Tag Archives: J-pop

Hige Dandism in Singapore: Concert + Pop-Up at 313@Somerset

If you’ve watched Tokyo Revengers, Spy x Family, or Blue Box, you already know Official Hige Dandism — even if you didn’t realise it. The Japanese pop-rock quartet behind some of the biggest anime opening themes of the last few years is in Singapore this August, and there’s still a way to be part of the action even if the concert is sold out.

Concert at The Star Theatre — 21 August, 8PM

Official Hige Dandism Asia Tour 2026 Singapore concert poster at The Star Theatre
Image courtesy of Official Hige Dandism / SOZO

OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM ASIA TOUR 2026 comes to The Star Theatre (1 Vista Exchange Green, Singapore 138617) on Friday, 21 August 2026. Doors open at 7:00 PM, show starts at 8:00 PM. The one-night-only showcase is presented by SOZO, with tickets originally priced from S$98 (CAT 7) to S$288 (CAT 1).

All tickets are now sold out — the official site confirmed the full sell-out with a note thanking fans for the support. If you’re still hoping to attend, secondary platforms are your best bet; demand has been high across the region.

Official Hige Dandism Asia Tour 2026 Singapore seating chart and ticket price categories for The Star Theatre
Image courtesy of Official Hige Dandism / SOZO

Ticket holders can also grab the Asia Tour 2026 concert merchandise — the range includes a Singapore City Exclusive Keyholder (S$13), Asia Tour T-Shirts in off-white or black (S$59 each), a Hawaiian Shirt (S$80), a towel (S$30), a rubberband (S$12) and a passport case (S$25). Pre-orders run through the official concert-goods store until 19 August at higedansgp26shop.sozolive.asia, with walk-in sales at The Star Theatre on show day.

Official Hige Dandism Asia Tour 2026 concert merchandise catalogue with Singapore prices
Image courtesy of Official Hige Dandism / SOZO

Still Open: Pop-Up at 313@Somerset, 15–23 August

The Official Hige Dandism 2026 Asia Pop-Up at 313@Somerset runs from 15 to 23 August 2026 and is open to everyone — no ticket required. Its lineup is separate from the concert merchandise: the store carries 20 specially curated items, headlined by a set of Singapore City Exclusives you won’t find at the tour’s other pop-up cities:

  • Singapore City Exclusive LED Magnet
  • Singapore City Exclusive T-Shirt
  • Singapore City Exclusive Poster

Beyond the city exclusives, the pop-up stocks LP coasters inspired by the band’s album artwork, random keychains, bandanas, tote bags, and live concert posters. Fans can also pick up past albums and special releases, including the recently released Official Hige Dandism LIVE at STADIUM 2025 on DVD, Blu-ray and CD. Running alongside the store is an Official Hige Dandism × PHOTOISM photo-booth collaboration, live from 1 August to 30 September 2026.

The Anime Connection — Why Singapore Fans Know This Band

Official Hige Dandism (正式名称: Official髭男dism) have quietly racked up more anime soundtrack credits than most J-rock acts of their generation. If any of these sound familiar, that’s them:

  • “Cry Baby” — opening theme of Tokyo Revengers Season 1 (2021)
  • “Mixed Nuts” — opening theme of Spy x Family (2022)
  • “Same Blue” — opening theme of Blue Box (2024)

Beyond anime, their single “Pretender” helped introduce the band to listeners across Southeast Asia, and their genre-blending sound — pop, rock, jazz, and soul in the same breath — has earned them a cross-generational fanbase with over 10 billion cumulative streams globally.

OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM — MIXED NUTS (Spy x Family OP) via Official髭男dism on YouTube
Official髭男dism — Cry Baby (Tokyo Revengers OP) via Official髭男dism on YouTube

The pop-up at 313@Somerset is worth a visit even if you couldn’t get concert tickets — Singapore-exclusive merch from a sold-out Japan culture show doesn’t come around often. For more Singapore events, keep it locked to GameTrader.

JO1 Sings “IGNITE” as Opening Theme for Tokyo Revengers Season 4 on Disney+

J-pop group JO1 will perform the opening theme for Tokyo Revengers: War of the Three Titans Arc, the fourth season of the hit anime series. The track is titled “IGNITE”, and it will debut alongside the season premiere on October 2, 2026 — broadcasting at 25:53 JST on MBS, TBS, and CBC in Japan, with simultaneous global streaming on Disney+ including Singapore from day one.

Season 4 picks up after the brutal Tenjiku arc and thrusts Takemichi Hanagaki into a three-way war between Toman (led by Mikey), Rokuhara Tandai (under South Terano), and the mysterious new faction Brahman, helmed by Senju Kawaragi. LIDEN FILMS returns to handle animation under director Maki Kodaira.

Senju Kawaragi, leader of Brahman in Tokyo Revengers War of the Three Titans Arc
Senju Kawaragi leads Brahman — one of three rival factions driving Season 4’s conflict.

JO1 is a nine-member Japanese boy group under LAPONE Entertainment, formed in 2020 through the Produce 101 Japan television competition. The group has steadily built an international following with their high-energy performances and polished choreography, including a 2026 North American tour. An anime opening theme tie-in of this scale marks a meaningful milestone for JO1 — and “IGNITE” is expected to land well with their growing Southeast Asian fanbase.

Official Trailer 3 for Tokyo Revengers: War of the Three Titans Arc (via AnimeSelect)
Tokyo Revengers War of the Three Titans Arc key visual character
New character visuals for War of the Three Titans Arc hint at a dramatically expanded cast.

For Singapore fans, Disney+ delivers the simulcast on day one — no waiting, no delays. We covered the original Season 4 premiere announcement back in June, but this theme song reveal adds an exciting new layer to one of the most anticipated titles of autumn 2026.

JO1 group photo
Image courtesy of LAPONE Entertainment

With the opening theme confirmed, expect a full “IGNITE” music video and promotional tie-ins in the weeks ahead. Keep an eye on our Manga & Anime coverage as October approaches.

Overwatch × YOASOBI: The “Orion” Collab Is Live Today

Two cultural juggernauts just collided: YOASOBI and Overwatch have launched their crossover event today, 30 June 2026, and it runs through 20 July. Six new legendary skins, an original track called “Orion,” and a full animated music video produced by A-1 Pictures are all live in-game right now — and Singapore players can jump in immediately.

Overwatch x YOASOBI | Official Gameplay Trailer — via PlayOverwatch on YouTube

What the Overwatch × YOASOBI Collab Is About

The collaboration was unveiled at a dedicated press event in Tokyo in May, bringing together Blizzard Entertainment and the duo behind some of the biggest anime themes of the past five years — Idol (Oshi no Ko), Beastars, Blue Lock, and more. The event centres on the Shimada clan storyline, told from Kiriko’s perspective through a new in-game short story called The Fall of a Sparrow, exploring what it means to grow apart, hold on, and eventually find a way back — the three “stars” of Orion’s Belt mapped onto Kiriko, Genji, and Hanzo.

A new Tokyo-themed map, Neon Junction, was added to the game alongside the event, giving matches a futuristic J-pop cityscape backdrop complete with neon signage and floating screens.

All Six Legendary Skins — Neon Lights, Hard-Light and Kanji Motifs

Every skin in the collaboration is legendary-tier and carries YOASOBI’s signature aesthetic: neon colours, hard-light accents, kanji-inspired design details, ambient visual effects, and exclusive dance emotes set to YOASOBI’s music. The full roster:

  • Fox Star Kiriko — the centrepiece of the collab; her fox companion gets a spectral, glowing redesign
  • Dragon Star Genji — vibrant neon styling that celebrates the hero he has become
  • Dragon Star Hanzo — luminous hard-light accents and striking kanji details, carrying the weight of his past
  • Spirit Star Mizuki — premium lighting effects with a custom spirit-energy aesthetic
  • Space Star Juno — wonder and optimism, reimagined in neon
  • Fire Star Anran — bold confidence blended with kanji-inspired elements and fiery VFX
Fox Star Kiriko concept art front and back view, Overwatch x YOASOBI collab
Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

Skins can be purchased individually or as part of a YOASOBI Mega Bundle through the in-game shop. Pricing in-game follows standard Overwatch legendary skin rates. If you’re an Overwatch player in Singapore or Southeast Asia, the shop is accessible as usual — no region lock applies to this event.

Fox Star Kiriko with spirit fox companion in the Neon Junction map, Overwatch x YOASOBI
Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

“Orion” — The Song, the Story, and A-1 Pictures

YOASOBI composed the original track Orion specifically for this collaboration, blending their signature high-tempo J-pop with futuristic electronic drums and the sound of the Japanese koto — a nod to the Shimada brothers’ heritage. The song is also included on YOASOBI’s new EP THE BOOK for, released on 26 June.

Composer Ayase described the creation process as making music with “the utmost respect” for Overwatch as a work, as reported by Saiga NAK at the Tokyo announcement (Japanese). An animated music video accompanying Orion was produced entirely by A-1 Pictures — the studio behind Solo Leveling, Kaguya-sama: Love is War, and Sword Art Online — and is accessible in-game through the collab event page.

YOASOBI Overwatch collaboration vinyl record featuring Kiriko, Genji and Hanzo artwork
Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment
Mizuki Spirit Star skin in the Neon Junction map, Overwatch x YOASOBI collab
Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment

How Long You Have to Grab It

The Overwatch × YOASOBI event runs until 20 July 2026 — roughly three weeks from today. Once the event ends, event-exclusive cosmetics typically rotate out of the shop, so if any of the six skins appeal to you, plan your purchase before the deadline. Keep an eye on our game news section for any last-call reminders as July 20 approaches.

Mika Nakashima Is Playing Singapore on 17 July 2026

The voice of Nana Osaki. The singer of Darling in the FranXX‘s unforgettable opening theme. Mika Nakashima is bringing her Asia Tour 2026 to Singapore, and she plays The Star Theatre on 17 July 2026. If you’ve been sleeping on this, now is the time to act — tickets are already on sale via SISTIC.

Mika Nakashima Asia Tour 2026 in Singapore — The Star Theatre, 17 July
Image courtesy of Red Spade Entertainment

Who Is Mika Nakashima?

If you’ve spent any time in the anime world over the past two decades, you’ve already heard Mika Nakashima — you may just not have known her name. Born in Kyoto in 1983, she debuted as a singer in 2002 and quickly became one of Japan’s most recognisable voices.

For Singapore fans, two songs likely stand out most. The first is “KISS OF DEATH” (produced by HYDE), the electrifying opening theme for Darling in the FranXX (2018, A-1 Pictures / TRIGGER), which has racked up over 45 million streams on YouTube alone. The second is her role as Nana Osaki in the beloved 2006 anime series NANA — she not only voiced the punk-rock icon but performed in character as the frontwoman of fictional band BLAST, delivering songs like “GLAMOROUS SKY” that became inseparable from the show’s identity.

Outside of anime, she is perhaps best known for “Yuki no Hana” (2003), her debut winter ballad that sold millions and spawned hit covers across Hong Kong, China, South Korea, and Singapore.

KISS OF DEATH(Produced by HYDE) — via Mika Nakashima on YouTube

What to Expect at The Star Theatre

The Singapore date marks a significant milestone: Mika Nakashima is celebrating her 25th debut anniversary on this tour, and the production reflects that. Audiences can expect a full band backed by live string arrangements, covering her iconic classics alongside more recent works. The set runs approximately 120 minutes and will be performed in Japanese.

The tour has already made stops across Asia — Bangkok, Taipei, and Kuala Lumpur came earlier in the year — before finishing in Osaka and Tokyo. Singapore is part of the final international leg, and the SISTIC listing confirms it is an intimate, high-production show.

Tickets and How to Book

Tickets are available now through SISTIC (online or +65 6636 0055). Pricing runs from S$128 to S$328, depending on seating category. The concert is presented by Red Spade Entertainment.

  • Date: Friday, 17 July 2026
  • Time: 8:00 PM (doors 6:30 PM)
  • Venue: The Star Theatre, The Star Performing Arts Centre, 1 Vista Exchange Green, Singapore 138617
  • Tickets: S$128 – S$328 via SISTIC

Last words

Singapore has always had a deep connection to Japanese pop and anime culture, and Mika Nakashima is one of those artists whose voice is woven into that history. Whether you grew up with NANA, were glued to Darling in the FranXX, or simply know “Yuki no Hana” by heart — this is a rare chance to hear those songs performed live, with a full band, in a city that truly gets it. Check out our other events for more upcoming shows in Singapore.