ennichi ’25 Shows Why Japanese Music’s Global Moment Is Only Getting Bigger

Los Angeles became a crossroads for Japan’s fast-growing global music scene as CEIPA and the TOYOTA GROUP’s “MUSIC WAY PROJECT” brought ennichi ’25 to the city in early December. Across two days — an industry mixer on Dec. 1 and a 2,500-capacity concert on Dec. 2 — the event showcased Japan’s rising international influence and the artists shaping its next chapter.

The weekend opened at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, where Japanese and American music professionals gathered for the Japanese Music Industry Mixer. Composer and producer Shunichi Tokura, Japan’s Commissioner for Cultural Affairs, highlighted the meaning behind ennichi — “destined encounters” — and the potential for new collaborations to emerge from them. Akiko Okumura, Executive Vice President of JETRO, pointed to the deep fandom for Japanese music and anime in the U.S., while Shunsuke Muramatsu, CEIPA Chairman and Sony Music Entertainment Japan CEO, emphasized music’s unique power to create cross-cultural ties.

Producer Jeff Miyahara brought together Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, ☆Taku Takahashi (m-flo), and LA-based Peyote Beats to talk Japan’s global sound. Takahashi recalled Anime Expo crowds singing Japanese lyrics in unison — proof the scene is crossing borders. Kyary credited her 2012 YouTube debut for launching her worldwide, while Peyote Beats highlighted how Japanese music shaped his sound and fuels his mission to connect the U.S. and Japan.

The next night, Aurora Warehouse was transformed into a multisensory festival space for the ennichi ’25 Japanese Music Experience LA concert. With taiko drumming, Japanese street food, yo-yo fishing, and a live tuna-cutting show greeting guests, the event blended traditional festival roots with contemporary music culture.

Pop group f5ve kicked off the performances with sleek choreography and confident English MCs, bringing the crowd together with their viral hit “Underground.” Their set included a surprise appearance from PSYCHIC FEVER’s TSURUGI during “Underground,” igniting early excitement. Their momentum has been further recognized internationally, as their album Sequence 01 was recently selected for Billboard’s The 50 Best Albums of 2025: Staff Picks.

Rapper JP THE WAVY followed with a stylish, high-energy set that drew one of the night’s loudest reactions when he dropped his remix of “Tokyo Drift.” Awich then delivered the evening’s emotional pinnacle, sharing stories of her Okinawan identity and personal loss before bringing out Lupe Fiasco for a surprise performance of “Wax On Wax Off.

Closing the night was PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE, fresh off a six-city U.S. tour. With choreography as sharp as their streaming numbers — including over 300 million TikTok views for “Just Like Dat” feat. JP THE WAVY — the group sent the night out on a high.

Awich Photo by YURI HASEGAWA

PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE Photo by YURI HASEGAWA

Together, the two-day event reflected the accelerating rise of Japanese music in the U.S. As anime soundtracks chart globally, City Pop continues its resurgence, and Japanese acts increasingly appear on international stages, ennichi ’25 underscored that this isn’t a passing trend — it’s a movement.

CEIPA, established by five major Japanese music industry organizations — the Recording Industry Association of Japan, the Japan Association of Music Enterprises, the Federation of Music Producers Japan, the Music Publishers Association of Japan, and the All Japan Concert and Live Entertainment Promoters — CEIPA also organized the MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, which took place in Kyoto, Japan, in May 2025. The second edition, “MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN 2026,” will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO. For additional information about MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, please visit www.musicawardsjapan.com.

CEIPA × TOYOTA GROUP “MUSIC WAY PROJECT”
The market for entertainment content is expanding with lifestyle changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of the streaming business, and Japanese culture is capturing international attention. As Japanese content continues to excite people around the world, CEIPA and the TOYOTA GROUP will co-create a pathway for young people who are pioneering the future of Japanese music to drive the fundamental globalization and sustainable growth of Japanese music: the MUSIC WAY PROJECT. The MUSIC WAY PROJECT will provide opportunities for young talent to thrive and make a greater impact under the slogan “Japanese music drives the world.”