Livemusik & film: Boom! Maia Hirasawas Japan

Livemusik & film: BOOM!

MAIA HIRASAWAS JAPAN See an exclusive screening of the SVT documentary “Boom: Maia Hirasawas Japan”, hear the Swedish-Japanese musician perform live and join a conversation between Hirasawa and film director Jonatan Järbel about what it is like to make it big in Japan.

Following the earthquake and Fukushima disaster in 2011, Swedish-Japanese musician Maia Hirasawa secured her place in Japanese music history. Her song “Boom!” was written for an advert but became a unifying soundtrack to Japan’s rebuilding efforts. Just over ten years later, she returns for a tour around the country, but she no longer knows how many people remember her.

“Boom! Maia Hirasawas Japan” was first shown on SVT in 2024 and won the award for best documentary at Luleå Filmfestival that same year.

After the screening, Maia Hirasawa talks to the film’s director, Jonatan Järbel, about what it is like to make it big in Japan and to live with both Swedish and Japanese cultures as part of her identity. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

Maia Hirasawa

Maia Hirasawa is a versatile artist, songwriter and composer who, since her breakthrough in 2007, has established herself as an integral part of both the Swedish and Japanese music scenes.

With her distinctive voice and melodic pop, she has released seven albums, moving effortlessly between Swedish, English and Japanese in her lyrics.

She made her breakthrough with her debut album “Though, I’m Just Me” and songs such as “And I Found This Boy” and “Gothenburg”, as well as her rendition of “The Worrying Kind” at Melodifestivalen. In Japan, she made a huge impact in 2011 with the song “Boom”, which became a symbol of hope following the earthquake and tsunami that year. Alongside her career as a performer, Maia is also a sought-after composer and has written music for film, television and advertising. Maia Hirasawa will release a new album in 2027.