Seeing as many festivals around the world were canceled in 2020, many countries are now looking forward to bringing live music festivals back in 2021. Japan is home to several iconic music festivals, and most of them appear to be going ahead this year. Here are five to look forward to over the coming months.
Music Circus
Music Circus is the biggest beach festival in Japan. The outdoor event is held annually at Rinku Minamihama Beach. It is due to take place on 4 and 5 September 2021. Primarily a dance music festival, Music Circus sees some of the world’s most renowned artists and DJs performing. The lineup for this year’s festival has yet to be announced, but past artists have included Sloth, Cyberjapan Dancers, Yellow Claw, Galantis, and Mike Williams.
Fuji Rock Festival
One of the largest outdoor music festivals in Japan is the Fuji Rock Festival. Each year, more than 100,000 rock fans attend the vibrant and thrilling festival that features over 200 Japanese and international artists and groups. This year’s Fuji Rock Festival takes place at the Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata Prefecture, from 20 August to 23 August. The lineup for this year includes Japanese artists and bands like King Gnu, Denki Groove, and Man with a Mission. If you are new to Japanese rock music, those three bands are well worth exploring. And if you are in the mood for more Japanese culture, why not play the fantastic Matsuri slot game? Matsuri, along with plenty of other slots and traditional table games like roulette and ブラックジャック (blackjack) are available at an online casino.
Download Festival
While the dates have yet to be confirmed, it is still hoped that the Download Festival in Japan is still going to happen this year. The festival originated in the United Kingdom and has become one of the world’s most renowned rock music events. It is now held in countries like Australia, France, and Spain. Download was only held in Japan in 2019 for the first time, and with the 2020 festival being canceled, hopes are high that it can return in magnificence in 2021. Legendary rock and metal bands like Slayer, Judas Priest, and Anthrax were favorites at the 2019 Download Festival in Japan. If it goes ahead this year, you can expect to see other giants of the rock and metal scene taking the stage.
Supersonic
The Summer Sonic Festival is one of the biggest music festivals in Japan. Held in both Osaka and Chiba, the festival features many Japanese rock musicians from both major and independent record labels, as well as well-known international acts. But you will not only find rock artists at Summer Sonic. You will also find artists and groups from diverse music genres, including hip-hop and R&B. Due to the Summer Olympics, Summer Sonic is not happening in the summer this year, but it has been rescheduled for September and given the new name of Supersonic. While the lineup for Supersonic has not yet been announced, previous years have seen the likes of B’z, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Marshmellow, Foo Fighters, and The Black Eyed Peas perform.
The Greenroom Festival
The Greenroom Festival has been held annually at the Minato Mirai area in Yokohama City since 2005. In addition to music, the festival is dedicated to film and art inspired by surf and beach culture. The festival is happening later this month. It will be held for two days on 22 and 23 May. Among the many Japanese bands and artists that are playing this year, you will come across Nulbraich, Chara, Dragon Ash, and Asian Kung-Fu Generation.
