Forget “Cool Japan,” in Singapore this coming May, the northeast Asian nation is being rebranded to “Super Japan.” That’s the name of a new festival set to open May 13 and due to run for ten days at the Esplanade.The Super Japan – Japanese Festival of Arts joins an annual roster of country-specific events, which already includes the Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts, Kalaa Utsavaam – Indian Festival of Arts, and Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts and Moonfest – A Mid-Autumn Celebration. The Japan event will be part of a new three-year rotation exploring different cultures that Singaporean artists have developed ties with.Modern icon of Harajuku “kawaii” culture Kyary Pamyu Pamyu takes top billing, and while dubbed the “Japanese Lady Gaga,” in truth her appeal is far more niche and child-like than the American artist who was recently praised as the only modern performer who could possible attempt a tribute to the late David Bowie at the Grammy Awards. Producer Yasutaka Nakata created Kyary and her fantastical doll-like world of bubblegum pop five years ago to much curiosity, and this will be her fifth anniversary world tour performance, held May 13.Across the festival will be a truly wide range of artists, including the Blue Note Tokyo All-Star Jazz Orchestra who will perform with Singapore’s very own Nathan Hartono, and a staging of “Himiko: Memories of the Sun Goddess,” a mythological story brought together by kabuki actor Fukusuke Nakamura, composer Yoshihiro Kanno, violinist Yasuko Otani, and shamisen player Mojibei Tokiwazu and combining kabuki and Japanese classical dance.Laurence Olivier Award-winning butoh dance group Sankai Juku will perform “Meguri: Teeming Sea, Tranquil Land” on a sand-dusted stage set on May 20 and 21, and fans of Japanese drumming can catch a collaboration of local Chong Tze Chien with Shigeki Nakano on May 14 and 15, as they interpret the modern noh classic, “The Damask Drum,” by Yukio Mishima.Shadow puppet troupe Silhouette Theater Tsunobue are sure to delight children with their interpretation of the classic tale of “Princess Kaguya,” a baby girl who appears from a bamboo stalk. And EDM act mouse on the keys, who combine jazz, funk, classical, post-rock, contemporary, and electronic music, return since their sold out shows at the Mosaic Music Festival in 2013 to play Esplanade Recital Studio on May 20.Shamisen player Hiromitsu Agatsuma and a performance of Okinawa folk music by Unaigumi are also on the bill.For more information: Super Japan – Japanese Festival of Arts
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