Culture 3 min read By Morgan Griffin
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Otoboke Beaver and Hitsujibungaku headline Matsuri in London
Japanese music showcase Matsuri makes its European debut in London on December 14, with an all-female lineup of Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Otoboke Beaver and Hitsujibungaku.
The Japanese music showcase Matsuri is bringing its first European edition to London this year, with an all-female lineup featuring J-pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, punk rock band Otoboke Beaver and indie group Hitsujibungaku. The event is set for December 14 at Outernet London, marking the first time the festival has taken place outside Japan.
The bill brings together three artists who have built international followings in different corners of the Japanese music scene. Hitsujibungaku, an indie band, has reportedly amassed 200 million streams worldwide and was featured in the hit anime series Jujutsu Kaisen. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, a hyperpop singer known for her colourful, Harajuku-inspired style, has collaborated with Charli XCX and has drawn praise from Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga. Otoboke Beaver, the Japanese punk quartet, has toured with a wide range of rock acts, including Green Day, Jack White, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Oasis.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu said she was excited to return to London for the first time in a year and to share the stage with a diverse group of Japanese women artists, each with a distinct character and style. “I’ll give it everything I’ve got to share the magic of Japanese music with everyone in London!” she said. Otoboke Beaver said the band was honoured and excited to be asked to play, and that it was travelling to London specifically for the event. The group added that it looked forward to seeing everyone there and closed its message with a line about seeing the audience “under the mirror ball.”
The event is presented by Music Way Project and follows a broader rise in the popularity of Japanese music over the past few years. Since 2024, artists including Ado, BABYMETAL, Hatsune Miku and Joji have all performed at The O2 in London, a sign of growing demand for Japanese acts in the British market. Matsuri is positioned as a showcase that brings these artists to a dedicated festival setting rather than a single arena booking.
For Hitsujibungaku, the Matsuri slot will be their first UK show since releasing their fifth album, Don’t Laugh It Off, in 2025. For Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, the performance comes as she prepares a new album due in 2027, which is likely to feature her recent singles Pang Pang Pang and Tsukihime. Otoboke Beaver has not released a full album since Super Champon in 2022, but shared a three-track single titled Is the New Album Out Yet? back in the spring, which keeps its profile active while fans wait for new material.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, November 6, at 10am GMT. Details and ticket links are available through the event’s official information page, and the festival’s debut at Outernet Live positions London as the first stop for Matsuri beyond Japan.
Source: nme.com
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