A true taste of Japan

ORIGINALLY SLATED FOR last August but abruptly called off after the Erawan shrine bombing, the Japan Expo Thailand – the biggest Japanese pop culture event in Thailand and Asia – is back for a second edition next weekend at CentralWorld.

“The expo aims to build a strong relationship between Thailand and Japan through entertainment, cultural activities, food, travel, fashion and a lot more,” says Yupharet Eakturapakal, the president of organiser G-Yu Creative. “Several famous Japanese artists will be performing live and there are more than 100 Japanese enterprises exhibiting their wares. We also have lots of different activities for people who love Japan. The event is also a good occasion for Japanese companies planning to invest in Thailand in the future to test the waters.” 

This event will have around 11 zones.

The main stage will feature performances such artists as SuG, Defspiral, Boys and Men, Musumen, Notall, MimiMeMeMimi, Akishibu Project, Tempura Kidz and Festive.

Artists from Tokyo Crazy Kawaii, which features manga, anime, games, music and fashion are organising cool activities and visitors can enjoy a demonstration of Sakura Street and relax at a Japanese-style cafe by Oishi Green Tea.

The Japan Festa in Bangkok Stage will host Mari Yaguchi, the former leader of Morning Musume, and Akira, the “anisong” artist who is best known for the theme to “Black Butler”. There will also be Thai cover bands.

 More cartoon fun can be found in the Anime and Festival Zone in Otaku Street, featuring shops, activities, anime screenings and the Snow Miku Cafe.

The Arts and Culture Zone meanwhile willl showcase traditional and contemporary cultural activities, such as dance by Naomichi Hanazono, music from the Ryoma Quartet, performance art by Zoomadanke and a calligraphy exhibition by Aoyagi Bisen.

Thai fashion designer Kung Kunitar leads the way at the Fashion and Beauty Zone, where some 60 celebrities have been roped in to serve as models. They include Wuttitorn “Woody” Milintachinda, Preechaya “Ice” Pongthananikorn, Kirin Simon Young, Nakorn “Ple” Sirachai and family, Siripanya Jantila, Baramee “Earth AF9” Chamnankij, “Hormones” director Songyos Sugmakanan and teen stars Thiti “Bank” Mahayotaruk, Nichaphat “Pearwah” Chatchaipholrat, Pala Suthipornrudee, Sedthawut “Tou” Anusit, Narupornkamol “Praew” Chaisang and Kanyawee “Thanerng” Songmuang.

 “My fashion concept this year is ‘Harajuku in Bangkok’, Kung says.

Wrestling takes centre stage in the Sport Zone with professional wrestlers from Michinoku bringing in the fighters, while the Japan Promotion Zone will features a kimono fashion show from Kamui in cooperation with Nishijin Textile Industrial Association.

There are bargains on offer in the Japan Travel Zone, with packages from the Japan Tourism Board, while the Japan Trend Zone invites visitors to don 3D DIVR glasses and travel through the Virtual Zen Garden. There will also be activities staged by the Tokyo Disney Resort and Thai TV show “Tabi Japan with James Jirayu”.

Learn about education in Japan in the Study in Japan Zone, where around 20 insitutes will offer details about universities, scholarships, homestay accommodation and summer camps.

The Taste of Japan Zone will serve up beef from Kagoshima, takoyaki snacks from Acchichi Honpo in Osaka, Hanabatake Bokujo sweets from Hokkaido, Ramen Todai from Tokushima, and okonomiyaki-style grilling from Hiroshima.

Among all these activities, it’s likely the J-pop concerts that will draw the biggest crowds. Among the big names are AKB48, the Japanese idol girl group who take their name from the Akihabara area of Tokyo. The group, which started with 48 members but now has more than 130, will offer Thai fans plenty of hands to shake and selfies to take.

Another female idol group, Dempagumi.inc, has just six members, but what they lack in number they make up in colour. Look out for Aizawa Risa in white, Furukawa Mirin in red, Yumemi Nemu in green, Naruse Eimi in yellow, Mogami Moga in purple, and Fujisaki Ayane in blue.

Visual kei rockers SuG, who drew a large crowd on their previous visit to Bangkok, will also be on stage. The band features vocalists Takeru and Shigeru, guitarists Masato and Yuji, bassist Chiyu, and drummer Shinpei. 

Defspiral is another visual kei rock outfit, featuring Taka on vocals, Masato on guitar, Ryo on bass, and Masaki on drums. There will also be the Tempura Kidz, youngsters who will thrill with their carefully choreographed moves. 

New to Thailand is the up-and-coming girl duo Faint Star, made up of Hina and Yuria. They added to their Asian fanbase last year at the “Little Tokyo Blok-M Ennichaia” festival, the biggest Japanese cultural event in Indonesia. 

And no Japanese expo would be complete without those ubquitious costumed mascots. This year will bring Mu Chan and Gen Kun, two crazy characters whose names, when combined as Mugen, mean “infinite”.

 

RISING SUN

- The Japan Expo runs from 10am to 10pm from Friday until January 24 at CentralWorld. 

- Find out more at www.JapanExpoThailand.com, www.GyuCreative.com and Facebook.com/japanexpointhailand.