A documentary series focusing on Japan's underground music culture and its periphery, jointly produced by the digital ticketing platform ZAIKO and A.C.T Japan, ‘In:Depth’.

This video project centers on venues across Japan and the artists who gather there, featuring performance videos and interviews from emerging domestic and international artists. Currently, the entire series consists of 3 chapters, totaling 11 episodes, with over 19 hours of footage available on ZAIKO for a monthly fee of 440 yen. Here, I will provide a brief overview of the main content and highlights of the episodes.

Forestlimit (Tokyo, Hatagaya)

The first chapter features four venues located within Tokyo. Episode 1 spotlights the club forestlimit in Hatagaya, Shibuya, a leading DIY underground spot known for being a salon where diverse artists and DJs interact. The performance includes a DJ set by AKIRAM EN, who hosts “Ideala” at forestlimit, along with guest player Pavel Miliyakov from Moscow, showcasing a live set. Both will contribute to imagining the parties that unfold day and night at forestlimit.
https://www.forestlimit.com

heavysick Zero (Tokyo, Nakano)

Episode 2 features the long-established club heavysick ZERO, located beyond Nakano Broadway. Known for producing numerous DJs, rappers, and beat makers mainly in hip-hop, this episode showcases a B2B beat live featuring four samplers by the resident crew of the “SLOW LIGHTS” party, which has been resident at heavysick ZERO for ten years. Additionally, MIDORI, a DJ/producer living in France with deep ties to “SLOW LIGHTS,” will perform. Viewers can sense the global exchange fostered by the club.
http://www.heavysick.co.jp/zero/

SHeLTeR (Tokyo, Shibuya)

Episode 3 features SHeLTeR, a well-known venue in Hachioji city that has been in operation for a quarter of a century and is beloved by music lovers, making it one of Tokyo's top “spots”. The performance includes DJ Chee Shimizu, who has been hosting parties at SHeLTeR for 15 years, showcasing the club's sound system that has been refined over its long history. Remote participation from DJ/label owner Vladimir Ivkovic, originally from Serbia and influenced by the sonic experience at SHeLTeR, also adds to the experience. Both artists convey the ambiance of SHeLTeR through their DJ performances.
https://www.at-shelter.com

Lighthouse Records (Tokyo, Shibuya)

Episode 4 focuses on Lighthouse Records, a record shop representative of Shibuya. Specializing in dance music records, it is an essential resource for DJs across Japan as well as in Tokyo. The performance features DJ Kenji Takimi and Nick the Record from the UK. Both DJs shine with a seasoned grooviness and a keen sense of selection. The thoughts of both individuals about Lighthouse Records are detailed in an interview within the video, particularly Kenji's words stating, “this is one of Shibuya's leading pro shops,” resonate strongly.
https://lighthouserecords.jp

Azul (Oita Prefecture)

Chapter 2 introduces good places related to music in the Kyushu area. First up is AZUL in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, a club mainly involved in dance music, also known for its picturesque hot spring town. Here, DJ Sato, hailing from Beppu, and electronic musician and DJ Lena Willikens, currently residing in Amsterdam, will perform DJ sets. From Sato's varied techno-centered set that he has played for years at AZUL to Lena's new wave and leftfield selections, the audience is sure to be captivated.
https://www.instagram.com/azuloita/

Kieth Flack (Fukuoka Prefecture)

Next is KIETH FLACK in Tenjin, Fukuoka, which has been operating for 27 years along Shinari Street. It is a face of Fukuoka, attracting various artists from both domestic and international scenes. An artist who stands out in Fukuoka’s underground scene, Sports Garden Hi performs a DJ set with visuals from VJ CHANOMA. Additionally, a live/video performance by Giant Claw, who runs the US music label Orange Milk that actively releases works from Japanese artists such as Foodman, is also astonishing.
https://kiethflack.net

Navaro (Kumamoto Prefecture)

Switching gears to Kumamoto, NAVARO, located near Kumamoto Castle's downtown, is a club/live house beloved as a hub for Kumamoto's music scene, characterized by its checker-patterned floor. Here, DJ Ryuhei, who continues to perform regularly at NAVARO, will deliver a DJ performance. Following him will be Aurora Halal, a bass music DJ/musician/promoter from New York, who will reflect on her past visit to NAVARO and perform remotely. This episode illustrates how the distance between Kumamoto and Brooklyn can be bridged by the power of the venue.
https://navaro.info

kalavinka/Sextans (Fukuoka Prefecture)

The final episode in the Kyushu area introduces KALAVINKA/SEXTANS, a record/select shop and music label, which is popular for its carefully selected records in a cozy atmosphere. Continuing with a vinyl-only, immersive DJ set by the current owner p.co, the episode features Cedric Woo, a DJ/label owner from France currently living in London, who plays world music and reggae. His loft-style DJ set, inspired by David Mancuso, provides a relaxing time for viewers.
https://sextans.jp

OPEN (Tokyo, Shinjuku)

Chapter 3 returns to Tokyo, focusing on venues with unique philosophies. First, we introduce OPEN, a prestigious club operating with reggae as its main genre near Shinjuku Gyoen. The DJing, intermixed with mic work by BIG H, the resident selector and co-owner, feels the weight of the club’s history and highlights the importance of sound systems for reggae clubs. Notably, the precious live dub mix by CHAZBO, a veteran of the UK reggae scene who has previously held a wedding party at OPEN, is also a highlight.
https://www.facebook.com/Reggae-DUB-club-OPEN-209137905858073/

Anagra (Tokyo, Hanzomon)

The next episode spotlights ANAGRA, a gallery and alternative space in Hanzomon. For 8 years, it has been a place for artists to gather and coexist. Besides exhibitions and events, it has also started a web media called A.N.D. Here, Munnrai performs a live set that embodies the magnetic field of ANAGRA. Additionally, Balinese artist Ican Harem, known for previously holding an exhibition as Gabber Modus Operandi, sends a love call to ANAGRA with an avant-garde and rave-like set.
https://www.anagra-tokyo.com
https://www.instagram.com/anagra_tokyo/

Contact (Tokyo, Shibuya)

The finale of the ‘In:Depth’ project is held at Contact, a large club located on Dogenzaka in Shibuya. Known as a sacred venue that continues the lineage from the large clubs YELLOW and ELEVEN in Nishi-Azabu, this location spark conversations among interviewees about the consideration of gender balance within clubs, leading to a live set from artist Sapphire Slows who also performs at Contact, and DJ Jane Fitz, who has over 20 years of experience in London. Each artist's choices and statements during interviews convey the pride of Contact that Japan should be proud of.
https://www.contacttokyo.com

In Japan’s music scene, it seems that no project has presented venues and players so meticulously in documentary format until now. It is hoped that this series will continue in the future, comprehensively archiving various places and artists. What is portrayed here is a record of people who engage in music and art through the conduit of “places.” It is prayed that this record remains in the memories of various people through the medium of video.

To prevent culture from declining even in such times, it is essential to document the past, validate and inherit it, and repeatedly update towards the new phase that is to come. And it is through achieving this that culture itself progresses, isn't it?

IN:DEPTH
Official website: https://indepth.tv/
ZAIKO LABO viewing page: https://indepth.zaiko.io/group/indepth-plus
ZAIKO TV: https://zaiko.io/premium/media/indepth