So much emphasis and attention is being paid to South Korean music acts in recent years that it feels like their idol groups are the defining reflection of popular Asian music. However, it was once Japanese music that used to be the dominant genre, producing plenty of beloved bands and artists. These days, there are still so many Japanese artists who are making great tracks in the realms of alt-rock, R&B, instrumental, and more – here are five artists who are having concerts in Hong Kong this year that we think you should check out!
Wagamamarakia
People who still think female Japanese musicians are all about cute bubblegum pop need to reassess the situation by listening to Wagamamarakia. This four-member group of singer-songwriters is actively breaking away from the traditional idol framework, and emphasising self-driven music creation instead. Since their debut in 2016, Wagamamarakia has performed across a wide range of genres and influences, including rock, hip-hop, R&B, EDM, djent, alt-rock, and metalcore.
Tatsuya Kitani
Well-loved singer-songwriter Tatsuya Kitani is touring around Asian countries such as Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and Hong Kong. If you’re an anime fan, you’ll likely already be familiar with Kitani’s work as his song ‘Where Our Blue Is’ is the opening track for Jujutsu Kaisen’s Hidden Inventory arc, and his collaborative duo Gemn with idol Kento Nakajima also produced the hit track ‘Fatal’ for the anime Oshi No Ko.
Ado Hibana
Japanese singer-songwriter Ado is returning to Hong Kong for her second world tour Hibana towards the middle of the year. Kicking off in Japan in April, the Hibana tour will take place in cities like Bangkok, Manila, Taipei, and Seoul, before arriving in Hong Kong and other Asian and Australian cities in May, followed by Europe, North America, and Latin America. ‘Hibana’ means ‘spark’ in Japanese, and we’re sure the 22-year-old is bringing enough talent to light up the entire AsiaWorld-Arena. Expect to hear plenty of tracks from Ado’s second album Zanmu, and hopefully some of her previous hits like ‘Gira Gira’ and her breakthrough single ‘Usseewa’.
Be:First
Japanese hip-hop boy group Be:First is embarking on their very first world tour starting from April. Kicking off in Los Angeles, they will make their way to 15 cities such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, New York, Chicago, and Singapore – with Hong Kong also on their list. They’ve just released their latest single ‘Spacecraft’, only a couple of months after their previous single ‘Sailing’, which was used as the ending theme song for the One Piece Fishman Island arc.
toe
Tokyo-based post- and math rock band toe was one of Clockenflap 2024’s standout performers, and they’re returning to Hong Kong in September this year. The instrumental quartet produces free-flowing melodies with dynamic guitar riffs and the occasional electronic embellishments. This concert tour is extra special as it marks toe’s 25th anniversary and also coincides with the release of their latest album Now I See the Light. See what the band has in store by checking out their live performance.
Check out other concerts, gigs, and music events happening in Hong Kong!
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