Tonkachi Inc. (Meguro-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yukari Katsuki) will publish Takeshi Takemura's first book, 'The Work of Creating Art Events: From Laforet Museum Harajuku to Roppongi Art Night,' on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. Takeshi Takemura has been at the forefront of Tokyo's cultural scene as an event producer.
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Overview of the Book
That era when Tokyo's culture was the hottest in the world!
That era when "events" created culture!
Everything was there.
Art, music, theater, performance — in the 1980s, a time when new cultures were born from "events" as various expressions transcended genres and blended together. From Laforet Museum Harajuku, which led the alternative space movement, to the 21st-century urban festival, Roppongi Art Night. This is a book that traces the 45-year memories from the field by an event producer who has stood at the forefront of Tokyo's culture.
"Events are sometimes called 'ephemeral,' and once they are over, nothing tangible remains. Before that happens, I wanted to turn my memories into records and give as real a form as possible to the past that seems to disappear." (From the book)
Endorsement Comments
Tadanori Yokoo (Contemporary Artist) When Japanese museums overlooked contemporary Japanese artists, Mr. Takemura of Laforet Museum Harajuku was quick to notice them. My debut was here.
Peter Barakan (Broadcaster) Brian Eno's groundbreaking video installation in 1983 is a lifelong memory. The art-related events at Laforet were occurrences of a good era, and a return to such an era is a dream.
【Artists and events featured in this book (partial list)】
Yasutaka Tsutsui / Richard Bernstein / Issey Miyake / Brian Eno / Katsuhiko Hibino / David Byrne / Muttone / Jun Miura / Beck / Al Hansen / Kiyoshiro Imawano / Henry Darger / Mika Ninagawa / Takashi Murakami / Morisa Fenley / Cindy Sherman / Shuntaro Tanikawa / Kazuo Umezz / Nobuyoshi Araki
Author Profile
Takeshi Takemura Born in 1951 in Fukuoka City. After dropping out of Sophia University's Faculty of Foreign Studies, Department of French, and working at advertising production companies, he joined art director Shozo Tsurumoto's office in 1980. He assisted Mr. Tsurumoto in the founding of Laforet Museum Harajuku in 1982 and subsequent independent planning and production. In 1989, he transferred to Laforet Harajuku, primarily managing event planning and production and the operation of Laforet Museum, while also providing plans to various commercial and cultural facilities outside Tokyo. From 2004, he concurrently served at Mori Building headquarters, also overseeing the operation and event planning/production of Roppongi Hills Arena. From 2009, he was involved from the launch as the first secretary-general of Roppongi Art Night, continuing to this day.
Loves cats.
Table of Contents
Part 1: Into the World of Event Production - Harajuku Tsurumoto Room Era 1980
Part 2: Laforet Museum Era 1989–1998
Part 3: Commercializing Cultural Business - Lapnet Era 1999–2014
Part 4: Creating a New "Plaza" in the City - Roppongi Hills Arena Era 2003–2018
Part 5: Making the City's "Night" a Stage for Events - Roppongi Art Night Era 2007–2025
Afterword: Handling Culture within an Organization
Book Information Title: The Work of Creating Art Events Laforet Museum Harajuku to Roppongi Art Night
Author: Takeshi Takemura
Publisher: Tonkachi Inc.
Release Date: May 12, 2026
Price: 3,300 yen (tax included) Format: W148×H210mm 304 pages
ISBN: 978-4-910592-47-3
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