BitSummit the 13th to feature stage appearances by Nobuo Uematsu, Kaz Ayabe, Hideki Kamiya, and more

Live performances, developer talks, and world premieres.

Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu and his band conTIKI, chiptune pioneer and Game Boy Camera creator Chip Tanaka, and viral composer OkanP will appear at BitSummit the 13th as part of the event’s stage programming, The BitSummit Organization Committee announced. Games industry veterans Hideki Kamiya (Bayonetta, Viewtiful Joe), Kaz Ayabe (Boku no Natsuyasumi), and Jiro Ishii (428: Shibuya Scramble) will also appear on stage.

Here are the details:

■ Composers
Nobuo Uematsu / conTIKI
Making his BitSummit debut, veteran composer Nobuo Uematsu will perform Saturday, July 19, as keyboardist with his band conTIKI. Formed in 2021, the group”s live set often features a solo segment of Final Fantasy arrangements from the 2022 LP Modulation, conTIKI”s multimedia project and latest album Akarigatari—which blends narration, visuals, and music.
Regarding his first appearance at the annual event, Uematsu says “Thank you for inviting me to BitSummit. I have never performed in Kyoto with an orchestra or band before, so this BitSummit will be my debut in Kyoto. …I wonder what will happen? We look forward to seeing you all at the venue!”

Hirokazu “Chip” Tanaka
Composer Hirokazu “Chip” Tanaka, the legendary sound designer, musician, and producer behind the Game Boy Camera, and the Metroid, MOTHER, and Tetris soundtracks, will take the stage on [July 20] for a special hometown appearance. An active chiptune artist since 2007, Tanaka”s set is shaped by decades of game sound innovation and a distinct electronic style.
Harumi Fujita (OkanP)
Veteran game composer OkanP (also known as Harumi Fujita) and viral TikTok sensation, best known for her work at Capcom on titles such as Mega Man 3, Final Fight, Pulstar, and Tomba!, will also perform on the BitSummit stage. In her first festival appearance since going viral, she”ll compose a brand new track live on stage, showcasing the same quick-fire creativity behind her debut video “Can you make a song like Rockman?,” which surpassed 2.8 million views, and sparked a following of over 300,000 followers across multiple platforms.
■ Speakers Panel
This year”s speakers panel is made up of a celebrated array of renowned game creators, some making their very first appearances at BitSummit, who will discuss and dissect their legacy, and do a deep dive on how creators shape their worlds.
Kaz Ayabe
In a rare public appearance, Boku no Natsuyasumi creator Kaz Ayabe (Natsu-Mon! 20th Century Summer Vacation, Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale) will speak at BitSummit, tracing his path from early work to the creation of his signature series under his own studio, Millennium Kitchen.
Hideki Kamiya x Crystal Noda
BitSummit is also excited to welcome back Clovers Inc., founder Hideki Kamiya (Okami, Resident Evil 2, The Wonderful 101), joined by Crystal Noda, the creator of the Noda Game series of party games, for a special joint session, where they”ll dive into the evolving role of technology and individuality in game development.
Jiro Ishii
Capping off this round of announcements is Shibuya Scramble Stories, a newly unveiled narrative game by Jiro Ishii, best known for the live-action title 428: Shibuya Scramble, with BitSummit hosting the first look at the project as a world premiere.