A foretaste of the guests at Japan Expo 2025!
Japan Expo is fast approaching, and many guests have been added to the menu! We'd like to take this opportunity to give you a rundown. But beware! This is just an appetizer!
MANGA & ANIME
JUNJI ITO
This summer, Halloween is coming early.
Junji ITO, master of horror manga, shares his thrills with us for Japan Expo 2025!
An artist whose style has tormented the minds of readers, Junji Ito has left an indelible mark on horrific manga, following in the footsteps of his masters H.P Lovecraft and Kazuo Umezu, with must-read titles such as Uzumaki, Tomie, Gyo
A catalog rich in anguish that makes a funny impression when you discover the personality of its author!
KAZUHIKO TORISHIMA
Kazuhiko Torishima's track record is a sight to behold:
As a publisher, he brought Akira Toriyama out of the shadows and played an active part in the development of DRAGON BALL and Dr.SLUMP during their publication. After sponsoring success after success, both in manga and video games, this characterful personality, initially perceived as an atypical outsider to the world of manga, made his mark on the history of Weekly Shonen Jump and became one of the most important figures in publishing and manga.
KATSUYOSHI NAKATSURU
Katsuyoshi Nakatsuru is an animator and chara-designer affiliated with Toei animation since the early 80s.
After working on feature-length animated productions, he gained recognition for his exceptional talent as a key animator, propelling him to important roles in the directing of the Dragon Ball anime adaptation, so much so that by the final third of Dragon Ball Z, all episodes follow his model sheets. He was also in charge of character design for the Digimon series.
KAZUYA TSURUMAKI & MAHIRO MAEDA
Representing the studio Khara for the Evangelion evening, Hideaki ANNO's historic collaborators are present at Japan Expo!
Kazuya TSURUMAKI is a Japanese animator known for his work on FLCL, the Rebuild of Evangelion series and, more recently, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. Mahiro MAEDA was a former animator and illustrator within studio Gainax. He founded the studio Gonzo and directed animes such as Blue Submarine N.06, Gankutsuou and Animatrix
OH!GREAT
He is the author of the cult rollerblading manga Air Gear, which won the Kodansha manga prize in 2006 and was published in France the same year until 2013. He is also the illustrator of the Monogatari manga series, with NisiOisiN as the writer, and of Kodansha's brand-new Shônen Magazine series, Kaijin Fugeki!
A talented illustrator, his trademarks are a precise pencil stroke, attention to costume detail & stunning perspectives!
ORECO TACHIBANA
Mangaka of Promise Cinderella and Firefly Wedding Oreco Tachibana imposes a style driven by strong women and offers a counterpoint to classic shojo characters, while exploring the complex twists and turns of human relationships with equal sensitivity and delicacy.
CINEMA
SHUNJI IWAI
To mark the 30th anniversary of his film Love Letter (1995), independent director Shunji Iwai presents a retrospective of his filmography for the first time in France.
Inspired by literature, pop-culture and shojo manga, Shunji Iwai's work has only been timidly presented in France compared to his contemporaries Hirokazu Kore-eda, Shinji Aoyama and Shin'ya Tsukamoto. After a notable appearance at the Annecy festival in 2015 for the release of The Case of Hana & Alice, the filmmaker returns to France at Japan Expo in collaboration with the Maison de la culture du Japon in Paris.
HIROSHI WATARI & MAKOTO SUMIKAWA
They were together, the inseparable heroes Spielvan and Diana Lady, in the Jikû Senshi Spielvan series that once aired here in France. They meet again 39 years later at Japan Expo. :
Hiroshi Watari and Makoto Sumikawa are two stunt actors specializing in tokusatsu series, having both graduated from the JAPAN ACTION CLUB (JAC) acting school.
These childhood heroes do three backflips and a glide to save Japan Expo from the forces of evil. Find out more about their exploits at a conference or signing session.
MUSIC
BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE
They are 7.
7 singers-rappers-dancers, each holding their own microphone, ready to blow the crowds away!
BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE is a hip-hop-flavored J-pop boy band that debuted in 2019. They are produced by LDH JAPAN.
PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE
PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE is a boy band made up of KOKORO, WEESA, TSURUGI, RYOGA, REN, JIMMY and RYUSHIN. This is the 7th group in the EXILE TRIBE artist collective, affiliated to LDH JAPAN.
Each member brings his or her own touch to the collective, making the group a unique blend of experience and personality that shines through in dance, rap and song.
Join them for a crazy concert on the Ichigo channel, on the evening of July 4 from 7.30pm!
U&PIA
The name stands for “You And Personal Impact Amplifiers”, and represents the band's desire to amplify the sense of unity between members and their fans. With a musical style that blends J-Pop and K-Pop, U&Pia transcends boundaries and brings people together around a shared vision of positive change.
Now a festival regular with an ever-growing community, U&Pia are delighted to be back on stage at Japan Expo Paris!
BROKEN BY THE SCREAM
A shout within the silence!
Broken by the Scream is an idol metal band formed in 2016, the forerunner of a genre still in its infancy. An ingenious blend of clear J-pop vocals and a more metalcore, Djent and death metal ensemble, with guttural vocals indistinguishable from extreme metal.
The band's atypical style has won over a wide audience worldwide. Critically acclaimed, Broken By The Scream is gradually establishing itself as a new benchmark on the metal scene.
YOKO TAKAHASHI
Back at Japan Expo after an unforgettable showcase in 2019, the singer-interpreter of the A Cruel Angel Thesis theme song returns for the Evangelion evening.
COOKIESAN
A manga and anime enthusiast, Cookiesan is one of the pioneers of Manga Rap in France.
This musical genre, at the crossroads of rap and manga culture, draws its inspiration from the strong values conveyed by Japanese anime - perseverance, surpassing oneself, honor, friendship - while adopting an authentic, hard-hitting style of writing.
YUKKA
With her melodic voice and guitar, Yukka spreads an engaging music typical of J-pop by blending genres from rock to ballad.Through her songs, Yukka wishes to spread Japanese music to the whole world. Share this moment with her at Japan Expo during her showcases and signing sessions!
MIKA KOBAYASHI
Mika Kobayashi doesn't lose her voice, and she'll be one with her audience!
Japan Expo veteran, singer-songwriter and composer and Hiroyuki Sawano's favorite vocalist. You've already heard her without knowing her name: “Vogel Im Kafir” (Attack on Titans), “Before my body is dry” (Kill La Kill) or “Ego” (Gundam Unicorn).
She has interpreted the music of numerous anime and video games.
STARRYSKY
You don't need no anime to make anisongs.
STARRYSKY is a rock band deeply influenced by Asian music and anime themes. Although their songs are mainly in French or English, the band's musical style has a distinctly J-rock vibe.
In short, Eurock J-rock!
MISA
Misa is a world-travelling cosplayer idol, equiped with only her suitcase.
She now has released her own original song, written by the lyricist Nami Nakagawa of "Demon Slayer" fame and "Tales of series" & "Tekken" composer Kazuhiro Nakamura.
She performs cosplayed on stage, participates in conferences to promote otaku culture and Japanese culture.
HAITA AMATUBU
Grand winner of the Japan Expo ROCKS final, Haita Amatubu is a J-rock band with the ability to charm a wide audience. Their anisong-like style made HAITA-AMATUBU one of the pre-selection favorites.
HAITA-AMATUBU is a mixed group whose concept is based on “telling a girl's story”.
Through music with varied influences, they offer an outlet for everyday emotions, while helping everyone to overcome them.
JIEMEI
Jiemei is an idol and alternative rock band with a total of 4 members.
Through the power of their songs, their lavish costumes and their choreography, the group has managed to capture the hearts of Japanese audiences! By exporting their performances abroad, and notably this year in France at Japan Expo, Jiemei has not finished expanding their fanbase!
KANG MINSU
KANG MINSU got his start in the Japanese-Korean band BEE SHUFFLE, which performed at Japan Expo in 2015! He has since embarked on a solo career. After a notable appearance at this year's Japan Expo Marseille, he's back to meet his fans and present his new music!
RE:Z TEAM
A cover dance group from Lyon founded in March 2022. The group is versatile, offering covers of boygroup, girlgroup, its own creations and acrobatic dances. Very much involved in K-pop choreography, the RE:Z Team is setting the record straight for Japan Expo!
MH PROJECT
The MH Project (Make History Project) is a dance cover group of 15 dancers and 2 managers based in Lyon. The group aims to bring together dance enthusiasts to help and improve together.
Among the choreographies covered are dances to popular songs by K-pop groups such as BTS, TXT and SuperM!
COSPLAY
CUTIEPIESENSEI
CutiePieSensei, is a professional cosplayer and illustrator, founder of Fira X Wear. With nearly 10 years' experience in the video game industry, she draws on the experience gained in her artistic career to create breathtaking costumes and designs, without neglecting content creation to always keep up with her fans' expectations.
SPICY THAI SENSEI
Spicy Thai Design, credited in theaters under his real name, Sanit Klamchanuan, is a cosplayer and manufacturer of costumes and accessories for WETA WORKSHOP, a studio internationally renowned for its special effects on the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
YUGORO
Meet Yugoro!
A great lover of LARP who took up cosplay in 2017.
Her devotion doesn't stop at cosplay; she's fascinated by acting, grandiose props and sets, with a certain taste for fantasy universe and costumes.
VYE
With over 18 years' experience in costume design and 16 years of winning competitions. They places great importance on the artistic expression of cosplays, appreciating the different stages of costume design, exploring possibilities and performances, and integrating them in a way that complements their environment.
In a photoshoot, what's around the cosplay is also part of the cosplay!
YUJI KOI
It's her ability to bring the popular characters she embodies to life that has made her such a success. She takes roleplaying in cosplay very seriously. She travels the world going from convention to convention as a guest and jury for international cosplay competitions. She has collaborated with companies such as Riot Games, HoYoVerse, Sharmob, Tencent, Vinagame & Com2uS.
SpectacleS
YOUTH THEATRE JAPAN
You loved last year's performance of “JAPANderland”;
Join Youth Theater Japan again this year for a brand new show created especially for Japan Expo visitors!
The name of this musical: “Purple Spiral - Shiunka”
KAMUI
A troupe of “Samurai Artists” who fuse the beauty of acting and martial arts to create an original style of samurai combat. Their leader, Tetsuro Shimaguchi, joined Quentin Tarantino's KILL BILL Vol.1 as an actor, fight scene choreographer and actor trainer.
TT BROTHERS
Shun and Shohei love “T” and devote their lives to pay tribute to this important letter of the alphabet.
Together, they form the “TT Brothers” and have made it their mission to enlighten humani-T on the many Ts that set the tone for our daily lives.
WEB CULTURE
MITSU
Mitsu is a YouTuber living in Japan since 2011. Initially a musician, he blossomed in the Japanese entertainment world by becoming a model, then an actor appearing regularly on Japanese television. Since 2021, he has been sharing his atypical daily life with his community on YouTube.
CULTURE & TRADITION
Live music! Swordsplay and tradition!
Japan Promotion and its Wabi Sabi space have put together a blossoming program of cherry blossoms for the 4 days of the festival!
Japan Expo is consecutively complemented by a panel of Japanese artists, showcasing the diversity and richness of their country's culture, and celebrating Japanese history with a breath of fresh air.
From rock to samurais and even wedding ceremonies, let's take a look at this year's Wabi Sabi guests.
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE WABI-SABI PROGRAM SUMMARY