New Rock Festival Launched in Japan

Japan is gearing up to introduce a new rock festival featuring major acts such as Pulp, Weezer, Manic Street Preachers, Primal Scream, and others. The festival, named Rockin’ On Sonic, is scheduled to take place at the Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall in Chiba, located about 40 kilometers east of central Tokyo. More artists are expected to be announced soon, with the two-day event set for January 4 and 5. According to Rockin’ On Sonic producer Yoichiro Yamazaki, the festival will feature two stages: the 20,000-capacity Galaxy Stage and the 8,000-capacity Cosmo Stage. Rockin’ On Japan will collaborate with Creative Man, the company behind the popular Summer Sonic festival, to produce this event. “I was initially concerned about whether international artists would be willing to come to Japan during the New Year, but both the artists and their management teams have been enthusiastic about the opportunity,” Yamazaki said. “This event not only complements the annual summer festival but also provides a chance for these artists to perform more frequently in Japan. They are thrilled.”