Ronin Tickets

Ronin:
Anime, Gaming & Asian Pop Music Festival
Ronin is THE music event for Anime, Gaming and Asian Pop music fans. A full day event, held at Western Springs on January 26th 2013, Ronin will have two stages running simultaneously featuring local and international performers including bands from Japan, America, Italy and Australia.
This will be a fun entertainment event unlike anything else in NZ, with music, rides, food and more to thrill and entertain.


The Line Up:

Lisa Furukawa with Cloudsang
Lisa Furukawa is a Japanese-American singer/composer/pianist originally from Tokyo. A trained classical musician and a folk artist at heart, Lisa gracefully brings elements of her mystical and heartfelt stories into a rhythmically powerful suite of electronica, pop, blues, and rock. Lisa has skillfully arranged many anime theme songs from titles such as Ghost in the Shell and Cowboy Bebop (among many others) for performances at over 50 conventions around the world.  She is currently recording her 5th album on her Yume label with her band Cloudsang.  Cloudsang was formed with former members of NC based band “The Hurt”: Leon Monroe on guitar and Phil Mauck on drums. Lisa also composes children’s songs that focus on Japanese culture and language education. Her music can be found at www.lisafurukawa.com
J-pop songwriter and classical pianist Lisa Furukawa joins forces with Leon Monroe on guitar and Phil Mauck on drums in “Cloudsang”- a Seattle based alternative dream pop band. Within a rhythmically powerful suite of electronica, pop, blues, and rock, Lisa’s etheric Japanese vocals soar with a bite. Cloudsang will be performing a fun eclectic set of popular anime theme songs and originals.
 
Lara de Wit
Lara performs videogame music, anime, and TV/movie themes on YouTube, and has over 12 million video views. Classically trained, she plays piano for Opera Australia, and also performs violin covers on YouTube. She performed with Kyle Landry and Taylor Davis at the 2012 Electronics Expo in Los Angeles, and has performed at local pop culture conventions. She has also toured internationally with musical theatre groups. Lara has a love of game music and really enjoys promoting the genre through performance of her own arrangements, both live, and on YouTube.
Lara's performance will include a mix of videogame tracks and anime : Music from series such as Final Fantasy, Zelda, Mario, Halo, Chrono Trigger, Metal Gear, kingdom Hearts, Naruto, Pokemon, Sailor Moon, the Elder Scrolls, Game of Thrones and many more!
 
Sleepwalk Skeleton
Sleepwalk Skeleton are a band inspired by the Japanese music scene. Their diversity comes from their uniquely different backgrounds and musical taste. Sleepwalk Skeleton formed by their love of Japanese rock/pop (jrock/pop) and continue to be inspired by music that is fun and energetic.
They are excited to share their passion with a large audience and eagerly hope for the explosion of jrock/jpop in New Zealand. Without fail however they are loyal to their love of jrock/jpop and expect a strong connection with other anime fans.
 
Taylor Davis
Taylor Davis is an American violinist known for her unique arrangements of video game and anime music. Since starting her YouTube channel (ViolinTay) over two years ago, Taylor has amassed a following of nearly 100,000 subscribers and 14 million views. Taylor's first album "Gaming Fantasy" was released in June 2012 and features violin performances of popular video game and anime music with fully orchestrated backtracks.
Taylor will perform her own signature arrangements of some of the most popular anime and video games on solo violin with full orchestral backtracks. She will also perform arrangements with Australian pianist Lara de Wit.
 
Stephanie Yanez
Stephanie Yanez is an American Jpop singer, Virtual Idol of Japanese anime avatar site TinierMe.com, and Anime Expo's AX Idol. She has toured all over the States and in Japan. She has been seen on T.V. as the Tokyo Reporter for Anime Select's Comcast On Demand documentary "Crazy Sexy Tokyo". Miss Yanez has released numerous CD'S and singles which are all on iTunes, Amazon,etc. She has worked with Crypton Future Media, Gcrest, AniplexUSA, I'VE Sound, Geneon USA, Victor Entertainment, and Broccoli on numerous projects. She has opened up and shared the same stage with Kotoko, Yousei Teikoku, and Nikka Costa. She recently officially collaborated with Crypton Future Media's HatsuneMiku and TinierMe with "Ultimate Miku World", an exclusive song and music video.
Stephanie will be performing songs from her latest album, "Rising" as well as some well-known Anime covers.

Miho Wada
Miho Wada has performed on many stages and festivals around the world including WOMAD, LoveBox and several jazz festivals. She has appeared on NZ television performing "The Passenger" with Iggy Pop for Orcon's TV ads in 2009. Acclaimed as one of the best up-and-coming jazz talent, she brings sunshine with her Afro-Cuban meets J-Pop style of music making.
Discover Miho Wada, the J-Pop Princess Jazz Flute Ninja, performing J-Pop hits and Anime theme songs from Lupin the Third to the Cowboybebop, from 80s' hits to the current "what's hot" and the best in gaming theme tunes. Bringing you the best J-groove you can dance to this summer!
 
JUNKO FUJIYAMA
Japanese born and North Carolina resident, JUNKO, is a singer/song writer and keyboardist. She has worked with several local bands (including Fujiyama Roll, Wasabi & Tears and Scientific Superstar) as the lead singer and has also been playing shows as a solo performer. She has performed at many cultural events, benefit shows, music festivals and localclubs, such as Japan Fest Atlanta, International Festival of Raleigh, Troika Music Festival, Carrboro Music Festival, Taste of Durham Festival, Meredith College, University of North Carolina, Duke University and various music clubs (e.g. Cat's Cradle, Motorco Music Hall, etc.). She also plays covers of J-pop and anime songs.
JUNKO's original songs can be described as J-rock and J-pop blended together. They are powerful, delicate, intricate and intriguing. She also arranges J-pop/rock and anime songs, adding some American pop flavor and makes them sweeter!
 
Super Jellyfish
Super Jellyfish was formed in 2011 with a bunch of music lovers from Japan and Taiwan, we have a mixture of music styles across the board and our song list reflects it, but core spirit has always been Jap Anime and Rock & Rolls.

Chii Sakurabi
Chii Sakurabi is a breakout international J-POP singer and recording artist from Tokyo, Japan.   Chii's original music is notable for its high-energy and fantasy themes.  With the release of her first album Mirage, Chii has performed live throughout the United States, and various other countries around the world.
Chii is known for her angelic voice in Japanese and English, kawaii dances, and lolita fashion. Chii Sakurabi will be performing her original J-POP music expressed through a a story of her fantasy world! Visit Chii online at: www.chiisakurabi.com & www.facebook.com/chiisakurabi
 
TOMOE OHMI
Singer and voice actress (seiyu) direct from Japan
As a voice actor, she has played Juju Sasaki in Sketchbook -full color's-, ONE in RAY THE ANIMATION, HikariT?j? in Ontama!, and Kaori Harusaki in Hanoka.  She has also had roles in School Rumble (Madoka Kido), SoltyRei (Sarah Revant), Strawberry Panic! (ChihayaTakemura), Onegai My Melody Kirara (Tomato-chan), and Mr. Men (Sainan-chan, Itazurakko-chan).  She has also done work in video games (Shining Force Feather, Aquarian Age Alternative) and narration. 
As a singer, she has released several albums, having performed songs for anime series (including SoltyRei, RAY THE ANIMATION, Pandora Hearts with savage genius and B gata H kei), video games and television shows.  She has also done several live performances at Animelo Summer Live and on AniparaOngakukan and Animeromikkusu.
Tomoe's performance will feature Anime songs and J-POP
 
Sanae Shintani aka Sana
Sanae is one of Japanese studio BEMANI's first in-house female vocalists, with her work dating back to the very first CS BEMANI game with beatmaniaYebisuMIX. Since then she's performed in a large number of songs in BEMANI, especially in pop'n music. As of 2011, she's one of the few early vocalists still active in BEMANI games
Sana's performance will include Gaming music, Anime themes and J-pop
 
Haruko Momoi
Direct from Japan
She is called the Queen of Akihabara, a god-sent child of the Akihabara culture. She is a super-girl who performs as a voice actress, words, composition, arrangement, a piano performance, a singer, radio personality, a columnist and more!
HurukoMomoi's performance will include Anime song, J-POP, J-Rock.
 
MANZO
A Japanese composer and singer-songwriter.
Credited with Television anime "Genshiken" (first term) title tune and television anime "astronomical fighter San Red" title tune.
Manzo's performance will include Anime song, J-POP, J-Rock.
 
Ilaria Graziano and Francesco Forni
Direct from Italy
Ilaria Graziano is an Italian singer and songwriter. She gained worldwide popularity with some of the most renowned animation film soundtracks arranged by the Japanese composer Yoko Kanno. The richness and power of her voice is such that she can use it in many different kind of music: from folk to electronic, from popular to the most experimental tracks. This is why throughout her career she has had the chance to collaborate with many different artists. She has performed in Europe as well as in the UK, United States and Japan always accompanied by virtuous players from acoustic to dry heavy electronic projects. In June 2011 it's been released in Japan "Yoko Kanno produce Ila, Cyber Bicci" a compilation of her most successful Anime soundtracks which contains also new songs produced by the world wild known composer Yoko Kanno.
Francesco Forni is an Italian musician, songwriter a talented guitarist and eclectic composer, he has been writing and producing music for film and theatre. He has been honored with different awards in his career, both as a songwriter and as a soundtrack composer. The inebriation of getting carried away in international fields, without never lose the traditional roots, is like a frame for the dark, electronic smoky, ironic bluestones, in a perfect balance between swing, ballads and rock; Devotion aside, this author catches the attention because of the constant innovation, experimentation and the capability of going beyond what is already being done and known.
 
Nolla
NOLLA is a five piece rock band formed in late 2011. With their debut performance at Japan Day 2012, they have performed at various anime, game and Japanese pop culture events around Auckland. Influenced by the sounds of X Japan, The GazettE, One Ok Rock and Luna Sea, NOLLA has a distinct J-Rock sound and feel. NOLLA will bring passion and energy to the stage, so come rock out to NOLLA!?
NOLLA will be performing a selection of covers from notable J-Rock artists as well as popular anime opening and ending songs with a NOLLA sound.