Harajuku Area
Welcome to a whirlwind of energy and style! Inspired by Tokyo’s ultra-colorful Harajuku district, this vibrant space blends the best of Japan and Europe
The Artists of the Harajuku Area
UNIVER23
UNIVER23 is a Japanese boy group made up of seven members, born from a simple ambition: to leave Tokyo and take their universe far beyond Japan.
The group’s name combines the ideas of “UNIVERSE” and “UNIQUE” with the number 23, referring to Tokyo’s 23 special wards. This identity is also reflected in their slogan: “23 to the world”.
On stage, UNIVER23 stands out through energetic performances combining music, dance and acrobatics. Through their songs and performances, the members aim to convey a message about pushing oneself beyond one’s limits, the desire to keep moving forward, and creating one’s own path toward the future.
The year 2026 marks another important milestone in the group’s development. UNIVER23 is launching its very first tour across Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, while also introducing a new lineup with the arrival of their new member TAITO.
The group is also taking its first steps into the world of Japanese animation with two songs featured in Neko no Kura-chan ~ Kurare Ōkoku Tairiku no Lutte Amor ~: “BOOGEY CAT” as the ending theme and “White Lilly” as an insert song.
After several new milestones in Japan, they will make their European debut at Heroes World Featuring Made in Asia next October, as well as taking part in the announced Bangkok Japan Expo 2026. UNIVER23 continues to gradually expand its horizons, staying true to its ambition: from Tokyo to the world.
Eiren Nishikawa (西川影戀), an artist and master of Nihon Buyō
Eiren Nishikawa (西川影戀) is an artist and master of Nihon Buyō, traditional Japanese dance, within the Nishikawa school. Originally from Kyoto, she has dedicated many years of her work to preserving, passing on, and promoting traditional Japanese arts, both in Japan and internationally.
Her background encompasses various disciplines, including traditional Japanese dance, the tea ceremony, and kimono culture. She has performed on numerous stages in Japan and abroad and regularly takes part in artistic, cultural, and educational projects aimed at introducing the richness of traditional Japanese arts to audiences from all walks of life.
An important part of her work also consists of building bridges between tradition and contemporary forms of expression. Among her projects are several creations inspired by the famous legend of Dōjōji, including Vocalo Dōjōji and Kiyohime Dōjōji, which explore, among other themes, the encounter between traditional Japanese music and the world of Vocaloid / Hatsune Miku.
Deeply committed to cultural transmission, Eiren-sensei has also taught in various academic and cultural settings and has contributed to promoting Kyoto’s heritage, notably as a Kyoto Tourism Hospitality Ambassador. Through her various activities, she seeks to preserve traditional arts while allowing them to evolve, reinvent themselves, and engage in dialogue with new forms of artistic creation.
On the occasion of Heroes World featuring Made in Asia 2026, Eiren-sensei will join the Harajuku Area to share her world with the Belgian public.
At her booth, visitors will have the opportunity to learn directly from her during a paid workshop focusing on budō movements. She will also appear on the Harajuku Stage for an interactive workshop, offering another way to discover her approach to traditional Japanese arts at the heart of the event.
MyDresscode – Japanese idol group
MyDresscode (マイドレスコード) is a nine-member Japanese idol group based in Tokyo.
The group revolves around the message 「私が選ぶ、私になる。」, which can be translated as “I choose who I want to become.” This concept highlights the individuality of each member: nine personalities, nine different ways to shine, and the same desire to be themselves on stage.
Since their debut, MyDresscode has performed across Japan and has taken part in several major events, including the Sapporo Snow Festival, Tokyo Girls Collection, and the Hakata Dontaku Festival. The group has also embarked on several nationwide tours, visiting as many as twelve cities across Japan.
Their journey has also taken them overseas, with performances in Taiwan, Thailand, and China.
Through their music and performances, the nine members above all aim to share their own unique world, giving each member the space to express her personality while being part of the group.
In October 2026, MyDresscode will reach a new milestone with their very first appearance in Europe, in Brussels, as part of Heroes World featuring Made in Asia.
The nine members will join the Harajuku Area, where they will have the opportunity to meet Belgian audiences and share their music, energy, and unique world with them.
Whether you are already a fan of J-Pop and idol culture or are discovering MyDresscode for the first time, this will be a great opportunity to get to know the group and experience them live on stage.
OdoriKo - Dance workshop with the audience
OdoriKo is a dance duo formed by Solène and Vivi, two childhood friends brought together by their passion for dance, music and Japanese culture.
In 2011, they founded OdoriKo and launched a YouTube channel dedicated to J-Pop Dance Covers, featuring choreography inspired in particular by the world of Hello! Project, Vocaloid and, more broadly, the Japanese music scene.
Since 2013, the duo has been performing all over France through shows, workshops and various activities focusing on dance, Japanese culture and fashion. Their ambition has remained the same since the beginning: to share their passion with as many people as possible in a dynamic, welcoming and energetic atmosphere.
Solène has been dancing since the age of three. She began with classical ballet training before gradually developing her own artistic path. Passionate about Japanese and Korean cultures, she is also a member of Risin, a dance cover crew specialising in K-Pop. With the crew, she has performed across Europe, taken part in several competitions and projects, and had the opportunity to collaborate with Korean artists such as Jessi and B.I.
Vivi, who also trained in classical ballet during her childhood, developed an early interest in Japanese culture, J-Music and K-Pop, as well as graphic arts. In 2011, she co-founded OdoriKo with Solène, a project that allows her to freely explore her creativity and her connection to the Odorite / Odottemita scene, before also taking part in various K-Pop-related projects.
As part of Heroes World featuring Made in Asia 2026, Solène and Vivi are joining the Harajuku Area to share their energy and passion with the Belgian audience.
They will be leading the Harajuku Dance Club on the Harajuku Stage, a participatory workshop where the audience will be able to learn choreography with them, dance to J-Pop and Japanese music, and simply come and enjoy a fun moment together.
Discover Hiromi Fujiwara – The Art of the Kimono!
Hiromi Fujiwara (藤原裕美) is a Japanese presenter and specialist in the world of kimono, clothing coordination, and traditional Japanese styling and beauty.
Through her project, *The Art of Kimono*, she explores the presentation of kimono and the many ways it can be worn and interpreted. Her approach offers an opportunity to discover both the traditional codes of Japanese dress and more contemporary styles, experimenting with accessories, fashion coordination, and beauty looks.
Her work highlights kimono as a living element of Japanese culture: a garment deeply rooted in history and tradition, yet one that can continue to evolve and find its place in more contemporary settings.
Hiromi Fujiwara also collaborates with Eiren Nishikawa-sensei, a master of Nihon Buyō, creating connections between kimono, traditional Japanese dance, and more contemporary forms of artistic expression.
At Heroes World featuring Made in Asia 2026, she will be joining the Harajuku Area with her *The Art of Kimono* project. Throughout the weekend, visitors will be able to discover her world through a range of activities focused on kimono, its accessories, styling, and Japanese beauty.
She will also take part in the Kimono Fashion Show, developed in collaboration with Eiren-sensei. The show will highlight different ways of wearing and interpreting kimono, bringing together more traditional styles with contemporary approaches.
An accessible way to discover kimono beyond its traditional image, and to explore the diversity, creativity, and evolution of this iconic element of Japanese culture.
Nozomi Kanda – a specialist in the Western concert flute and the shinobue, a traditional Japanese flute.
Nozomi Kanda is a classical flutist and performer of traditional Japanese music, specializing in both the Western concert flute and the shinobue, a traditional Japanese flute.
Based in Belgium, she pursues a career between Europe and Japan and has performed at numerous festivals and concert venues, including Flagey, the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, and Yokohama’s Minato Mirai Hall.
Her work lies at the crossroads of several musical worlds. She performs both traditional Japanese music and contemporary works, with a particular interest in the repertoire of Japanese composers and in exploring the possibilities created through dialogue between Japanese and Western instruments.
Through her projects, she also seeks to promote Japanese music more widely in Europe and to develop new repertoire for the shinobue, notably through collaborations with contemporary composers.
Nozomi Kanda is also deeply committed to music education and transmission. She regularly leads masterclasses, seminars, and workshops in Belgium, France, Norway, and Japan. This year, she will also inaugurate the first shinobue class at the Conservatoire du Kremlin-Bicêtre in France.
At Heroes World featuring Made in Asia, you will be able to meet her throughout the weekend in the heart of the Harajuku Area.
She will perform several times on the Harajuku Stage, introducing audiences to different facets of Japanese music, both on the Western concert flute and the shinobue.
You will also be able to meet her at her booth in the Tradition Zone of the Harajuku Area, where she will be joined by her students. It will be a great opportunity to talk with her, learn more about her work, and discover the instruments and music she shares with her students and audiences.
Activities in the Harajuku Zone
Kimono Fashion Show
The Kimono Fashion Show is a fashion presentation taking place on Sunday at the Tsubaki Stage, developed in collaboration with Hiromi Fujiwara – L’Art du Kimono and Eiren Nishikawa-sensei.
Through a variety of looks, the show invites the audience to discover different ways of wearing, coordinating and highlighting traditional Japanese garments. Classic approaches will be presented alongside more modern and creative interpretations, showcasing the diversity these garments have to offer.
Featuring members of MyDresscode, as well as models Solène, Feifa and Michiko, a variety of styles will take the stage, presenting different ways to wear and combine kimono, yukata and haori.
Each outfit will be complemented by various accessories, styling choices and beauty elements, allowing the audience to discover each look as a whole, while also exploring how traditional codes can be adapted and reinterpreted.
The project is part of Hiromi Fujiwara’s work with kimono, fashion coordination and Japanese beauty styling, in collaboration with Eiren Nishikawa-sensei, a master of Nihon Buyō. Together, they create a dialogue between fashion, traditional arts and more contemporary forms of expression.
The Kimono Fashion Show will therefore offer an opportunity to discover kimono and other traditional Japanese garments not only as clothing rooted in history, but also as living elements of Japanese culture, capable of evolving, reinventing themselves and continuing to inspire new forms of creativity.
Join us on Sunday, October 18, from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the Tsubaki Stage to discover the show.
Harajuku Game Show
The Harajuku Game Show is an activity taking place on the Tsubaki Stage, giving the audience the opportunity to discover the artists of the Harajuku Area from a different perspective.
During the Game Show, the different groups will compete in a series of simple, fun and sometimes unpredictable mini-games. Between competition, spontaneous reactions and plenty of laughs, it’s a chance to see the artists in a completely different setting from their usual performances.
It’s also a great opportunity to discover another side of their personalities and get to know them a little better before seeing them back in their musical world.
And the fun doesn’t stop when the games are over: stay at the Tsubaki Stage, as the Harajuku Game Show will be followed directly by the Harajuku Game Show Live. The participating groups will take the stage for a short live performance right after the activity.
Schedule – Tsubaki Stage
🕒 2:45 PM – 4:00 PM – Saturday
Harajuku Dance Club
This year, discover a brand-new activity in the Harajuku Area: the Harajuku Dance Club!
In collaboration with the duo OdoriKo, head to the Harajuku Stage for a fun workshop featuring J-Pop songs and must-hear tracks from the Japanese music scene.
No dance experience needed: just come along, have fun with us, learn a few choreographies, and enjoy a great time together in the heart of the Harajuku Area!
Throughout the weekend, artists featured in the Harajuku Area will also join OdoriKo on stage to dance with you.
So come and join us in front of the Harajuku Stage and enjoy the Harajuku Dance Club with us!
🗓️ Saturday, October 17
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
🗓️ Sunday, October 18
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Harajuku Stage – Brussels Expo Heroes World Featuring Made in Asia
HOLY will be present in the heart of the Harajuku Area (Tasting).
This year, HOLY is joining the Harajuku Area as a sponsor and will be present throughout both days of Heroes World featuring Made in Asia.
HOLY develops a wide range of soft drinks built around a simple idea: offering great-tasting beverages with zero sugar, while providing enough variety to suit different moments of the day and everyone’s individual preferences.
The brand currently offers several product ranges, including Energy, Iced Tea, Hydration, Milkshakes and Syrups, with more than 80 flavours in total.
Throughout the weekend, HOLY will be present at the heart of the Harajuku Area with a stand entirely dedicated to tasting.
You will have the opportunity to discover and try a selection of products and flavours from their different ranges.
The full HOLY catalogue will not be available for tasting, but several products will be offered to give you the opportunity to discover the brand and its different product ranges.
The stand will be exclusively dedicated to discovering and tasting the products: no sales will take place on site.
We are delighted to have HOLY among the sponsors of the Harajuku Area 2026 and to give visitors the opportunity to discover their products directly at the event.
Partners of the Harajuku Zone
