STUTS: A Unique Beat Session Crossing MPC and Traditional Japanese Instruments! Special Night Featuring Akihisa Kitazato at 'KAIMoN Music Festival' Ongoing at MoN Takanawa [Official Report]
STUTS performed a special live session with traditional Japanese instruments at the 'KAIMoN Music Festival' currently held at MoN Takanawa in TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY. The event also featured guest artist Akihisa Kitazato.
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- 📰 Published: May 22, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 22, 2026 at 12:31
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The music festival 'KAIMoN Music Festival - Open the MoN -', planned and produced in cooperation with radio station J-WAVE (81.3FM), is being held over four days from May 19 (Tue) to 22 (Fri). This event celebrates the 'opening of the gates' of 'MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives', an experimental cultural museum newly opened in TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, while presenting a new live experience where contemporary music intersects with traditional Japanese performing arts.
The festival features daily appearances by artists with deep ties to J-WAVE: Hitsuji Bungaku, UA, STUTS, and ROTH BART BARON × Taro Ishida. Centered on their respective musical styles, they perform alongside traditional Japanese instruments, offering not just a reproduction of existing songs but a one-night-only stage that comes alive specifically for this place and time across four consecutive nights.
Here is the official report of STUTS, who performed on the third day, Thursday, May 21.
Furthermore, the 'KAIMoN Music Festival' is ongoing until today, Friday, May 22. Tonight, the final day, will feature ROTH BART BARON × Taro Ishida.
[Event Report]
The third day of the 'KAIMoN Music Festival - Open the MoN -', a one-night-only stage held for four consecutive days since May 19 (Tue), featured a live performance by STUTS, a producer/trackmaker beloved across genres who weaves unique, living grooves with his exceptional MPC skills.
Tonight as well, the notes of traditional Japanese instruments colored the start of the live show. As the beautiful tone of the sho (free-reed instrument) and the delicate sound of the 25-string koto echoed through the venue, the traditional sounds spread out like ripples one after another, featuring the shakuhachi, Tsugaru shamisen, wadaiko (Japanese drum), and kokyu. After capturing the audience's hearts with a passionate yet ephemeral sound, tonight's main act, STUTS, appeared on stage.
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
Tonight, STUTS appeared in a trio set. Flanked by Keigo Iwami (Ba/Cb) and Yusuke Takahashi (Key), familiar members of the STUTS band, he opened the stage with a session featuring traditional instruments. After coolly adorning the live show's prologue, he seamlessly transitioned into his signature 'Renaissance Beat'. As the ensemble of traditional instruments layered over the precise beats, cheers erupted from the audience the moment beat music and traditional Japanese music crossed paths.
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
Greeting the crowd with 'Good evening, I am STUTS,' he continued into 'Ride'. The audience could not help but be mesmerized by his MPC skills projected on the screen. The keyboard phrases bouncing like notes on a staff and the profound bass produced by the contrabass led into 'Back & Forth', as songs with stylish and brilliant arrangements were performed one after another. From the beginning, the live show was a stage belonging entirely to STUTS. Following 'Lights', 'One' sparked clapping from the floor, rapidly heightening the venue's sense of unity.
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
Inviting the traditional instrument team back to the stage, he said, 'Please listen while imagining a Japanese summer,' and went into 'Summer Situation'. The unique sound world and fantastic intro woven by the traditional instruments instilled the song with a new charm not found in the original. Overlaid onto this were mellow keyboard tones. It was a masterful arrangement that seemed to evoke numerous summer memories. STUTS, striking the MPC in the center of the stage while bathed in an orange light reminiscent of a summer sunset, left a striking impression.
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
Maintaining the momentum, they rushed into 'Conflicted', and in the following 'Daylight Avenue', he welcomed his close friend Akihisa Kitazato to the stage as a special guest. Kitazato, who appeared amidst loud cheers, reflected on the live performance so far and remarked briefly, 'What a rich resonance.' Backed by the rich tones of the traditional instruments, he captivated the audience with his expansive and crystal-clear singing voice.
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
Afterwards, only Kitazato and STUTS remained on stage. Introducing it as 'a song we made together,' they began 'April Child'. Over the beat woven by STUTS, Kitazato freely added his vocals. After displaying a perfect synchronicity unique to close friends, he left the stage with the words, 'Please enjoy until the end.'
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
From here, the live show shifted to STUTS's solo stage. It was the beginning of his solo time, weaving sounds together with the MPC. Songs like 'Ohayo', a collaboration with Taeko Onuki, and 'With U (feat. Dai
The festival features daily appearances by artists with deep ties to J-WAVE: Hitsuji Bungaku, UA, STUTS, and ROTH BART BARON × Taro Ishida. Centered on their respective musical styles, they perform alongside traditional Japanese instruments, offering not just a reproduction of existing songs but a one-night-only stage that comes alive specifically for this place and time across four consecutive nights.
Here is the official report of STUTS, who performed on the third day, Thursday, May 21.
Furthermore, the 'KAIMoN Music Festival' is ongoing until today, Friday, May 22. Tonight, the final day, will feature ROTH BART BARON × Taro Ishida.
[Event Report]
The third day of the 'KAIMoN Music Festival - Open the MoN -', a one-night-only stage held for four consecutive days since May 19 (Tue), featured a live performance by STUTS, a producer/trackmaker beloved across genres who weaves unique, living grooves with his exceptional MPC skills.
Tonight as well, the notes of traditional Japanese instruments colored the start of the live show. As the beautiful tone of the sho (free-reed instrument) and the delicate sound of the 25-string koto echoed through the venue, the traditional sounds spread out like ripples one after another, featuring the shakuhachi, Tsugaru shamisen, wadaiko (Japanese drum), and kokyu. After capturing the audience's hearts with a passionate yet ephemeral sound, tonight's main act, STUTS, appeared on stage.
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
Tonight, STUTS appeared in a trio set. Flanked by Keigo Iwami (Ba/Cb) and Yusuke Takahashi (Key), familiar members of the STUTS band, he opened the stage with a session featuring traditional instruments. After coolly adorning the live show's prologue, he seamlessly transitioned into his signature 'Renaissance Beat'. As the ensemble of traditional instruments layered over the precise beats, cheers erupted from the audience the moment beat music and traditional Japanese music crossed paths.
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
Greeting the crowd with 'Good evening, I am STUTS,' he continued into 'Ride'. The audience could not help but be mesmerized by his MPC skills projected on the screen. The keyboard phrases bouncing like notes on a staff and the profound bass produced by the contrabass led into 'Back & Forth', as songs with stylish and brilliant arrangements were performed one after another. From the beginning, the live show was a stage belonging entirely to STUTS. Following 'Lights', 'One' sparked clapping from the floor, rapidly heightening the venue's sense of unity.
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
Inviting the traditional instrument team back to the stage, he said, 'Please listen while imagining a Japanese summer,' and went into 'Summer Situation'. The unique sound world and fantastic intro woven by the traditional instruments instilled the song with a new charm not found in the original. Overlaid onto this were mellow keyboard tones. It was a masterful arrangement that seemed to evoke numerous summer memories. STUTS, striking the MPC in the center of the stage while bathed in an orange light reminiscent of a summer sunset, left a striking impression.
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
Maintaining the momentum, they rushed into 'Conflicted', and in the following 'Daylight Avenue', he welcomed his close friend Akihisa Kitazato to the stage as a special guest. Kitazato, who appeared amidst loud cheers, reflected on the live performance so far and remarked briefly, 'What a rich resonance.' Backed by the rich tones of the traditional instruments, he captivated the audience with his expansive and crystal-clear singing voice.
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
Afterwards, only Kitazato and STUTS remained on stage. Introducing it as 'a song we made together,' they began 'April Child'. Over the beat woven by STUTS, Kitazato freely added his vocals. After displaying a perfect synchronicity unique to close friends, he left the stage with the words, 'Please enjoy until the end.'
Photo: Hayato Watanabe
From here, the live show shifted to STUTS's solo stage. It was the beginning of his solo time, weaving sounds together with the MPC. Songs like 'Ohayo', a collaboration with Taeko Onuki, and 'With U (feat. Dai
FAQ
開門音楽祭はどこで開催されましたか？
TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITYの文化の実験的ミュージアム「MoN Takanawa: The Museum of Narratives」で開催されました。
開門音楽祭にはどのようなアーティストが出演しましたか？
羊文学、UA、STUTS、ROTH BART BARON × 石田多朗が日替わりで出演しました。
STUTSのステージではどのような楽器が共演しましたか？
MPC、ベース、キーボードに加え、笙、二十五絃箏、尺八、津軽三味線、和太鼓、胡弓などの和楽器が共演しました。
STUTSのライブにゲスト出演したのは誰ですか？
北里彰久がゲスト出演し、「Daylight Avenue」や「April Child」を披露しました。
このイベントの企画制作に協力しているラジオ局はどこですか？
ラジオ局J-WAVE(81.3FM)が企画制作に協力しています。