CONTRIBUTORS
Contributors who create NiEW together.
OGRE YOU ASSHOLE is one of the leading live bands of the modern era, attracting many followers with their mellow psychedelia. After a guitar sound that synchronized with 00s US indie, they solidified their reputation with the conceptual trilogy "homely," "100 nen go" and "Paper Craft," which incorporated elements of psychedelic rock and krautrock. At the "FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL," they appeared on the WHITE STAGE (2014) and RED MARQUEE (2022) stages. In September 2024, they released their new album "Shizen to Computer"
Kotetsu Nakazato
Born in Tokyo in 1996. She works across diverse fields, not confined by titles like editor, photographer, or writer. While involved in content creation for all media, she is open about being a transgender woman and also oversees content and produces programs related to sexual minorities. She began her acting career in February 2025 with the Netflix film This is I, streaming now, playing the role of Sayuri.
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Atsutake Kaneko
Born in 1979. Born in Kumagaya City, Saitama. After playing in an indie band and working for a music publishing company, he is now a freelance writer. He is involved in interviewing and writing mainly about music. His main writing media include "MUSICA," "Music Magazine," "bounce," "MARQUEE," "CINRA," and "Natalie". He is also the editor of "Post Rock Disc Guide" (Shinko Music).
Shun Ishiwaka
Percussionist, born in 1992 in Hokkaido. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts after studying percussion at the high school attached to the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts. Upon graduation, he received the Acanthus Music Award and the Doseikai Award. As a leader project, he leads Answer to Remember, SMTK, and Songbook Trio, and has participated in numerous live performances and productions by Quruli, Ringo Sheena, KID FRESINO, Ozora Kimishima, CRCK/LCKS, and many others.
Nariaki Obukuro
Artist born in Saitama, Japan, living in London, England. Founder of TOKA Co.
Yukako Yajima
Editor and music writer. After working for a major entertainment agency managing artists and developing newcomers, deputy editor-in-chief of the culture web media "CINRA.NET," and managing TikTok (Bytedance Inc.), she became independent. She has been involved in writing, interviewing, content production, and branding to communicate the essence and personality of artists and creators to a wide audience, utilizing his experience as a manager and his editorial perspective in the web, print, video, and audio media. Recent media includes NiEW, Rolling Stone Japan, ROCKIN'ON JAPAN, Natalie, RealSound, and Forbes. She is a regular contributor to "APPLE VINEGAR -Music+TALK-," a podcast program hosted by Masafumi Goto (ASIAN KING-FU GENERATION) (distributed every Wednesday). She has over 380,000 followers on her couple x cooking SNS account, "Family omotenai🐒monkichi." On March 30, she published a book, "Cheap ingredients but so delicious it brings tears to your eyes" (KADOKAWA), which was ranked No. 1 on Amazon (in the "Cooking Basics" category).
Ban Obara
Writer, born in Tokyo in 1996, published his first collection of essays, "Don't Eat Karaage Bento Here," in March 2022.
https://obaraban.studio.site/
https://twitter.com/obrban
https://www.instagram.com/obrban/
madouemura
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.
Mansaku Kashiwai
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/
Hayato Watanabe
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
Research and editing (text and audio). born 1991, Ursa Major.
tosaariake
Writes music reviews, book reviews, theater reviews, and film reviews. He has contributed to Music Magazine, Mikiki, Shukan Yomitohito, Intoxicate, Eureka, Record Collectors, and other publications. His hobbies are drinking, visiting museums, and radio. He likes Yasuko Omori. A newly written monograph will be published by DU BOOKS in the fall.
RECOMMEND
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.