Japan’s city pop sound made its U.K. concert debut in South London this summer, according to Billboard, as City Pop Waves took place at Palace Bowl Presents in Crystal Palace Park. The open-air festival ran across 12 days in July and August and featured a wide mix of genres, including rock, soul, gospel, Afrobeats, electronic music and city pop.
The city pop show featured three Japanese artists: Masayoshi Takanaka, Junko Yagami and Himiko Kikuchi. Kikuchi opened the concert at the Hammond organ with “Ducky Ducky,” playing material from her 1977 album FLYING BEAGLE, which drew a strong response from the London crowd.
Yagami followed with a short four-song set that included “Tasogare no Bay City” and “TERRA – here we will stay.” During the performance, she spoke about war, global warming and the future for her grandchild, while the screen showed Earth imagery and English lyrics. According to Billboard, the audience included fans who had traveled from outside the U.K. for the show.
Takanaka closed the night with a nearly two-hour set that included “BRASILIAN SKIES” and “JUMPING TAKE OFF,” where he brought out his surfboard guitar to loud cheers. He also told the audience, “See you at Wembley next year!” before ending the concert with “YOU CAN NEVER COME TO THIS PLACE.”
