MUUUSE’s Groundbreaking Immersive Exhibition in Toranomon Hills

Six Times the 3D Sound of a Movie Theater

MUUUSE is divided into three main exhibition areas, each representing the past, present, and future.

Upon entering, you’ll first step into the “Past” area. But we’re not talking about just a few years ago—this is a journey back to ancient memories of “natural sounds.” The sounds of ice particles, rustling leaves, and crackling fire, among others, unfold in a grand-scale movie. True to its theme as a museum of music, the immersive audio experience is incredible! This space is equipped with an immense 32.2 channel surround sound system. For comparison, a typical movie theater uses a 5.1 channel system, meaning this setup is more than six times the scale.

At the base of the planetarium-like celestial screen, bean bags are provided, allowing you to lie down and enjoy the experience in ultimate comfort. As the natural sounds rain down on you, it’s surprising how relaxed you feel—already, at the very beginning of the experience!

When you place your hand over the sphere in the center of the exhibition room, light gathers and different effects are triggered for each scene. For example, a fantastical flower may bloom, or dancing spirits may appear… Eventually, these effects are reflected on the large screen in the background, becoming part of the sound and visuals. Watching the things created from the palm of your hand spread throughout the space is oddly satisfying. You can’t help but feel like a god in the middle of creation.

Celebrating with Home Appliances!

Between Exhibition Rooms 1 and 2, there is a mysterious float resembling a contemporary art installation. This float itself functions as a generator, and its energy is used to play various unused electronic devices as instruments, part of the “Electrónicos Fantásticos!” project. Upon closer inspection, one can spot items like a fan, barcode scanner, and traffic light among the components.

If you’re curious about how these instruments actually sound when played, be sure to check out the screen visuals as well. Remarkably, it all comes together as real festival music, and from a distance, you might not even realize that the parade consists of household electronics. I had to laugh at the half-moon-shaped “Okesa hats,” like the ones you see in Awa Odori, which are made from solar panels.

They’re also accepting festival ideas that incorporate household electronics. You can write your idea on a designated “imagination sheet” and drop it in the box—it just might come to life and echo through the festival someday!

Experience the Depth of Music in 13K

In the Present area, you’ll find an ultra-wide screen spanning about 24 meters, creating an atmosphere much like a live concert with dimmed lighting and audience silhouettes. Here, special videos from six different artists are showcased, ranging from reimagined live performances to original versions of music videos and entirely new creations. Every piece is a debut exclusive to this venue, making it a one-of-a-kind experience.

Honestly, I thought, “It’s probably thrilling for hardcore fans, but watching a big-screen video of songs I don’t really know… not so much.” I apologize for my initial skepticism.

When the live footage of THE YELLOW MONKEY started during the press viewing, though, that first note hit—and I was covered in goosebumps! The venue lighting changed in sync with the stage on screen, blurring the line between here and there. The immersive feeling of actually being at the concert was electrifying. Next to me, a woman was swaying along, completely caught up in the moment as if she were at a live show, which made it even more enjoyable. There’s something undeniably joyful about sharing music together with everyone.

This is a special MV version of YOASOBI’s “Stand on the Stage,” known as NHK’s 2024 sports theme. In the original official MV, various sports flash by during the climax, but here, an extended, uninterrupted version fills the entire 24-meter screen with each sport playing simultaneously—a breathtaking presentation. Watching this, the final lyrics, “I realized that no moment up until now was wasted,” resonate on a whole new level. Even if you get a little teary-eyed, the image remains stunningly clear—thanks to the 13K resolution.

The video featuring nævis, a virtual idol who just debuted from SM Entertainment, is a brand-new creation made specifically for MUUUSE. It’s filled with effects that blur the line between here and there, enhancing the immersive experience. Notably, while nævis herself is virtual, the four dancers are real people, making the boundaries between real and virtual performers feel indistinct as you watch.

Other featured artists include TM NETWORK, UVERworld, and pianist Hayato Sumino, totaling six artists overall. Watching all performances takes around 30 minutes, offering an engaging and satisfying showcase. It’s also pretty generous that photo and video recording is allowed here, don’t you think?

The Close Relationship Between Cars and Music

Between exhibition rooms 2 and 3, there is an installation featuring an actual Audi car, accompanied by an original composition based on the sound of its engine. By the way, MUUUSE is located on the 45th floor of the Toranomon Hills Station Tower. After sunset, the curtains at the back open, revealing a stunning nighttime view of Tokyo from 200 meters above the ground.

Creating Original Songs with AI

Next to the Audi corner, there is also a section where you can try the innovative music AI “PixTrax.” By scanning a QR code and uploading a photo you like, the AI analyzes the data to generate an original piece of music along with a custom album cover—it’s truly a shocking experience. “No way…” I thought, so I decided to give it a try right away.

I uploaded an adorable red panda photo I took at the zoo last week. As the AI takes a few minutes to generate the music and album cover, I proceeded to the final exhibition area while waiting.

Brain-Boosting Lasers You Can Directly View

The final section, “Future,” is a collaboration between Kenmochi Hidefumi, who writes and composes for Wednesday Campanella, and Kawada Tomo, the engineer behind the “PixTrax” technology. Upon entering the pitch-black exhibition room, laser beams, moving intensely in sync with the music, seem to pierce your body. These lasers are a next-generation light display using medical technology, and they are said to be harmless to the eyes. I couldn’t resist staring at them, and for the first time experiencing “directly viewable lasers,” my brain was exhilarated, and I felt a surge of energy, almost as if I were tipsy.

The music may sound like Wednesday Campanella, but something feels slightly different. This is the original music of “Thursday Campanella,” which uses AI to slightly evolve the sound of Wednesday Campanella. If you listen closely, you can hear the changes compared to the original tracks, which is fascinating. For example, “Edison” has been transformed into a song about Nikola Tesla, the inventor known for alternating current, with the opening lyrics changing from “If you have time to dance, invent something” to “If you have time to dance, generate some power.” Even the unique lyrics of “Momotaro” have been reimagined from the perspective of the old man, becoming a completely different, yet equally catchy, song—definitely worth listening to.

The lasers are emitted from a robot called the “Beam Twister,” which has 24 arms. I’ve seen laser displays at various events before, but this was on an entirely different level. As I was enveloped by the geometric patterns of sound and light, it felt so soothing that for a moment, I almost drifted away. The staff member who guided me through the venue said, “Photos can’t capture the full experience, so you’ll just have to come and see it for yourself…” and I truly agree with that.

After experiencing all the exhibitions—past, present, and future—I’m convinced: the waves of sound and light always transport us to a different reality. And MUUUSE is the place where that sensation is amplified to its fullest.

AI That Transforms Images into Music

On my way home, completely caught up in Thursday Campanella, I had completely forgotten about “PixTrax.” When I checked my phone and thought, “I wonder if it’s ready?” I couldn’t help but let out a surprised cheer.

It’s done!

The title is “Dancing Red Panda.” Ah, it seems the AI couldn’t fully recognize a red panda… but still, a red panda is quite impressive, I thought. Then I realized—red panda is actually the English name for a lesser panda. It’s completely mastered! And as for the melody, it’s a country-style track with male vocals, and it’s such a good song that it’s almost annoying. The fact that music like this can be created by AI was a huge shock to me.

At the same time, I thought about the artists I saw in the “Present” section of the exhibition—their passionate sounds, lyrics, and performances. I realized that it might be pointless to compare which is more impressive or right. Both are probably amazing in completely different ways, each in their own direction. It made me feel the vast depth of “music” once again—there is such a wide range of possibilities. In any case, PixTrax is a really clever tool, so I definitely recommend giving it a try.

Toranomon Hills Welcomes a Giant Boombox

In front of the ticket gate at Toranomon Hills Station, in the Station Atrium, there is a giant boombox installation celebrating the opening of MUUUSE! In addition to an original radio show by Chris Peppler, you can enjoy the clever touch of inserting giant cassette tapes on both sides to play specific songs. With winter-themed tracks from popular artists like Mrs. GREEN APPLE and Sukima Switch, it’s hard to choose which one to play.

MUUUSE is available to experience until Friday, December 27, 2024. Whether you’re a fan of the featured artists or someone passionate about music, art, and new technologies, it promises to be an unforgettable experience.

MUUUSE：MUSIC MUSEUM

Dates: November 1, 2024 (Friday) – December 27, 2024 (Friday)
Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Last entry at 7:30 PM) Please note that hours may change due to events.
Venue: TOKYO NODE GALLERY A/B/C (45th floor, Toranomon Hills Station Tower, 2-6-2 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
Organizers: TOKYO NODE (Mori Building Co., Ltd.) / J-WAVE Inc.
Planning: TOKYO NODE LAB / INNOVATION WORLD FESTA / ShinUnity Group
Cooperation: KAST / Yamaha Music Japan Inc.
Special Page: https://www.tokyonode.jp/sp/muuuse/
Ticket Information:

• Weekdays:
  General: ¥2,500
  University/College Students: ¥2,200
  High School Students: ¥1,800
  Junior High/Elementary School Students: ¥800
• Weekends and Holidays:
  General: ¥2,800
  University/College Students: ¥2,500
  High School Students: ¥2,000
  Junior High/Elementary School Students: ¥1,000
  All prices are inclusive of tax.

Note: The name “MUUUSE: MUSIC MUSEUM” is inspired by the Muses, Greek goddesses of the arts and sciences, and reflects the intention to create a new experience through the fusion of music and art.
Note: MUUUSE is a museum where visitors can experience works created in collaboration with artists, but there are no live performances by the artists themselves.
Note: The fiber beam system, developed by KAST, is a fiber optic technology.