The electronica goodness that is PINE*am
20th November 2010
PINE*am comprises Tsugumi Takashi and Chizuko Matsubayashi engaged in a particular flavour of electronica that delights in low-fi quirky goodness. From the electronic funk of Do I Know You through the crunchy electro goodness that forms Get A Choco, PINE*am have a unique sound that provides them with their own particular style of electropop.
In this interview for J-Pop Go, PINE*am discuss their music and method of working... More inside »
J-Pop Go at the GRAND COSPLAY BALL
13th November 2010
This year's GRAND INTERNATIONAL COSPLAY BALL takes place on Sunday 28th November 2010 at its resident venue of the Clapham Grand.
The theme for this year's Ball is ARABIAN NIGHTS so let your imagination go wild when considering your cosplay. Among the entertainments lined up is daring swordplay from Cecily Fay (leader of Babes With Blades), thrilling bellydance performance courtesy of Hadassah Stars plus plenty of other events and entertainment.
This year's Guest if Honour will be up-and-coming cosplayer Jenni KŠllberg (Pixelninja) , known for her famous Raiden and Samus costumes, and her work with Nintendo.
J-Pop Go is once again proud to be providing DJ services for the Ball and DJ genkiboi will once again be serving up a mix of J-Pop, Anime Themes and contemporary chart tunes.
More info: www.grandcosplayball.com
Some choice J-Pop video goodness..
11th November 2010
Please visit our Video Page for a fine selection of J-Pop tunes courtesy of Hatsune Miku, Perfume, Sputniko and Utada Hikaru.
Thanks to everyone who attended BARBICAN LATES
10th November 2010
The Barbican Lates : Cosplay event was a lot of fun and J-Pop Go enjoyed doing the lounge set courtesy of DJ genkiboi. Thanks to everyone who came along for the event :-)
Sputniko's cybernetic penis...
23rd August 2010
If there's one thing we can rely on, it's our favourite resident electro-J-Pop star Sputniko keeping busy. This week she's mostly been experimenting with a Cybernetic Penis:
Penis CybernŽtique is a process of myself, a 23 year old student, mixed Japanese/British, 173cm height, designing a prosthetic simply to fulfill my own curiosity: "What does it feel like to have an extra body part (in this case - penis) which reacts to my emotions?"
In collaboration with scientists from Imperial College and University of Reading, a motorised pseudo-penis which moves up and down based on my heartrate was designed, built, worn and tested. Will my new body part make myself act differently? Will I get a phantom limb afterwards? Will other people try my designs? What does it mean for an amateur to 'open source' her body?.
More at: www.sputniko.com
Via io9.com
23rd August 2010
Thanks to all those that made it down to J-Pop Go last Saturday night. Special thanks to our special guests: SSH, SONIA LEONG and SEKAI NO MELODY. Thanks also to our guest DJ CHI MING LAI from The Electricity Club.
Plans for the next J-Pop Go are already underway. Stay tuned for more info....
9th August 2010
The next J-Pop Go event is scheduled to take place on Saturday August 21st 2010. The event is in conjunction with the Japanese Art Festival and in association with The Electricity Club.
The evening's entertainment will include performances by Electropop sensation SHH. Hailing originally from the party city of Buenos Aires, SHH create stylish, intelligent electronic pop that's crammed with big tunes and rampages through everything from Italo to indie, house to punk.
They have already released two albums SHH and Gaucho Boy via the in Argentine indie label Oui Oui Records. With an exciting year in the offing, SHH are about to unleash their first UK product with Wonderful Night and Tiger coupled together as a lushly packaged seven inch vinyl single.
Read more on SHH via The Electricity Club: www.electricity-club.co.uk
Also on the bill are J-Pop Performance Stars SEKAI NO MELODY. Members Mitsuki and Fairy will be performing some of the favourite J-Pop tunes at both the Japanese Art Festival and also J-Pop Go. SEKAI NO MELODY, itself, has been running for four years this autumn. There are five main groups: TarotCafe, which both Mitsuki and Fairy are in, Kristallen, Paratoile, ValeriA and Violetta, as well as the audition only group, Pure Ambition. Excluding PA, all of the groups have themed releases.
For more information on Sekai no Melody, please visit www.sekainomelody.org .
We also have a Special Guest performer in the form of the wonderful SONIA LEONG who will be singing a number from Final Fantasy for your entertainment. Sonia is perhaps better known for her talents as a manga artist, both individually and as part of the Sweatdrop Studios collective. She's also well known for her stylish dress sense and you can expect an appropriate and stunning outfit for her debut J-Pop Go performance on Saturday night.
This thrilling installment of J-Pop Go will be augmented by a selection of top tunes incorporating J-Pop, Anime themes, Game themes, Contemporary chart hits and some top notch Electropop. Expect a barrage of musical treats with DJs CHI LAI and GENKIBOI who will be playing a variety of tunes including Morning Musume, Lady Gaga, Tommy February6, La Roux, KOTOKO, Little Boots, Puffy, Ladytron, Vocaloids, Marina & The Diamonds, Sputniko!, Shonen Knife and more. We'll also be playing tons of top Anime themes such as K-ON!, Toradora, Paradise Kiss, Evangelion, Azumanga Daioh, Suzumiya Haruhi, Lucky Star, Negima!, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann and more!
Entry to J-Pop Go is £5. J-Pop Go will run from 7:00pm to Midnight. Please note that this event is for 18+ only.
Our venue of choice is PENDEREL'S OAK which is located very close to the Japanese Art Festival venue. Please see our Events page for all the details.
29th July 2010
The next J-Pop Go event is scheduled to take place on Saturday August 21st 2010. The event is in conjunction with the Japanese Art Festival which takes place that same weekend in Conway Hall, Central London.
The Japanese Art Festival is a celebration of Japanese culture and features a weekend of exciting events and activities. The Festival will feature martial arts, manga workshops, traditional Japanese music, cosplay, performances and more. Plus there will be plenty of stalls and dealers selling a wide range of books, DVDs, manga and gifts. The Festival will also have some special guests including 6%DOKIDOKI and kimono designer Yumi Yamamoto.
J-Pop Go will take place on Saturday evening and features live performances and a selection of tunes from our DJs which will cover J-Pop, Anime Themes, Game Themes and also a side order of contemporary chart music (think Lady Gaga meets Tommy February6!). This combination has proved very popular at other events, including the Grand Cosplay Ball (and J-Pop Go will be returning for the next Cosplay Ball this November).
More details on the J-Pop Go line-up to follow soon - watch this space!
Sputniko!: Menstruation Machine
1st July 2010
Hiromi Ozaki (aka the wonderful Sputniko!) has been very busy lately. As part of her Royal College of Art show she's been showing off some of her work which includes the engaging Crowbot Jenny, Sushiborg Yukari and finally the Menstruation Machine which simulates the pain and bleeding of an average 5 day menstruation process of a human.
'Menstruation Machine -Takashi's Take' is a music video about a boy Takashi, who builds the machine in an attempt to dress up as a female, biologically as well as aesthetically, to fulfill his desire to understand what it might feel like to be a truely kawaii (cute) girl. He determinedly wears the machine to hang out with his kawaii friend in Tokyo, but...
Sputniko!, Natccu, Sunset Drive UK dates
20th April 2010
Sputniko!, Natccu, Sunset Drive UK dates arrive courtesy of It Came From Japan.
Mark your Hello Kitty diaries for 30th April and 1st May for the Moshi Moshi Sushi Festival with live performances from Natccu and Sunset Drive (plus Sputniko! on 1st May only). The Festival is free entry and includes Japanese food, cosplay, karaoke and more.
Then there are a series of UK-based gigs to follow:
May - LONDON, The Camden Crawl - The Fiddler's Elbow
Natccu, Sunset Drive and Sputniko!
Compere: rock'n'roll comedian (and Electric Eel Shock's manager) Bob Slayer
Daytime show! Free sushi! Free entry with festival pass
www.thecamdencrawl.com
3 May - BOURNEMOUTH, Solid Air: Mayday! Mayday! - The Winchester
Natccu, Sunset Drive
Free entry! Plus local bands
www.thewinchesterpub.co.uk
7 May- LIVERPOOL, Zanzibar
Sunset Drive, plus local bands
www.thezanzibarclub.com
8 May - LONDON, Teracotta Far East Film Festival afterparty - Slug & Lettuce, Lisle St, Soho
Free entry!
www.terracottafestival.com
12 May - LONDON, Dublin Castle, Camden
With local bands
www.bugbearbookings.com
13 May - BRISTOL, Mothers Ruin
Natccu, Sunset Drive
Free entry! Plus local bands
www.myspace.com/themothersruinbristol
14 May - LONDON, White Light - The Lexington, Pentonville Road
Natccu, plus other bands tba
www.whitelightfriday.com
15 May - BRIGHTON, The Great Escape - The Basement
Natccu, Sunset Drive, Lillies And Remains
Compere: TV/radio presenter and Japanese music buff Iain Lee
Daytime show! Free sushi! Free beer! Free entry with festival pass
www.escapegreat.com
More info:
IT CAME FROM JAPAN
www.itcamefromjapan.co.uk
NATCCU Dark Tokyo pop
www.natccu.com
SUNSET DRIVE
Catchy garage rock
www.sunsetdrive.jp
SPUTNIKO!
Wii-powered electropop
www.sputniko.com
LILLIES AND REMAINS
Kyoto postpunk/new wave
www.lilliesandremains.net
20th April 2010
Gackt expands his gaming credentials with a spot in PC game Dragon Nest.
Popular and bonkers singer Gackt is lending his vocal skills to voice the villain Belskard in the upcoming PC role-playing game Dragon Nest. He's also singing the game's theme song as well. At a recent Tokyo press conference, Gackt also appeared as Belskard.
This isn't quite a new venture for Gackt who previously sang the theme for Wii game Samurai Warriors 3, cosplayed as Final Fantasy VII's Cloud Strife and even lent music to a pachi-slot game for the PS3. More via Kotaku
5th April 2010
J-Pop Go now has a dedicated video page for more J-Pop Goodness.
You can now check out a nice random selection of tunes and videos on our new Video page. Expect lots of additions in the future as we whack up stuff that we like - and also to give you a flavour of the music played at J-Pop Go.
We also now have a J-Pop Go You Tube Channel, so swing by there for more video goodness.
5th April 2010
J-Pop Go's own DJ Yamada has put together another exciting podcast of fresh tunes for your entertainment.
The selection includes songs from Ai Otsuka, Rip Slyme, UVERworld and FLOW. As the Y Man says: "Another selection of tracks from various sets I've played at the J-Pop Go! nights, plus a couple of previously unplayed ones that I hope to play at future nights". Hear the podcast: djyamada.podomatic.com
14th March 2010
Our favourite Vocaloid Hatsune Miku has recently taken live performances a step forward.
Although Hatsune Miku had already chalked up live performances last year (notably at last summer's Animelo Summer Live), those performances were nothing compared to the Thanks Giving Day show earlier this month held at Zepp Tokyo music hall. The concert, seen as a thank you to Vocaloid fans, not only had performances by Hatsune Miku, but also fellow Vocaloids Megurine Luka and Kagamine Rin.
The technology employed is certainly a step beyond what was being used for the 2009 shows and delivers an almost holographic-esque performance.
Hatsune Miku performing Miku Miku ni Shite Ageru at Animelo Summer Live 2009
10th March 2010
J-Pop Go guest slot this Friday.
Another WOTA gig takes place this Friday 12th March at Lati Ri, Rivington Place, Shoreditch EC2A 3BA. Expect lots of anime tunes as well as some Vocaloid goodness and lashings of J-Pop. Tunes by DJs Piloru, Snap and J-Pop Go's very own genkiboi. Visuals by the ever-wonderful Namimo.
Entry is £4 in advance, £5 on the door for WL members and £6 for everyone else. The club runs from 8pm-2am. More info: www.wotalondon.co.uk
5th March 2010
Shonen Knife are returning to the UK for more live shows later this year.
Formed in 1981, the pop-punk outfit have achieved a particular cult status (and included Kurt Cobain as a fan) and, despite line-up changes, have been recording and performing ever since. A new album Free Time was released earlier this year.
Shonen Knife have 3 dates already confirmed:
- Milton Keynes The Craufurd Arms - Monday 10th May
- Leicester The Musician - Tuesday 11th May
- Brighton The Freebutt - Sunday 23rd May
In other gig news, Japanese rock outfit Boredoms will be performing at the All Tomorrow's Parties event (Curated by Matt Groening) Friday 7th to Sunday 9th May, with an additional date scheduled for London HMV Forum on Tuesday 11th May.
Thanks to Matt of Departure Lounge for the info. More details flagged up on the J-Pop Go forum here: www.jpopgo.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=404
Website: www.shonenknife.com
5th March 2010
Chiaki Kuriyama has released her single featuring the theme for Gundam Unicorn.
Under the name of CHiAKi KURiYAMA, the popular film star has released the CD single Ryusei no Namida, featuring the theme tune to the OVA of Gundam Unicorn. Chiaki Kuriyama is, of course, better known for her roles in Battle Royale and Quentin Taratino's Kill Bill.
5th March 2010
Rebecca Flint, a 14-year-old girl from the Isle Of Man, has managed to make the leap from YouTube video appearances to an actual career as a performer in Japan under the guise of Beckii Cruel.
She originally started out under the name xBextahx on YouTube dancing to popular anime and J-Pop songs, including Danjo and Hare Hare Yukai. This led to her videos attracting interest from Japan and then to actually performing in Akihabara where she adopted the new name of Beckii Cruel.
She's since formed a 3-piece outfit called Cruel Angels and they released their debut single Tsubasa wo Kudasai last month.
Links:
Beckii Cruel
Beckii Cruel YouTube Channel
12th February 2010
Enjoy some J-Pop this Valentine's Day courtesy of the Grand Cosplay Ball!
A reminder that there is a special Valentine's Day Prom being organised by the Grand Cosplay Ball team. This event takes place on February 14th at Peter Parker's Rock 'n' Roll Club, Denmark Street, London WC2. There's lots of Valentine's Day themed events and the music will be provided by chococat and genkiboi. More info here: Valentine's Day Prom
3rd February 2010
Utada has just announced that she will be adding a show to her In The Flesh 2010 Tour
Already booked in for a live show at the O2 in Islington on February 12th, Utada Hikaru has announced at additional London date has been added for February 11th.
3rd February 2010
Sputniko! will be doing a week long exhibition at the Royal College of Art Interim Show, starting February 3rd, showing her new project 'Crowbot Jenny'.
Sputniko! describes Crowbot Jenny as "a socially-awkward girl who prefers to spend time surrounded by technology and animals rather than with humans. One day Jenny creates the Crowbot Ð a robot which can vocalize a variety of crow calls to control and converse with her newly formed bird army Ð but just what exactly will she do with her new powers?"
The show is on at Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU and will be on from February 3rd to February 10th. If you visit the show youÕll find Sputniko! walking around as Crowbot Jenny on Saturday and Sunday from 3pm to 6pm.
3rd February 2010
Two J-Pop Go guest slots for forthcoming events are on schedule.
Firstly, there is a special Valentine's Day Prom being organised by the Grand Cosplay Ball team. This event takes place on February 14th at Peter Parker's Rock 'n' Roll Club, Denmark Street, London WC2. There's lots of Valentine's Day themed events and the music will be provided by chococat and genkiboi. More info here: Valentine's Day Prom
Following this, in March there's another WOTA gig taking place on Friday 12th March at Lati Ri,Rivington Place, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London EC2A 3BE. Entertainment is provided by DJs Snap, Piloru and genkiboi with visuals by Namimo. More details: www.wotalondon.co.uk
26th January 2010
Unfortunately our plans for the forthcoming Japanese Art Festival have been undermined due to circumstances beyond our control.
While the planning and organisation for the J-Pop party had proceeded without a hitch - and was also all wrapped up by November of last year - we reckoned without the error of booking with a venue with a less than professional attitude to bookings. The venue have since decided that due to a big rugby game taking place that same weekend, that they would rather keep all their events that day to be rugby-themed.
We have been trying to relocate to an alternative venue, but have been unsuccessful so far. We've no choice but to remove the J-Pop party from the schedule as a result.
Sorry again to all those who had hoped to see the J-Pop Party return to the Japanese Art Festival, but it appears that despite all our hard work and planning, something always manages to trip it up.
14th January 2010
Along with a few changes to the website, J-Pop Go is gearing up for a busy 2010 of activities.
We've added some new features to the site, including an RSS feed and ease of use for posting news stories via your own social networking links:
- RSS Feed: You can now access Festival news updates via your news reader or browser.
- Social Networking Links: Share news articles with other people via Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, your Blog or hundreds of other social networking sites.
The first J-Pop Go event of 2010 will take place on Saturday 27th February as part of the Japanese Art Festival. Although the Festival will take place at Richmond College, the J-Pop event will take place around the corner from the college at The Orange Tree venue.
J-Pop Go will be presenting an evening of J-Pop Goodness with our DJs playing a selection of J-Pop tunes, plus special guest Sputniko! playing live (time TBC).
