the lineup, along with ATARASHII GAKKO!, CHANMINA, HANA, MAN WITH A MISSION, Yuki Chiba, and 10-FEET. Each of the performers delivered a full-length set, rather than the typical 20-30 minute music festival set we usually get stateside. The curation of performers accounts for a myriad of different genres and sonic pockets of the scene, offering a holistic representation of what people are actually listening to.

We conducted interviews with three artists Cordae was particularly interested in: ATARASHII GAKKO!, MAN WITH A MISSION, and HANA.

One of the day’s most anticipated artists was ATARASHII GAKKO!, consisting of Mizyu, Rin, Suzuka, and Kanon. The foursome formed eleven years ago back in 2015, and has grown revered for their signature iconic sailor uniforms. “When we first formed, we were in middle and high school, so we wore them to show our true selves and just be who we were,” said Suzuka. “But now that our school days are behind us, this outfit has transformed into our iconic battle gear that symbolizes Japanese culture.” The members also revealed their differing affection for both countries, saying, “LA is the absolute best place to visit and have fun, but when it comes to daily life, we truly cherish Japan.”

Donning his signature wolf mask, MAN WITH A MISSION delivered an electric set. The five-member unit – comprised of Tokyo Tanaka, Jean-Ken Johnny, Kamikaze Boy, DJ Santa Monica, and Spear Rib – brought their high-octane rock music from Shibuya to SoCal in a striking evening performance. When we caught up with Tokyo Tanaka afterwards, he spoke more about getting used to LA, specifically enjoying perusing Beverly Hills and Melrose. However, when ultimately asked: “If you had to choose between California or Japan?”, he laughs, “Japan.” At the core of their high-caliber rock sound, there is always their home ground of Japan.

HANA took the stage in colorful, custom outfits remade to beautifully highlight each of their unique personalities. “It contains everyone’s favorite colors,” explains CHIKA. When asked to describe the group in three words, HANA uses “Voice,” “Humanity,” and “Soul,” which are the three main things that inform the core of their creative output. “Every time I come to LA, I sleep so well, and I love waking up to the morning light,” NAOKO says of the “LA vs. Japan” debate, while MAHINA adds more about hoping to have time to hit the pool or the beach while they’re in town.

Hypebeast: Zipangu marked a major moment for Japanese-style music. Could you tell us about the response to this inaugural event?

Chigira: I think we were able to deliver a piece of Japan. However, there are still so many more things and experiences we can share, so we are aiming for an even more authentic Japanese style for the next Zipangu.

Hypebeast: Why did you feel that now was the right time to host a music event in California?

Chigira: I believe California/LA is one of the world’s major music hubs. I wanted to expand the demand for Japanese music here, and since Ado sold out Crypto.com Arena on her solo tour last year, we chose it as the perfect location for our inaugural event.

Hypebeast: Based on your experience hosting Zipangu this time, were there any challenges you felt once again that the Japanese music scene faces when promoting its future overseas expansion?

Chigira: While there are various challenges due to differences in language, rules, and cultural norms, the biggest one is that Japanese artist teams and management companies are not accustomed to working with international partners.

Hypebeast: Ado was one of the most anticipated artists of the day. Since you work with her so closely, could you tell us more about working with her, building her creative worldview together, and evolving her artistry through both music and style?

Chigira: There are far too many experiences to talk about here, but thanks to her, I have been able to see so many different views as a producer and have truly grown. We are living life to the fullest together.

Chigira: Since this was a first-time challenge for me, the staff, and Japan, we will build on this experience and continue Zipangu from next year onward. Beyond just Zipangu, I hope we can become a presence that delivers the best of Japan to the world.

If Zipangu made one thing certain, it’s that this is just the start for Japanese music, with its global influence, community, and culture spreading far beyond the confines of its home country. Just like food and anime, Japanese music continues to evolve, commanding immense respect worldwide.