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.

Tokyo Gigs May 2025

MAY 1 ALI, MAYA ONGAKU Club Quattro, Shibuya ¥6,500

MAY 1 FACS, TG.ATLAS, 5KAI Era, Shimokitazawa ¥5,500

MAY 1 JOHN SCOFIELD (SOLO) Blue Note Tokyo, Minami-Aoyama ¥9,500

MAY 1 JILL FRASER, MORLEY ROBERTSON (LIVE/TALK) Haremame, Daikanyama ¥5,000

MAY 1 THOMAS FLORIN/JOHN DIKEMAN/NICOLAS FIELD/SHINPEI RUIKE Knuttel House, Iriya ¥2,500

MAY 1 RYOSUKE KIYASU (SOLO) Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥3,000

MAY 1 ANGEL NUMBER, BOTSU AKA NGS, ELEMENT, KOPY, &c. Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥2,500

MAY 2 GIOTIS DAMIANIDIS, POKETTO Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥3,500

MAY 2 OTOMO YOSHIHIDE/LOUI YOSHIGAKI Polaris, Ogawamachi ¥3,500

MAY 2 ANDERS LAUGE MELDGAARD, IKU SAKAN, TORSO, &c. Forestlimit, Hatsudai ¥3,000

MAY 2 MAX DALHAUS, JACKSON KAKI, JVNPEY, &c. Space, Shinjuku ¥2,500

MAY 2 CODEX EMPIRE, KOICHI SHIMIZU, KARANAKI (DJ) Kagurane, Kagurazaka ¥3,000

MAY 2 COLLOBOH, DAISUKE TANABE, SAKURA TSURUTA Circus Tokyo, Shibuya ¥4,200

MAY 2 A LOVE FROM OUTER SPACE, SISI, KABUTO, &c. Womb, Shibuya ¥3,000

MAY 2 YUKSEK, TAAR, AN TOI, &c. Vent, Omotesando ¥2,500

MAY 3 SOUNDWALK COLLECTIVE/PATTI SMITH Opera Palace, Hatsudai ¥5,500-¥20,000

MAY 3 MAX DAHLHAUS, IN THE SUN, YOSHIHISAOGURA, &c. Forestlimit, Hatsudai ¥2,500

MAY 3 FUSHITSUSHA Showboat, Koenji ¥4,500

MAY 3 COLLOBOH (DJ), &c. WPÜ Shinjuku ¥TBA

MAY 3 SSSEEENNNZZZ, MIRAI OUKURA, HOBO BRAZIL (DJ), &c. Bonobo, Harajuku ¥2,500

MAY 3 JACQUES GREENE, OKADADA, DJ WILDPARTY Circus Tokyo, Shibuya ¥3,500

MAY 3 PETER VAN HOESEN, OCCA, DANI SAVANT, &c. Vent, Omotesando ¥3,000

MAY 4 COLLOBOH, YOSI HORIKAWA, ALBINO SOUND Soup, Ochiai ¥4,000

MAY 4 JOACHIM BADENHORST/KO ISHIKAWA/RIUICHI DAIJO Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

MAY 4 PARRA FOR CUVA, GROUND, SATICA, &c. Vent, Omotesando ¥2,500

MAY 5 LUCY RAILTON & PAINJERK, COMPUMA (DJ) Soup, Ochiai ¥3,000

MAY 5 ALLERGY, KATSUREI, RUINS UFO Club, Higashi-Koenji ¥4,000

MAY 5 TATSUHISA YAMAMOTO (SOLO) Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥3,000

MAY 5 FACS, CONGRATULATIONS, WRENCH, NINEDYNE Fever, Shindaita ¥5,500

MAY 5 TARAH KIKUCHI W/ STRANGE BEDFELLOWS, &c. Forestlimit, Hatsudai ¥2,500

MAY 5 KEI MATSUMARU/TADASHI MACHIDA Polaris, Ogawamachi ¥3,500

MAY 5 HELLCHILD, NEPENTHES, HEBI KATANA Shelter, Shimokitazawa ¥3,000

MAY 5 JOACHIM BADENHORST/YASUMUNE MORISHIGE/RIUICHI DAIJO Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

MAY 5 FDF TRIO (THOMAS FLORIN/JOHN DIKEMAN/NICHOLAS FIELD) Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥2,500

MAY 5 EIKO YAMADA/TETUZI AKIYAMA/NAOTO YAMAGISHI Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,500

MAY 5 PRINS THOMAS, MONKEY TIMERS, YAMARCHY/JITSUMITU, &c. Vent, Omotesando ¥2,500

MAY 5 OMEGA SAPIEN, CLAIR, MANUKA HONEY, &c. Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥4,500 (night)

MAY 6 GIGANOISE: KEIJI HAINO/T.MIKAWA/NINA GARCIA/K2/&c. Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥4,500

MAY 6 CHIHEI HATAKEYAMA, THEADELAIDEAN, NUKUMORI EUGENE Knock, Koenji ¥3,000

MAY 6 NAOKI NOBA/NAOTO YAMAGISHI Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

MAY 6 SZENE PUTZN, TUTTI DILEMMA, ALKASILKA, &c. Live Haus, Shimokitazawa ¥2,500

MAY 7 UNWOUND, KIRIHITO Fever, Shindaita ¥5,800

MAY 7 GIOTIS DAMIANIDIS/AKIRA SAKATA/MASAHIKO SATOH/&c. Koen-Dori Classics, Shibuya ¥4,000

MAY 7 SUPER GUM, TENNISCOATS, TOKUTARO HOSOI + BAND Haremame, Daikanyama ¥3,800

MAY 7 CHU MAKINO, YAMAHAHA, FAIRYMARICHEL, &c. Oriental Force, Koenji ¥2,000

MAY 8 MEHLDAU/MCBRIDE/GILMORE Tokyo Opera City, Hatsudai ¥4,800-¥12,500

MAY 8 OTOMO YOSHIHIDE/MAKOTO KAWASHIMA Koen-Dori Classics, Shibuya ¥3,000

MAY 8 SALAMANDA, LAUSBUB, NORIPI (DJ) WWW, Shibuya ¥3,800

MAY 8 AKIRA SAKATA/TAEKO KURITA/HIROAKI MIZUTANI Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥3,300

MAY 8 NAOYUKI SUGIMOTO, RENTACAR Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥4,500

MAY 8 CED DEBEAR/ANALCHAN/MITSURU TABATA, GLOPTIN, &c. Forestlimit, Hatsudai ¥2,000

MAY 9 DOS MONOS (BAND SET) Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥5,500

MAY 9 MINORU SATO -M/S, VANISHING VILLAIN, KEI KOBAYASHI (DJ), &c. Forestlimit, Hatsudai ¥1,500

MAY 9 KAFKA'S IBIKI Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥4,400

MAY 9 CLOUDS, MARS89, GOLPE MORTAL, &c. Vent, Omotesando ¥2,500

MAY 9 GI (LIVE), ENA, 1729, TONER WWW β, Shibuya ¥2,500

MAY 9 SAMRECKS, JUMADIBA, WASP&FRIENDS, &c. Circus Tokyo, Shibuya ¥3,000

MAY 10 MIDORI TAKADA, E.O.U, PHEW/AYAMI SUZUKI, &c. Koen/Just Another Space, Nakameguro ¥7,500

MAY 10 NANAO KOBAYASHI/MAKOTO KAWASHIMA Polaris, Ogawamachi ¥3,000

MAY 10 MINYEN HSIEH/RISA TAKEDA/YUMA TAKESHITA Chitei, Otsuka ¥2,500

MAY 10 KAFKA'S IBIKI Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥4,400

MAY 10 FUELPHONIC, POCA, O'BO/SHINJI WADA Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥2,000

MAY 10 OTOBOKE BEAVER, ONIBAND La Mama, Shibuya ¥4,000

MAY 10 TAKASHI SEO/RIUICHI DAIJO Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

MAY 10 JOHANN DIEDRICK/SUZUERI Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,500

MAY 10 DALIEPY, DEF DER DIE DAS, SWARMM, &c. Kagurane, Kagurazaka ¥2,500

MAY 10 YOSUKE YAMASHITA (SOLO), MISOLA/MAKO, &c. SupernaturalDeluxe, Kamogawa, Chiba ¥5,500

MAY 10 MASALO (LIVE), K.E.G, ABIU, &c. Vent, Omotesando ¥2,500

MAY 10 DENKOU PLUTO, ARAKAWA, PRETTYBWOY, &c. WWW β, Shibuya ¥2,000

MAY 10 VEGYN (DJ), &c. Circus Tokyo, Shibuya ¥TBA

MAY 10 JAMMA D, BENEDEK, DUBBY, DJ DREAMBOY Forestlimit, Hatsudai ¥2,500 (night)

MAY 11 STONE MUSIC, CHIHEI HATAKEYAMA/MOSKITOO, KISHUN, &c. Koen, Nakameguro ¥5,500

MAY 11 BRAD MEHLDAU/CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE/MARCUS GILMORE Suntory Hall, Akasaka ¥5,000-¥13,000

MAY 11 TATSUYA YOSHIDE/KENJI SATO/MIYA Ogikubo Velvetsun ¥3,000

MAY 11 SHIH-YANG LEE/YUKI SAGA/TOSHIMARU NAKAMURA/TAKASHI SEO Knuttel House, Iriya ¥2,300

MAY 11 FDF TRIO/TAKETERU KUDO, &c. SupernaturalDeluxe, Kamogawa, Chiba ¥3,500

MAY 11 TERUKAZU MIYAHARA/RIUICHI DAIJO Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

MAY 11 SHIBATETSU/CHIHO OKA Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,000

MAY 11 DAMIAN DALLA TORRE, SPLENDORE, AIXX (DJ), &c. Knock, Koenji ¥2,500

MAY 11 FUMIO MOTOYAMA, O'BO, TURLCARLY, SOFHESO, &c. Forestlimit, Hatsudai ¥2,500

MAY 12 US, HOME Club Quattro, Shibuya ¥6,500

MAY 12 UNWOUND, MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS Fever, Shindaita ¥5,800

MAY 12 ATSUSHI TSUYAMA/TOMOMI NAGANO TRAD SONGS DUO Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥3,000

MAY 12 MANABU SUZUKI/TETSUYA HAYASHI/TOMOKI YOKOYAMA/&c. Knuttel House, Iriya ¥2,300

MAY 12 TERUKAZU MIYAHARA/TAKU SUGIMOTO/TAKASHI MASUBUCHI Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,500

MAY 13 LIV ANDREA HAUGE TRIO Haremame, Daikanyama ¥3,500

MAY 13 SHOJI HANO/KENTARO NAKAO Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

MAY 13 TOMUTONTTU, ASUNA Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥2,500

MAY 13 SECRET ARTIST, COMPUMA (DJ), MAYA ONGAKU, &c. Unit, Daikanyama ¥5,500

MAY 13 CHIHEI HATAKEYAMA/RIKI HIDAKA, DAMIAN DALLA TORRE Polaris, Ogawamachi ¥4,000

MAY 13 KOJI OTA/EIICHI WATANABE/RIUICHI DAIJO Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

MAY 13 KEI MATSUMARU, YUHA (DJ) Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥3,000

MAY 13 US Fever, Shindaita ¥6,500

MAY 14 UNWOUND, URI GAGARN Spotify O-Nest, Shibuya ¥5,800

MAY 14 ASA-CHANG & JUNRAY Haremame, Daikanyama ¥4,300

MAY 14 MARIA MOLES/TATSUHISA YAMAMOTO Koen-Dori Classics, Shibuya ¥3,000

MAY 14 SEIICHI YAMAMOTO, KAZUHIDE YAMAJI, TATSUYA NAKAMURA Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥5,500

MAY 14 WHITE SHOES & THE COUPLES COMPANY, &c. Unit, Daikanyama ¥6,000

MAY 15 SHOJI HANO/EIICHI HAYASHI/ARNAUD RIVIÈRE Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

MAY 15 KIRSZENBAUM, SOREIZENNI, MOGRE MOGRU Showboat, Koenji ¥2,500

MAY 15 OBSG 4BS, REMON NAKANISHI & SUZUME NO TEARS, DF7B Aoyama Moonromantic ¥5,500

MAY 15 JUNJI HIROSE/KAZUO IMAI/ATSUHIRO ITO Knuttel House, Iriya ¥2,300

MAY 16 MARGINAL CONSORT Corridor Square Ginza ¥5,500

MAY 16 TOE Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥5,500

MAY 16 JELISA, OSAMU FUKUZAWA, JUN ISHIHAMA (DJ) Baroom, Minami-Aoyama Free

MAY 16 ARNAUD RIVIÈRE/T.MIKAWA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

MAY 16 MISAKI MOTOFUJI, KOJI OTA, KAOSS SUMIKURA Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥2,000

MAY 16 SHUHARI, MY CAT EATS MY HAND, WANG-WANG, &c. Nine Spices, Shinjuku ¥2,500

MAY 16 DJS POISON GIRL FRIEND, AYA GLOOMY, LE MAKEUP, &c. Forestlimit, Hatsudai ¥3,300

MAY 16 LIVID, LEECH, ELMO, KING KILL, &c. Bush Bash, Koiwa ¥2,500

MAY 16 LENA WILLIKENS, BINH/DJ MASDA/NICOLAS LUTZ, &c. Womb, Shibuya ¥3,000

MAY 16 AGONIS/GARÇON, KONDUKU, DJ MARIA Vent, Omotesando ¥2,500

MAY 16 INTERPLANETARY CRIMINAL, YUNG SINGH, ONOMATOPE, &c. Circus Tokyo, Shibuya ¥3,500

MAY 17 TMSO SPECIAL: PENDERECKI/SHOSTAKOVICH Suntory Hall, Akasaka ¥3,500-¥7,500

MAY 17 CARL STONE, RAI TATEISHI/KOSHIRO HINO Corridor Square Ginza ¥4,000

MAY 17 MINYEN HSIEH/HIROSHI YAMAZAKI/MIKIKO NAGATAKE/&c. Koen-Dori Classics, Shibuya ¥3,000

MAY 17 ROJI, JUNJI HIROSE/CAL LYALL/SHOJI HANO, &c. Soup, Ochiai ¥2,500

MAY 17 ELECTRIC POWERED MUSIC/MASASHI YAMAMOTO Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,000

MAY 17 SNICKERDOODLE, GRANDMA'S GARDEN, OVERSLEEP EXCUSE, &c. Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥2,500

MAY 17 RHYS BUTLER/SYO YOSHIHAMA/NAOTO YAMAGISHI Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

MAY 17 KUNIYUKI/MARK DE CLIVE-LOWE (LIVE), MIDORI AOYAMA, &c. Vent, Omotesando ¥2,500

MAY 18 FUMI ENDO (SOLO) Polaris, Ogawamachi ¥2,000 (afternoon)

MAY 18 AKI ONDA, PARK JIHA Corridor Square Ginza ¥5,000

MAY 18 UZ JSME DOMA, KOREKYOJINN, KUMORIGAHARA Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥4,000

MAY 18 IGOR DYACHENKO, SOFHESO, AKHIRA SANO, JOE FUJINOKI Soup, Ochiai ¥2,500

MAY 18 DISSECTING TABLE, GOVERNMENT ALPHA, K2, &c. Earthdom, Shin-Okubo ¥3,000

MAY 18 DMBQ, PHEW, MERZBOW, WOOL & THE PANTS Fever, Shindaita ¥3,500

MAY 18 GEGEGE, IMUS (DJ), AROW (DJ) Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥2,000

MAY 18 ABIBOSS, KAZUMOTO ENDO, STEVELONGORIA, &c. Chitei, Otsuka ¥2,000

MAY 18 SIMPLE SYRUP, KING OF OPUS, SAYOHIMEBOU, &c. Forestlimit, Hatsudai ¥3,000

MAY 18 SHIBATETSU/MASAHIKO OKURA/YUSUKE MORISHITA/&c. Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,500

MAY 18 KOHSETSU IMANISHI/AYAMI SUZUKI Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥3,000

MAY 18 SUMIN, SLOM Circus Tokyo, Shibuya ¥6,800

MAY 19 ANNIHILATION TIME, ROCKY & THE SWEDEN, BAREBONES, &c. Fever, Shindaita ¥3,500

MAY 19 THORN BUG/JUN MORITA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

MAY 20 JAMES HULLICK, MITCH ELLIOTT, SAYAKA BOTANIC, HUH, &c. Forestlimit, Hatsudai ¥2,000

MAY 20 MOUNT FOREL, AYANO, WOZNIAK, &c. Spotify O-Nest, Shibuya ¥3,000

MAY 20 SID FRANK/MASAHIRO TOBITA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

MAY 20 MARIANA BARAJ W/ YUJI KATSUI Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥4,000

MAY 21 SHOKO NUMAO/TAKAKO MINEKAWA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

MAY 21 JAMES HULLICK/AKAIHIRUME/YASUMUNE MORISHIGE Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

MAY 22 COMPOSIUM 2025: THE MUSIC OF GEORG FRIEDRICH HAAS Tokyo Opera City, Hatsudai ¥4,000

MAY 22 YURI HONING ACOUSTIC QUARTET Haremame, Daikanyama ¥4,500

MAY 22 SHOKO NUMAO/AYAMI SUZUKI Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

MAY 22 OTO FUKUHARA/TILL YAWUH, SO EBIHARA/KOSUKE SUGIUCHI Polaris, Ogawamachi ¥3,500

MAY 22 JORGE DURÁN RODRÍGUEZ/MIYA/MOTOMU.MIURA/&c. Fourth Floor II, Koenji ¥3,000

MAY 22 POSUPOSU OTANI, ANN IHSA, O-NE Mogumogu, Asagaya ¥2,000

MAY 22 SID FRANK, CARL STONE, OSOYOOS Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥3,000

MAY 23 KAMASI WASHINGTON Billboard Live, Roppongi ¥16,400-¥19,100

MAY 23 SUNGAZER, BUTTON MASHER Unit, Daikanyama ¥8,500

MAY 23 THUNDER HORSE, WALLOW, BAHBOON, SUN MOON HOLY CULT Nakano Moonstep ¥3,400

MAY 23 YOKOSCUM, OTACO, &MORE, &c. Bush Bash, Koiwa ¥2,000

MAY 23 JORGE DURÁN RODRÍGUEZ/KIMIN HAN/JUN/&c. Fourth Floor II, Koenji ¥3,000

MAY 23 ROJI/TETSUYA HAYASHI/MISAKI MOTOFUJI Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

MAY 23 CHRISTIAN LÖFFLER (LIVE), RED AXES, &c. Vent, Omotesando ¥6,000

MAY 24 RAW POWER, &c. Bush Bash, Koiwa ¥2,000

MAY 24 TONNAM WARIT TECHAKANONT/KAZUTOKI UMEZU/YOKO TADA/&c. Knuttel House, Iriya ¥2,800

MAY 24 RISA TAKEDA/SAYAKA BOTANIC Chitei, Otsuka ¥2,500

MAY 24 YOSHINO/JUNICHI USUI/KAORI KOMURA Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

MAY 24 MARUJA, DOGO Club Que, Shimokitazawa ¥5,000

MAY 24 HERBALISTEK, SUIMIN, SOEJIMA SHINGO, COMM, &c. Forestlimit, Hatsudai ¥2,000

MAY 24 LAURENT GARNIER Womb, Shibuya ¥4,000

MAY 24 AISHA DEVI (LIVE), ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, DEVILS HOLE, &c. WWW X, Shibuya ¥3,000 (night)

MAY 24 LINEAR SYSTEM, TORU IKEMOTO (LIVE), ANA RS, &c. Vent, Omotesando ¥2,500

MAY 25 TORU TAKEMITSU COMPOSITION AWARD 2025 FINAL Tokyo Opera City, Hatsudai ¥1,000

MAY 25 TAKASHI SEO/YASUMUNE MORISHIGE Permian, Meguro ¥1,000-¥3,000

MAY 25 YOKO IKEDA/YUKI HORISAKA Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,000

MAY 26 VOOID, WELLSAID, CRUYFF, TEXAS 3000 Fever, Shindaita ¥4,500

MAY 26 TATSUHISA YAMAMOTO/NANAO KOBAYASHI Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥3,000

MAY 26 SATSUKI TSUCHIYA/KANAKO NUMATA/FUMI ENDO Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,000

MAY 27 KAZUO IMAI QUARTET Knuttel House, Iriya ¥2,500

MAY 28 KAMASI WASHINGTON Billboard Live, Roppongi ¥16,400-¥19,100

MAY 28 HOON, SHUGO TOKUMARU Spotify O-Nest, Shibuya ¥4,000

MAY 28 SCATRAW/KAZUTOKI UMEZU/YOKO TADA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

MAY 29 PHIPT+ (IKEDA/ENDO/ABE/YAMAMOTO) Koen-Dori Classics, Shibuya ¥3,500

MAY 29 MARIA MOLES W/ KOTA YAMAUCHI Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥TBA

MAY 29 BECK NHK Hall, Shibuya ¥17,000/¥23,000

MAY 30 WEASEL WALTER/MARTÍN ESCALANTE/TETÉ LEGUÍA/&c. Club Goodman, Akihabara ¥3,500

MAY 30 SAMM BENNETT/CARL STONE Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

MAY 30 SABU TOYOZUMI/JUNKO/MASASHI HARADA/&c. Pit Inn, Shinjuku ¥3,850

MAY 30 TONY JAY BAND, PERVENCHE, SUGAR PLANT, KATSY PLINE Three, Shimokitazawa ¥4,000

MAY 30 CHIHEI HATAKEYAMA/TAKURO OKADA Polaris, Ogawamachi ¥4,000

MAY 30 HAPPY, &c. Haremame, Daikanyama ¥3,500 (night)

MAY 30 LAWRENCE, &c. Vent, Omotesando ¥2,500

MAY 31 KAZUO IMAI (SOLO) Otooto, Higashi-kitazawa ¥2,500 (afternoon)

MAY 31 AOI SWIMMING, YUKO IKEMA, RIKI HIDAKA, YUMA TAKESHITA, &c. Tomita Bldg, Asakusa ¥3,000

MAY 31 MARK LETTIERI GROUP Cotton Club, Marunouchi ¥8,800-¥10,000

MAY 31 ORDER, BLACK GANION, MÜRMÜR, STORM OF VOID, &c. Earthdom, Shin-Okubo ¥3,000

MAY 31 TONY JAY BAND, CAR10, EUPHOLKS, LIFE IS WATER BAND Shelter, Shimokitazawa ¥3,400

MAY 31 HOME FRONT, 13TH MOON, UNARM Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥3,500

MAY 31 WEASEL WALTER/MARTÍN ESCALANTE/TETÉ LEGUÍA Koen-Dori Classics, Shibuya ¥2,500

MAY 31 STANDALONE404, KYOKO TSUTSUI, MAI MAO, &c. Soup, Ochiai ¥2,500

MAY 31 GARY OLSON/OLE JOHANNES ÅLESKJÆR, &c. Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,000

MAY 31 LOTO RETINA, EMAMOUSE, OTACO, &c. Forestlimit, Hatsudai ¥2,500 (night)


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

Tokyo Gigs June 2025

JUN 1 THA BLUE HERB, LITTLE TEMPO WWW X, Shibuya ¥5,000

JUN 1 KOJI OTA, SUZUERI, TOSHIMARU NAKAMURA, JU SEI, &c. Tomita Bldg, Asakusa ¥3,000

JUN 1 BUFFALO DAUGHTER, 2BD, KAORU INOUE (DJ) Haremame, Daikanyama ¥4,500

JUN 1-2 MARK LETTIERI GROUP Cotton Club, Marunouchi ¥8,800-¥10,000

JUN 2 SAM WILKES QUARTET FEAT. KAHO NAKAMURA WWW X, Shibuya ¥9,000

JUN 2 THE PHILHARMONIK Blue Note Tokyo, Minami-Aoyama ¥8,800

JUN 2 JFDR, MIAOU Fever, Shindaita ¥5,O00

JUN 2 KEN IKEDA/LEO OKAGAWA Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,000

JUN 3 TAVITO NANAO, YUKO IKEMA La Mama, Shibuya ¥4,000

JUN 3 JOSEPH HAMMER/CARL STONE, A VIRGIN/T.MIKAWA, &c. Hako Gallery, Yoyogi-Uehara ¥3,500

JUN 3 MASAMI TAKASHIMA/MINEO KAWASAKI, RYOKEN MIYAZAKI, &c. Polaris, Ogawamachi ¥3,500

JUN 3 SAM WILKES, &c. Baroom, Shibuya ¥7,000

JUN 3 ALEXIS FFRENCH Billboard Live, Roppongi ¥9,300-¥12,000

JUN 3-4 THE PHILHARMONIK Cotton Club, Marunouchi ¥8,800-¥10,000

JUN 4 KAZUHISA UCHIHASHI/KAORI KOMURA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 4 SNARKY PUPPY Zepp Shinjuku ¥9,500

JUN 5 KAZUHISA UCHIHASHI/TAKAKO MINEKAWA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 5 KEIJI HAINO/NATSUKI KIDO Polaris, Ogawamachi ¥4,000

JUN 6 EIKO ISHIBASHI/JIM O'ROURKE, TORSO 440, Shimokitazawa ¥3,500

JUN 6 MAIKA LOUBTÉ Circus Tokyo, Shibuya ¥4,000

JUN 6 DARE DEVIL BAND (KAWABATA/HANO/TSUYAMA) Polaris, Ogawamachi ¥3,500

JUN 7 SIDENERDS, MON/KU + TADASHI MACHIDA, MAO SASAGAWA, &c. Unit, Daikanyama ¥5,000

JUN 7 WAKANA IKEDA, MOTOKI OKAMURA, KENICHI FUMOTO Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,000

JUN 7 REONA/MASAYO KOKETSU/T.MIKAWA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 7 NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSE, MENOU, MOSKITOO, &c. Soup, Ochiai ¥2,500

JUN 7 PHYSICAL THERAPY, YOSHIHAARAA, LB3, FELINE, &c. Vent, Omotesando ¥2,500

JUN 7 KNXWLEDGE, MNDSGN, ISSUGI & GRADIS, &c. Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥4,000 (night)

JUN 8 REONA/TOSHIMARU NAKAMURA/JUNJI MORI Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 8 YOSHIKI ICHIKAWA/SHIBATETSU Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,000

JUN 9 MÔNICA SALMASO & ANDRÉ MEHMARI Shibuya Cultural Center Owada ¥8,000

JUN 9 +/- {PLUS/MINUS}, TODDLE Fever, Shindaita ¥5,500

JUN 9 CHIHO OKA/KANON AONAMI/YUKIKO SHIINA SAKURAZAWA Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,000

JUN 10 YUMA ABE Fever, Shindaita ¥4,800

JUN 11 JAPANESE BREAKFAST Zepp Shinjuku ¥8,500

JUN 11 DURAN, BONGFATHER Fever, Shindaita ¥4,000

JUN 12 INHALER Toyosu Pit ¥8,500

JUN 12-13 SPARKS EX Theater Roppongi ¥9,800

JUN 14 MEDESKI & MARTIN, MÔNICA SALMASO & ANDRÉ MEHMARI, &c. Tachikawa Stage Garden ¥18,000

JUN 14 THE MAD LABORATORY OF ANTI-MATTER, WAT (DJ), &c. Knock, Koenji ¥2,000

JUN 14 TAKASHI MASUBUCHI/AYAMI SUZUKI/TAKASHI TSUDA Otooto, Higashi-kitazawa ¥TBA

JUN 14 RAFAEL KALIL/MASAHIRO TOBITA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 14 MISAKI MOTOFUJI (SOLO) Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,000

JUN 14-16 BEN WENDEL Blue Note Tokyo, Minami-Aoyama ¥8,800

JUN 15 OSTRACA, WORST PARTY EVER, SOCCER, &c. Three, Shimokitazawa ¥4,500

JUN 15 MARCO SCIPIONE, PRECIPITATION Knock, Koenji ¥2,000

JUN 15 KAZUHISA UCHIHASHI/SHANIR BLUMENKRANZ Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 16 JOHN MEDESKI (SOLO) WWW, Shibuya ¥7,000/¥8,500

JUN 16 DMBQ, CARTHIEFSCHOOL Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥3,000

JUN 17 MAHER SHALAL HASH BAZ Ueno Suijo Ongaku Do ¥1,000

JUN 17 DMBQ, TEXAS 3000 Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥3,000

JUN 17 SHOW ME THE BODY, NUMB, KLONNS Unit, Daikanyama ¥7,800

JUN 18 BRUNO PERNADAS DUO, THE HATCH Wall&Wall, Omotesando ¥4,800

JUN 19 BED, &c. Unit, Daikanyama ¥3,500

JUN 19 LIGHTERS, &c. Aoyama Moonromantic ¥3,500

JUN 19 OOIOO, ONI NO MIGIUDE Loft, Shinjuku ¥4,000

JUN 19-20 MONONEON Blue Note Tokyo, Minami-Aoyama ¥8,800

JUN 20 KOENJI HYAKKEI Koenji High ¥4,000

JUN 20 URSULA OPPENS: BEETHOVEN, RZEWSKI 'THE PEOPLE UNITED...' Gotanda Cultural Center ¥6,000

JUN 20-21 CORY WONG FEAT. ANTWAUN STANLEY Toyosu Pit ¥8,000

JUN 21 SHE TALKS SILENCE, ME ME ME, N'RALA UFO Club, Higashi-Koenji ¥3,000

JUN 21 KEN IKEDA/TETUZI AKIYAMA/TAKU SUGIMOTO Otooto, Higashi-kitazawa ¥TBA

JUN 22 ERMHOI/KOHEI KONDO Polaris, Ogawamachi ¥4,000

JUN 22 HAZEL ENGLISH Kata, Ebisu ¥7,000

JUN 22 JIN HARADA/RYUICHI YOSHIDA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 22 MIYA/TAKUMI IKEDA Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,000

JUN 23 SHAI MAESTRO Yamaha Hall, Ginza ¥7,800

JUN 23 HAZEL ENGLISH, &c. Fever, Shindaita ¥7,000

JUN 23 SHINTARO TANAKA PLAYS JÜRG FREY, TAIZO HIDA Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,000

JUN 25 MINYEN HSIEH/HIROSHI YAMAZAKI/OTOMO YOSHIHIDE/&c. Haremame, Daikanyama ¥3,800

JUN 26 MUSIC TOMORROW 2025 (JÖRG WIDMANN) Tokyo Opera City, Hatsudai ¥2,000-¥4,000

JUN 27 IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT, AMORPHOUS DOMINION, &c. Unit, Daikanyama ¥9,500

JUN 27 ITOKEN WITH MEGAPHONES, HANAZONO DISTANCE Nanahari, Hatchobori ¥3,000

JUN 28 KRONOS QUARTET/TERRY RILEY/SARA Sogakudo Concert Hall, Ueno ¥12,100

JUN 28 SATOMIMAGAE, AKHIRA SANO (DJ/LIVE DRAWING) Spread, Shimokitazawa ¥4,000

JUN 28 KRISSY BERGMARK/TRONG KALLEVÅG Otooto, Higashi-kitazawa ¥3,000

JUN 28 AYANE SATO/MISAKI MOTOFUJI/YUMA TAKESHITA/MIKI NAOE Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 28 MATTHEW BYARS/TETUZI AKIYAMA/SUZUERI Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥2,500

JUN 28 ERYKAH BADU FEAT. THE ALCHEMIST Billboard Live, Roppongi ¥19,900-¥30,000

JUN 29 MASAYO KOKETSU/TOKUTARO HOSOI Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUN 30 DON MCLEAN/DAVID MCLEAN/LAUREN MCLEAN, &c. Ftarri, Suidobashi ¥3,000

JUN 30 PAED CONCA/KEIGO IWAMI/YASUHIRO YOSHIGAKI Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip


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

Tokyo Gigs July 2025

JUL 1 RAFAEL TORAL, JIM O'ROURKE/EIKO ISHIBASHI Club Quattro, Shibuya ¥6,000

JUL 1 MARTY HOLOUBEK'S TRIO II Polaris, Ogawamachi ¥4,500

JUL 1 TOMBED VISION/MASAHIRO TOBITA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUL 2 MASAYOSHI FUJITA & JAN JELINEK WWW, Shibuya ¥4,000

JUL 3 YUKI CHIBA Nippon Budokan, Kudanshita ¥10,000

JUL 3 HITOMITOI Billboard Live, Roppongi ¥7,900-¥10,600

JUL 5 AKIO JEIMUS/T.MIKAWA/RISA TAKEDA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUL 6 AKIO JEIMUS/CAL LYALL/TOMO Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUL 8 VMO AKA VIOLENT MAGIC ORCHESTRA WWW X, Shibuya ¥4,000

JUL 9 EMMANUEL PAHUD SOLO: JOLIVET, BACH, &c. Tokyo Opera City, Hatsudai ¥5,000

JUL 9 UDAI SHIKA/AKIRA SAKATA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUL 11 JESSICA ACKERLEY/AYAKO KANDA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUL 12 SHONEN KNIFE Fever, Shindaita ¥5,000

JUL 13 SPORT Nine Spices, Shinjuku ¥5,000

JUL 14 DO MAKE SAY THINK Fever, Shindaita ¥6,000

JUL 16 ALCEST, ASUNOJOKEI Club Quattro, Shibuya ¥8,800

JUL 16 SHINTARO SAKAMOTO BAND Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥4,800

JUL 19 INCAPACITANTS, COMPUTER FIGHT Aoyama Moonromantic ¥3,000 (afternoon)

JUL 19 MASATAKA FUJIKAKE/HIDEKI TACHIBANA/IPPEI KATO Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUL 20 TRIPLE FIRE Billboard Live, Roppongi ¥6,100-¥8,800

JUL 21 MASATAKA FUJIKAKE/MITSURU TABATA/KEIKO KOMORI Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUL 23 FERMIN MUGURUZA, SOUTH CARNIVAL, RANKIN TAXI, &c. Club Asia, Shibuya ¥4,500

JUL 23 MASATAKA FUJIKAKE/HOPPY KAMIYAMA Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip

JUL 25 MASATAKA FUJIKAKE/KAZUO IMAI/KEIKO HIGUCHI Bar Isshee, Sendagi ¥500 + tip


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

Tokyo Gigs August 2025

AUG 13 ICHIKO AOBA Suntory Hall, Akasaka ¥8,800

AUG 20 ICHIKO AOBA Sumida Triphony Hall, Kinshicho ¥8,800

AUG 24 GEORGES APERGHIS CHAMBER MUSIC PORTRAIT Suntory Hall (Blue Rose), Akasaka ¥4,500

AUG 26 BIXIGA 70, AJATE WWW, Shibuya ¥6,500

AUG 27 HOWIE LEE, MANAMI KAKUDO WWW, Shibuya ¥6,500

AUG 28 JO KONDO COMMEMORATIVE CONCERT Suntory Hall, Akasaka ¥7,700/¥9,900

AUG 29 GEORGES APERGHIS ORCHESTRA PORTRAIT Suntory Hall, Akasaka ¥2,500/¥4,500

AUG 30 NEW JAPAN PHILHARMONIC: WATARU MUKAI, &c. Suntory Hall, Akasaka ¥4,000


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

Tokyo Gigs September 2025

SEP 11 MERCURY REV Spotify O-East, Shibuya ¥9,000

SEP 16 HORSEGIRL WWW X, Shibuya ¥7,700

SEP 17 HORSEGIRL Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥7,700

SEP 19 THE SMASHING PUMPKINS Nippon Budokan, Kudanshita ¥15,000/¥17,000

SEP 24 AKIRA NISHIMURA TRIBUTE CONCERT Tokyo Opera City, Hatsudai ¥5,000

SEP 24 JON CLEARY & THE ABSOLUTE MONSTER GENTLEMEN Club Quattro, Shibuya ¥7,000


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

Tokyo Gigs October 2025

OCT 12 YAHYEL Zepp Shinjuku ¥6,000

OCT 13 NEW JAPAN PHILHARMONIC/JOE HISAISHI: GLASS, ADAMS Suntory Hall, Akasaka ¥4,000-¥12,000

OCT 13 THE CARDIGANS, CLOUDBERRY JAM, MEJA Tokyo Garden Theater, Ariake ¥12,000-¥28,000

OCT 21 SWEDISH RADIO CHOIR: PÄRT, HILLBORG, &c. Tokyo Opera City, Hatsudai ¥3,000-¥7,000

OCT 23 THE JESUS LIZARD Duo Music Exchange, Shibuya ¥9,800

OCT 25 TOE Ryogoku Kokugikan ¥8,800/¥9,800


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

Tokyo Gigs November 2025

NOV 1 CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH Club Quattro, Shibuya ¥8,000

NOV 8-9 ADDISON GROOVE, ¥ØU$UK€ ¥UK1MAT$U, COMMODO, &c. Ohba Camping Village, Hinode ¥12,000


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

Tokyo Gigs December 2025

DEC 1-2 BETH GIBBONS Sumida Triphony Hall, Kinshicho ¥11,000-¥16,000

DEC 3 SOCCER MOMMY Liquidroom, Ebisu ¥7,000

DEC 10 BLACK COUNTRY NEW ROAD EX Theater Roppongi ¥8,800


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

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.