Legendary jazz-fusion guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka and city pop icon ANRI have been announced to front “SURF & BREEZE”, a celebration of city pop as part of MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN WEEK in June.
MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, the country’s largest international music awards, has unveiled the first wave of programming for its 2026 Awards Week, with a series of live shows and special events set to take place across Tokyo in the lead-up to the main ceremony on June 13th.
Set for June 11th at SGC Hall Ariake in the Odaiba area, the show brings together two of the most influential figures associated with Japan’s city pop sound, putting a spotlight on the genre’s continued global revival.
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ANRI is a key figure in Japan’s city pop movement, rising to prominence in the 1980s with hits such as ‘Cat’s Eye’ and ‘Kanashimi ga Tomaranai’, which helped define the era’s polished, summer-tinged sound. Her 1983 album ‘Timely!!’ remains one of the genre’s most recognisable releases, while tracks like ‘Remember Summer Days’ and ‘Last Summer Whisper’ have recently found new audiences online through YouTube and widespread sampling in vaporwave and future funk.
The show is part of a wider week-long programme running from June 5th to June 13th, as MAJ expands beyond the awards ceremony itself into a broader celebration of Japanese and Asian music culture.
Other confirmed events include THE SUCCESSOR MAJ HIP HOP TRIBUTE at Zepp DiverCity on June 8th, and LisAni! LIVE on TOKYO ANIME MUSIC HIGHLIGHTS on June 9th at TOYOTA ARENA TOKYO, featuring performances from Oishi Masayoshi, TrySail, and Love Live! Sunshine!! units Guilty Kiss and Saint Snow.
Also on June 9th, Billboard JAPAN | Spotify presents Women In Music – EQUAL STAGE will take place at SGC Hall Ariake. An enka and kayokyoku live event follows on June 11th at Zepp DiverCity.
Further announcements, including additional performers and event details, are expected in the coming weeks.
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