Tokyo Gigs October 2026

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

OCT 1 TOMO KATSURADA & JONNY NASH Noguchi Haruchika Memorial Listening Theatre, Komae ¥5,000

OCT 1 FENNESZ, KMRU Unit, Daikanyama ¥7,500

OCT 1 TOMORA Tokyo Garden Theater, Ariake ¥15,000/¥17,000

OCT 2 TOMO KATSURADA & JONNY NASH Scott Hall, Waseda University ¥6,000

OCT 2 EMMANUELLE BONNET/KEISUKE FURUKI/NOÉ FRANKLÉ/&c. Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,000

OCT 3 CAIUS WILLIAMS/OTOMO YOSHIHIDE Polaris, Minami-Aoyama ¥4,500

OCT 3 DĀM-FUNK, EGYPTIAN LOVER, ACTRESS, &c. Garden Shin-Kiba Factory Free (with registration)

OCT 3 KOJI OTA/AKAIHIRUME/YASUMUNE MORISHIGE Gekkasha, Jimbocho ¥2,500

OCT 3 THE BLACK SCORPIO UNDERGROUND/JOY IN SIN, SLAUGHTER EXHAUST, &c. Soup, Ochiai ¥2,500

OCT 3 MARK ROBINSON, TRUE LOVE ALWAYS, CINDY Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥4,000

OCT 3 GUITAR ENSEMBLE NEGISHI W/ GAKU YAMADA Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥3,000

OCT 3 SHOJI HANO/ERNESTO DEL PUERTO/CAL LYALL/&c. Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

OCT 3 TOKYO GAGAKU FLUCTUATION, KOHSETSU IMANISHI Knock, Koenji ¥3,000

OCT 4 GUITAR ENSEMBLE NEGISHI W/ GAKU YAMADA Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥3,000

OCT 5 VQ WWW, Shibuya ¥1,200

OCT 5 BASTARD COLLECTIVE, COFFINS, NOT NICE, &c. Bush Bash, Koiwa ¥3,000

OCT 5 ALICE PHOEBE LOU (SOLO) Haremame, Daikanyama ¥7,000

OCT 5 YUKIKO SHIINA SAKURAZAWA/FUMI ENDO/SEAN COLUM Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,500

OCT 6 DABDA, AYUTTHAYA Fever, Shindaita ¥5,500

OCT 6 MCKINLEY DIXON, WALM, DJ QUIETSTORM, NORDOST Tokio Tokyo, Shibuya ¥5,000

OCT 6 ATSUKO HATANO/FUMI ENDO Polaris, Minami-Aoyama ¥3,500

OCT 7 LITTLE BOYS, BO-PEEP, MOJA Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥3,000

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

OCT 8 MOTOKO KIKKAWA, MARK SADGROVE, TOMO, TAKASHI MASUBUCHI Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,000

OCT 8 SUDAN ARCHIVES Duo Music Exchange, Shibuya ¥8,500

OCT 8 GOLDMUND Immanuel Chapel, Yodobashi Church, Okubo ¥8,500

OCT 10 CINDY, APRIL MAGAZINE, THE MOMENT OF NIGHTFALL Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,500

OCT 10 ODD EYES, KUKANGENDAI, YOSHIO KUGE Earthdom, Shin-Okubo ¥3,000

OCT 10 HUH, FALLOPIAN DISCO FORCE, KITO-MIZUKUMI ROUBER, &c. Soup, Ochiai ¥2,000

OCT 10 MISAKI MOTOFUJI (SOLO) Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,000

OCT 10 MIKA TANAYA/KAIDOYUTAKA Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

OCT 11 MELT-BANANA, DEADBEAT PAINTERS, HYPER GAL, &c. WWW, Shibuya ¥3,000

OCT 11 MARK ROBINSON, TRUE LOVE ALWAYS, PERVENCHE Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,500

OCT 11 JUNJI HIROSE (BALLOONS SOLO) Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,000

OCT 11 FREDDIE GIBBS WWW X, Shibuya ¥11,000

OCT 12 SUSO SAIZ Umewaka Noh Theater, Higashi-Nakano ¥8,000

OCT 13 EZRA COLLECTIVE Toyosu Pit ¥9,000

OCT 13 ANAMANAGUCHI, CHIP TANAKA Duo Music Exchange, Shibuya ¥8,200

OCT 13 BODY/HEAD, JIM O'ROURKE Club Quattro, Shibuya ¥10,000

OCT 13 MONDO GASCARO Aoyama Moonromantic ¥5,500

OCT 15 MARINA TANTANOZI, FRANTZ LORIOT, PHILIPP EDEN, &c. Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,000

OCT 15 SQUELETTE, THE DRUNKERS, J.COLUMBUS/BLAH-MUZIK, &c. Bush Bash, Koiwa ¥3,000

OCT 15 ANDROMEDA MEGA EXPRESS ORCHESTRA Goethe-Institut Tokyo, Akasaka ¥4,000

OCT 16 YĪN YĪN Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥6,500

OCT 16 EIKO ISHIBASHI, KISEKI (TAIGEN KAWABE/FOODMAN), &c. Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥4,000

OCT 17 PEACH, 9991, FUCK ON THE BEACH, NEGATIVE SUN, &c. Bush Bash, Koiwa ¥3,000

OCT 17 TEXAS 3000, KANEKOAYANO, QIEZI MABO Club Quattro, Shibuya ¥4,500

OCT 17 TENKO/SATOKO FUJII Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥3,000

OCT 17 RYOSUKE KIYASU (SOLO) Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥3,000

OCT 19 BILL NACE/MAKOTO KAWASHIMA Polaris, Minami-Aoyama ¥4,000

OCT 19 SEIICHI YAMAMOTO W/ PLAYGROUND EAST UFO Club, Higashi-Koenji ¥4,000

OCT 21 TAMTAM, TAKOASHI EARPHONES, TOKYO SHIOKOUJI Aoyama Moonromantic ¥4,000

OCT 21 JON COLLIN, ROB NOYES/TAKASHI MASUBUCHI, LOST WAX Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,000

OCT 21 EIKO YAMADA/RIUCHI DAIJO W/ TABEA SCHRENK Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

OCT 21 MORERU WWW, Shibuya ¥2,000

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

OCT 22 DMBQ, KANEKOAYANO Club Quattro, Shibuya ¥6,500

OCT 22 ANDREA CENTAZZO/OTOMO YOSHIHIDE Polaris, Minami-Aoyama ¥4,000

OCT 22 FRIDAY NIGHT PLANS, PEDRO VIAN Wall&Wall, Omotesando ¥4,800

OCT 22 BILL NACE, ROB NOYES, TETUZI AKIYAMA Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥3,500

OCT 23 ANDREA CENTAZZO/MAKOTO KAWASHIMA/&c. Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

OCT 23 FRANÇOIS K, DJ NORI Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥5,000 (night)

OCT 24 KEIJI HAINO/AYUO Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥4,000

OCT 24 MINYO CRUSADERS, CHO CO PA CO CHO CO QUIN QUIN, TAIKUH JIKANG, &c. Yoyogi Park ¥2,000

OCT 24 ZERO LIFE, SUNDIALLL, ORPHIDS, TRIADOF13TH, &c. Forestlimit, Hatagaya ¥2,000

OCT 25 YUTA ORISAKA SGC Hall Ariake ¥8,500

OCT 25 YUMA ABE, REMON NAKANISHI & SUZUME NO TEARS, TJIROS, &c. Yoyogi Park ¥2,000

OCT 25 SELF TOXICATION, LIKE WEEDS, NOBUKI NISHIYAMA, &c. Soup, Ochiai ¥2,500

OCT 25 DOGO, HASHIRIKOMIES Lush, Shibuya ¥3,500

OCT 25 GIANTS CHAIR, DIRT COPY, DON CARNAGE, MIRROR Era, Shimokitazawa ¥6,500

OCT 25 THE GUAYS, TENNISCOATS, MASSAGE ATTACK, &c. Fever, Shindaita ¥2,900

OCT 25 SHOJI HANO/RIUICHI DAIJO Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

OCT 25 LILBESH RAMKO W/ FRIENDS, TOP SECRET MAN, LE MAKEUP, &c. WWW/WWW X, Shibuya ¥2,500

OCT 25 MASASHI YAMAMOTO/ERIC-MARIA COUTURIER Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥4,000

OCT 27 DAIRO SUGA/YUKI NAKAGAWA Polaris, Minami-Aoyama ¥4,000

OCT 27 MANOS BARKATSAS/KOTA YAMAUCHI/&c. Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥3,000

OCT 28 GNAW, LIGHTERS, ELSIE SUE Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥3,800

OCT 28 YUMA KODA (BAND SET) WWW, Shibuya ¥4,500

OCT 31 BRAINBOMBS, ZENOCIDE, MERZBOW, RAMPS Earthdom, Shin-Okubo ¥2,900

OCT 31 OGRE YOU ASSHOLE, D.A.N, WOOL & THE PANTS Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥6,000

OCT 31 R.A.P, JUN TOGAWA AVEC KEI OOKUBO, THE CALLINGS Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥4,000

OCT 31 SEX VIRGIN KILLER, YUKO ARAKI, ËLMINA (DJ), &c. UFO Club, Higashi-Koenji ¥3,500

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

Tokyo Gigs November 2026

NOV 1 HENRIQUE CAZES, ROGÉRIO CAETANO, QUARTETO GAIVOTAS Haremame, Daikanyama ¥4,800

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

NOV 4 JOE HISAISHI/MUSIC FUTURE BAND: SHAW, &c. Tokyo Opera City, Hatsudai ¥8,000-¥12,000

NOV 4 M/LUE, KICELL Haremame, Daikanyama ¥5,000

NOV 6 TOUCHÉ AMORÉ Unit, Daikanyama ¥7,500

NOV 7 CHUDAHYE CHAGIS, LITTLE TEMPO, FLYING RHYTHMS, &c. Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥5,500

NOV 8 CHUDAHYE CHAGIS, OKI DUB AINU BAND, TURTLE ISLAND, &c. Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥5,500

NOV 8 VOVIVAV/HAIR STYLISTICS, N'RALA, DEMETER, &c. UFO Club, Higashi-Koenji ¥3,000

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

NOV 13 KARL SEGLEM FOLKJAZZ Haremame, Daikanyama ¥4,000

NOV 13 MAIKA LOUBTÉ (BAND SET) Womb, Shibuya ¥3,500

NOV 15 DE LA SOUL, STUTS, CHRIS DAVE, BILLYRROM, &c. SGC Hall Ariake ¥18,000/¥25,000

NOV 16 KYOZIN YUENI DEKAI, TAIKUJIKANG SMALL FORMATION 4 UFO Club, Higashi-Koenji ¥3,200

NOV 19 RIVAL CONSOLES WWW X, Shibuya ¥7,800

NOV 20 MAX COOPER, ROBERT LIPPOK/LUCAS GUTIERREZ, GRAND RIVER, &c. MoN Takanawa ¥8,000

NOV 21 HANIA RANI, MOUSE ON THE KEYS, RICCARDO GIOVINETTO, &c. MoN Takanawa ¥8,000

NOV 22 DAITO MANABE/ELEVENPLAY, PATRICK WATSON, TAMANARAMEN, &c. MoN Takanawa ¥8,000

NOV 23 WOLF ALICE Toyosu Pit ¥9,900

NOV 23 BIG BRAVE, SALLT, PRAYMATE, SHINJI MASUKO El Puente, Yokohama ¥5,000

NOV 24 TYONDAI BRAXTON, JIM O'ROURKE/EIKO ISHIBASHI Sogetsu Hall, Akasaka ¥9,000

NOV 24 BIG BRAVE, SALLT, DMBQ, PREPARATIONSET Fever, Shindaita ¥6,000

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

NOV 25 QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE Zepp Haneda ¥11,000/¥13,000

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

Tokyo Gigs December 2026

DEC 2 FCUKERS Zepp Shinjuku ¥9,000

DEC 7 HARUOMI HOSONO Ryogoku Kokugikan ¥8,000-¥17,000

DEC 8 JAMES BLAKE Zepp Haneda ¥14,000-¥16,000

DEC 9 MAYA ONGAKU The Garden Hall, Ebisu ¥5,500/¥6,000

DEC 10 DYGL Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥5,000

DEC 11 MEI EHARA Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥5,500

DEC 14 DIE SPITZ Space Odd, Daikanyama ¥7,500

DEC 14 CAT POWER: 'THE GREATEST' EX Theater, Roppongi ¥12,000/¥14,000

DEC 15 DOMI & JD BECK Toyosu Pit ¥9,900

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

Tokyo Gigs January 2027

JAN 9 BLOC PARTY, DINOSAUR JR, KIM GORDON, VIOLET GROHL SGC Hall Ariake ¥19,500/¥23,000

JAN 9 SUEDE, PALE WAVES, KULA SHAKER, DOVE ELLIS SGC Hall Ariake ¥19,500/¥23,000

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

Tokyo Gigs February 2027

FEB 8 PUBLIC IMAGE LTD Toyosu Pit ¥14,000

FEB 17 CHAPTERHOUSE Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥11,000/¥13,000

FEB 25-26 JON CLEARY Shibuya Pleasure Pleasure ¥8,000

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

Tokyo Gigs March 2027

MAR 12 FEEBLE LITTLE HORSE Space Odd, Daikanyama ¥7,500

MAR 30 BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE EX Theater Roppongi ¥9,500/¥12,000

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.