Tag Archives: Japan culture

Event

Mika Nakashima Is Playing Singapore on 17 July 2026

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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.

News

RADWIMPS 20th Anniversary Concert Streams on Netflix This Saturday

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RADWIMPS — the Japanese band whose music defined a generation of anime films — is bringing their sold-out 20th anniversary live tour to Netflix worldwide this Saturday, June 20. If you have even the softest spot for Your Name, this is unmissable viewing for Singapore fans.

RADWIMPS – 賜物 / Tamamono [Official Live Video from “RADWIMPS 20th ANNIVERSARY LIVE TOUR”] — via RADWIMPS on YouTube

RADWIMPS 20th Anniversary Concert: What to Expect on Netflix

The Netflix special captures RADWIMPS performing at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena on December 27, 2025 — the closing night of a 17-show Japan tour that visited nine cities and sold out every single venue. The full performance runs to 21 songs including the encore, sweeping across the band’s two-decade catalogue.

The setlist draws from their latest album Anew alongside the career-defining anthems that anime fans around the world have come to love. Confirmed tracks on the night include “Tamamono,” “Sparkle,” “MAAFAKA,” “Tummy,” “Iindesuka?,” and “Hitsu Zetsu.” For those who have seen Your Name — and that is basically everyone — hearing “Sparkle” ring out across a packed Ariake Arena is a whole different experience.

RADWIMPS 20th Anniversary Live Tour promotional visual
Image courtesy of RADWIMPS

The Band That Scored Your Name, Weathering with You, and Suzume

Formed in Kanagawa in 2001, RADWIMPS built a decade of cult following in Japan before their partnership with director Makoto Shinkai on Your Name (2016) made them a household name worldwide. They went on to score Weathering with You (2019) and Suzume (2022), earning Japan Academy Awards for Best Original Score across all three — a triple sweep that cements them as the defining sonic voice of modern anime film.

The band’s music is now inseparable from those films for millions of fans. In Singapore, where all three Shinkai films were box-office hits, RADWIMPS have a devoted following that stretches well beyond typical J-rock audiences. The 20th anniversary tour is as much a celebration for those fans as it is for the band.

Blu-ray, DVD, and Bonus Guest Footage

If streaming once is not going to be enough, a Blu-ray and DVD release follows on August 12, 2026, priced at ¥6,800 (standard edition) or ¥8,300 for a limited edition with commemorative goods. The physical release also includes exclusive footage from the Yokohama Arena shows, featuring guest appearances by BUMP OF CHICKEN, Vaundy, and YOASOBI — none of which will be on Netflix. International pre-orders are expected to open on RADWIMPS’ overseas store ahead of the August release.

Last words

RADWIMPS last played Singapore in early 2024, and the energy in the room that night was proof of just how deeply their catalogue resonates here. The Netflix special — filmed at the peak of their 20th anniversary run — is the next best thing to being at Ariake Arena. Add it to your queue now: the concert lands on Netflix Singapore on June 20. For more Japan culture and anime music news, browse our News section.