tiny desk concerts JAPAN - Season 2

First aired: 4/27/2025 9 episodes

Episodes

1. ASKA

Aired: 4/27/2025

ASKA, a legendary figure in Japanese music with a career spanning over four decades, brings his unmistakable voice and a powerhouse nine-piece band to deliver an unforgettable live performance—intimate, raw, and deeply moving. He's not just a Japanese icon—ASKA has been winning hearts across Asia with recent concerts in Malaysia, Taiwan, and beyond. Now, he's ready to reach the world. ASKA's setlist? Pure fire. Every song is a fan favorite, including massive CHAGE & ASKA hits like SAY YES—a cultural anthem—and solo classics like HAJIMARIWA ITSUMO AME (It Always Starts With Rain). These songs shaped the soundtrack of the '90s in Japan and across Asia, and now they're getting a fresh, deeply personal arrangement just for tiny desk concerts JAPAN. Filmed in the heart of Tokyo at NHK's Shibuya office, this is more than a concert—it's a once-in-a-lifetime moment. Don't miss this intimate, soulful journey through the golden era of J-pop—reimagined for the world stage.

2. Ishikawa Sayuri feat. fox capture plan

Aired: 5/25/2025

Ishikawa Sayuri, the queen of Japanese soul music enka, graces tiny desk concerts JAPAN! Marking her 53rd year in music and holding a record-setting 47 appearances on NHK's Kouhaku Uta Gassen. A true icon of Japanese music, she performs her timeless hits and a stunning rendition of the American folk classic The House Of The Rising Sun, which drew global attention in Wim Wenders' film PERFECT DAYS. Reimagined with a unique tiny desk arrangement, her powerful voice will be shared with the world. Joining her is the acclaimed piano trio fox capture plan, known for scoring numerous hit drama series. Together, they breathe new life into traditional Japanese children's songs and Ishikawa's own classics, creating a one-of-a-kind musical collaboration that bridges generations and genres. Don't miss this unforgettable session—a bold, emotional, and original live music experience—only on tiny desk concerts JAPAN.

3. CHANMINA

Aired: 6/30/2025

For the first time, tiny desk concerts JAPAN leaves the NHK office and heads to school. This special edition, titled tiny desk concerts JAPAN in schools, is set at The University of Tokyo in front of actual students. Kicking off this exciting new chapter is CHANMINA, a trilingual rapper and singer-songwriter born in South Korea and raised in Japan. Fluent in Japanese, Korean, and English, she has captivated audiences with bold lyrics and genre-blending sounds since her debut in 2017. CHANMINA's music often explores themes like gender and beauty standards, establishing her as one of the most distinctive voices in today's music scene. What kind of session will unfold between CHANMINA and the students? Don't miss this "original and exceptional" musical experience, only on tiny desk concerts JAPAN!

4. The Highlights

Aired: 7/27/2025

From tiny desk to the world! Tiny Desk Concerts JAPAN has brought the unique talents of Japanese artists to global audiences over 14 episodes. This special showcase features six standout performances: ASKA delivering timeless hits; Inaba Koshi with a heartfelt, high-energy set; Ozawa Kenji & Schadaraparr in a bold, nonstop 30-minute take; QURULI’s signature sound powered by a 16-member ensemble; CHARAN-PO-RANTAN’s dazzling accordion, powerhouse vocals, and playful spirit; and CHANMINA breaking boundaries with a candid set at the University of Tokyo. In 29 minutes, experience the diversity, energy, and creativity at the heart of Japan’s music scene—don’t miss it!

5. Moriyama Naotaro

Aired: 9/1/2025

For decades, singer-songwriter Moriyama Naotaro has touched the hearts of listeners with his unique voice and poetic lyricism. Now, he makes his debut on tiny desk concerts JAPAN. True to his reputation as a rare folk singer in today's Japanese music scene, Moriyama revives his most beloved songs with intimate arrangements for the tiny desk. Joined by fiddle, banjo, and mandolin, his performance exudes a breeze of country charm, effortlessly shifting from lively, foot-tapping tunes to his unforgettable ballad Natsuno Owari, a song filled with poignant beauty. Embrace the lingering glow of summer while enjoying the music of Moriyama Naotaro.

6. AiNA THE END × Mukai Shutoku

Aired: 9/29/2025

Two uncompromising artists driven by raw impulse step up to the tiny desk. AiNA THE END, once a member of the instrument-free punk band BiSH and now a solo performer, wields a husky, powerful voice that feels less like singing and more like a cry from deep within the soul. She's joined by Mukai Shutoku, a living legend of Japanese rock whose explosive shifts from whispered poetry to primal screams have defined his work with bands like NUMBER GIRL and ZAZEN BOYS for more than three decades. His unique style has become its very own genre. This time, these two forces of nature bring raw vocals, live instruments, and a special collaboration to the tiny desk. What kind of musical sparks will fly? Don't miss your chance to experience this once-in-a- lifetime performance with your own eyes and ears.

7. STUTS with friends

Aired: 10/27/2025

This tiny desk concerts JAPAN features producer and beatmaker STUTS, a leading figure in Japan's hip-hop scene. The MPC virtuoso served as the opening act for MUSIC AWARDS JAPAN, and his commercial tie-up 99 Steps (feat. Kohjiya, Hana Hope) has garnered a lot of attention. This time, STUTS curates a genre-fluid band that spans jazz, classical, and pop, featuring strings, and invites singers and rappers he collaborates with to the stage. His signature approach of reshaping songs through musical dialogue with diverse artists unfolds in real time, capturing the breadth and vitality of the Japanese music scene. All eight tracks feature program-exclusive arrangements, highlighting tiny desk concerts JAPAN's largest ensemble so far. From the tactile feel of STUTS' MPC to the subtle nuances of string instruments, layered vocal textures, and the actual breaths, watch and become immersed in a performance made for the tiny desk.

8. Miura Daichi

Aired: 12/1/2025

Miura Daichi appears on tiny desk concerts JAPAN Known for his remarkable vocal ability and expressive performance style, Miura Daichi makes his debut in the intimate "tiny desk" space inside the NHK office. For this special session, he is joined by an 18-member gospel choir in a rare and powerful ensemble. In the limited space of tiny desk, the choir's overwhelming harmonies blend with Miura's fluid, soaring vocals, creating a one-of-a-kind performance that embodies the pure power of song. The uplifting energy of gospel and the subtle, breath-like nuances of Miura's singing come together to form a luxurious musical experience unique to tiny desk concerts JAPAN. At this extraordinary close distance, viewers will encounter Miura Daichi in a way they have never seen—or heard—before.

9. Okamura Kazuyoshi

Aired: 12/30/2025

The unit formed by Okamura Yasuyuki and Saito Kazuyoshi makes its debut in the intimate "tiny desk" space inside the NHK office. For this special session, they perform a one-take live set with a unique lineup of a full band and a quartet configuration. At arm's length, the exchange between their vocals and guitars unfolds in real time, filling the room as pure, unfiltered sound. Within the limited space, a simple yet powerful ensemble resonates. Okamura's distinctive melodies intertwine with Saito's blues-inflected guitar, creating a vivid blend of spontaneity and warmth rarely experienced in large-scale live productions. Rather than presenting a polished show, this tiny desk captures the very moments in which rock is formed—shared directly in the room with the audience. The tension and energy that can only be felt at this close range are delivered just as they are.