Japan Nite

Japan Nite is an annual music event in North America which began in 1996, featuring Japanese rock, pop, and alternative music artists. Originally centered around South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, the event expanded in later years to include multi-city tours of the United States, and has often been the first USA-performance for the participating artists.

Japan Nite
Japan Nite 2008 promotional poster featuring the tour's signature female mascot
GenreRock_music, Punk_rock, Pop_music, Jazz, Electronic_music
Years active1996–present
Websitehttps://www.facebook.com/JapanNite

History

Japan Nite was conceived by Hiroshi Asada, former manager of Pizzicato Five, and Audrey Kimura, the founder of the independent Japanese label Benten.

Asada organized a showcase called Psycho Night (a play on the Japanese word saiko, for "awesome") at the 1992 New Music Seminar in New York City featuring only Japanese acts, including Pizzicato Five.[1] Asada was approached by representatives from SXSW who invited him to create a similar showcase in Austin, since there was not a strong presence of Asian music at the festival at the time.[2][3]

Kimura brought her band Lolita No. 18 to perform at the first Japan Nite in 1996, the first Japanese band to ever play SXSW.[4]

In 2008, the all-girl rock band Scandal toured the U.S. as part of the Japan Nite tour, the band's first tour outside of Japan.[5]

In 2011, Japan Nite's performances at SXSW benefitted the Japanese Red Cross's recovery efforts for the Great East Japan Earthquake.[6] In 2013, Japan Nite's tour extended to Canada for the first time with a performance at Canadian Music Week.[7]

In 2016, X Japan leader Yoshiki made a surprise guest appearance at Japan Nite's SXSW performance in Austin on the same night as the festival's premiere of the documentary film We Are X.[8][9]

In 2020, the Japan Nite tour was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions.[10]

Reception

Japan Nite's reputation among music journalists has been anchored in its eclectic showcase of unusual artists.[11] The Austin Chronicle said "Japan Nite usually means getting your mind blown"[12] and LA Weekly characterized the tour as "bringing an eclectic mix of alternative-minded Japanese bands".[4]

Participating artists

"It used to be that most of the artists at Japan Nite were major label bands," Asada said. "The music business people thought that one show at SXSW would be enough to make a deal out of, but it isn’t so easy." Lack of participation from major labels became a major factor in the tour's programming, and Japan Nite's lineup shifted away from the mainstream in later years, featuring primarily alternative music acts. "I go for the weird bands,” Asada said. "If we could deal with major labels, we could set that up, but they just focus on the Japanese market now."[2]

Japan Nite Artist Lineup
Year Artist Cities
1996 Lolita No.18, Pugs Austin (SXSW)
1997 Husking Bee, Cocco, Pugs, The Mad Capsule Markets Austin (SXSW)
1998 Tengoku Jack, The Kokkeshies, ONTJ, Balbora, Cocco Austin (SXSW)
1999 Ex-Girl, Missil Girl Stalk, Nicotine, Number Girl Austin (SXSW)
2000 Mummy The Peepshow, Dr. Strangelove, Number Girl, Spoozys, Lolita No.18, Original Love Austin (SXSW)
2001 Love Psychedelico, Bleach03, Heart Bazaar, Playgues, The Jerry Lee Phantom, Dr. Strangelove Austin (SXSW)
2002 Bonkin'Clapper, The Soulsberry, Understatements, Foe, Nananine, Fantasy's Core, Petty Booka, The Jerry Lee Phantom, The Salinger, Bleach03 Austin (SXSW)
2003 Condor44, Core Of Soul, Invisibleman's Deathbed, Minor League, Papaya Paranoia, Petty Booka Austin (SXSW)
2004 Kishidan, Fuzzy Control, Zanzo, The Emeralds, Response, Romz Records Crew, TsuShiMaMiRe, Kokeshi Doll, Noodles, Petty Booka, Bleach03 Austin (SXSW)
2005 Titan Go King's, I-Dep, The Emeralds, Noodles, The Pillows, The Hot Shots, Suns Owl, Zanzo, Petty Booka, Bonnie Pink Austin (SXSW), Chicago, New York, Canton, Boston, Los Angeles, Seattle, Berkeley, San Francisco[13]
2006 Vasallo Crab 75, The Rodeo Carburettor, PE'Z, Ellegarden, TsuShiMaMiRe, The Emeralds Austin (SXSW), San Antonio, New York, Cambridge, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles[14]
2007 HY, The Emeralds, The 50 Kaitenz, Go!Go!7188, Pistol Valve, Oreskaband Austin (SXSW), New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles[15]
2008 Detroit7, Avengers in Sci-Fi, Ketchup Mania, Petty Booka, Quartz-head 02, Sodopp, Scandal Austin (SXSW), New York, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles[16]
2009 FLiP, Dirty Old Men, Honey Sac, Sparta Locals, Grapevine, Detroit7, Stereopony, SpecialThanks, The Emeralds, SA, Asakusa Jinta, Quaff Austin (SXSW), New York, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles[17]
2010 Chatmonchy, Okamoto's, Red Bacteria Vacuum, Dolly, Omodaka, JinnyOops!, Riddim Saunter Austin (SXSW), New York, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles[18]
2011 Mo'some Tonebender, Lolita No.18, Hystoic Vein, Zukunashi, White White Sisters, Oh Sunshine Austin (SXSW), New York, Chicago, Seattle, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles[19]
2012 Saito Johnny, Nokies!, Kao=S, ZZZ's, Vampillia, The Rubies, Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass Austin (SXSW), Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco[20]
2013 Kao=S, Charan-Po-Rantan, Jake Stone Garage, Chihiro Yamazaki+Route 14 Band, Pirates Canoe, Four Minutes Til Midnight, Josy Austin (SXSW), Chicago, Columbus, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto[21]
2014 Happy, Mothercoat, Mayu Wakisaka, Jungles (R.B.V.), Starmarie, Sentimental City Romance Austin (SXSW), Athens (GA), Chicago, Columbus, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco[22]
2015 moumoon, TsuShiMaMiRe, Pirates Canoe, The Fin., Quorum, Samurai Dynamites, Mahoshojoninaritai Austin (SXSW), Athens (GA), Chicago, Columbus, New York, Denver, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco[23]
2016 Ed Woo, Pannacotta, The Fin., Tempalay, Rei, Jungles (R.B.V.), Reatmo, Alexandros Austin (SXSW), New York, Baltimore, Chicago, Long Beach, San Francisco[24]
2017 Chai, Srv.Vinci, Walkings, Anglogix, HanatoChiruran, RiRi Austin (SXSW), New York, Chicago, Seattle, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles[25]
2018 Domico, Attractions, Mika Kanda, Rude-α, Prankroom, Anna Takeuchi Austin (SXSW), New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco[26]
2019 Furutori, Asterism, Stereogirl, Regallily, The Perfect Me, Ex-Girl Austin (SXSW)[27]
2020*

(cancelled)

 Uchikubi-Gokumondokokai, Kyusonekokami, Tri4th, The Tomboys *all venues cancelled due to COVID-19[28]

References
  1. McClure, Steve (1997-11-29). "Pizzicato Five moves U.S. management to Japan". Billboard. p. 48.
  2. Michel, Patrick St (2015-03-24). "SXSW's Japan Nite celebrates 20 lively years". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  3. "ＳＸＳＷの本質はインディーズ精神にあり アジア代表 麻田浩氏に聞く". サイド E (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-06-27.
  4. Ohanesian, Liz (2011-03-28). "Japan Nite 2011 at The Viper Room: Presenting 5 Japanese Bands You Should Hear Right Now". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  5. "Interview with SCANDAL". JaME. 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2020-09-27.
  6. Babayan, Siran (2011-03-21). "SXSW Recap: Japan Nite Raises Money for Earthquake Relief". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  7. McKenna, Shaun (2013-03-28). "Japanese acts play music ambassadors at Canadian Music Week". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  8. "SXSW Music: Japan Nite". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  9. "Yoshiki Makes Surprise Appearance For Japan Nite Showcase At SXSW 2016 -". mxdwn Music. 2016-03-19. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  10. Michel, Patrick ST (2020-03-25). "As COVID-19 cripples live music, hopeful promoters look ahead". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
  11. "Japan Nite celebrates 20 years at SXSW". Austin 360. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  12. Bertin, Michael; Fri.; March 16; 2012. "Japan Nite". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved 2020-05-09.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. "JPN Girls Nite US tour 2005". www.sister.co.jp. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  14. "Japan Nite US TOUR 2006". www.sxsw-asia.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  15. "Japan Nite US TOUR 2007". www.sxsw-asia.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  16. "Japan Nite US Tour 2008". www.sxsw-asia.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  17. "Japan Nite US Tour 2009". www.sxsw-asia.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  18. "Japan Nite US Tour 2010". www.sxsw-asia.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  19. "Japan Nite US Tour 2011". sxsw-asia.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  20. "Japan Nite US Tour 2012". sxsw-asia.sakura.ne.jp. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  21. "Japan Nite 2013". JRock Revolution. 2013-03-21. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  22. "Japan Nite 2014". JRock Revolution. 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  23. "Japan Nite 2015, TsuShiMaMire, QUORUM, The fin., Zarigani$, BO-PEEP, Samurai Dynamites". The L Magazine. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  24. "Japan Nite returns to SXSW 2016 with a stunning lineup plus Preview Show and US Tour!". Hello Asia!. 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  25. Fulton, Nick (2018-09-10). "japanese punk band chai are redefining kawaii". i-D. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  26. "ドミコ、"SXSW Japan Nite 2018"出演 6大都市を回るUSツアーも開催 | Spincoaster (スピンコースター)". Spincoaster (in Japanese). 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  27. "ASTERISM, eX-GIRL, Otoboke Beaver among top Japanese indie acts at SXSW 2019". J-Generation. 2019-02-21. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
  28. "Japan Nite 2020". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
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