August 21 2023

The Japan Foundation (JF) will proudly commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan friendship and cooperation by sending artists from three distinct musical genres — traditional Japanese music, anime songs, and rock — to six ASEAN countries. Through these performances and cultural exchange events, the aim is to strengthen ties and foster enduring relationships of trust between both regions.

Japan’s music scene has evolved over time, from music played on traditional Japanese instruments, to Japanese rock that has been popular since the 1970s and has continued to develop its own unique style, to anime songs that resonate with today’s youth. While showcasing this musical diversity and richness, the performers, through interactions in each country, will inspire the generation that will shape the next 50 years in Japan and ASEAN member countries, conveying new realizations and the power to create the future, and encouraging them to forge deeper, lasting ties.

MIKAGE PROJECT, a group of musicians who compose and arrange minyo folk songs of various regions with a contemporary sensibility using instruments such as the shakuhachi, shamisen, and koto to introduce the allure of these melodies in Japan and abroad, is scheduled for performances in Thailand and Malaysia. ITO Kashitaro, a singer-songwriter and anime song singer acclaimed for his unparalleled vocal talent and widely followed by young social media users, will perform in the Philippines and Vietnam. The dynamic all-female band CHAI, known for embodying a “NEO Kawaii” motto through their music and which continues to shock listeners with their remarkable songwriting sense and overwhelming performances, will make appearances in Laos and Cambodia.

Beyond their scheduled performances, these artists will also hold workshops and mini-concerts at local schools and children’s facilities in each of the host countries.

Related Materials

• ［Announcement］MIKAGE PROJECT, ITO Kashitaro and CHAI to Headline Overseas Performances Celebrating (PDF: 459KB)

Contact

Press Inquiries
Kumakura (Ms.), Harada (Ms.), Public Relations Dept., The Japan Foundation
Tel: +81-(0)3-5369-6075 / Fax: +81-(0)3-5369-6044
E-mail: press＠jpf.go.jp

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