The all-night art event “BENTEN 2024” will take place in and around Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo, from November 2 (Saturday) to 4 (Monday, public holiday), and the final lineup has just been announced.
Chim↑Pom from Smappa!Group, who has long been active in Kabukicho, is serving as the artistic director. The event aims to visualize Kabukicho as a distinct art district by connecting newly established art spaces and public areas. Venues include the Ojo Building, Shinjuku Kabukicho Noh Stage, Decameron, WHITEHOUSE, and Tokyo Desert (formerly the Arts Community Center), with a total of 58 participating artists already revealed.
The satellite studio “DOMMUNE KABUKICHO,” led by contemporary artist Naohiro Ukawa, will open on November 4 (Monday, public holiday) at the Ojo Building, serving as the central hub for “BENTEN 2024.” Newly confirmed participants include Pierre Taki, Hitoshi Doi, and the collaborative performance of Keigo Oyamada, Yoshinori Sunahara, and Masaya Nakahara.
At “DOMMUNE KABUKICHO,” the first part of the event will feature a spin-off of the collaboration project with Audible, titled “DOMMUNE RADIOPEDIA.” This segment, scheduled to begin at 3 PM, will present “Listening to the Great Films: Tomohiro Machiyama’s ‘Movie Hyakumonogatari’ Volume 6 – Shinjuku & Kabukicho Movie Extreme.” Tomohiro Machiyama will welcome guests Pierre Taki (from Denki Groove), director Hitoshi Doi, and benshi (silent film narrator) Asou Koyata to engage in “unforgettable movie conversations,” akin to the tales in “Yokai Hyakumonogatari.”
The second part of the event, starting at 6 PM, is titled “DOMMUNE LIVEPEDIA” Chapter 1. This session will feature a trio consisting of Keigo Oyamada from Cornelius, Yoshitoku Sunahara, who is also active as a musician and DJ in TESTSET, and Masaya Nakahara, a writer and musician performing under the name HAIR STYLISTICS. Additionally, at 7 PM, a DJ set will be presented by the avant-garde collective Asian Dope Boys from Beijing, led by Chen Tien-Ju, along with DJ Chiro from OAWEAR.
The third part of the event, starting at 8 PM, will showcase the “EXTREME STROBE LIGHT KILL ALL SET” by VMO a.k.a. Violent Magic Orchestra. This performance will feature a sculptural display of chemical mist, illuminated by a rapid flicker of 666 nanoseconds.
Furthermore, a performance called “Private Super Starry Night,” featuring Yukkyun and Oozora Kimishima, will take place on November 4 (Monday, a public holiday) at 6 PM and 8 PM in the Oujou Building. In conjunction with the performance, an exhibition of photographs capturing the duo, taken by photographer Ayano Sudo, will be held at Decameron from November 2 (Friday) to November 4 (Monday, a public holiday), open each day from 6 PM to midnight.
BENTEN 2024
Artistic Director: Chim↑Pom from Smappa!Group
Event Dates and Hours:
- November 2, 2024 (Saturday) 3:00 PM – 5:00 AM
- November 3, 2024 (Sunday, Public Holiday) 3:00 PM – 5:00 AM
- November 4, 2024 (Monday, Public Holiday) 3:00 PM – Midnight
- Note: Opening times vary by venue. Please check the official website and social media for details.
Venue:
- The Kabukicho area (Oujou Building, WHITEHOUSE, Shinjuku Kabukicho Noh Stage, AWAKE, Decameron, Tokyo Desert, Kabukicho Park, and more)
Tickets:
- Basic fee (1-Day ticket): General 3,000 yen, Under 18 2,500 yen, Free for middle school students and younger.
- Purchase through ArtSticker (https://artsticker.app/events/49502) or at the venue box office (Oujou Building reception) on the day of the event.
- Note: Some programs may require additional payment.
Organized by: Kabukicho Art Night Executive Committee
Collaboration: Kabuki Super Festival 2024
Sponsors: Kabukicho Shopping District Promotion Association, Yoshino Gypsum Co., Ltd., Masamichi Toyama, Tokyu Kabukicho Tower, GO Co., Ltd., Koji Nakao, Fumiko Ito
Support: Shinjuku City, General Incorporated Association Night Time Economy Promotion Council
Grant: Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture Arts Council Tokyo [Life with Art Grant]
Cooperation: D Collection, KYOTO EXPERIMENT, Smappa!Group, ANOMALY, Ohoshi Shouji Co., Ltd., Hougaku Co., Ltd., Shinjuku Unatei
“DOMMUNE KABUKICHO” SAELLITE STUDIO
- Venue: Oujou Building B1F (1-13-2 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku)
- Date: November 4 (Monday, Public Holiday) 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Admission: 1-Day Ticket
Schedule:
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Audible ORIGINAL “DOMMUNE RADIOPEDIA”
“Listening to Masterpiece Movies”: Volume 6 of Tomohiro Machiyama’s “Movie Hyakumonogatari” – Shinjuku & Kabukicho Movie Extreme
Guests: Tomohiro Machiyama, Pierre Taki (Denki Groove), Hitoshi Doi (Film Director), Yata Asouko (Katsuben)
Host: Naohiro Ugawa
- Tomohiro Machiyama: “Shinjuku Thief Diary” (Director: Nagisa Oshima, 1969)
- Hitoshi Doi: “Ryuuji” (Director: Toru Kawashima, 1983)
- Pierre Taki: “Tokyo Godfathers” (Director: Satoshi Kon, 2003)
- Hitoshi Doi: “Killer 1” (Director: Takashi Miike, 2001)
- Yata Asouko: “Comedy: Women Are the Hometown of Men” (Director: Higashi Morisaki, 1971)
- Tomohiro Machiyama: “The Ground Conspirators” Special Review (Director: Hitoshi Doi, 2024)
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
“DOMMUNE LIVEPEDIA” Chapter 1
LIVE: Keigo Oyamada x Yoshinori Sunahara x Masaya Nakahara
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
DJ: ASIANDOPEBOYS & Chiro (from Beijing)
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
“VMO EXTREME STROBE LIGHT KILL ALL SET”
LIVE: VMO a.k.a Violent Magic Orchestra
“Private Super Starry Night”
Exhibition
- Venue: Decameron (2F, 1-12-4 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku)
- Dates: November 2 (Saturday) 18:00-24:00, November 3 (Sunday & Holiday) 18:00-24:00, November 4 (Monday & Holiday) 18:00-24:00
- Admission: 1DAY ticket
Please obtain a 1DAY ticket at the reception in the Ojo Building before your visit.
Performance
- Venue: Ojo Building 1F (1-13-2 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku)
- Date: November 4 (Monday & Holiday)
- 18:00
- 20:00
Each performance lasts about 20 minutes.
- Admission: 1DAY ticket
The application for priority viewing areas for reservations has closed due to reaching the limit. While you can still watch from outside the priority area, please note that there may be restrictions depending on the venue situation.
