This festival was made for us.
One only has to look at the guest and panel lineups for other larger cons in the San Francisco Bay Area to see that. Anime conventions are made for anime people. Guests are voice actors, writers, directors, etc., and panels are discussing various aspects of anime. Sometimes you’ll get a music act, but the trend is towards US-based acts, usually rock bands. The closest to idol culture you get are vocaloid, anisongs, and the occasional idol anime.
This weekend the JPHiP press team will be bringing you full coverage of Japan Expo USA, including event reports, photos, and more! Last year JPHiP got the chance to interview Kikkawa You before her trip to Europe for last year’s Japan Expo conventions in Orleans and Brussels. This time we will do our best to bring you JPHiP-exclusive interviews with as many of the guests as possible!
JPHiP was fortunate enough to have an interview with Hidekazu Ohara, a popular animation director, during J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL 2013. Not only has Mr. Ohara worked as a key animator on such titles as Akira, Kogepan, and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, he also directed the music video for seiyuu idol group Sweety’s collaboration with Toyota and the PES project, “My Line.” Read on for our exclusive interview!
Continue reading
JPHiP was lucky enough to score a seat at the press junket for Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Sebastian Masuda, and the Harajuku Kawaii models at the opening of the Harajuku Kawaii pop-up shop in San Francisco. There were some pretty good questions and interesting answers – read on to see what the girls and Sebastian had to say about fashion, music, and what they’re into right now!
Continue reading
San Francisco’s 5th Annual Celebration Of Japanese Pop Fashion, Art, Music, Film And Fun To Deliver A Colorful Array Of Special Events, Attractions, Film Premieres And Guest Of Honor Appearances
San Francisco, CA, July 15, 2013 [via OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE] The 2013 J-POP Summit Festival is only a few weeks away and marks its 5thanniversary as San Francisco’s preeminent annual celebration of Japanese pop culture, art, music, fashion, and filmon Saturday and Sunday, July 27th and 28th.
A fresh new convention to celebrate all things pop culture! arrived with THE EDMONTON EXPO. The forces behind The ECTCS and the Calgary Expo landed at Edmonton Expo Centre October 20-21, 2012! Headlining vendors, artists, and guests that included the stars of Joss Whedon Universe also united to have an entertaining, side-splitting anecdote filled afternoon that only Jewel Staite and Charisma Carpenter can provide!!
This July 1st marked the inaugural year for convention Anime, Music, and Manga, otherwise known as AM2. Though just starting out, the otakus in charge brought together a nice collection of musical guests to entertain fans. Kanon x Kanon is a musical collaboration between cellist extraordinaire Wakeshima Kanon and oshare-kei band Antic Cafe’s bassist Kanon. The two came together in late 2010 because they both had a strong affinity for anime, music, anime music…and, well, because they share the same name. Though I wasn’t really a fan of either Wakeshima Kanon (despite my love for classical instruments integrated into mainstream music) nor the duo of Kanon x Kanon, I can’t deny they were entertaining.
