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NEWS EVENT SPECIAL SERIES

A­R­T­I­S­T­S

Artists creating content together

Kanako Nishi

#BOOK

Born in Tehran, Iran in 1977 and raised in Cairo, Egypt and Osaka, Japan. Won the Sakunosuke Oda Award in 2007 for "Tsutenkaku", the Hayao Kawai Story Award in 2001 for "Fukurara", and the Naoki Award in 2003 for "Saraba! Naoki Prize in 2003 for "Saraba! His many books include "Sakura," "Round Table," "Fisherman's Port: The Meat Boy," "Furu," "Makuko," "i," and "Omajinai. His first nonfiction book, "Kumo wo Sasagasu," was published in April of this year.

Shin Kokawa

Born in Kyoto in 1984 and currently living in Kyoto, he started playing drums in junior high school and after working as a drummer for jizue, he is currently touring Southeast Asia alone as a solo artist, collaborating with domestic artists and producing and releasing his first solo album "ANIMA" with Shun Ishiwaka, Masanao Matsushita, Kei Yamamoto and others in 2020. From 2021, he has been active in a duo unit with didgeridoo player GOMA and kyoto experimental piano trio "kotto". In 2024, he released his second album, "touch the sub conscious", which featured a collection of renowned top players.

Yuna Takagi

Original story. After working as an assistant to Hajime Isayama, known for "Shinkage no Kyojin," he won an honorable mention in the "Weekly Shonen Magazine New Comic Award" with "Kega Shoujo A" (2012). In the same year, he made his debut in "Magazine Special. His first serialization in "Bessatsu Shonen Magazine" was "Immortal Lovers" (2013-14), which drew a great deal of attention for its depiction of a one-of-a-kind love story with overflowing passion and a fast-paced atmosphere. Dolmen X" (2015-17), serialized in "Hibana," was selected as a Jury Recommended Work in the Manga Division of the Japan Media Arts Festival.

Kitty Green

#MOVIE

Born in 1984 in Melbourne, Australia, the filmmaker and screenwriter made her debut in 2013 with the documentary Ukraine Is Not a Brothel, focusing on the Ukrainian feminist protest group FEMEN. The film was screened at more than 50 festivals worldwide, including the 70th Venice International Film Festival; in 2015, her short documentary “The Face of Ukraine: Casting Oksana Baiul” won the Short Film Jury Prize at the 31st Sundance Film Festival; in 2017, Netflix original documentary, The Mystery of JonBenet's Murder, which won Best Feature Documentary at the 7th AACTA Awards. He made his first dramatic film with “The Assistant” (19), about harassment issues in the workplace. The Royal Hotel” was nominated for Best Film at the 71st San Sebastian International Film Festival.

benten-land

#MUSIC

Formed in the summer of 2021 by Kei Satow (Vo/Gt), yukai the nippon (Gt/Cho), Charlie (Ba/Cho), and Shirokuma (Dr/Cho), the band is a “Japanese song rock band for all ages” that performs mainly in Tokyo. The band's lyrics are full of Satow's humanity, and the vivid band sound that colors the nostalgic melodies is ear-catching and has been gaining support. From Tokyo to the whole country, regardless of genre or scene, the band is expanding its activities by performing at “MURO FESTIVAL” and “SUMMER SONIC” in 2024.

nishina

#MUSIC

nissina is a rising star who has emerged with her natural singing voice in the new era. Her voice is gentle, fragile, and addictive. A melody line that is nostalgic and comforting, as if you were sleeping. A sense of words spun delicately with innocent gaiety. Her music, which is gentle yet has a hint of madness lurking within, thoroughly captivates listeners. Her voice and music, which have been captivating listeners slowly and at her own pace, are now quietly and more actively moving out into the world in search of new encounters. The most important newcomer, a talent that encompasses “fragility and madness,” appears here.

Aki Yahata

#ART

Born in Tokyo in 1985 and currently lives in Kyoto. Graduated from Shiga University of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, after completing the M.F.A. and Ph.D. programs at Tokyo University of the Arts. He is a contemporary artist who creates interdisciplinary art works based on field research and interviews. His main media are video and installation. As part of his pursuit of the concept of “the (geographical/social/mental) frontier,” he has recently focused on “hand-crafted food” and “road movies. He is the director/editor of “Teishoku,” an online archive of hand-crafted food cultures from around the world.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

suzukimikikozu

#MUSIC

Formed in 2012, the band has released three albums and two EPs on the independent market. The band's songs, produced by Mikiko Suzuki's heart-stirring vocals and Zu's emotional drumming, strike deep into the heart of the listener. The melodies are full of pop sensibility. In 2022, they performed at “ROOKIE A GO GO” of “FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL” and were selected as “RISING STAR” of “RISING SUN ROCK FESTIVAL”. In “Heart Noise”, he has performed with Takehara Pistol, Higuchi Ai, THA BLUE HERB, and others.

Asako Yuzuki

#BOOK

Original story. Born in Tokyo, he won the All Yomimono New Writers Award for “Forget Me, Not Blue” in 2008. In 2015, she won the Shugoro Yamamoto Award for “Nile Perch Girls' Club. His major works include “A Hotel Fit for Me,” “Akko-chan at Lunch,” “Ito-kun A to E,” and “All Not.

Kento Ido

#MUSIC

Born in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. He writes lyrics, composes, arranges, makes tracks, sings, plays guitar, and records. He became interested in the act of recording when he was in junior high school and started recording guitars and songs on a 4-track MTR, as well as collages of existing sound sources. 2004 he formed the band “Super Noah”, for which he serves as vocalist and guitarist. 2020 March: Released his first album “Song of the swamp” was released in March 2020. He elaborated the arrangements with various sound effects and deconstructed the rhythm section, etc. In June 2022, he released his second album “I'm here, where are you”

akkogorilla

#MUSIC

Rapper. He made his major label debut as a drummer, and after the band broke up, he became a rapper, winning Japan's first female-only MC battle, the “CINDERELLA MCBATTLE,” in 2017. In 2022, she will release a mini-album “Magma I.” From April 2019, she will be a member of J-WAVE “SONAR MUSIC”. In April 2019, she will be the main navigator of J-WAVE's “SONAR MUSIC” program, and she has been active in expressive activities that transcend gender, nationality, age, and industry barriers.

Ohzora Kimishima

#MUSIC

Born in 1995 in Ome, Tokyo. Songwriter/guitarist. As a guitarist/sound producer, he has participated in the production, recording, and live performances of various musicians such as Kayoko Yoshizawa, Aina the End, Yukkyun, Tokutaro Hosoi, Yoshisaki Sakaguchi, RYUTist, adieu (Moeka Kamishiraishi), and Sue Takai, etc. In 2019, after releasing his EP “Afternoon Reflection Light”, he began his solo career in earnest. In March 2025, he released his 4th EP “Sound Room”.

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NiEW Best Music is a playlist featuring artists leading the music scene and offering alternative styles in our rapidly evolving society. Hailing from Tokyo, the NiEW editorial team proudly curates outstanding music that transcends size, genre, and nationality.

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