For many longtime Anime Expo attendees, Anisong World Matsuri was more than just a concert series—it was one of the convention’s defining experiences. After a seven-year absence, the beloved music event returned to Los Angeles as J-POP Sound Capsule @AX2025: Anisong World Matsuri Returns, transforming Peacock Theater into a celebration of anime music, J-pop, and live performance.

Held on July 3, the concert brought together an eclectic lineup that reflected the event’s “capsule toy” concept. Much like reaching into a gachapon machine and discovering a surprise inside, audiences never quite knew what musical style would come next. Rock anthems, idol performances, anime theme songs, and special collaborations all shared the same stage throughout the evening.

Before the main event even began, Japanese heavy metal trio ASTERISM took to the stage as the opening act. Their high-energy instrumental performance immediately set the tone for the night, giving early arrivals a taste of the musicianship and intensity that would characterize the concert from start to finish.

The first major act of the evening was GRANRODEO, the long-running duo of vocalist KISHOW and guitarist e-ZUKA. Known for performing songs from series such as Kuroko’s Basketball, Bungo Stray Dogs, and Baki, the group delivered a set packed with fan-favorite anime themes. Audience members responded with synchronized penlight waves, chants, and singalongs that filled the theater with energy.

• THE HERO!! ~Ikareru Kobushi ni Hi wo Tsukero~One Punch Man cover, with Hiroshi – Kitadani
• The Other Self – Kuroko’s Basketball
• Treasure Pleasure – Baki Hanma
• TRASH CANDY – Bungo Stray Dogs
• Henai no Rondo – Karneval
• BEASTFUL – Baki
• modern strange cowboy – NEEDLESS
• Can Do – Kuroko’s Basketball

From there, the concert shifted gears with the appearance of idol group Sakurazaka46. Their polished choreography and stage presence provided a striking contrast to the rock-focused opening segment. Songs connected to franchises such as Pokémon Horizons showcased the broader spectrum of Japanese pop culture represented at the event, reinforcing the festival’s goal of bringing together multiple facets of contemporary Japanese music.

• Start over! – JUMP collaboration song of Hunter x Hunter and Sakurazaka46
• Pikkan! – Pokémon Horizon
• Jigoujitoku
• Shounin Yokkyuu

One of the most anticipated appearances of the night came from TOGENASHI TOGEARI, the band from Girls Band Cry. Making their U.S. debut, the group brought the emotional intensity and rebellious spirit that helped the anime earn a passionate following. For many fans, seeing the band perform on an American stage represented one of the concert’s most memorable moments.

• Zattou, Bokura no Machi
• Koenaki Sakana
• Kara no Hako
• Kuhaku to Catharsis
• Daremo
• Namonaki Nanimokamo
• Shikaino Sumi Kuchiru Oto
• Hazete Saku

No anisong celebration would feel complete without a trip to the Grand Line, and Hiroshi Kitadani ensured that One Piece fans had plenty to celebrate. The veteran singer performed several songs associated with the franchise, instantly transforming the theater into a chorus of voices eager to join in on every familiar refrain. As opening themes echoed throughout the venue, it became clear just how deeply anime music has connected audiences across generations and continents.

• We Go!
• UUUS!
• We Are!

The evening reached another high point when FLOW took the stage. The band’s catalog has become synonymous with anime fandom thanks to songs featured in Naruto, Code Geass, and numerous other series. The moment the opening notes of a familiar Naruto theme rang out, the crowd erupted, turning the performance into one of the night’s loudest and most energetic singalong moments.

• Re:member – NARUTO
• CHA-LA HEAD CHA-LA – Dragon Ball Z
• COLORS – Code Geass
• Alright!!! – From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman
• Haruka Kanata – NARUTO
• GOLD – BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS
• Sign – NARUTO Shippuden
• Howling – FLOW x GRANRODEO; The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of The Commandments
• 7 -seven- – FLOW x GRANRODEO; The Seven Deadly Sins
• GO!!! – NARUTO

What made J-POP Sound Capsule stand out was not simply the lineup itself, but the shared experience created inside the theater. Fans waved penlights in coordinated colors, sang along to beloved anime openings, and celebrated artists spanning multiple genres and generations. The atmosphere captured the communal spirit that has always been at the heart of anime music events.

The return of Anisong World Matsuri also represented something larger for Anime Expo. For years, fans had hoped to see the event make a comeback, and the response from attendees suggested that enthusiasm had not faded during its absence. By combining established anisong legends with newer acts and emerging performers, J-POP Sound Capsule successfully reintroduced the festival to a new era of anime fans.

As the final songs came to an end and the lights rose inside Peacock Theater, one feeling lingered among the audience: a sense that Anisong World Matsuri had finally come home. Whether this marks the beginning of a new annual tradition remains to be seen, but for one night at Anime Expo 2025, the celebration of anime music felt bigger than ever.