Nano-Mugen Festival (officially ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION presents NANO-MUGEN FES., Japanese: アジアン カンフー ジェネレーション プレゼンツ ナノ-ムゲン フェス) is a music festival usually held in Yokohama, Japan.
The festival is hosted by Japanese rock band Asian Kung-Fu Generation, who invites various other artists from around Japan and internationally to perform at the festival. From the 2005 edition, the band also started producing a compilation album featuring music of each invited artist for that year's festival.
In 2025, the festival was to be held overseas for the first time, with dates in both Yokohama, Japan and Jakarta, Indonesia. However, the Indonesian leg was cancelled a few days prior to the festival.
Background The festival started as a band project, with Asian Kung-Fu Generation becoming familiar with artists from outside Japan and had formed an idea to perform together. Gotoh stated that he wanted their music to reach audiences beyond just Japanese listeners, and so the festival was created to "bridge that gap".
Name origin "Nano" comes from the unit prefix nano, which Gotoh described as the smallest unit he and the band knew at the time. "Mugen" comes from the Japanese word 無限 (mugen) meaning "infinite" or "eternal". This means that the title is an oxymoron.
According to Gotoh, he had an "image of something expanding endlessly from the smallest point" and therefore is "a title about expanding from the smallest unit to a place beyond measure."
Festival history
NANO-MUGEN FES. (Shinjuku LOFT) The first Nano-Mugen Fes. was held at Shinjuku LOFT on August 11, 2003. It was a single day festival featuring five total acts. DateVenueArtistsAugust 11Shinjuku LOFT ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
HOT SCLAP
NANO-MUGEN FES. (Yokohama CLUB24) The second festival was held on December 17, 2003 at Yokohama CLUB24. DateVenueArtistsDecember 17Yokohama CLUB24 Asian Kung-Fu Generation STRAIGHTENER
FREEZER NOISE
NANO-MUGEN FES. in Budokan The third festival was held on July 1, 2004 at Nippon Budokan. DateVenueArtistsJuly 1Nippon Budokan Asian Kung-Fu Generation ACIDMAN GOING UNDER GROUND Straightener
NANO-MUGEN FES. in OSAKA The fourth festival was held on August 9, 2004 at Osaka Namba Hatch. It is the first edition to feature international acts. DateVenueArtistsAugust 9Osaka Namba Hatch Asian Kung-Fu Generation Zebrahead (US) The Cribs (UK)
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2005
2005 was the first festival to be held at new permanent venue Yokohama Arena, and the first to feature a compilation album. DateVenueAreaPerformersJuly 9Yokohama ArenaA Stage Ash (UK) Dogs Die in Hot Cars (UK) Ellegarden B Stage Asian-Kung Fu Generation Farrah (UK) Industrial Salt (UK) Straightener
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2006
The festival became a two-day event in the 2006 edition. DatesVenueAreaPerformersJuly 16Yokohama Arena Asian Kung-Fu Generation The Rentals (US) Silver Sun (US) Ellegarden
Chatmonchy The Young Punx (UK) Dream State (US)July 17 Asian Kung-Fu Generation The Rentals (US) Silver Sun (UK) Beat Crusaders Straightener The Young Punx (UK) Waking Ashland (US)
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2008
Whilst the organisers received offers from bands wanting to participate in 2007, a decision was ultimately made to postpone the festival so that Asian Kung-Fu Generation could focus on performing at other festivals and events.
The festival returned to Yokohama Arena in 2008, once again for two days. DatesVenuePerformersJuly 20Yokohama Arena Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ash (UK) The Young Punx (UK) Stereophonics (UK) Phantom Planet (US) Straightener Analogfish 9mm Parabellum Bullet Shugo TokumaruJuly 21 Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ash (UK) Space Cowboy (UK) Hellogoodbye (US) Third Eye Blind (US) Ellegarden Art-School Special Others
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2009
Welsh band Manic Street Preachers was originally scheduled to appear, however their participation was cancelled due to the sudden illness of bassist Nicky Wire. Refunds were given upon request. DatesVenuePerformersJuly 19Yokohama Arena Asian Kung-Fu Generation Manic Street Preachers (UK) (cancelled) Nada Surf (US) Ben Folds (US) Hard-Fi (UK) The Young Punx (UK) Straightener The Hiatus OGRE YOU ASSHOLE Ryujin KiyoshiJuly 20 Asian Kung-fu Generation Manic Street Preachers (UK) (cancelled) Nada Surf (US) Ben Folds (US) HARD-Fi (UK) The Young Punx (UK) Farrah (UK) Spitz Unicorn Sakanaction
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2009 (pre-event) Prior to the main festival, the band also hosted events in Osaka and Nagoya on July 9 and 10, along with a solo show in Tokyo. DatesCityVenuePerformersJuly 6TokyoDaikanyama UNITAsian Kung-Fu GenerationJuly 9OsakaNamba Hatch Asian Kung-Fu Generation Gregory and the Hawk (US) July 10NagoyaZepp Nagoya Asian Kung-Fu Generation Gregory and the Hawk (US)
NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2010 In lieu of a full festival in 2010, the band instead hosted a tour with stops in four cities across Japan. DatesCityVenuePerformersJuly 21HiroshimaHiroshima Club Quattro Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ra Ra Riot (US) PredawnJuly 23YokohamaYokohama BLITZ Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ra Ra Riot (US) July 24TokyoZepp Tokyo Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ra Ra Riot (US)
TelstarJuly 27KyotoKBS Hall Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ra Ra Riot (US) Eiko Ishibashi × Achiko DJ Dawa (Flake Records) TORA (8otto) July 28 Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ra Ra Riot (US)
DJ Dawa (Flake Records) TORA (8otto)
NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2011 Held in three cities across Japan. DatesCityVenuePerformersJuly 4TokyoLiquid Room Asian Kung-Fu Generation Dr. Downer Kenichi HasegawaJuly 5Studio Coast Asian Kung-Fu Generation Nada Surf (US) The Koxx (KR)July 7OsakaZepp Osaka Asian Kung-Fu Generation Nada Surf (US) The Koxx (KR)July 8NagoyaZepp Nagoya Asian Kung-Fu Generation Nada Surf (US) LOSTAGE
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2011
Nano-Mugen returned to Yokohama Arena as a two-day festival. DatesVenueAreaPerformersJuly 16Yokohama ArenaBand Stage Asian Kung-Fu Generation We Are Scientists (US) Weezer (US) Ash (UK) The Hiatus
NegotoAcoustic Stage The Rentals (US)DJ Stage The Young Punx and Phonat (UK) July 17Band Stage Asian Kung-Fu Generation We Are Scientists (US) Manic Street Preachers (UK) Motoharu Sano and the Hobo King Band Boom Boom Satellites Straightener mowmowlulugyabanAcoustic Stage The Rentals (US) Gen HoshinoDJ Stage The Young Punx and Phonat (UK)
NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2012 Held in four cities across Japan. DatesCityVenuePerformersJune 4HiroshimaHiroshima Club Quattro Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ozma (US) The CigavettesJune 5OsakaUmeda Club Quattro Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ozma (US) June 7NagoyaNagoya Club Quattro Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ozma (US) June 8TokyoZepp DiverCity Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ozma (US) Bloodthirsty Butchers
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2012
DatesVenueAreaPerformersJuly 15Yokohama ArenaBand Stage Asian Kung-Fu Generation Fountains of Wayne (US) Motion City Soundtrack (US) Mates of State (US) Feeder (UK) Dr. Downer Kreva StraightenerDance Stage Space Cowboy (UK)Acoustic Stage Motohiro Hatakiyoshi's bar GUESTReALM PhonotonesJuly 16Band Stage Asian Kung-Fu Generation Fountains of Wayne (US) Mates of State (US) Suede (UK) Chara 10-Feet Chatmonchy The HiatusDance Stage Space Cowboy (UK) Acoustic Stage Motion City Soundtrack (US) kiyoshi's bar GUESTReALM Phonotones
NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2013 Held in six cities across Japan. DatesCityVenuePerformersJune 14KyotoKBS Hall Asian Kung-Fu Generation Sara Radle (ex-The Rentals) (US) Special Others SkirtJune 15 Asian Kung-Fu Generation The chef cooks me Phonotones Turntable FilmsJune 17MatsuyamaMatsuyama City Community Center Asian Kung-Fu Generation Radical Dads (US) Straightener Dr. DownerJune 19KumamotoDrum Be-9 V1 Asian Kung-fu Generation Radical Dads (US) Ai Iwasaki Now the bear manJune 24NiigataNiigata LOTS Asian Kung-Fu Generation Radical Dads (US) CeroJune 26SendaiSendai Rensa Asian Kung-fu Generation Radical Dads (US) Umi-no-teJune 28TokyoTokyo Dome City Hall Asian Kung-Fu Generation Radical Dads (US) The chef cooks me Shamcats
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2014 2014 was to be the final annual Nano-Mugen Festival, and the most recently released compilation album. DatesVenueAreaPerformersJuly 12Yokohama ArenaBand Stage Asian Kung-Fu Generation Good Morning America (Side Stage) KANA-BOON LOSTAGE (Side Stage) Owl City (US) Quruli The Rentals (US) Straightener Tegan and Sara (CA)Electric Stage The Young Punx (UK) It's a Musical (DE & SE)Ken's Cafe 猪股 and the guitar Ai Iwasaki kiyoshi's bar GUESTReALM Arisa Safu Hi, how are you? (BIGNOUN)July 13Band Stage Asian Kung-Fu Generation The chef cooks me The Hiatus Nico Touches the Walls (Acoustic) (Side Stage) Owl City (US) The Rentals (US) Tegan and Sara (CA) Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra UnicornElectric Stage The Young Punx (UK) It's a Musical (DE & SE)Ken's Cafe Rina Katahira Riki Kinoshita (ART-SCHOOL) kiyoshi's bar GUESTReALM (HUSKING BEE)
NANO-MUGEN FES. 2025 After an 11 year hiatus, Nano-Mugen Festival is due to return in May and June 2025 and held across two cities in Japan and Indonesia.
The first wave of artists to appear was revealed on 3 February 2025. The second wave was announced on 10 March 2025, along with the first wave of artists to appear in Jakarta.
On 19 May, festival organisers announced the cancellation of the Indonesian leg of the festival. DatesCityVenuePerformersMay 24 (cancelled)Jakarta, IndonesiaEcopark Ancol Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ellegarden Homecomings KANA-BOONMay 25 (cancelled) Asian Kung-Fu Generation Beck (US) Quruli May 31Yokohama, JapanK-Arena Yokohama Asian Kung-Fu Generation Ellegarden Straightener Voice of Baceprot (IDN) Special Others (Acoustic) Fountains of Wayne (US) Hovvdy (US) Nick Moon (UK) The Young Punx (UK)June 1 Asian Kung-Fu Generation Beck (US) The Adams (IDN) Quruli YeYe Fountains of Wayne (US) Hovvdy (US) Nick Moon (UK) The Young Punx (UK)
NANO-MUGEN CIRCUIT 2025 On the first day of Nano-Mugen Fes. 2025 in Yokohama, it was revealed that Nano-Mugen Circuit would return, this time as a "split tour" between ASH and Asian Kung-Fu Generation. DatesCityVenuePerformersGuest actsOctober 14FukuokaZepp Fukuoka Asian Kung-Fu Generation ASHRegallilyOctober 16OsakaZepp Osaka BaysideOctober 17NagoyaZepp NagoyaKANA-BOONOctober 20SendaiSENDAI GIGSHomecomingsOctober 21YokohamaKT Zepp Yokohamayubiori
ARABAKI ROCK FEST. 26 MICHINOKU PEACE SESSION On 23 December 2025, Arabaki Rock Fest. announced Asian Kung-Fu Generation would host "MICHINOKU PEACE SESSION" at the 2026 edition of the festival, under the Nano-Mugen banner; officially "ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION NANO-MUGEN at ARABAKI". The session will celebrate the band's 30th anniversary and feature various guests.
The festival is scheduled for the weekend of 25 and 26 April, at Michinoku Lakeside National Government Park in Miyagi.
On 17 March 2026, the timetable and guests acts were announced, with the band hosting the Nano-Mugen session on the Saturday night. DatesStagePerformersGuest actsApril 25MichinokuAsian Kung-Fu Generation Shigeru Kishida Kaori Kishitani Moeka Shiotsuka Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra (horn section) TOSHI-LOW Non Takeshi Hosomi Atsushi Horie
References
External links Official site (Japanese) Official site (Indonesia)