Mimi Shimada (JP)

MiMi Shimada is a driving force in Japan’s dance music and nightlife industry. With a career spanning over two decades, she has been instrumental in shaping the international presence of pioneering Japanese acts including BOOM BOOM SATELLITES, THE SPELLBOUND, and JP THE WAVY.

A graduate of a U.S. university, MiMi returned to Japan in 2001 to launch her career in the rapidly evolving digital music landscape. She began at one of Japan’s first digital music aggregators, where she was deeply involved in event production, international artist bookings, label operations, media relations, and artist management.

In 2006, she became the international manager for BOOM BOOM SATELLITES, supporting their global growth until the band’s hiatus in 2016. Beyond artist management, she also led press and communications for Japan’s largest club, ageHa, until its closure in 2021. Most recently, she manages THE SPELLBOUND, the new band formed by members of BOOM BOOM SATELLITES and THE NOVEMBERS, while continuing to advise and support the international expansion of Japanese artists and labels.

Beyond her work with artists, MiMi is committed to shaping a safer and more inclusive music culture. She is the co-representative of Chicks on the Mission Tokyo, an organization dedicated to creating safe spaces for women in nightlife, and a committee member of the Independent Music Coalition Japan (IMCJ), where she contributes to global marketing strategy.

At ADE, MiMi brings invaluable insight into the dynamics of the Japanese market—its opportunities, its challenges, and the pathways for European and global creators seeking to enter and thrive within it.