Music
Station:
NHK World (JP)
Status:
Running
Start:
2024-03-29
Rating:
0/10 from 0 users
All you need is a small desk and musical instruments. NHK is launching a Japanese version of the worldwide phenomenon "tiny desk concerts," originally pioneered by American public broadcaster NPR. Set in the actual offices of NHK, the series will breathe new life into music as artists perform in a setting that is anything but ordinary.
There is no Next Episode of tiny desk concerts JAPAN planned.
S2025E7 - Moriyama Naotaro
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.
Air Date: 30 Aug 2025 22:00 (CDT)
S2025E8 - AiNA THE END × Mukai Shutoku
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.
Air Date: 27 Sep 2025 22:00 (CDT)
S2025E9 - STUTS with friends
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.
Air Date: 25 Oct 2025 22:00 (CDT)