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NEWS EVENT SPECIAL SERIES

Event review: INSPIRE TOKYO 2023. Urban culture festival resonates with the World

2023.7.26

#MUSIC

The immersive experience to appreciate artists’ performance

J-WAVE presents INSPIRE TOKYO 2023 -Best Music & Market-, an urban culture festival by J-WAVE, was took place at Yoyogi National Stadium 1st Gymnasium as the terminal venue on July 15, 16 and 17. The festival featured a variety of food and market events, including worldwide cuisine in a collaboration with J-WAVE’s programs, as well as various stalls and events at satellite venues such as KITAYA PARK and Shibuya Cast Garden.

Photo by Anzai Miki
Photo by Anzai Miki
Photo by Anzai Miki

I attended the whole program of the event, and it was intensely hot outside on all three days. The staff even sprinkled water in front of the Yoyogi Stadium 1st Gymnasium. However, the artists who performed at this year’s “INSPIRE TOKYO 2023” were as hot as the summer heat.

INSPIRE TOKYO 2023 timetable

The first two days of “J-WAVE presents INSPIRE TOKYO 2023 -Best Music & Market-” featured five groups on the first day, including SHISHAMO, Nulbarich, Def Tech, Non, and Cocco. The second day saw iri, ikimono-gakari, Perfume, YUKI, and Ryuji Imaichi performing on the stage. Instead of last year’s “INSPIRE TOKYO 2022” implemented a three-stage system, there was only one stage this year, and both the arena and stands were reserved. In addition, on the first and second days, each artist performed 60-minute long sets, a system rarely seen at other festivals that allows the audience to experience the artist’s performance as if they were immersed in the stage.

A view of the venue

Artists referring to each other throughout the festival

The intensity of each artist’s 60-minute performance goes without saying, but what stood out to me was that all the artists commented on the other performers. For example, on the first day, Def Tech’s Micro took over from Nulbarich’s JQ, and on the second day, Perfume danced to YUKI’s famous song “JOY,” and then YUKI danced to Perfume’s “Chocolate Disco” in return. The intimate atmosphere that made the audience feel as if they were connected to the stage was something that could only happen at “INSPIRE TOKYO,” a festival hosted by a radio station.

Def Tech

Perfume

YUKI: Photo by Yoji Kawada (mosa inc.)

NON

Cocco

SHISHAMO and Perfume mentioned their long relationship with J-WAVE. Ryuji Imaichi performed “ALL LOVE,” a song he had performed at the previous event, “J-WAVE LIVE,” when he first appeared on the stage. Ikimono-gakari marked a fresh debut as a duo. The first two days were filled with many memorable moments, such as the powerful performance by those artists.

SHISHAMO

Ryuji Imaichi

Ikimono-gakari

iri

Nulbarich

Upcoming dance & vocal groups dominated the last day

On the last day, five groups performed: MAZZEL, BOYNEXTDOOR, OWV, BALLLISTIK BOYZ and BE:FIRST. Unlike the first two days, the last day featured an array of dance and vocal groups that are now taking the world by storm.

MAZZEL, making their first appearance at the event, gave a fresh and energetic performance.

MAZZEL

BOYNEXTDOOR, a six-member group from South Korea, performing in Japan for the first time, captivated the enthusiastic audience with their fresh and vivid presence.

BOYNEXTDOOR
BOYNEXTDOOR

Boy band OWV presented an image as an alternative boy group, cool yet swinging to laughter in their MC, while BALLISTIK BOYZ, currently based in Thailand, conveyed through their performance a further sharpened strength and resilience.

OWV
OWV
BALLISTIK BOYZ
BALLISTIK BOYZ

BE:FIRST, the closing act of the festival, engaged the entire audience with a performance that simultaneously evoked both a sense of nerve-sharpening perfection and the possibility of a future where they will spread their wings and fly out into the wide world. The last day was a day that embodied the ideal of INSPIRE TOKYO, which aims to be a festival bringing Tokyo and the rest of the world together in other words, resonating with the world.

BE:FIRST
BE:FIRST
BE:FIRST
BE:FIRST
BE:FIRST
BE:FIRST
BE:FIRST
BE:FIRST
BE:FIRST

INSPIRE TOKYO 2023 showcased the music culture Japan has cultivated and hopes for the future with a variety of live performances. With J-WAVE their unique dynamism and vitality which has continued to bring new music and values to people in this country, INSPIRE TOKYO 2023 was an event different from other festivals and showcase events.

INSPIRE TOKYO 2023

On the official site, photos of each performer’s report and set lists are now available.
https://www.j-wave.co.jp/special/inspire2023/

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