DIG SHIBUYA Unveils Second Round of Official Programs, Including Drone Show Above Shibuya

The second round of official programs for “DIG SHIBUYA 2025,” a cultural event to be held in Tokyo’s Shibuya district from February 8 (Saturday) to 11 (Tuesday), has been revealed.

Building on its successful debut in January 2024, which attracted approximately 110,000 attendees over three days, this year’s event will once again blend technology and art, offering an immersive experience of contemporary culture. Last year’s event introduced groundbreaking concepts such as an art parade along Koen-dori Street with traffic regulations and art installations in Yoyogi Park, setting a new standard for cultural events.

For its second edition, “DIG SHIBUYA 2025” expands its reach by offering more opportunities for both Japanese and international artists. In addition, twelve groups selected through an open call will present collaborative projects. Among the previously announced official programs are “Pineapple Scramble,” a sculpture by artist Ryuuichi Ohira, a “Pac-Man Treasure Hunt” created in collaboration with Los Angeles-based startup Flickplay and Bandai Namco Entertainment, and “Shibuya Crossing Night Art,” an art exhibition to be displayed at midnight in the iconic Shibuya scramble crossing.

In addition to these programs, new official and partner events have been unveiled. The opening day of the event will kick off with the “DIG SHIBUYA 2025 Opening Event & Meetup,” which will take place at the Dragon Gate on the 18th floor of the Shibuya Parco DG building starting at 3:00 PM. The event will feature a digital art showcase on the scramble crossing’s massive screens, with artwork from both Japanese and international artists being broadcast from midnight to 1 AM. Attendees will have the chance to meet and connect with participating artists, creators, entrepreneurs, and engineers in a lively meetup. The evening will be filled with special DJ music, and attendees can enjoy stunning views of Shibuya’s vibrant nightlife.

On February 9, a special live performance featuring rapper Tamaki ROY and others will take place inside Ryuuichi Ohira’s public art installation “Pineapple Scramble,” set up along Koen-dori Street in Shibuya, where traffic will be regulated. The live performance will start at 12:00 PM, followed by the “Pineapple Target Game” at 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM sessions.

Additionally, a large-scale drone show, the “DIG SHIBUYA DG Drone Show,” in collaboration with Red Cliff Co., Ltd., will be held on the night of the event. This breathtaking show will light up the night sky over Shibuya with various art forms, blending drones and live performances to offer an extraordinary nighttime entertainment experience. For crowd control purposes, the exact date, time, and location of the show remain undisclosed.

The partner program “Hello! Mr. Pink,” in collaboration with the EXMURO arts organization from Quebec, Canada, will introduce Philippe Katerine’s globally popular art object, “Mr. Pink,” to Japan for the first time. The character, full of kindness and humor, will make an appearance at an iconic Shibuya location, delivering a “shock of laughter” to the world.

The “NEWVIEW FEST 2024,” a partner program with NEWVIEW, will be held at Shibuya PARCO and Shibuya Sakura Stage. The exhibition will feature over 50 artists, including finalists from the global XR award “NEWVIEW AWARDS 2024.” It will showcase live performances utilizing spatial computing technology, XR experiential content in the city, and talk sessions.

The interactive installation “Echo,” held in front of the Park Center on the 4th floor of MIYASHITA PARK, is created by the Montreal-based creative studio mirari. It transforms words and sounds into waves or pulses of light. Additionally, the TOPPAN DIGITAL SANDBOX® team will set up light depictions that respond to these movements.

In addition, as part of the official partner program, a tribute festival titled “RADIO SAKAMOTO Uday -New Context Fes × DIG SHIBUYA-” will be held, continuing the legacy of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s regular program “RADIO SAKAMOTO,” which was broadcast on J-WAVE for 20 years until 2023. The event will take place on February 10 (Monday), featuring performances by Cornelius, Yoshinori Sunahara, Daito Manabe + Yasuyuki Okamura, TOWA TEI, Fuki Kitamura, and others.