Get ready for a serious dose of kawaii fashion during J-Pop Summit Festival 2015! The 2-day festival presents MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON fashion show featuring artists Ayumi Seto, AMIAYA, Misa Kimura with her new idol group Musubizm, fashion showcases from BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT and MARUQ! Cover photos (above): Courtesy of J-Pop Summit 2015.
Let’s get to it: J-Pop Summit Festival 2015 is coming in about two weeks. Have you gotten your tickets yet? If you’re a fan of J-Pop music and the myriad sub-cultures of Japan fashion, then you should. If you’re still on the fence, I include several links to Fafafoom’s prior coverages of J-Pop Summit Festivals in this post to help convince you. I hope it works :)
As we now know, this year’s J-Pop Summit Festival will be held mostly in Fort Mason. The event schedule is up on J-Pop.com event website, and it’s being updated more frequently as we’re getting closer to the D-day. Yes, there will be J-Pop music, Japan movies, travel showcases, tech booths and demos. And yes, there will be fashion events. Let’s get to it, shall we?
Saturday, August 8, 2015
2:00 – 2:45 pm – Main Stage
The first day of J-Pop Summit Festival 2015 features attractions from MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON, global promoter of Japanese fashion and culture headlined by Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Make sure you’re there before 2pm, because much of the fashion showcases happen between 2:00 – 2:45 pm at Fort Mason Center’s Main Stage.
In addition to the Main Stage appearance, they also have meet and greet sessions with fans, so make sure to check the J-Pop Summit Festival event schedule. Here are the artists scheduled to appear:
Ayumi Seto – from Aymmy in the batty girls
A Japanese model for popular Harajuku fashion magazines, “Kidz Rock” trend setter, an author of her first fashion book titled “Ayumi Kidz,” and fashion designer for “Aymmy in the batty girls.” It’s the first fashion brand is directed by an aomoji-kei model.
AMIAYA – producers of jouetie apparel
AMIAYA consists of twin sisters who are Harajuku superstar models, including appearances in NYLON magazine. Their book “AYA AMI BOOK” (Shufuno Tomosha) was released in July 2010 and has sold over 40,000 copies, and their music career started in 2013 with the release of their mini album “TOKYO POP” (Universal Music’s Far Eastern Tribe Records).
For the festival, the twins will do a styling exhibition, and attendees will have the chance to buy popular jouetie items usually only sold in Japan.
Song Princess Anna Yano
I’m looking forward to see Anna Yanno flaunt her signature kawaii style to extreme more lolita looks. She’s also a featured vocalist, with “Shape My Story” in August 2013 and “All Over” in 2014. Her first photo book, “YANO ANNA: MADE IN HARAJUKU” was released in 2015.
Idol Group Musubizm
Ah, MisaMisa is now an idol! Misa Kimura, with Eru Shina, Rurika Miyajima, Nami Yamada, and Mai Imai formed an entertainment idol unit during the Spring 2014 “ASOBI SYSTEM IDOL PROJECT.” By embodying all flavors of Kawaii culture (adorable, cute, pop, fashionable, beautiful, and cool), Musubizm aims to spread Japanese kawaii culture globally.
J-Pop Union Square Live! Concert featuring Tomomi Itano, May’n, Tokyo Girls’ Style, Daichi, Una (J-Pop Summit Festival 2014)
Kawaii Fashion Overload featuring Akira, Una, Misa Kimura, Ayumi Seto (J-Pop Summit Festival 2014)
In addition to the MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON fashion showcase, there will also be a MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON Booth to know what’s on trend in Japanese pop culture and fashion, and shop cool Japanese gifts, including the shop’s bestselling KAWAii!! sunglasses and sushi socks.
PURE Booth is where you can try on a wide variety of costumes for a photo session – Japanese school uniforms, bunny ears, cat ears, anyone? – that sounds so much fun. You can also purchase select ensembles and accessories. After getting your costumes on, why not go to LIVE DAM Booth, where you try out karaoke for free and sing your heart out with the best selection of J-Pop tunes?
When you’re hungry, head to ONIGIRAZU Booth. It’s where you can do a free tasting event of onigirazu, a version of the timeless onigiri rice and seaweed snack pressed into a colorful “sandwich” filled with an imaginative assortment of fillings. Sounds yummy and interesting? Definitely. Last but not least, Gudeeting. That means stopping by GUDETAMA Booth, where you can meet and greet Gudetama, a popular “egg” character that’s the latest addition to Sanrio family!
Yanakiku, My Latest J-Pop Duo Crush (J-Pop Summit Festival 2014)
Interview with Ayumi Seto, Misa Kimura, Una (J-Pop Summit Festival 2014)
Sunday, August 9, 2015
12:10 – 1:05 pm – Main Stage
The last day of J-Pop Summit Festival is dedicated for BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT Fashion Showcase and MARUQ’s fashion contest!
BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT Fashion Showcase
12:10pm-12:35pm – Fort Mason J-POP SUMMIT Main Stage
BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT San Francisco will present the Summer 2015 Collection from Baby, the Stars Shine Bright and Alice and the Pirates. Dreamy? Check. Magical? Check. Whimsical? Check. This uber-beloved lolita brand showcase is undoubtedly highly anticipated. From the first time we saw BABY, THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT fashion contest in 2011, we knew the brand is very special.
MARUQ Presents: Harajuku Fashion Contest
12:40pm-1:05pm – Fort Mason J-POP SUMMIT Main Stage
MARUQ, the “Ultimate Kawaii” specialty boutique located on the Mezzanine level of Japantown’s NEW PEOPLE building will hold a special Harajuku fashion contest inspired by five distinctive Harajuku street style fashion brands being showcased at J-POP SUMMIT 2015: ACDC Rag, Milklim, AWATAPRO, OMOCAT, and MILKBBI. Can you flaunt the multi-faceted Harajuku street fashion style? Good luck for all the contestants!
MARUQ also will have a booth inside the Fashion Area at Fort Mason Center to showcase and sell the latest pieces from these new brands, as well as other styles and accessories.
Harajuku Kawaii Fashion Show (J-Pop Summit Festival 2013)
Baby The Stars Shine Bright Competition (J-Pop Summit Festival 2012)
More J-Pop Summit Festival 2015 Fashion Exhibitors
If you want MORE, then you will get MORE! Throughout the festival, don’t forget to stop by SOU • SOU, one of my most favorite brands ever from Kyoto, Japan. It’s famous for their classic, handmade Japanese “Tabi” shoes and kimono-inspired clothing that features vibrant and modern graphic patterns.
During the festival, SOU • SOU will exhibit its 2015 Summer Collection and also give a free pair of “Tabi” socks as a gift with any purchase over $50 at the booth. They are also holding Instagram Photo Contest from August 8th to August 10th (3 days) for winning exclusive SOU • SOU gifts. Did I say I love SOU • SOU so much?
I’m also happy that JINS will be here. The brand is known for crafting stylish and innovative eyewear at affordable prices (I have a pair and I like it a lot). Do they know JINS opened its first flagship store in San Francisco (151 Powell Street) in April 2015? During the festival, you will be able to purchase JINS SCREEN, which is designed to filter out 25% of eye-strain-causing blue light while also being light-weight.
Last but not least, check out MIKIHOUSE, a popular children’s clothing brand from Japan known for its reliable quality that puts the safety and security of children first. MIKIHOUSE will have their best-selling shoes for sale at a special price, and will give a limited edition novelty fan with every purchase. Oh, the MIKIHOUSE San Francisco store is located at the Bloomingdale’s San Francisco Centre (845 Market Street).
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu at Union Square Live (J-Pop Summit Festival 2013)
May’n Interview and Concert at Slim’s San Francisco (J-Pop Summit Festival 2014)
Alright then, see you at J-Pop Summit Festival 2015! Please wish me luck so I can score interviews with some of these artists!
Thanks for reading; until next time,
Musank