Born Creative Festival is a celebration where anyone can casually enjoy new music that is being born right now. Since its first edition in 2017, it has introduced more than 550 works by about 200 composers through concerts, workshops, and a wide variety of other formats. It has grown into a popular event that attracts as many as 3,000 visitors each year, and this will be its final edition at Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre.

For this final edition, artists from Japan and abroad who pursue free and unconstrained musical expression have gathered at the invitation of composer Dai Fujikura, who has served as Artistic Director since the festival’s inception. Enigmatic and captivating music will fill the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre

Program

Concert Programs

Artists from five countries, including Japan, will take part in the festival.
From Poland, the Neo Quartet will perform their original work String Theory, which fuses electronic sound and video.
From Norway, Born Creative Festival regular Jan Bang—one of the leading figures in Nordic jazz and electronica—will join jazz trumpeter Nils Petter Molvær and others for an improvisational session.
From Slovakia, the contemporary music ensemble Quasars Ensemble will present works by composers from their home country.
From the United States, flutist Claire Chase, known for her innovative artistic ventures, will appear.
From Japan, the contemporary music ensemble Ensemble Nomad will perform Terry Riley’s chamber works, as well as FUJIKURA Dai’s Shō Concerto featuring shō player DEAI Yuki.

Workshop Programs

A participatory program by Ensemble NOMAD, “Let’s Play with Nomad!”, will be held, where participants can enjoy ensemble playing using instruments and their voices—even complete beginners are welcome. In another popular segment led by the theatre’s sound director, the theme will be the “theremin,” with an explanation of how this mysterious instrument is played without being touched.

Free Programs

A wide range of free, come-and-go programs will also be available.
At the “Atrium Concert,” visitors can casually enjoy live music, while the “Electronic Music Room” offers an open, drop‑in experience of electronic sound. Other highlights include the “async Room,” where audiences can listen to Ryuichi Sakamoto’s landmark work “async” in high-quality audio; “Play with Light and Sound!”, an immersive exploration of new sensory experiences; and “Born Creative Festival for grown ups,” a space to enjoy electronic music without live performers.
To conclude the festival, a special session by OTOMO Yoshihide and FUJIKURA Dai is scheduled—an unmissable finale to this year’s program

Artistic Director

FUJIKURA Dai, Composer

Organized by

Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre (Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture)

Supported by

Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan — Cultural Arts Promotion Grant (Comprehensive Support Program for Strengthening Functions of Theaters and Music Halls)

Japan Arts Council

Kao Foundation for Arts and Sciences

Kakehashi Foundation for the Promotion of Arts and Culture

Sponsored by

Yamaha Sound System Co., Ltd.

In cooperation with

Gakken Co., Ltd.