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The Japanese pop culture festival Moshi Moshi Nippon Festival 2014, sponsored by Moshi Moshi Nippon Project, an initiative aiming to deliver Japanese pop culture to the world, was held on Sept. 18 at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. More than 15.000 people from abroad attended the event.
The Japanese pop culture festival Moshi Moshi Nippon Festival 2014, sponsored by Moshi Moshi Nippon Project, an initiative aiming to deliver Japanese pop culture to the world, was held on Sept. 18 at Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium. More than 15.000 people from abroad attended the event. In accordance with the concept of the project, both the performers and the attendees formed a diverse, international crowd. Numerous stalls and catering cars were lined up outside the stadium, countless booths offering fashion and beauty experience were set up in the lantern-lit hall, and the stage was decorated with an enormous torii gate. An excited atmosphere reminiscent of an early autumn festival was running through the halls even before the performances began.
The opening performer on the main stage, Moshi Moshi Stage, was Tempura Kidz. They have been receiving many requests from abroad and been making guest appearances at many events lately. Richer with experience, the group has triumphantly returned to Japan, and they instantly warmed up the venue with an intense and cool performance.
The atmosphere suddenly changed, this time giving room to a fashion show, where famous Japanese models walked down the runway. And on the Spinns Special Stage, no other than the members of Denpagumi.inc surprised the guests with their sudden appearance, receiving loud cheers from all over the place. After completing a turn on the runway, the girls suddenly turned from models into idols. As the overwhelming live performance started, “samurai” from in and outside Japan rose up, and even those who had stopped went into a craze, the whole crowd becoming one.
The stage program offered such a dizzying variety to the attendees––fashion show, concerts, and talk shows––that they didn’t even have the chance to grow tired. Not only that, foreign models also made their appearances on the runway. In addition, MCs Neeko, Rei Mastrogiovanni, and Natsuko Kondo made sure to keep the atmosphere elated all day.
The next performer was none other than May’n, a singer known for performing theme songs to various anime and movies who is currently expanding abroad. The audience was overwhelmed by this leading vocalist of the anison world, and the voltage in the hall reached its peak.
Last in turn was Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, also referred to as the icon of Japanese pop culture, whose appearance made even the eyes of the attendees standing in the international lounge area lighten up. Starting with “Pon Pon Pon,” the song that dumbfounded the world and put Harajuku culture into world focus, she performed well-known tunes including “Fashion Monster” and “Kira Kira Killer,” and the whole hall joined her in chorus. Regardless of age, gender, or even nationality, all the attendees sang and danced in unison together with Kyary, leaving no doubt it was a true Japanese pop culture festival.
