J-POP Summit

J-POP Summit, hosted by non-profit organization SUPERFROG Project, is a Japanese cultural festival held in San Francisco, California. Introduced in 2011, J-POP Summit hosts an annual Odottemita Dance Contest to celebrate odottemita culture. Entrants submit their audition videos online, and a set number of finalists (usually 7-9) are chosen to perform onstage at the event.

Featured celebrity judges over the years have been Kozue Aikawa and Ikura (2011), TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE (2014), FES☆TIVE (2015), and GARNiDELiA (2016).

In 2017 J-Pop Summit decided to not hold the Odottemita Dance Contest.

Concept
J-POP Summit promotes Japanese pop culture and subcultures in Northern California featuring Japanese celebrities and interactive promotions.

"By introducing the latest in Japanese music, fashion, film, art, games, tech-innovations, anime, food, as well as niche subcultures, the festival has become a landing platform for new trends from Japan." -J-POP Summit

History
J-POP Summit began as a small free festival in Japan Town. As its popularity rises, J-POP Summit has evolved into a larger paid event with featured Japanese music performances, interactive contests, and Japanese fashion pop-up shops.

From 2011 to 2014, the finalists performed on an outdoor stage. In 2015 and 2016, the festival moved to an indoor venue, featuring an indoor stage equipped with various lighting and screens.

In 2016 the competition took place through video submissions and only the 1st place winners were allowed to dance on stage.

Date & Location

 * 1) 2011.07.19 San Francisco Japan Town Peace Plaza
 * 2) 2012.07.25 San Francisco Japan Town Peace Plaza
 * 3) 2013.07.27-28 San Francisco Japan Town Peace Plaza
 * 4) 2014.07.19 San Francisco Japan Town Peace Plaza
 * 5) 2015.08.08 San Francisco Fort Mason Center
 * 6) 2016.07.24 San Francisco Fort Mason Center

Affiliated Dancers
2011 = Judges Finalists 2012 = Judges Finalists 2013 = MC Judges Solo Finalists Group Finalists 2014 = MC Judges Finalists 2015 = MC Judges Solo Finalists Group Finalists 2016 = Judges Solo Winner Group Winner
 * 1) Kozue Aikawa
 * 2) Ikura
 * 1) Kokoro No Ichigo
 * 2) Kayla
 * 3) Dear
 * 4) Cherry (2nd place)
 * 5) Jessica
 * 6) Simon
 * 7) Heidi
 * 8) Claire & Jessica
 * 9) Kat
 * 10) Hinamori
 * 11) Katrina
 * 12) Tiffany  (1st place)
 * 13) Sydney
 * 14) Ami
 * 1) Tiffany
 * 2) VocalektVisions Tempo-P
 * 3) Mary Sano
 * 4) Kylee
 * 5) Michelle
 * 1) Angela & Kat
 * 2) Heidi
 * 3) Sakura & Hannah
 * 4) Hinamori (2nd place)
 * 5) There Will Be Caek
 * 6) Zippy
 * 7) Niki & Simon
 * 8) Florence (1st place)
 * 9) Resa Chiic & Storoviluntis
 * 10) Yuuka
 * 1) Stephen Chun
 * 1) Tiffany
 * 2) Florence
 * 1) Hinamori
 * 2) Charmie Kitty
 * 3) AoiKatori
 * 4) Lychii
 * 5) In-V3rse (2nd place)
 * 6) Butters (1st place)
 * 7) Axe
 * 8) friskie
 * 1) Dream Cafe (1st place)
 * 2) Bitter Punch (2nd place)
 * 3) There Will Be Caek
 * 1) Olivia Speranza
 * 1) TOKYO GIRLS' STYLE
 * 1) Mugen Squid Squad
 * 2) Butters (1st place)
 * 3) eMpiRe
 * 4) Tokyo Extreme Choreography (3rd place)
 * 5) z.K
 * 6) CLUB LOLLIPOP (2nd place)
 * 7) Masq3rade
 * 8) Dream Cafe
 * 9) Eri
 * 1) Stephen Chun
 * 1) Butters
 * 2) FES☆TIVE
 * 1) Florence
 * 2) BEE
 * 3) Jyuke (1st place)
 * 4) Eri
 * 1) Jyuumily
 * 2) CLUB LOLLIPOP
 * 3) MasDream
 * 4) eMpiRe (1st place)
 * 1) GARNiDELiA
 * 1) friskie
 * 1) ARKETYPE (1st place)
 * 2) PRiSMiX

Trivia

 * In 2014, the festival attracted 120,000 atendees two days