City Pop vs Future Funk

On April 10, the Japanese Culture Center presents City Pop vs Future Funk at the Hairpin Arts Center in Chicago

A night dedicated to the evolution of Japanese pop music across generations, aesthetics, and dance culture. The event brings two interconnected sound worlds into direct dialogue, pairing the smooth, nostalgic grooves of City Pop with the high-energy, internet-born pulse of Future Funk. The night is being held at the beautiful Hairpin Arts Center in Logan Square, with instagrammable city backdrops that will impress!

The event will be hosted and MC’d by Chicago’s own Jas!

Representing City Pop is Van Paugam, whose DJ sets draw from the genre’s late-1970s and 1980s origins, blending lush synths, disco-inflected basslines, and cosmopolitan melodies that reflect Japan’s bubble-era urban imagination.

Opposing and complementing, this sound is Tiara, DJing Future Funk: a contemporary genre that samples, loops, and recontextualizes City Pop and adjacent styles into fast-paced, dancefloor-driven tracks shaped by global online culture and anime aesthetics.

At the center of the night is a cosplay dance battle with prizes, inviting participants to embody their favorite characters and styles while competing through movement, performance, and crowd energy. The battle emphasizes creativity, costume, and rhythm, turning the dance floor into a live expression of fan culture and musical reinterpretation.

Cosplay Dance Battle Pre-Registration Required: Email SW5mbyB8IFZhbnBhdWdhbSAhIGNvbQ== with your cosplay photos.

VIP tickets are available, offering an enhanced event experience including green room access, meet the artists, complimentary champagne (21+), and free merch.

Early bird tickets are offered at a reduced price through March 1.

With its combination of DJ performances, participatory dance, and genre contrast, City Pop vs Future Funk highlights the continuing influence of Japanese pop culture and its ability to be reimagined across time and scenes.

Ages: 18+

Date: April 10
Venue: Hairpin Arts Center, Chicago
City Pop DJ: Van Paugam
Future Funk DJ: Tiara
Features: Cosplay Dance Battle, VIP Tickets Available
Early Bird Tickets: Available until March 1
Presented by: Japanese Culture Center

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