[Festival Review] Zipangu Festival Brings Japan’s Energy to Pasadena With Unforgettable Performances From Ado, Chanmina, MAN WITH A MISSION, and More 🇯🇵🎶
There are some festivals where you go for one artist. Then there are festivals that end up feeling like a full experience from the moment you arrive until the second you leave the venue. ZIPANGU the Festival absolutely felt like the second kind.
We arrived around 2 PM, right when parking opened, and honestly, we thought we were getting there early. We were very wrong.
The line was already massive, and while walking toward the end of it, it somehow just kept growing and growing behind us. At one point it genuinely looked like the line was leaving the Rose Bowl area entirely. It was kind of insane seeing that level of turnout so early into the day, especially for a first year festival.
By the time we finally got inside around 4:20 PM, we only caught the ending of Hana’s set. From the little we saw, the performance looked incredibly fun and energetic, which honestly made it hurt even more that the lines took so long. Still, seeing that many people show up for a Japanese music festival in Pasadena was pretty wild in the best way possible.
10-FEET Started the Festival Off Like a Garage Band Party 🎸
One of the first things that stood out during 10-FEET’s set was how unserious they were in the best possible way.
At one point they joked that they are “not serious” but have “many many passion,” and honestly that perfectly summarized the vibe of their performance. The band felt less like polished rockstars and more like a group of friends genuinely having the time of their lives on stage together.
Photo Credit Ryo Kawakami
Their sound blended punk rock energy with chaotic fun, and between songs they casually talked about how much they love and are inspired by bands like Metallica and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Instead of rushing through the set, they would stop and just chat with the crowd like everyone was hanging out together.
At one point they even started playing Livin' on a Prayer and suddenly the entire crowd started singing along.
Then somehow the bassist started jumping around while playing, and yes, even did splits while still performing. Completely ridiculous. Completely amazing.
Photo Credit Ryo Kawakami
One interesting thing throughout the festival was seeing how packed the general admission crowd became compared to some of the VIP areas. Since parts of the VIP barricade were set surprisingly far from the stage, there were moments where GA honestly looked more energetic and fuller than expected, especially this early into the festival.
Photo Credit Ryo Kawakami
Chanmina Delivered One of the Most Intense Sets of the Night 🔥
The second Chanmina walked on stage, the energy immediately shifted.
Everything about the performance felt sharp and intentional. The outfit, the confidence, the stage presence, the vocals, everything hit hard. She came out intense and never really let the momentum drop.
One thing I really appreciated about Zipangu overall was the festival size itself. Compared to bigger festivals like Head In The Clouds, Zipangu felt easier to navigate and enjoy casually. We were able to explore the yokocho area, shop around for hats and microfiber towels, grab food, and still comfortably watch performances from screens nearby without feeling overwhelmed.
Photo Credit Viola Kam
Eventually we had to leave the front area during Chanmina’s set because it became way too crowded, but even farther back the atmosphere still felt electric.
She also had some genuinely funny crowd interaction moments. At one point she started teaching fans Japanese phrases and jokingly asked everyone, “Toilet wa doko deska?” which got a huge reaction from the audience.
Then she shared that this was her first time performing in Los Angeles, which made the moment feel even more special for fans who had waited years to see her live in the United States.
Photo Credit Viola Kam
One of the standout moments was when she performed what sounded like “I’m Not Okay.” That song completely pulled me in and honestly made me want to dive deeper into her music afterward.
What really stood out though was just how emotional parts of the crowd became during her set. You could see fans crying while singing along to certain songs. That kind of emotional connection says a lot about an artist’s impact, and it felt huge seeing Zipangu bring an artist like Chanmina to Pasadena.
Photo Credit Viola Kam
MAN WITH A MISSION Turned Pasadena Into an Anime Rock Arena 🐺⚡
Seeing MAN WITH A MISSION live felt surreal.
The masked wolf-headed rock band announced that it was their first time performing in Pasadena, and they made sure nobody forgot it.
Early into the set they launched into a cover of Thunderstruck, which immediately sent the crowd into chaos. Their energy live is unbelievable. I was basically headbanging through the entire performance.
Photo Credit Ryo Kawakami
The masks somehow look both intimidating and hilarious at the same time, especially when projected onto the giant festival screens. There’s something weirdly charming about it.
One of my favorite moments happened during their performance of the database feat. TAKUMA opening from Log Horizon. Fans started doing synchronized lightstick movements together like you would normally see at concerts in Japan, spinning and waving them perfectly in sync across the crowd. It genuinely felt like a piece of Japan got transported directly into Pasadena for a few minutes.
Photo Credit Ryo Kawakami
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for.
As soon as they started performing Kizuna no Kiseki from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, people literally started running toward the stage.
Absolute legendary moment.
Photo Credit Ryo Kawakami
ATARASHII GAKKO! Proved Again Why They’re So Fun Live 🎤✨
By the time ATARASHII GAKKO! came on, I was genuinely excited because I still can’t believe I’ve gotten the chance to see them multiple times now.
They’re just fun. That’s honestly the best way to describe them.
Photo Credit Viola Kam
Unfortunately I ended up being stuck in the yokocho food line during a big part of the performance, but one thing I appreciated was how close everything still felt. Even while waiting for food, you could still watch the stage and follow along with the performance pretty comfortably.
Still, I definitely wished I could’ve sat down and fully locked into the set without multitasking.
Photo Credit Viola Kam
When they performed Tokyo Calling, the crowd completely came alive again. The whole set just felt joyful and chaotic in the best possible way.
Photo Credit Viola Kam
Yuki Chiba Balanced Hype and Vulnerability 🌃
Yuki Chiba started his set aggressively with hit after hit before slowly transitioning into more emotional and vulnerable songs.
At one point he mentioned that he had moved to the United States a couple months ago, which instantly made fans start wondering whether a U.S. tour announcement could be coming soon.
The slower section of the set created one of the prettiest visuals of the entire festival. Fans lifted their lights into the air and suddenly the entire crowd started glowing.
Photo Credit Ryo Kawakami
Then of course came Team Tomodachi.
The energy exploded instantly.
People were jumping, screaming lyrics, and completely losing it once the song started. Later in the set he even went off stage to high five fans directly near barricade.
Photo Credit Ryo Kawakami
I thought the set overall did a really good job balancing hype songs with more emotional moments, although I did notice some people tuning out slightly during the slower middle section.
One small thing I realized during transitions between artists was that Zipangu didn’t really do artist reveal announcements before the next performer walked out. Festivals like Head In The Clouds usually build suspense by hyping up the next artist over the speakers, and honestly I missed that here because it adds a lot to the barricade energy while waiting.
Photo Credit Ryo Kawakami
Ado Closed the Night Like an Anime Finale 💙
Finally, it was time for Ado.
Before she even appeared, the crowd transformed into a sea of blue lightsticks. Then the famous glowing blue cube appeared on stage and everyone instantly lost their minds.
The live band introduced themselves one by one, showing off their instruments and personalities, before Ado’s vocals suddenly cut through the night.
Photo Credit Viola Kam
Instant chills.
Hearing songs like Show live is honestly overwhelming in the best way possible. Every single time I hear Ado perform, I end up standing there completely stunned by how powerful her voice is.
There’s this dramatic intensity to her live performances that almost feels unreal.
But beyond Ado herself, the crowd energy added so much to the experience too. Fans screamed every lyric, waved lightsticks nonstop, and created an atmosphere that felt closer to a massive anime concert experience than a traditional festival closer.
It was one of those endings where you just stand there afterward thinking, “Yeah… that was worth it.”
Photo Credit Viola Kam
Final Thoughts
For a festival still growing its identity, Zipangu honestly exceeded expectations.
The lineup felt genuinely curated for fans of Japanese music and culture rather than trying to chase mainstream trends, and the smaller scale made the experience feel more personal and manageable compared to some larger festivals.
Between the punk chaos of 10-FEET, Chanmina’s intensity, MAN WITH A MISSION’s anime-fueled rock energy, ATARASHII GAKKO!’s fun stage presence, Yuki Chiba’s emotional moments, and Ado’s incredible finale, the festival delivered one memorable set after another.
Most importantly though, it felt like everyone there genuinely wanted to be there.
That energy matters.
Thank you Zipangu for an unforgettable night in Pasadena.
See you next time!!
