The tiny desk concerts JAPAN featuring Koshi Inaba, which aired on NHK in September to significant acclaim, has now been featured on the YouTube channel of NPR (National Public Radio), the original host in the U.S.
Tiny Desk Concerts is a music series launched by NPR in 2008, featuring performances literally held at a “small desk” in the NPR office. This innovative concept became a global sensation, showcasing artists without a professional music studio, specialized sound equipment, or stage lighting, with an audience composed only of NPR staff, creating a unique musical experience.
Tiny Desk Concerts JAPAN is the Japanese version produced by NHK under a licensed agreement with NPR. The series debuted in March with an appearance by Fujii Kaze and has since been broadcast as special episodes on NHK WORLD JAPAN.

Koshi Inaba, who has long been a fan of the U.S. version of Tiny Desk Concerts, prepared for his appearance by collaborating with his tour band. They experimented with songs from their summer tour setlist to see which ones could be adapted for the show. After considering time constraints and making adjustments, they chose the final tracks. NPR, recognizing the significance of Inaba’s performance, decided to feature it on their official U.S. YouTube channel, following the episode with Fujii Kaze. That episode has already garnered over 12 million views, and with Inaba’s inclusion, both he and Tiny Desk Concerts JAPAN are likely to attract even more international attention.

