Shopping Guide
Recently, interest in industries associated with Japanese pop culture––such as anime, manga, movies, and music––has increased in Southeast Asia. Announcements of new projects to promote such industries in this region are no longer a rare thing. Several such projects that are picking up attention take place in Indonesia. A large-scale Japanese pop culture event called Anime Festival Asia (AFA) Indonesia has been held since 2012, and in the spring of this year, a featured anime and J-pop event called Jimpact Japan Anime + J-Pop Week was held as a trial in theaters.
For one month from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, Japanese music will be delivered to Indonesia through various events as part of a project called J-Music Lab. The Recording Industry Association of Japan is sponsoring this project with the intention of increasing knowledge of Japanese music in Southeast Asia––with a focal point in Jakarta, Indonesia––and market development. Japan’s music industry is assertively challenging itself with the Indonesian market. J-Music Lab will consist of performances by Japanese artists, DJ events limited to Japanese music, the selling of CDs, DVDs, and other Japanese music goods,and other related events. The event is multifaceted while still being geared toward only one thing.
A highlight of the project will surely be the artists visiting from Japan. Six artists are scheduled to perform at events during the project: Kaname Kawabata, Amiaya, Moumoon, Denpagumi.inc, TarO&JirO, and Eir Aoi.
Eir Aoi has sung theme songs to many anime, including Fate/Zero, Sword Art Online, and the new anime Kill la Kill. Being that the popularity of Japanese anime is high in Indonesia, she will likely be warmly welcomed. It will be her second time performing in Jakarta, and among Japanese artists who have had few overseas performances and whose overseas popularity is considered to be difficult to increase, she is steadily piling on more and more overseas activities with the goal of making great strides overseas. Another group who has been asserting themselves in overseas events is the Akiba-born idol unit Denpagumi.inc. This will be their third time performing in Jakarta. Kaname Kawabata is aiming to advance into Asia by participating in this event. This performance in Indonesia comes after one he had in Thailand. Also including his activities as a member of the band Chemistry, he has participated in many tie-ups with anime. In addition to the aforementioned artists, artist Aiu Ratna who is active both in Japan and Indonesia will be participating as an official supporter.
J-Music Lab
Duration: Nov. 15, 2013 (Fri) to Dec. 15, 2013 (Sun)
Location: f(x) The Only One Club, Jakarta, Indonesia
Participating Artists: Kaname Kawabata, Amiaya, Moumoon, Denpagumi.inc, TarO&JirO, and Eir Aoi
Source: animeanime
