On Saturday, May 16th, 2026, Pasadena became the center of a massive celebration of Japanese music and culture as the inaugural Zipangu Festival delivered an unforgettable lineup packed with high-energy performances, emotional moments, and nonstop crowd interaction. From explosive rock bands to genre-defying pop stars, the festival showcased just how diverse and globally influential Japan’s music scene has become.
Fans gathered early, eager to witness a stacked lineup featuring artists like Ado, Atarashii Gakko!, CHANMINA, MAN WITH A MISSION, TeddyLoid, and many more. Throughout the day, the festival transformed into a cultural bridge between Japan and Los Angeles, with artists constantly interacting with fans in both English and Japanese.
TeddyLoid Sets the Tone Early
The energy kicked off immediately when TeddyLoid took the stage with a hyped-up DJ set that instantly got the crowd moving. Heavy beats, flashing visuals, and nonstop transitions created the perfect opening atmosphere for a festival built around excitement and discovery. Fans danced from the very first drop, setting the tone for the marathon of performances ahead.
HANA Blooms on Their First U.S. Stage
Seven-member girl group HANA made a memorable impression during their first-ever performance in America. The members warmly introduced themselves and asked the audience if they knew the meaning behind their group name, explaining that “HANA” means “flower.”
Their set balanced fierce confidence with emotional vulnerability through songs like “Burning Flower,” “My Body,” “Cold Night,” “Bad Girl,” “Blue Jeans,” and “Bad Love.” During “Bad Love,” the group incorporated mic stands into the choreography while asking the audience if there was someone or something they could never forgive, adding dramatic weight to the performance. They closed with “ROSE,” leaving fans cheering loudly for the rising group.
10-FEET Delivers Pure Rock Energy
Veteran rock band 10-FEET brought a completely different energy to Zipangu with a gritty and explosive set. Songs like “Vibes by Vibes,” “1sec.,” and “Spurt” had the audience jumping nonstop, while their brief cover of Livin’ on a Prayer sparked a huge singalong moment from the crowd.
The band’s raw stage presence and relentless momentum made their set one of the loudest and most energetic moments of the festival.
Chanmina Turns the Festival Into Her Personal Stage
One of the standout performers of the night was undoubtedly CHANMINA. Confident, funny, and emotionally honest, she effortlessly commanded the audience from the moment she stepped onstage with songs like “NG,” “Bijin,” “Daikirai,” and “Picky.”
She introduced herself by sharing that this was her first show in the United States and expressed excitement about having support from HANA, who were watching from backstage. She also mentioned being a fan of Ado and revealed her childhood friendship with a member of Atarashii Gakko!.
Throughout her set, Chanmina mixed humor with genuine conversation. Spotting a fan wearing a nice suit and Japanese tie, she jokingly asked if he spoke Japanese. When he admitted he did not, she decided to teach him one important phrase: “Where is the bathroom?”
Later, she unexpectedly shouted out UMI, who was watching in the crowd. During “Test Me,” dancers dramatically lifted her into the air, while “Harenchi” amplified the audience’s energy even further.
One of the night’s most heartfelt moments came when Chanmina grabbed her guitar and opened up about hiding her emotions from others when she is struggling. She explained that she eventually realized bottling everything up was unhealthy, inspiring her to write “I’m Not Ok.” The vulnerable speech immediately shifted the atmosphere before she launched into the emotional track.
She later laughed about Japan’s brutal summer heat, warning fans not to visit during the season because she “almost died last year.” When a fan accidentally held up a sign calling her “psycho” instead of “the best” due to similar-sounding Japanese phrasing, she playfully corrected them before continuing the show.
Wolves Take Over Pasadena
MAN WITH A MISSION created one of the festival’s most unique experiences. True to tradition, the members performed wearing their signature wolf heads while asking the audience not to use phones during the set, allowing everyone to stay fully immersed in the music.
Their performance featured songs like “Database,” “Fly Again,” and “Kizuna no Kiseki,” the latter famously connected to Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. The crowd erupted during their cover of Thunderstruck, turning the venue into a full-scale rock concert atmosphere.
Atarashii Gakko! Keeps the Crowd Dancing
Atarashii Gakko! brought chaotic fun and nonstop movement with a setlist packed with fan favorites including “Go Wild,” “Toryanse,” “Otonablue,” “Pineapple Kryptonite,” “Fly High,” and “Tokyo Calling.” Not a stranger to festivals, especially in America, the group was definitely in their natural element. In this same location, they performed at Head in the Clouds and not so far away, they’ve performed at Coachella.
The group greeted the crowd enthusiastically before teaching everyone how to say “the best” in Japanese, turning the audience into active participants throughout the performance. Their wild choreography and playful personalities made every song feel like a giant celebration, especially during “Chanka Chanka” and “One Heart.”
Yuki Chiba’s Emotional Connection With LA
Now living in Los Angeles, Yuki Chiba delivered one of the most personal sets of the evening. Switching between Japanese and English, he shared that he moved to LA just five months ago and has fallen in love with the city.
During “Don’t Worry,” he taught the audience how to say “shinpai muyou,” encouraging everyone to sing along. At one point, he paused to admire the sky and lighting around the venue, calling it beautiful before asking fans to lift their phones into the air.
“The lights are gifts,” he said while looking out into the glowing crowd.
Songs like “Gifted,” “Shinzou,” “Mahiiya,” and “Tomodatchi” kept the audience fully engaged. During the final track, he ran directly into the crowd to high-five fans all the way to the back of the audience, creating one of the festival’s most memorable interactions.
Ado Closes the Night in Mystery
The highly anticipated finale belonged to Ado, whose performance maintained the mystery and theatricality she is known for worldwide. As expected, the audience was prohibited from recording or photographing the set.
Performing inside her signature enclosed box, Ado delivered a stunning vocal showcase through songs like “Odo,” “Show,” “Backlight,” “Usseewa,” and “Gira Gira.” Despite never fully revealing herself to the audience, her commanding vocals and stage presence completely captivated the crowd.
The secrecy surrounding her performance only heightened the experience, creating a rare moment where fans focused entirely on the music and atmosphere instead of their screens.
Zipangu Festival ultimately felt like more than just a concert. It was a celebration of cultural exchange, language, and connection through music. Artists constantly interacted with fans, taught Japanese phrases, shared personal stories, and embraced the excitement of performing in America.
With a fun debut year filled with unforgettable performances and emotional moments, Zipangu seems to want to come back. Despite a few hiccups as attendees unfortunately spent too much time in line, we wonder how attendees enjoyed the Zipangu as a whole and if they would attend the next!
Photo Credit: Ryo Kawakami | Viola Kam
