2014 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE SMASH HIT JAPANESE POP VOCAL AND DANCE GROUP TOKYO GIRLS’ STYLE

Top Selling Teenage Pop Idol Act Marks Its U.S. Debut With Live Concert At Annual Bay Area Japanese Pop Culture Extravaganza In July;

Japan Film Festival Of S.F. Also Hosts Two Feature Film Premieres Starring Tokyo Girls’ Style Members At NEW PEOPLE Cinema

San Francisco, CA, June 16, 2014 – The 2014 J-POP SUMMIT, San Francisco’s premiere celebration of Japanese pop culture, music, fashion and film, will welcome the smash hit teen pop idol group – Tokyo Girls’ Style – as official Guests of Honor for a series of live performances and special personal appearances during this year’s festivities. The event marks the Tokyo Girls’ Style’s first-ever U.S. concert.

The 5-member all-girl dance and vocal group delivers an irresistible funk and disco style infused with glossy urban appeal and will perform a special J-POP SUMMIT Festival live concert along with other top pop artists from Japan on the evening of Saturday, July 19^th as part of the “J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE,” taking place in city’s downtown Union Square area, and also will perform live on the Pagoda Main Stage in Japantown on the afternoon of Sunday, July 20^th.

Tokyo Girls’ Style also will do a meet and greet with VIP Pass holders both on July 19^th and 20^th. Details, event times and information on VIP Passes will be posted shortly at www.j-pop.com. A variety of merchandise, including t-shirts, CDs and DVDs also will be available for purchase at Kinokuniya Booth on Post St. in Japantown throughout J-POP SUMMIT.

Tokyo Girls’ Style also will do a meet and greet with VIP Pass holders both on July 19^th and 20^th. Additional details and event times, including information on VIP Passes, will be posted shortly at www.j-pop.com. A variety of merchandise, including t-shirts, CDs and DVDs also will be available for purchase at Kinokuniya Booth on Post St. in Japantown throughout J-POP SUMMIT.

The annual J-POP SUMMIT Festival and Union Square concert are FREE to attend (although certain activities/vendors will require a modest admission fee). J-POP SUMMIT takes place July 19^th and 20^th and has become one of the largest events in the United States dedicated to showcasing the many facets of Japanese pop culture, entertainment media and fandom. Attendance in 2013 exceeded 80,000 people. Full Festival details and updates are available at: www.j-pop.com.

As part of the U.S. debut of Tokyo Girls’ Style, the J-POP SUMMIT Festival and the 2014 Japan Film Festival of San Francisco (JFFSF) are proud to present the exclusive U.S. theatrical premiere of Count Five to Dream of You, an inspiring feature film directed by Yuki Yamato, and starring all of the members of the group. Set in all-girls high school, the film captures the short-lived and unforgettable moments of adolescence. Also set to premiere is Kotodama: Spiritual Curse, a new reboot of the famous Japanese horror movie franchise, in which all of the members of Tokyo Girls’ Style play the leading roles. Both films are scheduled to screen at the NEW PEOPLE Cinema during the J-POP SUMMIT. A special live Q&A session with Tokyo Girls’ Style and audience members will take place immediately following the screenings. Tickets are $15.00 each. Tickets are on sale now at the JFFSF website at: www.JFFSF.org.

“Tokyo Girls’ Style is one of the hottest pop idol Kawaii groups in Japan and their upbeat songs and dance-driven live show will add an exciting component to the line-up of amazing pop artists we will present this year,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the President/CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. and Chairman of the J-POP SUMMIT Festival Committee. “Music, fashion and film are among the most popular aspects of Japanese pop culture and Tokyo Girls’ Style will exemplify all three throughout the J-POP SUMMIT Festival. We are honored to present the group’s U.S. debut and look forward to fans of all ages giving them a warm welcome on-stage for the concert, on the big-screen for their film premieres and also in-person at the special artist meet-and-greet!”

The smash hit group Tokyo Girls’ Style formed in 2010 and has become a major new force in the bustling Japanese pop music scene. Consisting of 5 teenagers - Ayano Konishi, Miyu Yamabe, Hitomi Arai, Yuri Nakae and Mei Shoji – the group, whose member’s average age was only 15, was signed to Avex, released four debut singles within their first year. Tokyo Girls’ Style has gone on to captivate millions of avid fans across Japan with a hook-driven funk and disco sound that is infused with a glossy urban appeal. As of 2012, the group was the youngest female act to ever headline a concert at Tokyo’s most famous Budokan live hall, has released several hit records in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and also performed live shows in Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Additional information on Tokyo Girls’ Style is available at: http://tokyogirlsstyle.jp/tokyogirlsstyle_en.  Fans can also catch their music videos on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/TokyoGirlsStyle.

Stay tuned for additional J-POP SUMMIT Guest of Honor, programming and event announcements!

About J-POP SUMMIT Festival

Launched in 2009, J-POP SUMMIT Festival is an annual street fair held in San Francisco, CA that celebrates Japanese popular culture. By introducing the latest in Japanese music, film, art, fashion, gaming, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a prominent platform to showcase the latest pop trends and creative innovations from Japan.
The 5^th annual J-POP SUMMIT held in July 2013 welcomed more than 80,000 attendees, making it one of the largest Japanese festivals in the United States. In addition to the original Festival held in Japantown, new attractions include the J-POP LIVE AT UNION SQUARE concert in downtown San Francisco, the Bay Area’s premier dedicated Japan Film Festival of San Francisco, and sake-tasting and fine foods events at the POP GOURMET Food Festival, which have each further enriched the experience. Additional information about J-POP SUMMIT Festival is available at: J-POP.com.

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