After more than a decade the uniquely crazy and passionate tour bringing the world of Japanese indie music to Canada is coming to an end.
Next Music from Tokyo (NMFT) is an annual tour that introduced Canadians to the most creative and skilled bands from Japan’s indie/underground music scene.  The tour began in 2010 and has brought over fifty different Japanese bands to Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver including:  Kinoko Teikoku, ZAZEN BOYS, mouse on the keys, Akai Koen, Uchu Conbini, JYOCHO, Hitsuji Bungaku, PENs+, group_inou, MASS OF THE FERMENTING DREGS and even Elephant Gym (from Taiwan).

NMFT vol 15 will be the last and the following bands will make it unforgettable:

arigarnon friends is a four-piece supergroup with members of PENs+, fulusu and bakyun the everday.  Similar to PENs+ they play a turbocharged blend of melodic punk and Midwest-emo.  Ariga’s guitar wizardry and Sato’s unbelievably skilled drumming is a match made in math rock heaven.
https://youtu.be/vgcDLHTdsp8
https://youtu.be/rHg7L8LJ7LY

the hatch is an experimental, post-hardcore band from Sapporo that started off playing ultra-fast, mosh pit-inducing punk/HC distinguished by a ‘mean trombone’ but their music has now matured into something darker, heavier, and much more technical. The coolest band in Japan right now? Most definitely.
https://youtu.be/9_e43TG6LQs
https://youtu.be/agVZLp4fHGo

heliotrope is a three-piece band playing piano-driven, emotional post-hardcore with female vocals and no guitar.  Their music is hauntingly beautiful and powerful. (heliotrope’s singer Netako is also a member of JYOCHO)
https://youtu.be/dzgXRLP9j4M
https://youtu.be/5ArL24b3HIg

BATROICA METAL SUMMER JACKET is an all-star band formed from the ashes of The Taupe and Gozen Sanji to Taikutsu—two bands that broke up in 2019 and two of the most well received bands from previous NMFT tours.
https://youtu.be/vh9QMMr2vqY
https://youtu.be/P7hn1av2OEs
https://youtu.be/R8fWPkTmgBs

FURUTORI is a twin vocal two-piece female band featuring guitar, drums, keyboards and an extremely handy loop pedal.  They embrace the limitation of having only two members by using it as motivation to be more creative and versatile as musicians.
https://youtu.be/HZ270JnJWTE
https://youtu.be/WzRI1id5Crk

Next Music from Tokyo is a veritable wormhole transporting you to the live house music scene in areas like Shimokitazawa, Kichijoji and Shinjuku.
For more info:  http://nextmusicfromtokyo.com