Last year, I stood shoulder to shoulder with thousands of fans as Okinawan rapper Awich lit up the main stage at Fuji Rock. As a performer she was as dynamic as I¡¯d expected, surprisingly emotional and, of course, the music was amazing. When I think of the summer of ¡¯24, I¡¯ll remember that set.
Japanese summers may be unbelievably hot, but they¡¯re also charged with possibility. For me, it¡¯s the music festivals that make these next few months bearable, even beautiful.
From sultry jazz sets that echo through the city (Blue Note Jazz Festival) to deep-forest raves pulsing under a canopy of stars (rural), Japan¡¯s summer music scene is nothing if not atmospheric. There are mountain-backed stages (Ringo Music Fes.), beachside blowouts (Ocean Peoples¡¯) and sprawling pop spectacles (Summer Sonic), each offering a different kind of relief from the heat¡¯s relentless grip. But spontaneity isn¡¯t always rewarded ¡ª tickets go fast, hotels faster ¡ª and you¡¯ll definitely want to remember that SPF 50.
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