Japan Underground – the long-running event by JPU Records celebrating great Japanese music – returns on Saturday, 31 January 2026, with a special, ultra-intimate edition featuring mikina of the EDM-driven idol group ExWHYZ. The event will take place at The Kings Arms in Hanwell, West London, and tickets are available here.

In previous years, Japan Underground has hosted acts such as Otoboke Beaver, [Alexandros], and FACT long before they rose to fame. The upcoming session will welcome mikina. ExWHYZ’s newest single, DON’T CRY, created in collaboration with Japanese EDM unit DONGROSSO, has already surpassed a million views within a month. Meanwhile, mikina continues to go viral on TikTok thanks to clips of her playfully working the tills at Tower Records Japan, drawing comments like “Is this a dream?” and “This is so cute.”

With ExWHYZ built around the message “dance your dance” and rooted in electronic dance music, it’s only fitting that its members are passionate DJs. This event will be mikina’s first-ever DJ set outside Japan. Although she hasn’t revealed her setlist yet, it’s safe to assume she’ll get the room moving. Other ExWHYZ members will also be attending, and may well be dancing their own dance, too.

As always, JPU Records staff will take to the decks as well, spinning a mix of rock, metal, visual kei, and anime favourites, plus audience requests to keep the energy high.

Venue

This edition of Japan Underground takes place in the brand-new Marshall Lounge at The Kings Arms, just steps away from Marshall Amps’ first shop – the birthplace of modern rock ’n’ roll. The area is rich with history: The Rolling Stones cemented their classic lineup nearby, and legends like Eric Clapton, Freddie Mercury, and Ginger Baker once roamed these same streets. It’s also only a stone’s throw from JPU Records’ HQ, making it an ideal site to kick off the new year.

Getting there is simple:

• Hanwell Station (Elizabeth line, Heathrow-bound trains only) is a short walk away. The last train into central London leaves at 23:33.
• From Ealing Broadway Station (Central, District, and Elizabeth lines), buses E8, SL8, or 483 will get you to Hanwell Broadway in under 15 minutes.

_{View of the Arts is an online publication dedicated to films, music, and the arts, with a strong focus on the Asian entertainment industry. With rich content already available to our readers, we aim to expand our reach and grow alongside our audience by delving deeper into emerging platforms such as K-pop and Asian music more broadly. At the same time, we remain committed to exploring the vibrant and ever-evolving global landscape of film, music, and the arts, celebrating the immense talent and creativity that define these industries worldwide.}