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NEWS EVENT SPECIAL SERIES

C­O­N­T­R­I­B­U­T­O­R­S

Contributors who create NiEW together.

Yuga

#MUSIC

Yugawa began her career as a singer-songwriter in 2011, releasing her first full-length album “Tabiji” in 2015; in 2022, she produced the album “On a Night Without Words” with her ally, the members of the Magical Band, and performed at tour live shows and festivals throughout Japan. As Yuuga with Magical Band, he sang the theme song and accompaniment for the NHK drama “Tsukihoku no Yoru wa” and released the soundtrack “Tsukihoku no Yoru wa” for distribution in March 2023. 4 September 2024, he released his 4th album “Love Deluxe”. Her wide-ranging activities include narrating and singing for TV commercials, sound logos, and musicals. She is also active as Jane Jade with Sakura Fujiwara and Yuga.

madouemura

#MUSIC

Photography and filmmaking.
Born in Muroran City, Hokkaido. After planning TV commercials and directing web dramas as a composition artist, he started photography in 2018.

Koike Grunge

#MUSIC

Graduated from the Oil Painting Department of Aichi Prefectural University of the Arts in 2005. After devoting himself to music, he was responsible for the illustrations of "Unko Drill" (Bunkyosha) and the background art of "Nyanchu! Planetarium Chuu!". Around 2021, he resumed oil painting for the first time since graduating from university.

Mansaku Kashiwai

#MUSIC #OTHER

Editor-in-Chief, NiEW / President, NiEW Inc. / Director, CINRA, Inc.
Born in Tokyo in 1981. While working as an artist as a member/producer of the band "Mechanero", he was involved in the production of various artists' works as an engineer. In 2006, he founded CINRA, Inc. as a director, and manages the business as a manager and editor-in-chief of the online store, music label, and culture space "MADO" (Shibuya Hikarie), centering on the culture media "CINRA.NET". As an event producer, he is responsible for the free admission music event "exPoP!!!!! and culture festival "NEWTOWN", and music festival "CROSSING CARNIVAL". In July 2022, he established "NiEW Inc.", a culture company that works with artists, teams, and organizations that present alternatives in all fields, and newly established the artist business, media business, and event business. Established artist business, media business, and event business.
https://twitter.com/mansaku
https://www.instagram.com/k_mansaku/

Yuka Ochiai

#MUSIC

Born in Gunma, Japan in 1994 and currently lives in Tokyo. Dropped out of Nihon University College of Art, Department of Photography.
In 2018, became independent after working as an assistant; in 2024, became independent as a retoucher after working for a retouching production for 5 years. Lives with three shelter cats.

Manabu Numata

#MUSIC

Born in Hokkaido, Japan. Photographer. Leader of the guerrilla rice cake pounding unit “Mochi wa Mochiya”.
He is currently working underground, documenting underground culture through books, advertisements, websites, movies, and other media.
He is the author of “Tsukiji Fish Market Blues” (Tokyo Kirara-sha), a collection of photographs of people at the Tsukiji market taken from a fixed point.
He loves pounding rice cakes so much that he started “Mochi ha Mochiya,” a business trip rice cake pounding shop. I will do it at any place with a mortar and pestle, so please ask me for help!
https://www.instagram.com/numatamago/ 

Hayato Watanabe

#MUSIC

Born in Saitama, Japan in 1999. Photographer. He loves dairy products, having trained under a cow farmer. He has been involved in a wide range of activities as a photographer, including sewing for atelierBluebottle, a mountaineering garage brand, in addition to working as a photographer for magazines, websites, and advertisements, regardless of genre.

Shoichi Yamamoto

#MUSIC

Research and editing (text and audio). born 1991, Ursa Major.

Tomoaki Baba

#MUSIC

Born in Sapporo, Hokkaido in 1992. Enrolled in Berklee College of Music in 2011. After graduating, he is based in New York. After returning to Japan in 2020, he has focused on leader projects and released three leader albums, including "ELECTRIC RIDER" (2024). In the animated film "BLUE GIANT" to be released in 2023, he played the saxophone of the main character, Dai Miyamoto.

junichi nagai

#MUSIC

Born in 1977 in Hyogo Prefecture. Associate Professor, Faculty of Sociology, Kansai International University. D. (Sociology). Specializes in sociology of music and media studies. Travels to music festivals around the world to study their relationship with society. He is the author of “Rock Festivals Sociology: On Festivals in Individualized Society” (2016, Minerva Shobo), co-author of “How Have We Faced Western Music” (2019, Hanaden-sha), “How Have We Faced Western Music? (2019, Kaden-sha), and “Critical Word: Expanding and Renewing Popular Music ” (2023, Filmart-sha).

Yuki Sato

#MUSIC

Born 1988 in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. Graduated from Nihon University College of Art, Department of Photography.
He mainly produces music videos and other music images, and also works as a photographer.
Since the early days of NOT WONK, he has been accompanying the band to live performances and recitals, taking photographs/videos.

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/satoyuki0823

Shoichi Miyake

#MUSIC

Born in Tokyo. After working as an editor for the culture magazines "SWITCH" and "EYESCREAM", he became independent. Currently, he works as a writer, artist manager, and music label manager.

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NiEW’S PLAYLIST

NiEW recommends alternative music🆕

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.

EVENTS