World's Top Artists Assemble! Teen-Led Entertainment Festival 'ZERO FES 2026' Held at TAKANAWA GATEWAY Convention Center
IDEAR Inc. successfully organized 'ZERO FES 2026,' a global festival produced by and featuring teenagers, at the TAKANAWA GATEWAY Convention Center, showcasing next-gen talents in music, dance, and drones.
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- 📰 Published: April 2, 2026 at 01:01
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On March 29, 2026 (Sunday), IDEAR Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya, Tokyo; CEO: Kaito Amano) hosted 'ZERO FES 2026,' a new entertainment festival produced and performed by teenagers, at the TAKANAWA GATEWAY Convention Center with special sponsorship from JR East. Next-generation top artists from around the world active in various genres such as music, dance, and drones gathered, and the venue was filled with enthusiasm throughout the day.
The stage opened with the delicate yet dynamic rhythms of live drums by 17-year-old British genius drummer Jack Manders. His overwhelming groove, seamlessly navigating between jazz and contemporary, instantly captivated the audience. Following him were the Japanese turntable brothers Kaiharubro (ages 18 and 16). Their four-handed play, fusing classic hip-hop contexts with next-gen sensibilities, shook the floor. The baton was then passed to Poland's up-and-coming DJ OTEK (16), whose outstanding technical skills further escalated the venue's energy.
As the DJ sets reached their peak, Japan's leading next-gen B-boy RA1ON (17) and B-girl AMANE (17) took the stage, overwhelming the crowd with dynamic and high-level breaking. DMC Spain Scratch Champion DJ RICARDO (15) then charmed the audience with a mix of old-school and modern sounds before the atmosphere transformed.
Dom Innarella (15), a singer from the USA, appeared and enveloped the venue with his soaring vocals rooted in soul and R&B. Dom commented on his participation, 'I was so excited when my father told me he received an offer for ZERO FES via Instagram DM. I've always wanted to visit Japan, so performing here has been a truly special experience.' He added, 'I've fallen in love with Japan and Zero Fest. The energy of the audience was truly wonderful, respectful, and had a charm different from the US,' expressing his hope to perform in Japan again.
Next was DJ MICHELLE (14) from Dubai, the youngest-ever and first female DMC champion. She delivered a masterful scratch performance that transcended genres. Cezary Machej (19) from Poland then pushed the performance to a new dimension by blending a DJ set with live drums.
As the sun began to set, rapper BabyChiefDoit (17), who has charted on the US Billboard Hot 100, took the stage. His powerful live performance of new-generation drill sound, depicting street reality vividly, electrified the venue. 'I just wanted to have new experiences. This is my first time in Japan, and I was looking forward to seeing how my music and energy would be received,' he remarked. 'The energy was beyond expectations; even with the language barrier, I felt strong love. It was a wonderful experience.'
The festival entered its final phase with Tim Bliss (15) from Ukraine, who has worked on official remixes for top artists, dominating the floor with sophisticated EDM sounds. He led into the grand finale by Ibiza-based DJ ELFIGO (14). The prodigy's mastery over four decks drove the enthusiasm to its absolute peak.
ELFIGO shared his thoughts: 'My first experience here was so great that I wanted to join again. This time was equally amazing, and I'm very happy.' Regarding the Japanese audience, he noted, 'They are usually cool and calm, but once the music starts, they switch on instantly. That gap was very impressive.'
Additionally, 15-year-old professional drone racer Yuki Yamamoto (Japan) conducted drone filming throughout the day. He captured the stage performances and the audience's excitement dynamically from the air. Yuki, who started with drones at age 9, has been active in domestic and international competitions, ranking 3rd globally in the WDRC 2024 and winning the 'BTW BIRD 2026' in the UK in February 2026. His exceptional piloting skills recorded the event's vitality from every angle.
Reflecting on the event, ZERO FES founder and producer Kaito Amano said:
'Through ZERO FES, I felt the strong potential for teenagers to connect. I am very happy that we could create a moment where people connect through music and expression beyond language and cultural differences. There are many talented teenagers in the world. I want to continue creating events and projects with my generation to give birth to new culture.'
'Tokyo is now a place where cultures from all over the world intersect. There is great meaning in broadcasting from here. IDEAR will continue to challenge itself as a global creative agency born from teenagers, acting as a bridge to connect youth across countries and genres and creating collaborations. We will continue to take on challenges as a starting point for new culture.'
The stage opened with the delicate yet dynamic rhythms of live drums by 17-year-old British genius drummer Jack Manders. His overwhelming groove, seamlessly navigating between jazz and contemporary, instantly captivated the audience. Following him were the Japanese turntable brothers Kaiharubro (ages 18 and 16). Their four-handed play, fusing classic hip-hop contexts with next-gen sensibilities, shook the floor. The baton was then passed to Poland's up-and-coming DJ OTEK (16), whose outstanding technical skills further escalated the venue's energy.
As the DJ sets reached their peak, Japan's leading next-gen B-boy RA1ON (17) and B-girl AMANE (17) took the stage, overwhelming the crowd with dynamic and high-level breaking. DMC Spain Scratch Champion DJ RICARDO (15) then charmed the audience with a mix of old-school and modern sounds before the atmosphere transformed.
Dom Innarella (15), a singer from the USA, appeared and enveloped the venue with his soaring vocals rooted in soul and R&B. Dom commented on his participation, 'I was so excited when my father told me he received an offer for ZERO FES via Instagram DM. I've always wanted to visit Japan, so performing here has been a truly special experience.' He added, 'I've fallen in love with Japan and Zero Fest. The energy of the audience was truly wonderful, respectful, and had a charm different from the US,' expressing his hope to perform in Japan again.
Next was DJ MICHELLE (14) from Dubai, the youngest-ever and first female DMC champion. She delivered a masterful scratch performance that transcended genres. Cezary Machej (19) from Poland then pushed the performance to a new dimension by blending a DJ set with live drums.
As the sun began to set, rapper BabyChiefDoit (17), who has charted on the US Billboard Hot 100, took the stage. His powerful live performance of new-generation drill sound, depicting street reality vividly, electrified the venue. 'I just wanted to have new experiences. This is my first time in Japan, and I was looking forward to seeing how my music and energy would be received,' he remarked. 'The energy was beyond expectations; even with the language barrier, I felt strong love. It was a wonderful experience.'
The festival entered its final phase with Tim Bliss (15) from Ukraine, who has worked on official remixes for top artists, dominating the floor with sophisticated EDM sounds. He led into the grand finale by Ibiza-based DJ ELFIGO (14). The prodigy's mastery over four decks drove the enthusiasm to its absolute peak.
ELFIGO shared his thoughts: 'My first experience here was so great that I wanted to join again. This time was equally amazing, and I'm very happy.' Regarding the Japanese audience, he noted, 'They are usually cool and calm, but once the music starts, they switch on instantly. That gap was very impressive.'
Additionally, 15-year-old professional drone racer Yuki Yamamoto (Japan) conducted drone filming throughout the day. He captured the stage performances and the audience's excitement dynamically from the air. Yuki, who started with drones at age 9, has been active in domestic and international competitions, ranking 3rd globally in the WDRC 2024 and winning the 'BTW BIRD 2026' in the UK in February 2026. His exceptional piloting skills recorded the event's vitality from every angle.
Reflecting on the event, ZERO FES founder and producer Kaito Amano said:
'Through ZERO FES, I felt the strong potential for teenagers to connect. I am very happy that we could create a moment where people connect through music and expression beyond language and cultural differences. There are many talented teenagers in the world. I want to continue creating events and projects with my generation to give birth to new culture.'
'Tokyo is now a place where cultures from all over the world intersect. There is great meaning in broadcasting from here. IDEAR will continue to challenge itself as a global creative agency born from teenagers, acting as a bridge to connect youth across countries and genres and creating collaborations. We will continue to take on challenges as a starting point for new culture.'
FAQ
What is ZERO FES?
It is an international entertainment festival for the new generation, produced by and featuring performers who are all in their teens.
What kind of artists performed?
Top talents from around the world in music, dance, and drones, such as Jack Manders (UK), DJ MICHELLE (Dubai), and BabyChiefDoit (USA), participated.
What are the future plans?
The organizer, IDEAR, plans to create cross-border and cross-genre collaborations as a global creative agency led by teenagers.