On February 21, 2026, the second lineup announcement was made for “Gobu Gobu Festival 2026,” a music event devised by Downtown’s Masatoshi Hamada—and four major acts have officially joined the bill.
AiNA THE END, ATARASHII GAKKO! (新しい学校のリーダーズ), INI, and Masahiko Kondo are set to 出演（しゅつえん） (shutsuen, appear) at the festival, which will be 開催（かいさい） (kaisai, held) on June 6 and 7 at Osaka’s Expo ’70 Commemorative Park.
Let’s take a closer look at what makes this festival unique—and what you can learn from the Japanese used in this announcement.
What Is “Gobu Gobu Festival”?
“Gobu Gobu Festival” (ごぶごぶフェスティバル) is a music festival 考案（こうあん） (kouan, devised) by Masatoshi Hamada of the comedy duo Downtown. The event was first 立ち上げられた（たちあげられた） (tachiagerareta, launched) in 2024.
The festival’s motto is:
“全方位に浜田の血が通ったフェス” Zen hōi ni Hamada no chi ga kayotta fesu “A festival infused with Hamada’s spirit in every direction.”
By 2026, the event will be held for the third time. This year, the venue will be moved from the Momiji River Lawn Square to the East Plaza of Expo ’70 Commemorative Park—one of the 最大級（さいだいきゅう） (saidaikyuu, largest-class) outdoor venues in the Kansai region.
In Japanese, this shift was expressed as:
万博記念公園 東の広場へと移して実施される。 Banpaku kinen kōen Higashi no hiroba e to utsushite jisshi sareru. “The event will be held after shifting to the East Plaza of Expo ’70 Commemorative Park.”
We’ll look at that grammar pattern more closely below.
Newly Announced Artists
The second round of performers was just announced. Here’s who will 登場（とうじょう） (toujou, appear) on each day:
June 6, 2026 (Saturday)
- 浜田雅功 (Hamada Masatoshi)
- 湘南乃風 (Shōnan no Kaze)
- アイナ・ジ・エンド (AiNA THE END)
- 新しい学校のリーダーズ (ATARASHII GAKKO!)
- and more
June 7, 2026 (Sunday)
- 浜田雅功 (Hamada Masatoshi)
- DISH//
- INI
- 近藤真彦 (Kondō Masahiko)
- and more
AiNA THE END and ATARASHII GAKKO! will perform on Day 1, while INI and Masahiko Kondo will appear on Day 2.
The article also notes that more artists will be 追加（ついか） (tsuika, added) in the future—so the lineup isn’t complete yet.
Cultural Context: Why Is This Festival Interesting?
Masatoshi Hamada is best known as part of Downtown, one of Japan’s most influential comedy duos. Seeing a comedian devise and lead a large-scale music festival reflects something very Japanese: the blending of entertainment worlds.
In Japan, comedians often host music programs, appear in variety shows with musicians, and collaborate across industries. The phrase:
浜田考案フェス Hamada kouan fesu “A festival devised by Hamada”
signals that this isn’t just a typical concert—it’s shaped by his personality and creative direction.
The move to a larger venue in its third year also suggests the festival’s growth and popularity.
Learn Japanese from This Article
Let’s break down key vocabulary and grammar you can use in real life—especially if you enjoy following Japanese entertainment news.
Key Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 出演 | shutsuen | appearance (on stage, TV, event) |
| 開催 | kaisai | to hold or host (an event) |
| 考案 | kouan | to devise, to come up with an idea |
| 立ち上げる | tachiageru | to launch, to start up |
| 最大級 | saidaikyuu | one of the largest |
| 登場 | toujou | appearance; to appear |
| 追加 | tsuika | addition |
These words appear constantly in Japanese news articles about concerts, anime events, and TV programs.
Grammar Spotlight ①: 〜される (Passive in News Style)
Japanese news writing frequently uses the passive form to sound objective and neutral.
Example from the article:
出演アーティスト第2弾が発表された。 Shutsuen ātisuto dai-nidan ga happyō sareta. “The second round of performing artists was announced.”
Pattern: > Noun + が + Verb (passive form)
More examples:
フェスが開催される。 Fesu ga kaisai sareru. “The festival will be held.”
新メンバーが追加された。 Shin menbā ga tsuika sareta. “A new member was added.”
This structure is extremely common in headlines.
Grammar Spotlight ②: 〜へと移す
From the article:
会場を…東の広場へと移して実施される。 Kaijō o… Higashi no hiroba e to utsushite jisshi sareru. “The event will be carried out after moving the venue to the East Plaza.”
Pattern: > A を B へと移す > Move A to B (with emphasis on the transition)
The particle へと adds emphasis compared to just へ, highlighting a significant change.
Example:
- オフィスを東京へと移した。 Ofisu o Tōkyō e to utsushita. “We relocated the office to Tokyo.”
Useful Expressions for Entertainment News
- 〜が決定 (~ ga kettei) — “~ has been decided”
- 〜に登場する (~ ni toujou suru) — “to appear at ~”
- 今後も追加される (kongo mo tsuika sareru) — “more will be added in the future”
Once you recognize these patterns, Japanese headlines become much easier to read.
Continue Learning
To understand more about entertainment vocabulary, explore our Basic Vocabulary Building: Embracing Words Without Latin Ties
Working on your reading skills? Our Introduction to Kanji: Pictorial Foundations of Japanese Script lesson is a great next step.
Curious about how words like “フェスティバル” enter Japanese? Check out Katakana Essentials: Adapting Global Words to Japanese
Japanese entertainment news is full of rich vocabulary and subtle grammar that you won’t always find in beginner textbooks. By reading real announcements like this one, you’re learning Japanese the way it’s actually used in Japan—clear, concise, and packed with meaning.
これからもよろしくお願いします。 Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.