Tokyo Gigs June 2026

JUN 1 SHIBUSASHIRAZU ORCHESTRA Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥4,400

JUN 1 NATIHO TOYOTA/TATSUHISA YAMAMOTO Polaris, Minami-Aoyama ¥3,500

JUN 1 UOO, MIRAI OUKURA, JOHN TREMENDOUS' SOFT ADULT EXPLOSION Scool, Mitaka ¥2,000

JUN 1 POISON THE WELL, KNOSIS, HEAVEN IN HER ARMS, &c. Fever, Shindaita ¥8,000

JUN 2 LAKE, TENNISCOATS 7th Floor, Shibuya ¥5,000

JUN 2 TIM HODGKINSON & ATSUKO KAMURA W/ MICHIYO YAGI, &c. Super Dommune, Shibuya ¥3,500

JUN 2 SY/N, KEI TORIKI, NORDOST, BLOOD AND BONES Forestlimit, Hatagaya ¥2,500

JUN 2 WOJCIECH RUSIN/AYAKO KANDA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 3 SAICOBAB, CHIHEI HATAKEYAMA Haremame, Daikanyama ¥4,000

JUN 3 J.I.D Ebisu Garden Hall ¥9,000

JUN 3 POKETTO W/ YOYOYOSHIE Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥4,000

JUN 3 TIM HODGKINSON/ATSUKO KAMURA/MICHIYO YAGI/&c. Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥4,500

JUN 3 JUNICHIRO OKUCHI/EIICHI HAYASHI QUARTET Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥3,300

JUN 3 KAZUKI TOMOKAWA, HISATO YAMAMOTO Bush Bash, Koiwa ¥3,500

JUN 3 ALEXIS CROISÉ, HARUHISA TANAKA, TOSHPHIC Polaris, Minami-Aoyama ¥3,000

JUN 3 YOAL (SATOMIMAGAE/EUAN ALEXANDER MILLAR-MCMEEKEN) Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥4,000

JUN 4 TORTOISE Zepp Shinjuku ¥9,500

JUN 4 DANIEL CAESAR Tokyo International Forum, Yurakucho ¥12,800-¥30,300

JUN 4 MY PET FOSSIL, DREAMS, SPOILMAN Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥2,500

JUN 5 CHAT PILE, COFFINS Earthdom, Shin-Okubo ¥8,000

JUN 5 TORTOISE Kanda Square Hall ¥9,500

JUN 5 FELIX KUBIN, ARTURO LANZ, FRANICS WITH LILY, &c. UFO Club, Higashi-Koenji ¥4,500

JUN 5 LOOLOWNINGEN, SCHIZOPHRAGM, HATAKEYAMA KJ (DJ) Forestlimit, Hatagaya ¥3,000

JUN 5 DAVID CHESWORTH/BILL MCDONALD, NANA HORISAKI Tangram Hair Salon, Uehara ¥3,500

JUN 5 SATOKO FUJII (SOLO) Shichoshitsu, Jimbocho ¥3,000

JUN 5 LES KHMERS Haremame, Daikanyama ¥3,000

JUN 5 KEI MATSUMARU (SOLO) Polaris, Minami-Aoyama ¥4,000

JUN 5 SHOJI HANO/MITSURU TABATA/CAL LYALL Chihei, Otsuka ¥3,000

JUN 5 DJILOGUE, MOLI, C-KAY (LIVE) Kagurane, Kagurazaka ¥2,500

JUN 5 E-COLI, T-MENACE, SHOKO-BONS (LIVE), &c. Forestlimit, Hatagaya ¥3,000 (night)

JUN 6 KAFKA FRIENDS (TOSHIAKI SUDOH/EIKO ISHIBASHI/&c.) 440, Shimokitazawa ¥3,500 (afternoon)

JUN 6 MOIN, GOAT Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥8,000

JUN 6 FELIX KUBIN, KAFKA'S IBIKI Goethe-Institut Tokyo, Akasaka ¥5,000

JUN 6 HIZUMITOYUGAMI, SHUN MOMOSE/SUNG NAM HAN, &c. Chihei, Otsuka ¥2,000

JUN 6 DECORATION P-CH, TECHNIKS, SUMMARY, &c. Pool, Sakuradai ¥2,500

JUN 6 AQUILES HADJIS, AKIAHIRUME Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,000

JUN 6 WORST TASTE, SERIAL EXPERIMENTS, TEPPOHSEEN, &c. Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥2,500

JUN 6 JUN INAGAWA (ALL NIGHT) WWW X, Shibuya ¥2,000 (night)

JUN 6 PEANUT BUTTER WOLF, KNXWLEDGE, MICHI, &c. Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥4,000 (night)

JUN 7 KOICHI MAKIGAMI & ATAMI SUN BEACH Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,000 (afternoon)

JUN 7 SOFHESO, NAOKI NOMOTO, KYOSUKETERADA, NOBUKI NISHIYAMA Soup, Ochiai ¥2,000

JUN 8 SOFTCULT, &c. Fever, Shindaita ¥7,500

JUN 9 THE BETA BAND Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥8,800

JUN 9 SHINTARO SAKAMOTO Hitomi Memorial Hall, Sangenjaya ¥6,000

JUN 9 THE BELAIR LIP BOMBS, DYGL Fever, Shindaita ¥5,500

JUN 10 HOLY TONGUE, THE HATCH, D.A.N, DJ MEW Club Quattro, Shibuya ¥6,900

JUN 10 SI PATON/KOTA YAMAUCHI Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 11 TAIICHI KAMIMURA, &c.: ORNETTE COLEMAN TRIBUTE Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥2,000 (afternoon)

JUN 11 TAKAO (LIVE), COCOA, EMINEMSAIKO, &c. Forestlimit, Hatagaya ¥2,000

JUN 11 ZUCHIKUWA, CLOUDS-KEN (ENDO/MIYASAKA), VQ Polaris, Minami-Aoyama ¥2,300

JUN 11 CATE LE BON Billboard Live, Roppongi ¥11,500-¥14,200

JUN 12 HOT WATER MUSIC, AKUTAGAWA Fever, Shindaita ¥8,500

JUN 12 DMBQ, SPOILMAN Aoyama Moonromantic ¥3,800

JUN 12 DEFILED, MERZBOW, GREEN MILK... Earthdom, Shin-Okubo ¥3,500

JUN 12 YOSHIO SUZUKI/KEI AKAGI/HIROSHI MURAKAMI Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥4,400

JUN 13 MARC RIBOT Y LOS CUBANOS POSTIZOS, ARSENAL MIKEBE, &c. Tachikawa Stage Garden ¥18,000

JUN 13 MIU MAU, THE RATEL, HIKARI BUNKAI Forestlimit, Hatagaya ¥3,000

JUN 13 FALLOPIAN DISCO FORCE, GROUNDCOVER, K-BOMB, &c. Heavy Sick Zero, Nakano ¥2,900

JUN 13 SCOTT AMENDOLA/SATOKO FUJII/KOJI MAKIGAMI/&c. Velvet Sun, Ogikubo ¥4,000

JUN 13 AUN HELDEN, CITYOFBROKEN DOLLS, ENTIRE AXON MOSQUITO, SPIRIA Buoy, Kita-Senju ¥3,500

JUN 13 MN (T.MIKAWA/JUN NUMATA), YASASHIKUSARETAI Polaris, Minami-Aoyama ¥3,000

JUN 13 DJ KOOLT, GONNO, JOE O, &c. HVEN, Nakameguro ¥2,500

JUN 14 YOSHIO SUZUKI/KOSUKE MINE/KEISUKE NAKAMURA/&c. Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥4,400

JUN 14 HIROYUKI NAGASHIMA/ATSUHIRO ITO, MITSURU TABATA/JUN MORITA, &c. Soup, Ochiai ¥2,500

JUN 14 TAKAKO MINEKAWA/TAKAHIRO KAWAGUCHI, &c. Shichoshitsu, Jimbocho ¥3,000

JUN 14 TEXAS 3000, 2UP, AKIO JEIMUS VS VQ, GOVERNMENT ALPHA Bush Bash, Koiwa ¥3,000

JUN 14 CARL STONE, NAT000, KUMA (DJ), &c. Knock, Koenji ¥2,500

JUN 15 RYO KAWAWADA TRIO, HIKARU YAMADA (SOLO) Shichoshitsu, Jimbocho ¥3,000

JUN 15 FABIO MITTINO/MASAHIRO TOBITA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 15 LAO, WRACK, FELINE, ROMY MATS, &c. Enter, Shibuya ¥2,000

JUN 16 NOURISHED BY TIME Duo Music Exchange, Shibuya ¥11,000

JUN 16 YASUHIRO YOSHIGAKI/SHINPEI RUIKE/YOSHIHIRO GOSEKI/&c. Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥4,400

JUN 16 DISCOVERY ZONE, DIP IN THE POOL Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥4,500

JUN 16 JON NO SON, PIPPIKO ONDO, HOHOEMI3, &c. Live Haus, Shimokitazawa ¥2,300

JUN 16 THE CHATS, THE HIGHMARTS, ANGEL FACE Shelter, Shimokitazawa ¥5,500

JUN 16 TENKO/HIDEKI YAMAGIWA/KOJI OTA Polaris, Minami-Aoyama ¥3,500

JUN 17 TAMAYA HONDA/BLAHMUZIK Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥2,000 (afternoon)

JUN 17 COURTNEY BARNETT Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥9,000

JUN 17 JU SEI, SEIICHI YAMAMOTO Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥3,000

JUN 17 YASUHIRO YOSHIGAKI/MASAHIKO SATOH/JUNJI HIROSE/&c. Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥4,400

JUN 17-19 MAKAYA MCCRAVEN Blue Note Tokyo, Minami-Aoyama ¥9,500

JUN 18 INO HIDEFUMI PLAYS 'SATISFACTION' Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥5,500

JUN 18 VOOID, SUNNY DAY SERVICE, HAPPFAT (DJ) Unit, Daikanyama ¥4,800

JUN 18 YASUHIRO YOSHIGAKI/MOTOHARU/KEIGO IWAMI/&c. Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥4,400

JUN 18 QUIQUE SINESI/HIKARU IKAKAWA Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥5,000

JUN 18 AKI DOLANIKOV, CALPISS, DIHI, MOODMAN Club Asia, Shibuya ¥1,000

JUN 19 YUTA ORISAKA, NATSUKO HARA/HIROO MIYASAKA Haremame, Daikanyama ¥6,000

JUN 19 ERIC THIELEMANS/AKIRA SAKATA/FUMI ENDO Shichoshitsu, Jimbocho ¥3,500

JUN 19 OKBOY, KARAVI ROUSHI, LILHANA, P'ORTABLE ROOM™︎, &c. Batica, Ebisu ¥2,300

JUN 20 BOGDAN RACZYNSKI, DJ TOPGEAR, PUNSUCA, THE OBEY UNIT, &c. Pool, Sakuradai ¥3,000

JUN 20 IVY, KEGØN, WAATER, YUZUHA, MT.CHORI (DJ), &c. WWW, Shibuya ¥3,500 (night)

JUN 21 BLACK BOBOI WWW, Shibuya ¥4,400

JUN 21 SINE, OUKURA MIRAI, LEO OKAGAWA, MEITEIMAHI, &c. Forestlimit, Hatagaya ¥2,500

JUN 22 MICE PARADE, IKUKO HARADA Fever, Shindaita ¥7,500

JUN 23 ERIC THIELMANS/TETUZI AKIYAMA Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,000

JUN 23 HEADACHE Unit, Daikanyama ¥8,000

JUN 23 MICE PARADE, BACH GUITAR SET Spotify O-Nest, Shibuya ¥7,500

JUN 24 ERIC THIELMANS/AKIRA SAKATA/TATSUHISA YAMAMOTO Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,500

JUN 26 ABA TRIO Haremame, Daikanyama ¥4,000

JUN 26 MAREWREW, HIROSE TACT Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥3,500

JUN 26 DJ YAZI, YUKIMASA, YOSHITAKA SHIRAKURA, &c. Enter, Shibuya ¥2,000

JUN 27 ACTRESS, DJ KRUSH, NATHAN FAKE, COLA REN, &c. Takanawa Gateway City ¥9,000

JUN 27 KLONNS, D-SETO, NEGATIVE SUN, ZENOCIDE, &c. Earthdom, Shin-Okubo ¥2,500

JUN 27 FUTENZOKU, SAKURANZENSEN UFO Club, Higashi-Koenji ¥3,500

JUN 27 DAVID THOMAS BROUGHTON, FOUNTAINSUN, ROB NOYES Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,000

JUN 27 AZIKAZIN MAGIC WORLD, SALAMANDA, PAS TASTA, &c. Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥3,500 (night)

JUN 27 KSR:3, OTUYYUTO, LYMPH, BIG ANIMAL THEORY (DJ), &c. WWW β, Shibuya ¥1,000

JUN 28 WORLD HAPPINESS: HARUOMI HOSONO, CORNELIUS, &c. Yoyogi National Stadium ¥13,200

JUN 28 CAMPANELLA WWW X, Shibuya ¥4,500

JUN 28 ACTRESS/SUZANNE CIANI, WILLIAM BASINSKI, TWO SHELL, &c. Takanawa Gateway City ¥9,000

JUN 28 SHIZUO UCHIDA/TOMO, TAKAKO MINEKAWA, UPPER VOLTA Knock, Koenji ¥2,500

JUN 28 SEIICHI YAMAMOTO/HAMACHI Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 29 KEIJI HAINO/DANIEL BLUMBERG, ELLEN ARKBRO/REIGAKUSHA Sogetsu Hall, Akasaka ¥8,000

JUN 30 JOYCE MORENO Blue Note Tokyo, Minami-Aoyama ¥9,500

JUN 30 TADASHI MACHIDA: 'DIFFERENT TRAINS', BUTAJI, &c. Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥3,500

JUN 30 CHARLEMAGNE PALESTINE, JIM O'ROURKE/EIKO ISHIBASHI Sogetsu Hall, Akasaka ¥8,000

JUN 30 POKETTO/OTOMO YOSHIHIDE Polaris, Minami-Aoyama ¥4,500

All prices are for advance tickets, unless otherwise noted. Schedules are liable to change at short notice.

Tokyo Gigs July 2026

JUL 1 STEREOLAB Kanda Square Hall ¥9,800

JUL 1 JOYCE MORENO Blue Note Tokyo, Minami-Aoyama ¥9,500

JUL 1 M/LUE. (BAND SET), SAHO TERAO Haremame, Daikanyama ¥4,500

JUL 2 STEREOLAB EX Theater Roppongi ¥9,800/¥12,000

JUL 2 JOYCE MORENO Cotton Club, Marunouchi ¥9,500-¥11,500

JUL 2 TIM HODGKINSON/ATSUKO KAMURA/OTOMO YOSHIHIDE/&c. Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥4,500

JUL 3 NHK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: MUSIC TOMORROW 2026 Tokyo Opera City, Hatsudai ¥2,000-¥4,000

JUL 3 MONO Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥8,000

JUL 3 SPOILMAN, HIKARI BUNKAI, TOTSUZEN DANBALL, &c. Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥2,800

JUL 4 SOUL CAMP 2026: ERYKAH BADU, THE PHARCYDE, &c. SGC Hall Ariake ¥17,000/¥25,000

JUL 4 MAYA ONGAKU Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥5,000

JUL 4 SHONEN KNIFE, REGURGITATOR Fever, Shindaita ¥5,000

JUL 5 REGURGITATOR, OSAKA RAMONES Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥5,000

JUL 6 ERYKAH BADU Billboard Live, Roppongi ¥19,900-¥30,000

JUL 8 DIIV Kanda Square Hall ¥8,800

JUL 8 PARANNOUL, SAY SUE ME, BONGJEINGAN, MONO NO AWARE WWW X, Shibuya ¥5,000

JUL 9 THE MUSIC OF JÕRG WIDMANN Tokyo Opera City, Hatsudai ¥4,000

JUL 9 GRIMM GRIMM, SATOMIMAGAE Haremame, Daikanyama ¥3,500

JUL 10 DEATHGRAVE, BLACK GANION, COFFINS, BAPHOMETY Earthdom, Shin-Okubo ¥4,500

JUL 11 HARIYAMA SHISHIODORI, ITAZAWA SHISHIODORI, KOM_I, &c. WWW X, Shibuya ¥4,500

JUL 11 JOY ORBISON, THE SABRES OF PARADISE (CLUB SET), &c. MoN Takanawa ¥12,000

JUL 11 ALFONSO CABRAL Wall&Wall, Omotesando ¥5,600

JUL 12 TORU TAKEMITSU COMPETITION AWARD 2026 FINAL Tokyo Opera City, Hatsudai ¥1,000

JUL 12 KNOWER (BAND SET), KASSA OVERALL, HAKUSHI HASEGAWA, &c. MoN Takanawa ¥12,000

JUL 12 SIERO, ASSTORO, MAEZAWA, YUKA NAGASE, &c. WWW/WWW X, Shibuya ¥3,500

JUL 16 TUJIKO NORIKO, TAKAKO MINEKAWA, AOKI TAKAMASA (DJ) WWW, Shibuya ¥4,500

JUL 16 SHINTARO SAKAMOTO Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥4,800

JUL 18 FUMIYA TANAKA, STONES TARO, LOMAX WWW X, Shibuya ¥3,000 (night)

JUL 22 LE MAKEUP, DOVE (DJ), &c. WWW, Shibuya ¥3,500

JUL 28 MITSKI Zepp DiverCity, Odaiba ¥13,000/¥18,000

All prices are for advance tickets, unless otherwise noted. Schedules are liable to change at short notice.

Tokyo Gigs August 2026

AUG 4-8 MARIA SCHNEIDER ORCHESTRA Blue Note Tokyo, Minami-Aoyama ¥14,000

AUG 6 JOY HEIGHTS (TATSUYA NAKAMURA/OTOMO YOSHIHIDE/TATSU/&c.) Fever, Shindaita ¥6,000

AUG 7 DYGL Fever, Shindaita ¥5,000

AUG 9 SEIICHI YAMAMOTO & THE PLAYGROUND EAST, HONJITSUKYUEN Red Cloth, Shinjuku ¥4,000

AUG 10 CLAUDIO SIMONETTI'S GOBLIN Billboard Live, Roppongi ¥8,900-¥11,600

AUG 28 AZYMUTH & SABRINA MALHEIROS WWW X, Shibuya ¥8,500

AUG 29 CAN IS, MITSURU TABATA/KENTARO NAKAO UFO Club, Higashi-Koenji ¥3,500

AUG 30 DO THANK ANAL, SALADABAR, ELECTRIC EEL SHOCK, &c. Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥3,800

All prices are for advance tickets, unless otherwise noted. Schedules are liable to change at short notice.

Tokyo Gigs September 2026

SEP 2 RACING MOUNT PLEASANT Unit, Daikanyama ¥7,500

SEP 3-4 THE ROOTS Billboard Live, Roppongi ¥17,900-¥22,000

SEP 5 KUNIKO KATO: STEVE REICH PROJECT Persimmon Hall, Meguro ¥4,500

SEP 7 LEBANON HANOVER Shibuya Ongakudo ¥7,900

SEP 8 THEE MARLOES, MINAMI ISHIWATA SOUL INST. SESSION Haremame, Daikanyama ¥8,000

SEP 9 THEE MARLOES, TINY STEP "SOUTHSIDE" TRIO WWW X, Shibuya ¥8,000

SEP 9 ADRIAN SHERWOOD, NIGHTMARES ON WAX, &c. Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥8,000

SEP 10 ELEPHANT GYM, MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS WWW X, Shibuya ¥5,800

SEP 17 CARCASS Toyosu Pit ¥9,500

SEP 18 ASH Club Quattro, Shibuya ¥8,500

SEP 19 THE DAMNED Toyosu Pit ¥11,000

SEP 21 SEPTETO SANTIAGUERO Club Quattro, Shibuya ¥TBC

SEP 24 BELLE & SEBASTIAN: 'TIGERMILK' Kanadevia Hall, Suidobashi ¥9,800/¥12,000

SEP 25 BELLE & SEBASTIAN: 'IF YOU'RE FEELING SINISTER' Kanadevia Hall, Suidobashi ¥9,800/¥12,000

SEP 29 US Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥6,500

All prices are for advance tickets, unless otherwise noted. Schedules are liable to change at short notice.

Tokyo Gigs October 2026

OCT 1 CAROLINE, MY NEW BAND BELIEVE Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥10,000

OCT 8 TORU TAKEMITSU: BEYOND THE CENTENARY VOL. 1 Tokyo Opera City, Hatsudai ¥5,000

OCT 13 EZRA COLLECTIVE Toyosu Pit ¥9,000

OCT 22 CA7RIEL & PACO AMOROSO Toyosu Pit ¥9,800/¥12,800

All prices are for advance tickets, unless otherwise noted. Schedules are liable to change at short notice.

Tokyo Gigs November 2026

NOV 4 THE MASTER MUSICIANS OF JOUJOUKA WWW X, Shibuya ¥22,000

NOV 9 DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE Toyosu Pit ¥11,000

NOV 23 WOLF ALICE Toyosu Pit ¥9,900

NOV 24-25 IRON MAIDEN K Arena, Yokohama ¥15,000-¥30,000

All prices are for advance tickets, unless otherwise noted. Schedules are liable to change at short notice.

New (and old) music from Japan – 2025 addendum

A few more notable releases from the year gone by

While I didn’t feel much appetite for putting together a 2025 albums of the year list (I already compile a few for different publications and end up feeling dissatisfied with all of them), there were a bunch of releases that kept nagging at me to at least acknowledge their existence in writing. The attention economy means that a lot of music seems to disappear from view almost as soon as it’s been released, a victim of our appetite for newness. So let me just take stock of a few more worthwhile albums (and one single) from 2025, some of which didn’t get nearly the attention they deserved.

New (and old) music from Japan – Winter 2025 edition

Notable releases I’ve finally got around to writing about

We’re deep into Album of the Year review season – The Wire and The Quietus both just dropped theirs – so what better time to publish an article I started working on back in, er, August? No idea why this took so long to come together, though the usual feeble excuses (work, travel, inertia) apply. Over the past week, I’ve found a bunch more releases I want to write about, so there may be more to come before the year is out.

New (and old) music from Japan – Spring 2025 edition

Notable new Japanese releases and reissues

This might be a return to regular programming, but no promises. Things have been quiet on the work front recently, which has given me more time to sift through my Bandcamp pile and ferret out the good stuff. Here are some of the releases and reissues from the first three months of the year (plus one straggler from 2024) that have grabbed me. I should note that some of these snuck up on me gradually, rather than revealing all their charms on first listen. An album as subtle and intelligently crafted as Eiko Ishibashi’s Antigone wasn’t designed for the streaming era, which is all the more reason to cherish it.

Notable Japanese releases from 2024

Good music from a (mostly) bad year

I fell out of the habit of posting album reviews during 2024, partly because I simply wasn’t listening to as much Japanese music as I had done in the previous few years. Still, it felt remiss not to acknowledge a few of the highlights of a year that, by most objective measures, was pretty wretched. I’m grateful to the handful of people who gave me a much-needed nudge to write this, and also to my friend Ian F. Martin for showing how it should be done with his defiantly unpunctual zine, Last Year’s Music. (I’d post a link, but I’m afraid you’ll have to seek out a physical copy.)

From the archives: Ichiko Aoba, 2016 Japan Times interview

“I get most of my energy for creating stories from dreams.”

Ichiko Aoba, 2016. Photo by James Hadfield

Ichiko Aoba takes her seat at an old-fashioned coffee house in Shibuya, and places a sketchpad and a plump pouch of rolling tobacco on the table. During the hour-long conversation that follows, the tobacco goes untouched, but the sketchpad gets a thorough workout. As she talks, the 25-year-old singer-songwriter reflexively scribbles drawings and kanji characters to elucidate what she’s saying, the way a university lecturer might.