Written by Patrick Balfe
Head to Odaiba for the inaugural edition of 81 Music Festival, which features a genre-spanning lineup of artists from around the globe.
What to expect
81 Music Festival is set to make its mark on Japan’s music festival scene with its debut event this June. Bringing together a diverse lineup, organizers clearly aren’t messing about with some big names on this year’s bill.
The festival’s founder, Yuuki Yoshiyama, describes 81 as more than another imported festival concept, saying, “Japan needs an original festival IP rooted in Japanese culture and the Japanese music industry.” The event’s name itself comes from Japan’s international dialing code.
At the top of the bill, The Kid LAROI will be performing off the back of his surprise appearance during Justin Bieber’s set at this year’s Coachella Festival.
The artist, known for tracks like “Stay” (with Justin Bieber), is known for his high-energy and emotive live performances, and he’ll be looking to make an impression as the festival’s first poster-topping artist. Festival organizers have positioned him as the event’s inaugural “Apex Artist.”
Headliners include John Martin, MRAK, R3HAB, as well as Vini Vici and Mr. Black, who will be performing a B2B set. A favorite of Japanese summer festivals, Night Tempo, known for his mixes of classic Japanese City Pop tracks, is also set to make an appearance.
The eclectic lineup reflects the festival’s broader ambitions. According to Yoshiyama, “We need diversity — not only dance music, but also Japanese traditional culture, hybrid content, and performers who represent different sides of Japan.” Future editions are expected to expand beyond a single stage and incorporate more cultural programming.
International artists also play an important role in the festival’s vision. Yoshiyama describes them as “connectors” who help attract visitors from around the world while creating opportunities to showcase Japanese culture to a global audience.
The choice of venue is also deliberate. Located in Odaiba, Toyota Arena Tokyo is one of the capital’s newest large-scale event spaces. The indoor setting offers protection from Japan’s rainy season while allowing organizers to create what they describe as an immersive audiovisual experience using large-scale lighting, lasers, and LED production.
Looking further ahead, the team sees 81 as more than a one-day event. “I’m planning for this to be more than just a music festival,” Yoshiyama says. “It can become a platform for networking, merchandising, brands, and other events.” The long-term goal is to grow the brand into a wider cultural platform that helps connect Japan’s festival, nightlife, and entertainment industries.
Tickets
Tickets are split into GA (¥9,500), Gold (¥18,000), and Platinum (¥26,000) categories. Minors are allowed in the GA area, but only those 18+ are allowed in the Gold and Platinum areas. Platinum benefits include a welcome drink ticket and priority lanes for entry, bar, and merch.
How to get there
The event will be held at the newly built Toyota Arena Tokyo, a roughly 5-minute walk from Aomi Station on the Yurikamome Line or Tokyo Teleport Station on the Rinkai Line.
