On 5 – 6 September, *SCAPE was home to the first ever Moshi Moshi Nippon Festival 2015 in Singapore. There, we welcomed tons of activities, the debut of a new “anime” MILPOM and, of course, one of the most anticipated concerts for J-music lovers.
From morning to night, the booths were packed with everything we love about Japan pop-culture. From photo sessions with my spirit animal Gudetama, meeting cute Japanese fashion idols to having your very own live stage with the Live Dam Karaoke Systems, there were tons to do. But, the big event is after all, the concert in the evening.
Boasting big names such as World Order, Capsule, kz (livetune), yanaginagi and AFA favourite Hachioji P, there was a lot to look forward to. And, with TEMPURA KIDZ opening both nights, I daresay the audience were pumped up right from the start – fans or not.
TEMPURA KIDZ
Those who have heard of Kyrary Pamyu Pamyu might have already seen the amazing power TEMPURA KIDZ can bring to the stage. Previously known as Kyrary Kids, they performed as background dancers for the quirky singer in her videos and tours before branching out as their very own group. Think Maddie Ziegler (of SIA’s Chandelier fame) multiplied by five combined with every shade of neon in the universe!
So, just who exactly are the TEMPURA KIDZ? Made up of four girls and one boy, YU-KA, AO, NANAHO, Karin and P-Chan are a Japanese pop-dance group who officially debuted in 2013 with the adorable One Step. They caught the attention of many with their eye-catching outfits, and stayed on in audience’s mind with their catchy tunes, dynamic choreography and P-Chan’s crazy expressions.
When I was first introduced to them, I was intrigued. But, after talking to them and watching them live, I may have fallen in love! Putting them right up first for both days was a smart choice – everyone got pumped up thanks to their crazy energy. Even though half the audience were new to these five kids, they got everyone cheering and jumping around by the first chorus. I cannot wait to watch them live again!
World Order
You may not know the name, but their out-of-the-world dance routines have even earned them a spot on season 26 of The Amazing Race. Formed back in 2003 by former Japanese MMA fighter, Genki Sudo, their viral videos of clean cut tailored suits doing slow motion walks in the middle of crowded streets and capturing the candid expression of passer-bys, have transported them onto an international stage.
You could feel the fans waiting for their turn on the stage. Welcomed with resounding cheers, all were silent when they began their unorthodox and crazily synchronized choreography. It is one thing to watch them on video, but another to see them live. No CGI or hidden wire involved, just the pure, powerful talent each member of World Order had. They are all trained dancers even before joining Genki Sudo’s plan for “world order” after all! Whether you are a J-music fan or not, your bucketlist should have “Watching World Order live”on it.
CAPSULE
Famous in the local scene for lending their talents to Liar Game the movie, Yasutaka Nakata and Koshijima Toshiko make up the electronica duo, CAPSULE. It was obvious that majority of the Japanese fans that night were there for them, or mainly Nakata. We have him to credit for the sounds of PERFUME, Meg and Kyrary Pamyu Pamyu, after all. The duo quickly transformed the concert space into a party, with Toshiko’s serene vocals getting all into a trance.
Moshi Moshi Nippon Festival has been making its way around Asia, bringing the latest in Japanese pop-culture and acts up close and personal to fans. It definitely left an impression with its concert line-up this time round, and I cannot wait to see what next year’s will be like.
