Inspired by the theme of “making Shibuya a world-class tourist destination,” a special music space has been created. Tickets offer accommodations and dinner at a high-class hotel in Tokyo, along with VIP seats and a Meet & Greet opportunity!

Channel47 (Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo / President: Yusuke Nakagawa), an association created to utilize local resources throughout Japan to empower towns and cities through entertainment, has launched a new series of music events to boost the next generation of Japanese culture. The first ‘Sky’s The Limit’ event (https://channel47.jp/SKYSTHELIMIT) will be held on January 27, 2025 at CÉ LA VI TOKYO in Shibuya, Tokyo.   Sky’s The Limit is a series of music events launched to create an immersive experience with one-of-a-kind performances by fusing music with specific worldviews that deviate from the existing environments under the theme of ”making Shibuya a world-leading tourist destination.” The first location was selected to be the rooftop club floor of  CÉ LA VI in Tokyo, a brand that began in Singapore. The luxurious space that epitomizes world-class rooftop entertainment is located in the heart of Shibuya, Tokyo, and will be transformed into a special music floor for this occasion only.   The lineup includes GREEN ASSASSIN DOLLAR, one of the hottest trackmakers in Japan at the moment, who has produced numerous hits including FLOATIN and GOOD DAY for the hip-hop group NAMEDARUMA, which launched in 2019 as DJ DARUMA & JOMMY. The artist is also active in the underground scene as a solo artist. JOMMY will also perform, with the artist known to update his sound with each era, commanding all genres including house, breakbeats, disco, techno, electro, hip-hop, and much more. Kza, from the DJ/production unit FORCE OF NATURE, creates catchy music using a creative approach that could be called ‘naturalistic,’ pursuing his unique sound of dance music and boasting a strong love of sampling/vinyl culture. GReY, a young Japanese DJ, has appeared as a guest DJ in both Japan and many European countries, while SAMO, born in New York and raised in Akashi, made his first appearance at BOILER ROOM in 2023. COCOLY, who is of international descent from Brazil, Italy, and Japan, is active in major clubs in Japan. The lineup includes Japan's top DJs and creators who are popular overseas, as well as up-and-coming young DJs who are leading Tokyo's night scene.

GREEN ASSASSIN DOLLAR

JOMMY

Kza（FORCE OF NATURE）

GReY

SAMO

COCOLY

  The event will also offer tickets offering accommodation and dinner at a high-class hotel in Tokyo and VIP seats paired with a Meet & Greet, to allow overseas visitors to experience these special experiences.    We invite you to experience the chemical reactions created by Japan's leading DJs and creators on the club floor of CÉ LA VI TOKYO, a world-class rooftop club found in the electric area of Shibuya, Tokyo.

On November 27, Toua will release her first EP, I am I, both physically and digitally.   The lead track on the EP, I am I, became a hot topic following its July release, with over 10,000 TikTok videos in just three weeks. Also included is Young -MINE remix-, TREKKIE TRAX’s Afro-pop rearrangement of the popular 2022 song highlighting the emotions and struggles that teens face. The EP includes four songs in total, from MY Routine, a reggaeton bop with lyrics by up-and-coming rapper Minami Nakamura, and MEmories, a Y2K-inspired song composed by ‘Carpainter’ from MEZZ and TREKKIE TRAX CREW.   With the message of “I, MY, ME, MINE” in each song title, the EP expresses the importance of loving yourself as you are and embracing self-expression.   The cover artwork was created by Keisuke Shimizu once again, who has worked as creative director for THE FIRST TAKE and NHK's music documentary Okaeri Ongakushitsu. “To extract Toua’s character, I decided to highlight her most impactful parts,” Shimizu said. “Even if you only look at the hands, feet, nose, lips, or other body parts, you can easily recognize that it is Toua. That's proof that she is truly iconic!”   The EP will be available in two forms: a Limited First Edition including a 12-inch record-size paper jacket with a CD, a B2-size poster, and a lyrics card, and a Standard Edition including a paper jacket with a CD and an 8-page booklet. Listeners are invited to enjoy the Gen Z icon’s music and visuals together. In addition, select CD shops and online stores will hand out special purchase bonuses while supplies last.   Release events will also be held in various locations, with details scheduled to be revealed soon.  

Singer-songwriter Natsuki Kawanishi will release her new song, Sentimental & Hot Coffee, on November 20.   The new track is a sentimental love song that describes the difference in views on love between men and women, as well as the common interval between “being strong” and “wanting to be pampered.” At the start of winter, when people begin to miss the touch of human skin, Kawanishi’s warm and resonant voice aims to soothe the loneliness of the masses.   The song has been selected as the “Radio Kansai Recommended Song” for November on Radio Kansai. It has also been chosen as the November ending theme for RSK Sanyo Broadcasting’s KYUN! MUSIC.   [Comment from Natsuki Kawanishi] “This song is perfect for the winter season, when “cold” and “loneliness” intersect and people miss human touch. This new song shares the emotions of the main character, who wavers between wanting to be strong and wanting to be taken care of. Even when her memories haunt her, she doesn’t say what she wants to say. I expressed my desire to hide that sadness and internal conflict by blaming it all on the season.”

The vocal-dance group ATARASHII GAKKO! made their global debut in 2021 on the 88rising label, which promotes Asian music and culture to the world. The four members have continued to attract attention over the past few years, recently performing on NHK’s New Year’s staple Kohaku Uta Gassen for the first time and starting their own TV show. On January 9, the group held its first concert, SEISHUN SHURAI (Youth Invasion),  at Nippon Budokan.

When the first notes of Tokyo Calling began playing, all 12,000 fans in attendance instantly reached maximum excitement as they focused their attention on the 360-degree stage. The LED lights covering the stage began to shine and the members, clad in red sailor uniforms, appeared to the sound of wild applause. After performing Toryanse, a new song released from embargo just before the start of the concert, and thePineapple Kryptonite Remix, the members began a brief MC, eager to address and thank the audience. “All of you fans out there, can you see us in all 360 degrees? We’ve dreamed of the day that all four of us would be here, standing on our own feet on this legendary stage.”

After a short intermission, the group moved on to a block of songs appearing on their first and second albums, including Night Before the Exam, Tomei Boy, Koi Geba, and other fan favorites, followed by a medley featuring Freaks, NAINAINAI, and other songs released following the group’s international debut in 2021. Rin performed finger drumming and the members amused fans with a cover of the Beastie Boys’ classic Intergalactic while wearing traffic guard costumes.

The audience’s excitement only continued to grow as the girls called out, screaming “Budokan, here we go!” before breaking into an intense performance of Saisyu Jinrui filled with head-banging and shoulder rides. During the last part of the concert, ATARASHII GAKKO! performed their new song BORN TO BE FREE!!!! for the first time. The track’s fast-paced sound immediately captured the hearts of fans, and the girls closed the main event with SEISHUN WO KIRISAKU HADO, an extremely popular song at their live performances.

During the final MC portion, there was a tearful moment in which Suzuka cried and hugged the other members. “I don’t want anyone to suffer alone,” she said. “We’re all here together. Thank you all so much.” The group’s first concert at Nippon Budokan ended with Mayoeba Toutoshi, known as a common final song at ATARASHII GAKKO! concerts. “If you ever feel lost, you can always rely on us–on our concerts, our videos, and everything else,” Suzuka said.

Along with the announcement of a new fan club, the group’s first fan club tour, which will visit five prefectures, was announced during the show. Additionally, the new song Toryanse will be available to stream on January 26.

■SET LIST Tokyo Calling Giri Giri Toryanse Pineapple Kryptonite (Yohji Igarashi Remix) Night Before the Exam Sekigae Gattuso Tomei Boy Koi Geba Dokubana Shiritai Freaks NAINAINAI Fantastico Pineapple Kryptonite Intergalactic Saishuu Jinrui Janaindayo BORN TO BE FREE!!!! SEISHUN WO KIRISAKU HADO

 

＜ENCORE＞ OTONABLUE Que Sera, Sera Mayoeba Toutoshi

Following her successful seven-city world tour across four countries including a show at Primavera Sound, one of Europe’s largest music festivals, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu has once again taken the stage in her native Japan. On July 15, the artist performed a stunning solo show, Celebrating 100 Years: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Special Live 2023 ~Midnight Sun~, at the Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall in Tokyo.

 

The performance itself was part of a larger project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Hibiya venue. Fittingly, the theme of this one-night-only show was ‘the biggest celebration of your life,’ inspired by the ‘both joyful and terrifying festival held beneath the Midnight Sun.’ Kyary Pamyu Pamyu directed the performance herself, and the final product felt like it was pulling the audience into a movie world rather than a live performance.

 

The costumes, made exclusively for this performance, were created by fashion stylist Yudai Ichinosawa. Stunning special effects makeup was provided by Kaiho, who has worked with Kyary in the past. In addition, the floral stage decorations for the live performance, made to be sustainable, were created in collaboration with Hibiya Kadan, whose headquarters are located inside Hibiya Park. Fresh flowers and greenery along with colorful artificial flowers were used to create a unique space for the special occasion.

To begin the show, the curtain was raised as joyful Celtic music was played by a band of elves. The ‘Kyary Family’ marched onto the stage, their faces hidden by veils. The daughter, Kyary, appeared with dancers dressed as her father, mother, and twin sister, and as the characters removed their veils, the artist began with a performance of Easta, an Easter-themed song.

During the MC portion of the show, Kyary shared her heartfelt congratulations to Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall for its 100-year history. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a colorful outdoor stage before,” she continued, inviting the audience to take in the gorgeous scenery.

 

Kyary also shyly addressed her marriage in front of an audience for the first time. The artist also announced that she had invited the person who found her lost shoe sole in Harajuku months ago to the show, causing plenty of excitement in the audience.

It was a night of celebration at the Hibiya Open Air Concert Hall, between the 100th anniversary of the space, Kyary’s marriage, and the recovery of her beloved shoe sole. The setlist included 22 songs along with an encore, blending both classic and new tracks, including songs not often performed live. The performance was punctuated with Celtic flare, giving the entire show an odd yet welcoming air as the audience celebrated the Midnight Sun with Kyary’s unique family.

The official Midnight Sun playlist, which includes some special content, is available on major music streaming sites now. During certain portions of the concert, fans were allowed to film, so you can also expect to find some video footage scattered around social media.

 

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is scheduled to perform at LuckyFes on July 17 and FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL on July 30. As she continues to take the stage at festivals around Japan, fans are invited to come and see this internationally-acclaimed pop star as she continues to wow audiences.

 

Photo: Aki Ishii

  ■Playlist Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Special Live 2023 - Midnight Sun - https://lnk.to/KPP_Midnight_Sun