J-Pop Summit Festival 2014: the biggest one yet!

San Francisco’s J-Pop Summit Festival (July 19-20, 2014) may have been more than two months ago, but the memories will live on!

Pop duo Yanakiku reaching out to the crowd

Pop duo Yanakiku reaching out to the crowd

An annual fixture in San Francisco’s Japantown since 2009, I’ve been a regular attendee since 2010, and I was able to witness the event evolve from a single day exhibition into an extravagant star-driven party encompassing two different parts of the city! Last year already featured an impressive guest lineup that included the likes of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and LovendoЯ, so expectations for this year were set high, and thankfully it did not disappoint.

Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo (Edmonton Expo) attracts record attendance of 47,000

A growing ‘geek’ movement, additional third day (Friday), expanded exhibition space, and starry line-up result in record-breaking numbers exceeding pre-event expectations (35,000) 
Clipboard01-1024x733
Edmonton, AB (Sunday, September 28), 10:00 pm MST The third annual Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo (Edmonton Expo) concluded today in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, after welcoming more than 47,000 fans over three days – a 20,000 increase over 2013. Attendance exceeded the expectations of show presenters, who estimated the show would attract 35,000, suggesting that Edmonton Expo’s growth will be something to watch in the coming years. Presenters attribute the increase to a growing movement for people to embrace what makes them ‘geeky’, the expansion of the show to three days (adding Friday evening), increased exhibition space, and an attractive line up of workshops, panels, attractions, and invited guests.
“Edmonton Expo is actually growing at a faster rate than any of the other shows I work with, including the Calgary Expo. Edmonton is a proud nerdy city, and I can’t wait to see how this show grows in the coming years,” said Emily Expo, Edmonton Expo’s host and spokesperson, who also represents Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, and Saskatoon Comic & Entertainment Expo. “The tremendous growth of this convention is a true testament of the passion and dedication of our fans, volunteers, exhibitors, and guests. We’re so proud of how the nerd community has come together to create this fantastic event.”
ABOUT EDMONTON EXPO
The 2014 Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo was held September 26-28 in Halls D,E,F,G and H at the Edmonton Expo Centre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. For more information and tickets, visit edmontonexpo.com
 For official photo stream: https://www.flickr.com/photos/edmontonexpo/.
 
ABOUT THE COMIC & ENTERTAINMENT GROUP
The Comic & Entertainment Expo group is a presents events that showcase pop culture including comics, sci-fi, gaming, anime, and horror. Established in 2006 in Calgary with the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo, the group now includes the Edmonton Comic & Entertainment Expo and Saskatoon Comic & Entertainment Expo, and welcomes over 100,000 fans each year.
2014 Edmonton Expo Guests: J. August Richards (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Angel), Simon Helberg (The Big Bang Theory, Dr.Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog), Kanal Nayyar (The Big Bang Theory), Mads Mikkelsen (Hannibal, Casino Royale), Summer Glau (Firefly, Serentiy, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles), Amy Acker (Angel, Dollhouse, Person of Interest), Jim Beaver (Supernatural, Deadwood), Rachel Skarsten and Richard Howland (Lost Girl), Garret Wang (Star Trek: Voyager), Noah Wyle (Falling Skies, ER, Donnie Darko), Doug Jones (Falling Skies, Pan’s Labyrinth), Raphael Sbarge (Once Upon A time, Mass Effect) Grant Imahara (Mythbusters, Star Trek Continues, The Guild), Jessica Nigri, Cosplay star, Dean Cain (Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman), Lawrence Gillard Jr. (The Walking Dead), Dirk Benedict (The A-Team,  Battlestar Gallactica), Burn Gorman (Pacific Rim, Torchwood, Game of Thrones), and Dwight Schultz (The A-Team, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Princess Mononke). Voice Guests include: Dante Basco (Hook, Avatar: The Last Airbender, American Dragon: Jake Long), Brendan Hunter (Dragon Ball), Mark Meer (Mass Effect, Red Sand), Rino Romano (The Batman, Godzilla: The Series, Spider-Man Unlimited), and Jeremy Shada (Adventure Time, Team America: World Police, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs).

SOURCE: Official Press Release (thank you Alex Kingcott, Expo Media)

Wu-Tang Clan in Edmonton

The GREATEST HiP Hop Supergroup of all time finally made it to Edmonton for a night full of classics and a taste of things to come!
IMG_20140803_000506

In support of their 20th Anniversary and upcoming reunion album A Better Tomorrow – The Wu hit the Edmonton Expo Centre Saturday night with classic tracks from their Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) debut album – “Bring da Ruckus” “Da Mystery of Chess Boxin’” “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuttin to Fuck Wit” brought the house into a frenzy of WU TANG chants. Topping it off was an assortment from recent albums like The W‘s Gravel Pit and the ultimate classic “Triumph” off Wu-Tang Forever that had everyone chanting along.

Despite the huge absence of Raekwon and Method Man, and of course the late Ol Dirty Bastard, the U-God, GZA, RZA, Inspectah Deck, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa and Cappadonna filled in along with help from the sold out crowd. RZA would spray the audience with champagne as the mosh pit went wild!!

Audience participation in hip hop shows is a must as the crowd was asked to wave dolla dolla billz y’all as the familiar hook to “C.R.E.A.M.” filled the scene.

 

Wu-Tang DJ and designer of the iconic Wu Logo, DJ Allah Mathematics took the spotlight as he showed off his turntable skills. Each member got their turn to spit classic tracks from their solo works, such as Cappadonna dropped “Run” Ghostface spit severalIronman tracks some he NEVER BEFORE did live except here in Edmonton! Even U-God got to perform “Dat’s Gangsta” off his solo debut Golden Arms Redemption. Despite the main leads, the Clan spit out one for the ladies with “Ice Cream.”

And no Wu-Tang show would be complete without a tribute to the late Ol Dirty Bastard with the infectious piano beats of “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” to the break yo neck “Brooklyn Zoo” nods to his hooks throughout the night like “Shame on a N****” and of course his most commercial hit “Got Your Money” – the chants of “RIP ODB, GOD” echoed throughout the venue.

The BAD of the Concert: The sound system was pure garbage. Way too loud to even hear anything, Deck and u-God’s mics didn’t work. It almost seemed they had to give up cuz shit was so wack.

The Other: Meet and Greet for $250, it was a quick rushed autograph session with a bit of organized chaos, packed in a small room with the occasional power outage. Despite all that, got to spread dat message to RZA HIMSELF. As I told him what an influence he was on our community, gave him my card and a copy of our pamphlet to spread DA WERD. He was like to his handlers “THIS IS FOR ME!” so now THE Chief Abbott knows what thatSNSD vs Wu-Tang theory we started here at JPHiP.com

I was able to squeeze in a few words with GZA “Hey when you coming to OUR university to lecture?” Spent some quality time with the reserved Masta Killa and U-God. One of my all time favorite Wu Members, Deck was the funniest reacting to the poster itself “Girls Generation?!?”

This all being held BEFORE the concert, missed almost all the opening acts except Killa Beez Black Knights, and since it was close to show time, the “sign anything, take pictures with group” I imagined wasn’t what it seemed.

Turn dat NEGATIVE into a POSITIVE. THE Legendary Wu-Tang Clan that had hit the stage for a once in a lifetime event. HiP HoP fans of all generations and backgrounds under one W. The Clan wowed us with grimy tracks and witty unpredictable talent and natural game!

Check out the FORUM! for more photos AND comments

Be Like Jabronisaur Day V (July 16, 2014)

~Good Deeds, Spreading Love, Be Positive~

It is hard to imagine five years has gone by since Tim “Jabronisaur” Marks aka Jabby has left this planet to look over us every day. Let us reflect upon this day and do that good deed. Whether it is donating to the local charity, thanking your bus driver, or showing a new member at JPHiP the way. Jab lives on forever in our hearts. This what we call Be Like Jabronisaur Day spreading love and POSITIVITY~ the JPHiP Way – the way Jab showed us in real life and online at JPHiP.com

TOMOMI ITANO Former AKB48 U.S. CONCERT DEBUT at 2014 J-POP SUMMIT

The 2014 J-POP SUMMIT Festival, San Francisco’s premiere celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, fashion and film, is proud to present famed pop music superstar Tomomi Itano for her first-ever U.S. performance.

Tomomi.Itano_Sub1

Tomomi Itano, a founding member of the massively popular Japanese pop idol group AKB48, will perform at a special FREE J-POP Live at Union Square concert on the evening of Saturday, July 19th at 7:50pm in the city’s downtown Union Square stage, and is also set to perform on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on Sunday, July 20th at 11:00am.

2014 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL featuring TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE, May’n, fashion, culture!

(via Official Press Release by Erik Jansen @ MediaLab)

2014 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE SMASH HIT JAPANESE POP VOCAL AND DANCE GROUP TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE

TokyoGirls'Style

 Top Selling Teenage Pop Idol Act Marks Its U.S. Debut With Live Concert At Annual Bay Area Japanese Pop Culture Extravaganza In July 19-20, 2014.

JPHiP Interview: Ohmura Takayoshi @ Guitar Universe 2014 European Tour

With the upcoming release of Marty Friedman’s “Inferno” album and the recent release of Gus G’s “I Am The Fire” album these two guitar heroes set off for a co-headline event called the Guitar Universe European Tour 2014.

C4__1488

Joining them as support guitarist is the Japanese talent Ohmura Takayoshi. He is active in a lot of bands and projects, including BABYMETAL, DCPRG, C4, Liv Moon, Nomizu Iori and many more.

JPH!P took the opportunity to interview him at De Pul in Uden in the Netherlands on May 18, 2014. We gathered a wide variety of questions from the community aiming to learn more about him and to put him on the map in the west.

Morning Musume。’14 Live Concert in New York October 5 at Best Buy Theatre

NEW YORK, JUNE 2014 ― The Japanese all-girl idol group Morning Musume。’14 will perform a live concert for the 1st time in New York on October 5th at the well-known Best Buy Theater, located in the center of Broadway.

mmmmmm

Schedule: October 5th, 2014 OPEN 3PM / START 4PM
Place: Best Buy Theater (1515 Broadway at W. 44th St. New York, NY 10036)www.bestbuytheater.com/
Tickets price: All Standing, pre-sale 42$
VIP TICKET: 100$ (limited to 200 tickets), including Early Entry, 1 Autographed VIP Pass Laminate and 1 CD + a handshake session ticket
On sale: Friday 20th June 2014 from 12:00PM (EDT)
www.axs.com/events/252012/morning-musume-14-tickets?skin=bestbuy

ChrNo, 我們想念你 we miss you…3 years

This day on April 26, we mark the third year since we lost our Dear Friend ChrNo. Berryz Miyabi Fangirl Supreme, Pun Enthusiast, Artist of our emoticons, Fanfic regular, Singer, Overall Legendary HiPster. She will never be forgotten.

Natsurememberyou--NatsuyakiMiyabi

So get your shirts and REPRAZENT. (available at JPHiP SHOP – all proceeds go to Mental Health Charities ($3.10 per shirt) will go to Mental Health Awareness charities based in France and worldwide: http://www.who.int/mental_health/en/) Spread Mental Health Awareness and DISCUSS. Let’s help each other: Discuss in the forum!

dhiyd
Share your thoughts on ChrNo in the forum and of COURSE: SING ALONG TO THE SONG!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tESF_opXGY

Results of The Hello! Project International Fan Survey

Thank you to everyone who participated in our first Hello! Project International Survey, the response was amazing with over 3000 votes worldwide. Morning Musume ’14 took the honours with over 58% of the votes, while the most Hello! Project fans representing was from the United States.

7acf663594a4d3522ceef156e1443126b9370f101389017957

Detailed results with map and charts are here: http://jphip.com/survey/results.php Thank you JPH!P Senior Correspondent Site Guru, Slack for setting it all up. This has been an amazing learning experience that will benefit H!P Fans worldwide.

Categories