Naon no Yaon (Japanese: NAONのYAON) is an annual all-female music festival held at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall in Tokyo, Japan's Hibiya Park. Created and "produced" by heavy metal band Show-Ya, performing artists and staff members are restricted to females, but attendance is open to everyone.[a][2][3]

Naon no Yaon
GenreRock, heavy metal, pop
DatesApril 29 (currently)
Location(s)Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall
(Tokyo, Japan)
Years active1987–1991, 2008, 2013–present
FoundersShow-Ya
Organized byMasterworks / Life
Websitenaonnoyaon.net

History

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Naon no Yaon is held at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall, which is nicknamed "Yaon."

Naon no Yaon is produced by all-female band Show-Ya and each member recommends acts and helps decide the performers, but lead singer Keiko Terada is the main force behind the festival.[4] On the variety of participants, Terada explained that because there were not many all-female bands when the event was first started, idols, actresses and professional wrestlers took part in the past. However, she said the number of female bands had increased significantly by 2014 and that they had to put limits on the number of solo artists and bands they can have.[4]

The first Naon no Yaon festival was held at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall (Hibiya Yagai Ongakudō) on September 20, 1987.[5] The "naon" in the title was devised by reversing the syllables of "onna", the Japanese word for "woman", while "yaon" is a commonly used abbreviation of the venue's name.[6] Naon no Yaon was held at the same concert hall in September annually for five years; from 1987 until 1991, the year Terada left Show-Ya.[7] In addition to the host band, Princess Princess performed almost every year.[7][8] Ann Lewis, Nokko, and Minako Honda are some of the other musical acts that performed during the original run of the festival.[8]

After 17 years, the sixth Naon no Yaon was held on April 29, 2008. A special act composed of former members of the disbanded bands Princess Princess and Zone was widely advertised for the event.[9] Nanase Aikawa, Jill from Personz, and Yu-ki from TRF were some of the other performers. Attended by an audience of 3,000, the event lasted 5 hours and featured 61 people in total, all of whom appeared on stage to perform "Toriaezu Rock 'n' Roll" by Carmen Maki & Oz as the final song.[7] A concert DVD was released in October 2008.[10]

Naon no Yaon was revived in 2013 in conjunction with the 90th anniversary of Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall.[11] The festival has been held at the venue on April 29 annually since. An exception being the 2016 festival, which took place on June 12.[12] In 2015, a summer edition of Naon no Yaon was held on August 23 after the normal festival.[13] The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.[14] Naon no Yaon 2021 was held without an in-person audience due to the continued pandemic, but became the first to be livestreamed worldwide.[14]

Event history

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Date Select performers Notes
September 20, 1987 Show-Ya, Princess Princess, Carmen Maki,[5] Hidemi Ishikawa, Jun Miho
September 11, 1988 Show-Ya, Princess Princess, Minako with Wild Cats, Ann Lewis, Nokko, Sheena,[5] You
September 17, 1989 Show-Ya, Princess Princess, Nokko, Kyoko, Kaori Tsuchiya
September 15 and 16, 1990[5] Show-Ya, Ann Lewis, Takako Shirai, Yuiko Tsubokura, Pink Sapphire, Mami Yamase, Ruriko Kubō The only two-day edition
September 15, 1991 Show-Ya, Princess Princess, Linda Yamamoto, Shima-chang, Steffanie
April 29, 2008 Show-Ya, Nanase Aikawa, Yu-ki, Scandal, Nao Nagasawa, Maria, Dream[9]
April 29, 2013 Show-Ya, Shoko Nakagawa, Anna Tsuchiya, Aya Hirano, Destrose, Cyntia, Lovendor[15]
April 29, 2014 Show-Ya, Chisato Moritaka, Kavka Shishido, Gacharic Spin, Yoko Yazawa, Zwei, Miliyah Kato[16][17]
April 29, 2015 Show-Ya, Naomi Tamura, Ayumi Nakamura, Kamen Joshi, Pink Sapphire, Saki, Mie[18][19]
August 23, 2015 Show-Ya, Junko Yagami, Go-Bang's, Silent Siren, Mary's Blood, Chelsy[20] Special summer edition titled "Naon no Yaon 2015 ~Summer~"
June 12, 2016 Show-Ya, Nanase Aikawa, Kyoko, Gacharic Spin, Cyntia,[12] Band-Maid, Zwei
April 29, 2017 Show-Ya, Ai Haruna, Kahoru Kohiruimaki, Silent Siren, Mary's Blood, Cyntia, Li-sa-X
April 29, 2018 Show-Ya, Yū Hayami, Shoko Aida, Yuki Koyanagi, Starmarie,[21] Doll$Boxx
April 29, 2019 Show-Ya, Yu-ki, Mariko Nagai, LiLiCo, Mary's Blood, Girlfriend, Yashiro[22]
April 29, 2020 Show-Ya, Ayumi Nakamura, Nanase Aikawa[23] Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
April 29, 2021 Show-Ya, Yuki Katsuragi, Naomi Tamura, The Coinlockers, Nemophila, LAZYgunsBRISKY[24] No in-person audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic
April 29, 2022 Show-Ya, Maki Ohguro, Kyoko, Chai, Bridear, Yoyoka, Hagane[25]
April 29, 2023 Show-Ya, Chiaki, Rika Matsumoto, Anna Tsuchiya, Lonesome Blue, Miki Ōtake[26]
May 18, 2024 Show-Ya, Junko Yagami, Naomi Tamura, Silent Siren, Gacharic Spin, Trident[27]
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Show-Ya and Terada have hosted several different musical events that are similar to Naon no Yaon. Show-Ya disbanded in 1998, but Terada had re-signed with the office that managed them around that same time. She said that the staff told her how they had enjoyed Naon no Yaon and asked her to revive the event.[4] This resulted in a one-off edition titled "NAON NO NAON" that was held at the live house Club Citta in Kawasaki, Kanagawa in 1999.[3][28] In 2009, Naon no Salon (NAONのSALON) was held at Makuhari Messe on January 10 as part of the Tokyo Auto Salon.[29] Nishidera Minoru, a trio consisting of Terada, Minoru Niihara and Masafumi Nishida (Earthshaker), held Hard na Yaon (HARDなYAON) at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall on April 29, 2009. It featured hard rock acts, including the trio's main bands, and was not limited to females.[30] In 2011, Show-Ya produced the Muon no Yaon (MUONのYAON) charity event at Hibiya Open-Air Concert Hall on May 7, where admission was free but donations encouraged to aid recovery from the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. The "muon" in the title relates the acoustic nature of the event and how the power was "not on"; the Japanese word "mu" can be translated as "not", while "on" is used as the common English word.[31] With the revival of Naon no Yaon in 2013, Show-Ya started the annual Cute Girls Live ~Road to Naon no Yaon~ competition to select opening acts for each year. Competitors must be female and under the age of 25.[32]

The creator of Women's Power, a similar female-centered music festival held annually, acknowledged the influence of Naon no Yaon, and the event was looked at as trying to fill the gap left by Naon no Yaon's discontinuation in 1991.[33]

After taking part in a similar performance at Naon no Yaon 2017, Mary's Blood guitarist Saki organized the World Guitar Girls Collection project which features several female rock guitarists playing famous songs in instrumental medley format.[34]

When Naon no Yaon 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the spin-off Show-Ya to Naon (SHOW-YAとNAON) was held twice in its place. Aside from Show-Ya, the first event on July 22 only featured Nanase Aikawa, but the second on September 19 included several different acts.[35][36] Terada also livestreamed a concert with Gacharic Spin and Nemophila on November 14 as a substitute for the cancellation.[14]

Notes

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  1. ^ Male cross-dressing act Hoshikuzu Scat performed at the 2013 and 2014 events.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "NAON NO YAON 2014 Part2". Beeast. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  2. ^ "オンナだけのロックイベント<NAONのYAON>が復活". Barks (in Japanese). 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  3. ^ a b "電撃復活!「NAONのYAON」17年ぶりに開催". Natalie (in Japanese). 2008-01-10. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  4. ^ a b c "Section 06~寺田恵子単独インタヴュー~". Beeast (in Japanese). 27 October 2014. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  5. ^ a b c d "日本のガールズ・ロックを象徴するイベント「NAONのYAON」". Kayopops (in Japanese). WOWOW. 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  6. ^ "4/29開催「NAONのYAON」イベントレポート掲載!". Universal Music (in Japanese). 2015-04-30. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  7. ^ a b c "17年ぶり音楽祭「NAONのYAON」". Sponichi (in Japanese). 2008-04-30. Archived from the original on 2008-04-30. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  8. ^ a b "【公演行こうぜ!】NAONのYAON、出演者続々決定!". Beeast (in Japanese). 2013-03-15. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  9. ^ a b "女だらけのロックイベントNAONのYAON開催間近". Barks (in Japanese). 2008-04-21. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  10. ^ "17年ぶりに復活したイヴェント〈NAONのYAON〉、待望のDVD化が決定。10月16日に発売". Tower Records (in Japanese). 2008-09-18. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  11. ^ "復活「NAONのYAON」にSHOW-YA、杏子、中川翔子ら". Natalie (in Japanese). 2013-02-07. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  12. ^ a b "ロック魂が暴れちゃうわよ!水谷千重子「NAONのYAON」に出演". Natalie (in Japanese). 2016-03-14. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  13. ^ "真夏の「NAONのYAON」、今年2回目の開催決定". Natalie (in Japanese). 2015-04-29. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  14. ^ a b c ""SHOW-YA PRODUCE 'NAON no YAON 2021'" to be Live Streamed Worldwide". jame-world. 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  15. ^ "【公演行こうぜ!】NAONのYAON、出演者続々決定!". Beeast (in Japanese). 2013-03-15. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  16. ^ "NAONのYAONに中ノ森文子、矢沢洋子、黒木渚、Drop's、Cyntiaら決定". Beeast (in Japanese). 2014-03-22. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  17. ^ "大盛りレポ!ロック増量 Vol.12-2 NAONのYAON 2014". Beeast (in Japanese). 19 May 2014. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  18. ^ "<速報>NAONのYAON O.AコンテストでSORAMIMIら3組が優勝". Beeast (in Japanese). 2015-04-19. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  19. ^ "大盛りレポ!ロック増量 Vol.24-2 NAONのYAON 2015". Beeast (in Japanese). 30 May 2015. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  20. ^ "「NAONのYAON」に杏子、PERSONZのJILL、中川翔子が追加". Natalie (in Japanese). 2015-07-31. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  21. ^ "『NAONのYAON』今年も異色コラボ実現 相田翔子、早見優らが初参戦で熱唱". Oricon (in Japanese). 2018-04-30. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  22. ^ "NAONのYAON 平成歌い納めに2800人熱狂 令和開催も予告". Sponichi (in Japanese). 2019-04-30. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  23. ^ "4・29「NAONのYAON」延期 新型コロナ感染拡大受け". Sponichi (in Japanese). 2020-04-03. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  24. ^ "<NAONのYAON 2021>が開催決定". Barks (in Japanese). 2021-03-25. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  25. ^ "3年越しの有観客開催<NAONのYAON 2022>第二弾出演者として大黒摩季とCHAIが決定". Barks (in Japanese). 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
  26. ^ "千秋/松本梨香/Lonesome_Blue、SHOW-YAプロデュース【NAONのYAON 2023】に初出演決定". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2023-02-17. Retrieved 2023-02-18.
  27. ^ "SHOW-YA/NEMOPHILA/SILENT SIREN/相川七瀬ら出演、【NAONのYAON 2024】のライブレポートが到着". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  28. ^ "SHOW-YAプロデュースの〈NAONのYAON〉、4月29日に日比谷野外大音楽堂にて復活". Tower Records (in Japanese). 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  29. ^ "亜美らがナオンだけのライブ、次は秋開催". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). 2009-01-11. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  30. ^ "西寺実、X.Y.Z.→A、河村隆一ら登場「HARDなYAON」". Natalie (in Japanese). 2009-03-12. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  31. ^ "「無ON」のチャリティライブ「MUONのYAON」、歌も地声で真っ向勝負". Barks (in Japanese). 2011-05-02. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  32. ^ "「NAONのYAON」O.Aオーディションイベント始動". Beeast (in Japanese). 2014-04-19. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  33. ^ "WOMEN'S POWER 20th Sp. 2012/1/9@渋谷O-WEST". Beeast (in Japanese). 19 May 2014. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  34. ^ ""WORLD GUITAR GIRLS COLLECTION 2018 GIG 1" 2018.8.19 @渋谷WWW ライヴ・レポート". Young Guitar Magazine (in Japanese). 2018-09-12. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
  35. ^ "免疫UP!UP!燃えっぞ!SHOW-YA「NAONのYAON」スピンオフ配信に相川七瀬ゲスト参加". Natalie (in Japanese). 2020-07-16. Retrieved 2021-10-21.
  36. ^ "『SHOW-YAとNAON vol.2』無観客配信ライブ 久宝留理子、島谷ひとみ、椿鬼奴ら熱唱". Oricon (in Japanese). 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
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