LA’s Can’t Miss Summer Event: Zipangu Takes Over the Rose Bowl to Celebrate Japanese Culture

Written by Rebecca Rowe

| Seven artists, one stage - Zipangu’s summer lineup brings Japan’s vibrant music scene to Los Angeles

Photo Zipangu

Summer festivals are right around the corner and this May, Los Angeles will be immersed in Japanese music and culture. First of its kind Jpop celebration, Zipangu will bring seven artists to the Brookside at the Rose Bowl on May 16th to “see, hear, and feel Japan’s ‘“Way of Music’” – the spirit of Ongaku-dō.”

Each artist on the lineup will perform for 35-40 minutes, with electro-pop artist Ado ending the night with a one hour set. Opening the festival is girl group HANA, followed by 10-FEET, CHANMINA (ちゃんみな), MAN WITH A MISSION, ATARASHII GAKKO! (新しい学校のリーダーズ) and Yuki Chiba (千葉雄喜). With all performances featured on one stage, fans are sure not to miss any of their favorite artists.

HANA is a seven member group formed by fellow performer and group producer CHANMINA on the audition program “No No Girls.” Eliminating the desire to cast based on appearance or background, HANA was formed with no restrictions. The group released their first studio album in February, one year after their debut single “Rose.”

YouTube HANA Official

CHANMINA is a South Korean and Japanese rapper, singer and producer, whose music spans three languages; Japanese, Korean, and English. Certified badass, her outspoken and edgy demeanor has caught the attention of fans; matching her music that tackles racial discrimination, women empowerment, and defying conformity.

YouTube ちゃんみな [CHANMINA]

Three member band 10-FEET will bring their signature rock sound to the one-day festival. Formed in 1997, the group is the most seasoned of the performers on the lineup. Made up of TAKUMA, NAOKI, and KOUICHI, the members blend punk and heavy metal into their music, and have even brought in elements of reggae and hip hop, making them diverse sonically.

YouTube 10-FEET

Fellow rockers and self-proclaimed mad scientist experiments, MAN WITH A MISSION, will bring their wolfpack to the Los Angeles stage. Yes, you read that right - the five members wear oversized wolf masks, performing as half man-half wolf and have never revealed their identities to the public. Their music spans across anime, film, and video games, and they most recently announced their Marking New Ground tour throughout Europe and America.

YouTube MAN WITH A MISSION

Yuki Chiba will take the stage near the end of the night. A rapper from Tokyo, Yuki Chiba gained worldwide attention featuring on Megan Thee Stallion’s “Mamushi” in 2024, but not before attracting notoriety among the Japanese hip hop scene. Covering controversial themes such as violence and drug use, he has garnered praise among the hip hop and music scene for his honest lyrics.

YouTube 千葉雄喜 (Yuki Chiba)

ATARASHII GAKKO! is no stranger to the US festival scene, having played Coachella in 2024 and 88 rising’s Head in the Clouds in both New York and Los Angeles over the years. In 2025 the group also played alongside headliner Ado at matsuri’ 25: Japan Music Experience Los Angeles. Recognizable in their sailor-fuku, the four members are known for challenging Japanese societal norms and advocating for individuality. 

YouTube ATARASHII GAKKO!

Headliner Ado breaks artist norms, repped by an animated persona and performing live in darkened conditions, her identity and appearance remain anonymous. The 2020 single “Usseewa” skyrocketed her to fame, debuting on Billboard Japan Hot 100. She continued her success and later held the top three rankings on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 with singles “New Genesis,” “Invincible,” and “Backlight,” and became the first artist to hold all three spots simultaneously.

YouTube Ado

Zipangu describes itself as “an event that gathers music born daily from Japan’s vibrant scene and delivers Japan’s unique cultural value to the world.” Each artist is a representation of challenging societal norms, breaking barriers and promoting individuality, emphasizing the strength and expression of the Japanese music scene. Zipangu will also offer authentic Japanese food and drink throughout the festival, with a traditional yokocho (横丁) style, a Japanese alley with street food vendors. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect and share in Japanese music and culture at the largest Japanese music event in the US.

Check out our playlist to hear more from the artists on the lineup. Tickets are currently on sale through zipangu-event.cloud, with GA starting at $149 and VIP starting at $399

Zipangu

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