Things to do this week in Tokyo

Monday 25

Kyoto Jazz Sextet
Brothers Shuya and Yoshihiro Okino of Kyoto Jazz Massive are celebrating 20 years in the biz and have now put together an actual jazz band, composed of up-and-coming domestic talent. They're taking on Billboard Live tonight together with saxophonist Naruyoshi Kikuchi. Read more

Little Barrie
In the business of groovesome blues and heavy funk since 1999, these London Mods broke into the big time with their 2010 album King of the Waves. Always energetic on stage, the trio's main attraction is their eponymous guitarist, who's also employed by Primal Scream and Edwyn Collins. Read more

Tuesday 26

Magnetic Kimura: Demsky & Sawe
Check out some orthodox graffiti work at this display, which introduces visitors to anime- and retro-influenced Japanese talent Sawe and Spanish-born artist Demsky. The latter has evolved into an internationally recognised conceptual artist over the past years. Read more

Masks – Beauty of the Spirits
Visiting from the Musée du quai Branly in Paris, this exhibition explores the functions and beauty of masks, which have been used in rituals, as symbols of authority and as representations of the divine since ancient times and in cultures all over the world. Read more

Wednesday 27

Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto
A historical bestseller and international phenomenon, Masashi Kishimoto's manga series Naruto may have come to an end late last year, but fans need not despair: this Roppongi show comes to the rescue with Naruto-themed art, original sketches for the series and much more. Read more

Thursday 28

Nile Koetting: Hard In Organics
An emerging artist working across the genres of video, installation, sound art and performance, Berlin-based Nile Koetting participated in last year's Art Fair Tokyo and now holds his first solo exhibit in the city. Prepare to explore 'the relationship between the organic and the inorganic'. Read more

Friday 29

Tokyo Island Fair
Representatives of the Izu and Ogasawara island chains bring their best for this annual festa showing off the cuisine, crafts and culture of Tokyo's remote marine outposts. Shop for and taste local delicacies, learn more about the islands and support Tohoku reconstruction. Read more

Tokyo Outlet Week
Spend the day battling it out with fellow bargain-hunters at this massive celebration of cheap. Over 50 brands, both local and international, will be setting up stalls inside a couple of huge tents in Aomi, while the grub will come courtesy of some of the city's hottest restaurants. Read more

Komazawa Oktoberfest
They just keep on coming. One of the better-attended versions of Tokyo's extra-seasonal Bavarian beer fests, this one in Setagaya's Komazawa Park doesn't really bring anything original to the table, but offers exactly what the masses desire (beer and sausages, that is). Read more

Caretta Shiodome Bar-Hopping
This little happening makes Shiodome's Caretta complex a viable choice for active boozing: a total of around 20 restaurants, bars and cafés in the area offer special food and drink combos for ¥1,000 a pop. Pick up one of the ticket packages and start exploring. Read more

Saturday 30

Gochiso Festival
Stroll around Oimachi Station today and sample fine fare from some of Japan's best-loved 'b-grade' dining establishments. The lineup of around 15 restaurants includes representatives from organisations like the Japan Karaage Association and the All Japan Donburi Union. Read more

Tokyo Yamathon
If you're not quite up for the Tokyo Marathon but still want to jog through the city at your own pace and for a good cause, the Tokyo Yamathon is the event for you. Walkers and runners visit all 29 Yamanote line stations and take a photo of their team in front of each one. Read more

The Rooftop – BBQ Beer Garden
Fashion brand Journal Standard's annual summer beer garden on the upper floors of Ikebukuro's Lumine shopping mall is open, and the theme for 2015 is 'Mexican Resort Barbecue'. Apparently that means everything from tequila cocktails to, uhm, 'taco burgers'. Read more

Crossing Borders
Ginza's 1953 gallery is stepping away from its usual modus operandi with this funky exhibit presenting work that 'crosses the borders of communication, production, space and engineering'. Look out for pieces by Takram Design Engineering and Torafu Architects. Read more

Shima Jam
Shima Jam started life last October as a music festival taking place at a number of locations in and around the Seto Inland Sea, home to over 3,000 islands. Warming up for the 2015 edition, the organisers now bring their family-friendly show to Ueno Park's open-air stage. Read more

Circoloco Japan
Soak up the sun at the Japan version of Circoloco, Ibiza's number one techno and house party that's now swooshing into Chiba for the very first time. The lineup includes names like Matthias Tanzmann, Steve Rachmad and Tania Vulcano, all familiar faces at the original Circoloco. Read more

Sunday 31

Manpaku
Get an authentic music festival food court experience without the music at this gourmand get-together held at the vast Showa Kinen Park in Tachikawa. The treats range from karaage and ramen to local specialities from the Tama area, plus a range of extra-decadent desserts. Read more

Aoyama Bread Festival
Bakeries and pâtisseries from all over Tokyo gather once again at the UNU farmers' market for plenty of bread-centred fun. This one is a great opportunity to stock up on quality baked goodies, offered by a total of more than 50 bakeries, cafés and shops. Read more

Books Kinokuniya Anniversary Sale
Books Kinokuniya Tokyo, the foreign-language section at Shinjuku's Kinokuniya bookstore, celebrates its first anniversary after a major renewal last spring. Find everything from manga in English and children's books to international magazines and art books, all at reduced prices. Read more

Shinjuku Derby Go-Round
Always wanted to ride a hot-blooded racehorse at full speed? Well now you can – virtually. Marking today's Japan Derby, the JRA puts on this promotional bash complete with a 'keiba simulator' and a big-time screening of the main event. Read more

Modern Crafts and the Tea Ceremony
The development of Japanese crafts has been closely related to that of the tea ceremony, so it's only fitting that the National Museum of Modern Art's Crafts Gallery zeroes in on this aspect at its spring exhibit, displaying the work of around 60 representative artists. Read more