Golden Week in Tokyo, 2012

Wednesday

Kafka’s Monkey
Where: Theatre Tram, Sangenjaya
The pitch: Monkey around with the actress who Time Out London described as 'one of the most extraordinary performers currently working in the UK'. Until May 6. Read more

Sergio Mendes
Where: Billboard Live, Roppongi
The pitch: So much for retirement. Iconic Brazilian musician Sergio Mendes returns to Tokyo for a week's worth of bossa nova at the Billboard. Until May 5. Read more

Omara Portuondo & Chucho Valdés
Where: Blue Note Tokyo, Minami-Aoyama
The pitch: While Billboard goes Brazilian, the Blue Note is keeping things Cuban for Golden Week, with a residency by singer Portuondo and pianist Valdés. Until May 5. Read more

Dexpistols 6 Hour Theater Set
Where: Womb, Shibuya
The pitch: The title says it all. Electro-ish duo Dexpistols celebrate the release of their underwhelming debut album with what promises to be an overwhelming party. Read more

Secret Society
Where: Unit, Daikanyama
The pitch: Guitar Wolf head the bill at Golden Week's biggest (okay, more like only) all-night rock party. Noise rock, hardcore, spazz punk and more. Read more

Clash
Where: Ageha, Shin-Kiba
The pitch: Former trance superstar Mauro Picotto keeps it techno, in the company of local heavyweights Ken Ishii, DJ Nobu and Takuya. Read more

The Shelter Japan Tour 2012
Where: Sound Museum Vision, Shibuya
The pitch: NYC underground house scene stalwart Timmy Regisford settles in for a marathon set in the main room, with hip hop and bass DJs next door. Read more

Zion Train
Where: Air, Tokyo
The pitch: British dub-dance don Neil Perch steamrolls into town with his Zion Train project, accompanied by Likkle Mai, Rumi, Part 2 Style Sound and Goth-Trad. Read more

Hikashu/Urbangarde
Where: La Mama, Shibuya
The pitch: New wave survivors Hikashu offer up some oddball art rock to complement the tongue-in-cheek synthpop of '80s-obsessed youngsters Urbangarde. Read more

Thursday

Doki Doki Flea Market
Where: Makuhari Messe, Chiba
The pitch: Japan's largest bric-a-brac fair unfolds at the Makuhari Messe conference centre, with 1,300 vendors pitching up each day. Until May 5. Read more

Tokyo M.A.P.S.
Where: Roppongi Hills Arena, Roppongi
The pitch: Jazzy chanteuse Akiko Yano is the curator for this free two-day music fest, today featuring hip-hoppy trio Ovall and Clammbon's Ikuko Harada. Until May 4. Read more

La Folle Journée au Japon
Where: Tokyo International Forum, Marunouchi
The pitch: It started last weekend, but this annual classical music fest goes into overdrive today, with a flurry of cheap (and sometimes free) concerts. Until May 5. Read more

Rainbow Disco Club
Where: Harumi Port Terminal, Harumi
The pitch: Take an 'epic journey backwards through time to the future of dance music' (huh?) at an outdoor party with Jamie Jones, Jeff Mills and many more. Read more

Japan Jam 2012
Where: Studio Coast, Shin-Kiba
The pitch: There'll be one-off collaborations galore during this three-day fest, which today includes a team-up between Miyavi and Soil & "Pimp" Sessions. Until May 5. Read more

P.O.W.E.R.
Where: Sound Museum Vision, Shibuya
The pitch: Are they 'cutting edge' or just 'fashionable'? We're not sure, but any party with Shinichi Osawa, Taku Takahashi and 80kidz playing is likely to be fun. Read more

Surgeon
Where: Unit, Daikanyama
The pitch: Only a couple of days after celebrating his birthday, influential techno producer Surgeon marks 20 years of DJing with an epic four-hour set. Read more

Rainbow Disco Club After Party
Where: Womb, Shibuya
The pitch: Womb mops up the revelers left over from today's Rainbow Disco Club fest, with Satoshi Otsuki and some as-yet-unannounced special guest DJs lined up. Read more

SoundCity feat. Omar S
Where: Air, Daikanyama
The pitch: Motor City producer Omar S unleashes some of his trademark raw house grooves, accompanied by local DJ tag team Ryosuke & Kabuto. Read more

Back To Chill
Where: Club Asia, Shibuya
The pitch: Dubstep don Goth-Trad makes up for missing the last BTC party by playing three times at tonight's gig, including sets with Berserker and Rebel Familia. Read more

Gaka
Where: WWW, Shibuya
The pitch: 16-piece instrumental band Gaka pull out the stops, with support from theatre troupe Tetsuwari Crack Iron Albatrossket and alt. rockers Mo'some Tonebender. Read more

Morrissey
Where: Yebisu Garden Place, Ebisu
The pitch: The former Smiths frontman wraps up his marathon Japan tour with an extra Tokyo date. There'll be a few tickets available on the door from 4pm. Read more

Keiji Haino
Where: Showboat, Koenji
The pitch: The permanently sunglassed overlord of Japan's psychedelic noise scene celebrates his birthday with a solo show. Bring cakes – and earplugs. Read more

Yosuke Yamashita
Where: Pit Inn, Shinjuku
The pitch: Virtuoso jazz pianist Yosuke Yamashita settles in for a three-night residency at Pit Inn, playing tonight with his New Quartet. Until May 5. Read more