Nano-Mugen Festival
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tokyo, Japan (2003, 2004)
Osaka, Japan (2004)
Yokohama, Japan (2005–present)
Jakarta, Indonesia (2025; cancelled)
| ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION presents NANO-MUGEN FES. | |
|---|---|
 K-Arena Yokohama, the venue for the Japan leg of Nano-Mugen Fes. 2025 | |
| Genre | Rock music, Pop music, Electronic music, various |
| Dates | Varies, usually in July |
| Locations | Yokohama, Japan (2003) Tokyo, Japan (2003, 2004) Osaka, Japan (2004) Yokohama, Japan (2005–present) Jakarta, Indonesia (2025; cancelled) |
| Years active | 2003–2014 (except 2007), 2025–present |
| Website | Official site |
Nano-Mugen Festival (officially ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION presents NANO-MUGEN FES., Japanese: アジアン カンフー ジェネレーション プレゼンツ ナノ-ムゲン フェス) is a music festival usually held in Yokohama, Japan.[1]
The festival is hosted by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation, who invites various other artists from around Japan and internationally to perform at the festival. From the 2005 edition, the band also started producing a compilation album featuring music of each invited artist for that year's festival.[2]
In 2025, the festival was to be held overseas for the first time, with dates in both Yokohama, Japan and Jakarta, Indonesia.[3][4] However, the Indonesian leg was cancelled a few days prior to the festival.
Name origin
The festival started as a band project, with Asian Kung-Fu Generation becoming familiar with artists from outside Japan and had formed an idea to perform together. Gotoh stated that he wanted their music to reach audiences beyond just Japanese listeners, and so the festival was created to "bridge that gap".[5]
"Nano" comes from the unit prefix nano, which Gotoh described as the smallest unit he and the band knew at the time.[5] "Mugen" comes from the Japanese word 無限 (mugen) meaning "infinite" or "eternal". This means that the title is an oxymoron.
According to Gotoh, he had an "image of something expanding endlessly from the smallest point" and therefore is "a title about expanding from the smallest unit to a place beyond measure."[5]
Festival history
NANO-MUGEN FES. (Shinjuku LOFT)
The first Nano-Mugen Fes. was held at Shinjuku LOFT on August 11, 2003. It was a single day festival featuring five total acts.[6]
| Date | Venue | Artists |
|---|---|---|
| August 11 | Shinjuku LOFT |
|
NANO-MUGEN FES. (Yokohama CLUB24)
The second festival was held on December 17, 2003 at Yokohama CLUB24.[6]
| Date | Venue | Artists |
|---|---|---|
| December 17 | Yokohama CLUB24 |
|
NANO-MUGEN FES. in Budokan
The third festival was held on July 1, 2004 at Nippon Budokan.[6]
| Date | Venue | Artists |
|---|---|---|
| July 1 | Nippon Budokan |
|
NANO-MUGEN FES. in OSAKA
The fourth festival was held on August 9, 2004 at Osaka Namba Hatch.[6] It is the first edition to feature international acts.
| Date | Venue | Artists |
|---|---|---|
| August 9 | Osaka Namba Hatch |
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2005
2005 was the first festival to be held at new permanent venue Yokohama Arena, and the first to feature a compilation album.[7]
| Date | Venue | Area | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 9 | Yokohama Arena | A Stage |
|
| B Stage |
|
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2006
The festival became a two-day event in the 2006 edition.
| Dates | Venue | Area | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 16 | Yokohama Arena | Band Stage |
|
Acoustic & DJ Stage |
| ||
| July 17 | Band Stage |
| |
Acoustic & DJ Stage |
|
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2008
Whilst the organisers received offers from bands wanting to participate in 2007, a decision was ultimately made to postpone the festival so that Asian Kung-Fu Generation could focus on performing at other festivals and events.[8]
The festival returned to Yokohama Arena in 2008, once again for two days.[9]
| Dates | Venue | Performers |
|---|---|---|
| July 20 | Yokohama Arena |
|
| July 21 |
|
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2009
Welsh band Manic Street Preachers was originally scheduled to appear, however their participation was cancelled due to the sudden illness of bassist Nicky Wire. Refunds were given upon request.[10]
| Dates | Venue | Performers |
|---|---|---|
| July 19 | Yokohama Arena |
|
| July 20 |
|
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2009 (pre-event)
Prior to the main festival, the band also hosted events in Osaka and Nagoya on July 9 and 10, along with a solo show in Tokyo.[11]
| Dates | City | Venue | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 6 | Tokyo | Daikanyama UNIT | Asian Kung-Fu Generation |
| July 9 | Osaka | Namba Hatch |
|
| July 10 | Nagoya | Zepp Nagoya |
|
NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2010
In lieu of a full festival in 2010, the band instead hosted a tour with stops in four cities across Japan.[12]
| Dates | City | Venue | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 21 | Hiroshima | Hiroshima Club Quattro |
|
| July 23 | Yokohama | Yokohama BLITZ |
|
| July 24 | Tokyo | Zepp Tokyo | |
| July 27 | Kyoto | KBS Hall |
|
| July 28 |
|
NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2011
Held in three cities across Japan.
| Dates | City | Venue | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 4 | Tokyo | Liquid Room |
|
| July 5 | Studio Coast | ||
| July 7 | Osaka | Zepp Osaka |
|
| July 8 | Nagoya | Zepp Nagoya |
|
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2011
Nano-Mugen returned to Yokohama Arena as a two-day festival.[13]
| Dates | Venue | Area | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 16 | Yokohama Arena | Band Stage |
|
| Acoustic Stage |
| ||
| DJ Stage |
| ||
| July 17 | Band Stage |
| |
| Acoustic Stage |
| ||
| DJ Stage |
|
NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2012
Held in four cities across Japan.[14]
| Dates | City | Venue | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 4 | Hiroshima | Hiroshima Club Quattro |
|
| June 5 | Osaka | Umeda Club Quattro |
|
| June 7 | Nagoya | Nagoya Club Quattro | |
| June 8 | Tokyo | Zepp DiverCity |
|
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2012
| Dates | Venue | Area | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 15 | Yokohama Arena | Band Stage |
|
| Dance Stage |
| ||
| Acoustic Stage | |||
| kiyoshi's bar
GUESTReALM |
|||
| July 16 | Band Stage | ||
| Dance Stage | |||
| Acoustic Stage |
| ||
| kiyoshi's bar
GUESTReALM |
|
NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2013
Held in six cities across Japan.[15]
| Dates | City | Venue | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 14 | Kyoto | KBS Hall |
|
| June 15 |
| ||
| June 17 | Matsuyama | Matsuyama City Community Center |
|
| June 19 | Kumamoto | Drum Be-9 V1 |
|
| June 24 | Niigata | Niigata LOTS |
|
| June 26 | Sendai | Sendai Rensa |
|
| June 28 | Tokyo | Tokyo Dome City Hall |
|
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2014
2014 was to be the final annual Nano-Mugen Festival, and the most recently released compilation album.[16]
| Dates | Venue | Area | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 12 | Yokohama Arena | Band Stage |
|
| Electric Stage |
| ||
| Ken's Cafe |
| ||
| kiyoshi's bar
GUESTReALM |
| ||
| July 13 | Band Stage |
| |
| Electric Stage |
| ||
| Ken's Cafe |
| ||
| kiyoshi's bar
GUESTReALM |
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2025
After an 11 year hiatus, Nano-Mugen Festival is due to return in May and June 2025 and held across two cities in Japan and Indonesia.[3]
The first wave of artists to appear was revealed on 3 February 2025.[17] The second wave was announced on 10 March 2025, along with the first wave of artists to appear in Jakarta.[18]
On 19 May, festival organisers announced the cancellation of the Indonesian leg of the festival.[19]
| Dates | City | Venue | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 24 (cancelled) | Jakarta, Indonesia | Ecopark Ancol |
|
| May 25 (cancelled) | |||
| May 31 | Yokohama, Japan | K-Arena Yokohama |
|
| June 1 |
|
NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2025
On the first day of Nano-Mugen Fes. 2025 in Yokohama, it was revealed that Nano-Mugen Circuit would return, this time as a "split tour" between ASH and Asian Kung-Fu Generation.[20]
| Dates | City | Venue | Performers | Guest acts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 14 | Fukuoka | Zepp Fukuoka |
|
Regallily |
| October 16 | Osaka | Zepp Osaka Bayside | Laura day romance [ja] | |
| October 17 | Nagoya | Zepp Nagoya | KANA-BOON | |
| October 20 | Sendai | SENDAI GIGS | Homecomings | |
| October 21 | Yokohama | KT Zepp Yokohama | yubiori |
ARABAKI ROCK FEST. 26 MICHINOKU PEACE SESSION
On 23 December 2025, Arabaki Rock Fest. announced Asian Kung-Fu Generation would host "MICHINOKU PEACE SESSION" at the 2026 edition of the festival, under the Nano-Mugen banner; officially "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION NANO-MUGEN at ARABAKI". The session will celebrate the band's 30th anniversary and feature various guests.[21][22]
The festival is scheduled for the weekend of 25 and 26 April, at Michinoku Lakeside National Government Park in Miyagi.
On 17 March 2026, the timetable and guests acts were announced, with the band hosting the Nano-Mugen session on the Saturday night.[23]
| Dates | Stage | Performers | Guest acts |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 25 | Michinoku | Asian Kung-Fu Generation |
References
- ↑ Brasor, Philip (2009-06-19). "Asian Kung-Fu Generation @ Nano-Mugen Festival". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- ↑ "NANO-MUGEN出演者最終発表でユニコーン追加 コンピにはアジカン・くるり・テナーの新曲も". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- 1 2 "アジカン主催『NANO-MUGEN FES.2025』第二弾出演アーティストとしてELLEGARDEN、ベックを発表 | Musicman". 音楽業界総合情報サイト | Musicman (in Japanese). 2025-03-10. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- ↑ "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION主催【NANO-MUGEN FES.】、日本＆インドネシアで開催". エンタメOVO（オーヴォ）. 2024-12-27. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
- 1 2 3 a-indie (2025-05-22). "Gotoh (AKG) on Nano-Mugen's Return & Asian Music". Retrieved 2025-05-27.
- 1 2 3 4 "History | NANO-MUGEN FES.2011 | English". www.nano-mugenfes.com. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- ↑ "（オムニバス）「アジアン・カンフー・ジェネレーション・プレゼンツ "ナノムゲン・コンピレーション"」 | KSCL-827 | 4582117984016 | Shopping". Billboard JAPAN (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- ↑ "NANO-MUGEN FES". www.sonymusic.co.jp. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- ↑ "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION 『NANO-MUGEN FES. 2008』出演者第１弾発表！". rockin’on.com (in Japanese). 2008-04-17. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
- ↑ "MANIC STREET PREACHERS Information of Performance Cancellation and Ticket refund". www.nano-mugenfes.com. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- ↑ "NANO-MUGEN FES.2009". www.nano-mugenfes.com. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- ↑ "NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2010 - SCHEDULE-". www.nano-mugenfes.com. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
- ↑ Department, Skream! Editorial. "NANO-MUGEN FES. 2011". Skream! 邦楽ロック・洋楽ロック ポータルサイト. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
- ↑ "NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT2012". www.nano-mugenfes.com. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
- ↑ "NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2013". www.nano-mugenfes.com. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
- ↑ "NANO-MUGEN出演者最終発表でユニコーン追加 コンピにはアジカン・くるり・テナーの新曲も". Real Sound｜リアルサウンド (in Japanese). 2014-06-06. Retrieved 2025-03-18.
- ↑ "アジカン主催『NANO-MUGEN FES.2025』にくるり、ストレイテナー、インドネシアからThe Adams、VOICE OF BACEPROTが出演決定 - ニュース". Rooftop (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-03-18.
- ↑ "アジカン主催＜NANO-MUGEN FES. 2025＞、第二弾出演者発表にBECKとELLEGARDEN". ライブドアニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-03-18.
- ↑ "Official Announcement: Cancellation of ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION presents NANO-MUGEN FES. 2025 in JAKARTA". NANO-MUGEN FES. Indonesia 2025. 2025-05-19. Retrieved 2025-05-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION presents NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2025『ASH × AKG Split tour』". www.nano-mugenfes.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-05-31.
- ↑ "「ARABAKI」出演者第1弾でアジカン、STUTS、ホルモン、10-FEET、のん新バンドら36組発表". Music Natalie (in Japanese). 2025-12-23. Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ↑ "セッション". ARABAKI ROCK FEST.26 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-12-23.
- ↑ "ラインナップ". ARABAKI ROCK FEST.26 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-03-17.
External links
| Studio albums | |
|---|---|
| Re-recording albums | |
| Live albums | |
| Compilations | |
| Nano-Mugen | |
| EPs | |
| Singles |
|
| Featured single |
|
| Videos | |
| Related articles | |
Music festivals in Japan | |
|---|---|
| Pop | |
| Rock | |
| Folk | |
| Classical | |
| Jazz | |
| Hip Hop | |
| Other | |
| Multi-genre | |
| Related events | |
