Fuji Rock's biggest lineup surprise? The debut of Tatsuro Yamashita.
The nation's premier summer music festival showcasing international acts in Japan, Fuji Rock will be held from July 25 to 27 at Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata Prefecture.
Unlike previous years, where only headliners and a trickle of acts were revealed, this year's announcement featured a whopping 60 artists, ranging from overseas bands to domestic singer-songwriters. Other notable acts on the roster include Four Tet, Haim and Barry Can't Swim.
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Japan Times
2 days ago
- Japan Times
JT picks: What not to miss at Fuji Rock 2025
Summer festival season is here — and The Japan Times team is heading to the mountains of Niigata Prefecture for a weekend of blistering riffs, hypnotic grooves and unforgettable moments at Fuji Rock Festival. From high-octane punk to Mercury Prize-winning rap and viral TikTok hits, here are some of the acts we're most excited to catch. Philip Brasor, contributing writer Mdou Moctar (Friday, 3:50 p.m., White Stage): There's an abundance of skilled guitarists this year, but if you're mainly into shredding, then this Niger singer-songwriter is the act to see. As a master of so-called desert blues he leans psychedelic, with a clear, dense tone that cuts through metal. His singing and politically charged Tuareg poetry are just as heavy. Little Simz (Sunday, 5 p.m., Green Stage): Of the three Mercury Prize-winners at Fuji '25, this London rapper is the biggest sales-wise, not to mention the most personal. Her beats scan rock as much as they do Afrobeat or R&B, but it's the melodic nature of her flow that pulls you in. If she's in the right mood, she could be the festival highlight because that's what personal's all about. The Hives (Sunday, 8:10 p.m., Red Marquee): Howlin' Pelle Almqvist and his Swedish garage rockers first appeared at Fuji when they were neophytes and now qualify as this year's legacy act. They haven't changed their rock 'n' roll burlesque shtick over the decades, while miraculously maintaining a raw capability for crunchy, tuneful riffs. Too bad they're playing at the same time as the excellent Hitsujibungaku, so if you have to choose, remember: The Hives are much funnier. Johan Brooks, contributing photographer Creepy Nuts (Sunday, Green Stage, 3:00 p.m.): Still riding high on their viral, chart-smashing hit 'Bling-Bang-Bang-Born,' hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts are set to unleash an eccentric rampage on the festival's main stage. kanekoayano (Sunday, Red Marquee, 6:00 p.m.): Now appearing as kanekoayano, singer-songwriter Ayano Kaneko shifts from being a soloist backed by a band to fronting a unified project that gives her longtime collaborators room to shine as they perform their rich, emotional sound. Radwimps (Sunday, Green Stage, 7:00 p.m.): From this longtime album charts fixture, you can expect a set that'll feel like a scene out of a Makoto Shinkai anime film. Alyssa I. Smith, staff writer Vaundy (Friday, Green Stage, 7:00 p.m.): One of Japan's biggest hitmakers of the 2020s, Vaundy brings his genre-blurring pop to Fuji Rock's main stage ahead of headliner Fred Again.. With 17 songs topping 100 million streams, the Gen Z singer-songwriter's gift for addictive melodies promises emotional highs and a soundtrack for your summer memories. Balming Tiger (Saturday, White Stage, 2:00 p.m.): Landing right in the middle of the Fuji Rock weekend, Balming Tiger delivers a burst of pure infectious fun that will have you dancing in no time. This 11-member South Korean collective defies K-pop conventions with a chaotic, genre-hopping blend of hip-hop, pop, rock and electronica. Bolstered by wacky choreography and creative visuals, their live shows are gleefully unpredictable. Hitsujibungaku (Sunday, White Stage, 8:10 p.m.): This year marks the fourth time alt-rock trio Hitsujibungaku has played Fuji Rock, having first appeared on the Rookie A Go-Go stage back in 2016. Known for their slow-burning rock, the band has shifted from the indie circuit to become a rising international name with tours in the U.S. and U.K. this year. Expect a stirring nighttime set made all the more cinematic thanks to the surrounding forests of Naeba. Patrick St. Michel, contributing writer Summer Eye (Friday, Orange Echo, 12:25 p.m.): Former Siamese Cats vocalist Tomoyuki Natsume's solo project brings a tropical breeze and dance-ready pulse to rock. Live, he's unpredictable and always eager to head into the crowd to bring the coastal vibes closer to listeners, making this a great set to enter the first day's afternoon. mei ehara (Saturday, Field of Heaven, 11:30 a.m.): Singer-songwriter mei ehara crafts hypnotic grooves that can be laid-back and enveloping in equal measures. Ahead of a new album this fall, this set at the Field of Heaven offers a chance to see what she's been cooking up. If it's too early, though, catch American artist Faye Webster's performance later in the day at the White Stage, as the two have collaborated and ehara is bound to make an appearance. TV Tairiku Ondo (Monday, Rookie-A-Go-Go, 1 a.m.): Close out your Fuji Rock with a reminder that the kids are alright. The Sapporo group went viral while still in high school thanks to the fidgety rock onslaught of 'Ore ni Shinjitsu o Oshiete Kure!!' ('Tell Me the Truth!!'), the most unlikely TikTok hit of the decade. Save a little energy for the group's whirlwind live show late Sunday night. Mark Thompson, staff writer Otoboke Beaver (Friday, 12:10 p.m., White Stage): Skip the cappuccino. Get the adrenaline shot you need to start the day with this riot grrrl-inspired hardcore quartet, who rarely play songs over two minutes. Stomping in the footsteps of Shonen Knife and Afrirampo, their high-energy thrash mixes the raw power of garage and punk with generous dollops of Kansai humor. Be prepared to laugh and mosh. Hyukoh & Sunset Rollercoaster (Friday, 5 p.m., Green Stage): Torrents of creativity cascade out of this recently formed Taiwan-South Korea collaboration. Little is predictable about this 10-piece conglomeration, who blend city pop, yacht rock and psychedelia, projecting a vibe that is smooth and sometimes goofy but rarely self-indulgent. Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso (Saturday, 11 a.m., Green Stage): Ever since their Tiny Desk Concert went viral, the star of this Argentine duo has been skyrocketing. Having zipped around the international festival circuit this spring and summer, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso will open for Kendrick Lamar on the Latin America leg of his Grand National tour this fall. Their genre — trap, hip-hop, funk — isn't important; the groove's the thing, and it's extremely well honed and bolstered by a large yet tight band. With their Python-esque stage productions, Ca7riel & Paco are bound to make their Japan debut a memorable one. Fuji Rock Festival takes place at Naeba Ski Resort, Niigata Prefecture, from July 25-27. For more information, visit
Metropolis Japan
11-07-2025
- Metropolis Japan
Fuji Rock Festival
Just when you thought August in Japan could not get any hotter, spill some sweat at the frontlines of Fuji Rock Festival '25. Are you a hard-core J-Rocker or just easing your way into the Japanese music industry? Either way, this year's line-up includes big names like the Vampire Weekend, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and RADWIMPS but is also spot-lighting some up and coming indie musicians. Across the array of various bands and artists, there is bound to be some summer tunes to suit your taste.
Asahi Shimbun
01-07-2025
- Asahi Shimbun
At Fuji music fest, brewer will keep on rockin' in the beer world
TOKIGAWA, Saitama Prefecture—As a craft beer brewer, Daichi Mori has often dreamed about serving the sprawling crowds at the Fuji Rock Festival, one of Japan's largest outdoor music events. But as a musician, he has longed to actually take the stage at the annual festival held in the Naeba ski resort in Niigata Prefecture. This summer, both of his dreams will come true. COLLABORATION WITH BREWDOG Mori, 45, who hails from Wako, also in Saitama Prefecture, has been attending the Fuji Rock Festival since his late teens. The music lover was 28 when his indie band, Aureole, released its first CD. Making a clear departure from J-pop, the band pursued alternative rock music but without much success. Mori decided to give beer-making a go during the COVID-19 pandemic when he was 40 because he found similarities between beer brewing and music. 'They both rock the heart,' he said. Mori founded Teenage Brewing in Tokigawa in 2023 to produce original craft beers under the brand name Teenage, even collaborating with a major department store. The concept of Teenage Brewing is 'Music is Beer.' The brewer's idea of introducing beer that pairs well with music drew attention overseas and eventually led to a joint project with Scottish craft beer maker BrewDog. This year, Mori sold a beer brewed in collaboration with BrewDog's main offering, Punk IPA. And when a collaboration between BrewDog and the Fuji Rock Festival became a reality, Mori was entrusted with brewing a special beer. His creation is called Fuji Rock Lager. By adding hops at the end of the brewing process, the craft beer boasts a citrusy aroma and a sharp and clean aftertaste. 'As a Fuji Rocker, I made it as I thought about drinking it on hot summer days while listening to music in the great outdoors,' Mori said. Teenage Brewing released a limited number of 350-milliliter cans of Fuji Rock Lager in late May. The beer will be sold from kegs at the rock festival. SUPPORT MEMBER OF DOWNY Mori never retired from live music. In February, at a concert in Tokyo's Shibuya district, he was playing the sampler, an electronic instrument, on stage with downy, an influential alternative rock band formed 25 years ago. Mori added unorthodox effects to the sounds by overlapping audio tracks edited from external recordings. The result was a rhythm with a complicated and irregular meter. Last autumn, downy leader Robin Aoki asked Mori to join the group as a support member. Although Mori was worried about whether he could double as a brewer and a musician, he practiced hard to get the tracks right before live performances. 'I've always had exchanges with the band members and respected them for many years,' Mori said. 'It's an honor, but it felt so otherworldly.' Two days before the concert in Shibuya, it was announced that downy would perform at the Fuji Rock Festival. 'I had almost given up hope of standing on that stage as a musician, but a miracle happened,' Mori said. The band released a new album and has been touring the nation since late May. Mori has basically given up on sleep to continue rehearsing while thinking about recipes and ideas for his craft beers. The group will perform on July 26, the second day of the Fuji Rock Festival. After the performance at the big event, Mori intends to raise a toast to himself with his own beer.
