Japan Jam 2013

'We fear change' might as well be the mantra at music magazine Rockin' On, which for years has been tirelessly pushing the same old acts at its annual Rock in Japan and Countdown Japan festivals. Perhaps that's what inspired this most pusillanimous of periodicals to start Japan Jam, a spring event in which familiar faces from Rockin' On's other fests are encouraged to do something different, playing one-off sessions with guest musicians. This year's lineup includes collaborations between '90s indie survivors Shutoku Mukai and Keiichi Sokabe, Stones-style rockers Okamoto's and Ulfuls frontman Tortoise Matsumoto, and a rock 'n' roll session featuring Flower Companyz, Scoobie Do and Hoff Dylan.