15 things to do this weekend

If you need proof that life in Tokyo is getting back to normal, just look at the amount of things the city has going on this weekend.

Friday

Celebrate with Time Out Tokyo...

Come and celebrate with us the second anniversary of Time Out Café & Diner, Ebisu's most stylish, wi-fi equipped hangout and watering hole. DJs Nori, Moodman, Kensei and Compuma will be manning the decks, alongside all-girl indie crack team Twee Grrrls Club (see pic above). Oh, and there's some charity involved, too! Full event details here

Hear some Ainu instruments put to dub use...

Oki Dub Ainu Band are one of the rare groups who have managed to get the 'world music' balance right. Their songs may draw heavily on dub and African rhythms, but the group's front lineup includes traditional instruments of the Ainue. At its best, the end result sounds like nothing else on earth. Full gig details here

Head to a charity album release party...

Nihon Kizuna was one of the first charity compilations to hit the virtual record stores in the wake of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, and went on to raise over $20,000 for the Japanese Red Cross Society. It's since spawned a 34-track bonus album, available on a name-your-price basis (tip: be generous), and now we're getting a belated release party here in Tokyo. Full event details here

Have a knees up with Little Barrie...

It's only been a few months since Little Barrie were last in town: the trio played a sold-out date in Tokyo last December to mark the release of their third album, Stand Your Ground. Still, the lads can expect an enthusiastic reception on their return jaunt; after all, when have Japanese audiences ever been averse to the spectacle of shaggy-haired Brits playing infectiously retro rock'n'roll? Full gig details here

Dig a local DJ...

Jay Zimmermann, Shotaro Maeda, Chack and others will be supplying the requisite house, techno, tech house and more eclectic grooves, with all proceeds on the door going to the Japanese Red Cross Society. Full event details here