Hard Rock International Sponsors Live Concert Series at the 70th Sapporo Snow Festival in Hokkaido, Japan

Snow Festival Sets Record Attendance of 2.74 Million Tourists

News provided by

Feb 22, 2019, 16:38 ET

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Feb. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In its continued effort to support local families and business affected by the recent earthquake in Hokkaido, Hard Rock Japan hosted a complimentary four-day "Hard Rock Family Live" concert series featuring top national artists to perform during the week of Hokkaido's famous Sapporo Snow Festival. Hard Rock Japan received thousands of entries through an online ticket sweepstakes giveaway, resulting in over 5,300 fans from all over Hokkaido and mainland Japan being randomly selected to enjoy an immersive evening watching top artists Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, MIYAVI, Hatsune Miku and DA PUMP perform at Sapporo's Public Concert Hall Feb. 4-7.

Hokkai High School Brass Band performs as the opening act for MIYAVI at the Hard Rock Family Live concert on Feb. 5, 2019, at Sapporo’s Public Concert Hall in Hokkaido, Japan. Hokkai High School was part of Hard Rock Family Live - a four-day concert series held during this year’s Sapporo Snow Festival week. (Hard Rock Japan)

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu performs at the Hard Rock Family Live concert on Feb. 4, 2019, at Sapporo’s Public Concert Hall in Hokkaido, Japan. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu was part of Hard Rock Family Live - a four-day concert series held during this year’s Sapporo annual Snow Festival week. (Hard Rock Japan)

MIYAVI performs at the Hard Rock Family Live concert on Feb. 5, 2019, at Sapporo’s Public Concert Hall in Hokkaido, Japan. MIYAVI was part of Hard Rock Family Live - a four-day concert series held during this year’s Sapporo Snow Festival week. (Hard Rock Japan)

Hatsune Miku performs at the Hard Rock Family Live concert on Feb. 6, 2019, at Sapporo’s Public Concert Hall in Hokkaido, Japan. Miku was part of Hard Rock Family Live - a four-day concert series held during this year’s Sapporo annual Snow Festival week. (Hard Rock Japan) ©Crypton Future Media, INC. ©BanG Dream! Project ©Craft Egg Inc. ©bushiroad All Rights Reserved

DA PUMP performs at the Hard Rock Family Live concert on Feb. 7, 2019, at Sapporo’s Public Concert Hall in Hokkaido, Japan. DA PUMP was part of Hard Rock Family Live - a four-day concert series held during this year’s Sapporo Snow Festival week. (Hard Rock Japan)

As part of Hard Rock’s motto of Love All – Serve All to be all inclusive, Sound Hugs were provided to hearing impaired guests invited by Hard Rock Japan to enjoy the Hard Rock Family Live concert series from Feb. 4 – 7, 2019, at Sapporo’s Public Concert Hall in Hokkaido, Japan.

As part of Hard Rock's dedication to inspiring young future artists around the globe, Hard Rock Japan also partnered with local music schools and dance groups to be the opening acts for all four bands. The opening acts included a Japanese traditional Taiko drum performance by Sapporo Sosei High School, a 63-piece brass band ensemble from Hokkai High School, a cappella group by Hokkaido University and a hip-hop dance performance/competition by Sapporo Ryukoku Gakuen that was judged by DA PUMP.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu – Is a popular J-Pop artist whose hit singles include "Pon Pon Pon," "Candy Candy" and "Fashion Monster." She is also known to media as a "Harajuku Pop Princess" She has been named the ambassador of Tokyo's trendy Harajuku neighborhood and has played in almost all the major festivals in Japan. Kyary has signed a U.S. distribution deal with Sire Records.
MIYAVI - Is a Japanese guitarist, singer-songwriter, record producer and actor known for his finger-slapping style of playing the guitar. He has been nominated for multiple MTV awards and won Best Collaboration in 2013. In 2014, Miyavi appeared in the motion picture Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie, and went on to other roles in American productions such as Kong: Skull Island and Stray. In 2015 MIYAVI became interested in the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) where he wrote a song about his experience called "The Others." The following year, in collaboration with UNHCR Special Envoy Angelina Jolie, a music video of his song was released. In Nov. 2017, MIYAVI was appointed as a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.
Hatsune Miku - As a virtual idol Vocaloid (singing voice synthesizer), Hatsune Miku performed her first "live" concert during Animelo Summer Live at the Saitama Super Arena on Aug. 22, 2009. Hatsune Miku has evolved into a phenomenon amongst the cyberculture, with Miku-related content created and shared every day around the globe. Miku is quickly becoming an icon in the cyber creative community. She is also the main performer of sold-out 3D concerts worldwide, even appearing in TV commercials for Toyota USA and Google. Miku has also been featured on the Late Show with David Letterman.
DA PUMP - Is a male Japanese hip-hop band made up of lead vocalist, Issa Hentona and six other members who debuted back in 1997 with the hit single "Feelin Good – It's Paradise." The band went through a reorganization and had their first big hit single in over four years this past summer called "U.S.A." - which became the No. 1 song in Japan. DA PUMP performed in Hokkaido for the first time since they became their current seven-member group, and the fans could not have been more pleased.

During the Hard Rock Family Live concerts, Hard Rock invited local guests with hearing disabilities to enjoy the shows with the assistance of a round shaped electronic device called a "Sound Hug." The prototype devices are wired to the sound system so that guests can experience the music in real-time, which is felt by varying levels of vibration along with strobing mood colors coming from the Sound Hug.

In addition to the Hard Rock Family Live concert series, Hard Rock sponsored a massive snow sculpture towering over four-stories showcasing Hatsune Miku, the 3D holographic Vocaloid popstar. Measuring 22 meters wide, 15 meters high and 15 meters front to back, it took roughly 2,000 members from the Japan Self Defense Force, hundreds of hours and 650 dump trucks carrying approximately 2-3 tons of snow each, to construct the enormous snow sculpture of "Miku."

"I am so proud Hard Rock Japan was able to be a part of this year's record-setting attendance during Sapporo's 70^th Snow Festival event," said Ado Machida, president of Hard Rock Japan. "From our 'Hatsune Miku' snow sculpture sponsorship to our Hard Rock Family Live concerts, Hard Rock was able to give local residents and tourists a taste of what the future World-Class Hard Rock Entertainment Resort will bring to Hokkaido."

For more information about Hard Rock Japan, visit HardRock.co.jp.

About Hard Rock International

With venues in 76 countries, including 184 cafes, 27 hotels and 12 casinos, Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's most valuable collection of music memorabilia, which is displayed at its locations around the globe. Hard Rock is also known for its collectible fashion and music-related merchandise available in Rock Shops and online at https://shop.hardrock.com. HRI owns the global trademark for all Hard Rock brands including Hard Rock Live performance venues. The company owns, operates and franchises Cafes in iconic cities including London, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and Dubai. HRI also owns, licenses and/or manages hotel/casino properties worldwide. Destinations include the company's two most successful Hotel and Casino properties in Tampa and Hollywood, FL., both owned and operated by HRI parent entity The Seminole Tribe of Florida, as well as other exciting locations including Atlantic City, Bali, Cancun, Daytona Beach, Desaru Coast, Ibiza, Orlando, Shenzhen and San Diego. Upcoming new Hard Rock Cafe locations include Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Street in the United Kingdom, Djerba, Tunisia, Gran Canaria, Spain and Chandigarh, India. New Hard Rock Hotel, Casino or Hotel & Casino projects include Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Dublin, London, Los Cabos, Madrid, Maldives, New York City, Ottawa, Sacramento, Dalian and Haikou in China. In 2018, Hard Rock International was recognized as a Forbes Magazine Top Employer for Women and Land Operator of the Year at the Global Gaming Awards. For more information on Hard Rock International visit www.hardrock.com.