【WOWOW Inc.】 Live report has arrived! Held at the Tokyo International Forum on Thursday, September 18th. “JAZZ NOT ONLY JAZZII”
WOWOW Co., Ltd. Press release: September 19, 2025 To Members of the Press Live report has arrived! Held at the Tokyo International Forum on Thursday, September 18th. “JAZZ NOT ONLY JAZZ II” A one-night-only, spectacular session featuring Shun Ishiwaka’s special band, performed alongside Aina the End, Yasuyuki Okamura, KID FRESINO, Ringo Sheena, Kaho Nakamura, and Robert Glasper. Broadcast and streaming on WOWOW in November!
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next-generation band led by drummer Shun Ishiwaka and a stellar lineup of artists performing in a one-night-only special session, took place at Tokyo International Forum Hall A. Last year’s first event at NHK Hall garnered significant buzz for its diverse lineup, including Hiromi Uehara. A theatrical release, released on September 19th, began screening in cinemas nationwide. This year, the venue expanded, and Grammy Award-winning artist Robert Glasper joined the cast from both Japan and abroad. The d&b Soundscape immersive sound system was also used, creating an even more immersive musical experience, making for an even more intense night than last year. Just like last year, music critic Mitsutaka Yanagihara served as the opening DJ. After the show started, Ishiwaka, who had changed from last year’s casual T-shirt look to a more formal outfit, took to the stage with The Shun Ishiwaka Septet, consisting of Shudai Nishida (guitar), Tokutaro Hosoi (guitar), Marty Holobec (bass), Kei Matsumaru (saxophone), Jozo Yamada (trumpet), and Shota Watanabe (piano). Following last year’s “A Love Supreme,” this year’s live performance began with John Coltrane’s “Transition,” immediately captivating the audience with its intricate passages and freaky playing.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-21cb19e4d0855544e0b1cbf631308a04-1800×2700.jpg Mitsutaka Yanagi Raku
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-208e7e3dab06b4dcc816fbf929a15d4d-3000×2000.jpg Ishiwaka Shun The first guest of the day was Aina the End, the only one to appear again from last year. Wearing a black dress, Aina exuded a charm that combined seductiveness and cuteness in “Frail,” and Ishiwaka invited the audience to call out during “Kakumei Dochu,” featuring a drum and bass-like rhythm. Her distinctive vocals and iconic presence stood out. She then began “Watashi no Shinkokoro,” saying, “I had so much fun doing it last year, and I wanted to do it again this year.” Aina stripped barefoot and began singing with great emotion, when Yasuyuki Okamura, the song’s composer and lyricist, appeared midway through. The two sang in unison, and Matsumaru’s lustrous saxophone and Nishida’s emotional guitar added to the energy. Toward the end, Aina danced around the stage like a ballerina, creating the first climax of the day.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-fa5838bff2342ac9330c30678cbfe8e4-3000×2000.jpg Aina the End
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-7dff81b5ff8655519b407a5a32a04e4f-1800×2700.jpg Aina the End & Yasuyuki Okamura
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-a30d95bd9ef81797dedcf245fb90c846-1800×2700.jpg Matsumaru contract Okamura, performing his first live performance with Ishiwaka, immediately took control of the stage with his sharp steps. Then, during the AOR-inspired “Lion Heart,” Yamada’s trumpet played a moody tune. Regarding “Lion Heart,” Okamura shared a behind-the-scenes story: “Okamura and I were talking about jazz, and he told me he liked ‘Round About Midnight,’ and I also like the Miles Davis version, so I arranged it with that vibe in mind.” Then, together with Okamura, they performed another song: “Harenchi.” The entire audience rose to their feet during the intro, and the funky vocals and performance instantly heated up the venue. Okamura roamed the stage, yelling, “Come on!” and further enlivening the crowd with his dancing, demonstrating his true talent.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-10cce4867f9b869807ee694efd2c7f29-3000×2000.jpg Yasuyuki Okamura Here, the band mentioned trumpeter Terumasa Hino, who was originally scheduled to perform but had to cancel due to poor health. Ishiwaka recounted an episode with Hino, saying, “He’s the person who inspired me to pursue jazz.” Septet then performed Hino’s “Still Be Bop” by itself. Featuring Yamada, who has been playing music with Ishiwaka since elementary school in Sapporo, the second half of the song saw Nishida and Hosoi engage in a thrilling guitar solo battle, creating a highlight in the middle of the concert. Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-a1dda5de5fb0aef35745630fcfcbcadd-3000×2000.jpg Jozo Yamada
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-d16cef2894a8bc71f06a2ec750dce1a2-1800×2700.jpg Shudai Nishida
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-2bc72e6fbebb3cf9c1500269f668d58b-1800×2700.jpg Tokutaro Hosoi All the members except Ishiwaka left the stage, and a grand piano was brought to the center of the stage. The next guest, Nakamura Kaho, appeared. The two, who are the same age and have known each other for 10 years, exchanged words in a casual atmosphere. As usual, Nakamura played the piano and improvised a melody based on her memories of Ishiwaka. They then performed “Sayonara Claire,” a song she described as “a song I wrote while thinking of Shun,” in a duo arrangement. She also performed “Forgetful Angel” in a
near-improvisational style, weaving the words together. This high degree of freedom is a major attraction of Nakamura’s performance. When all the members of Septet reunited, KID FRESINO appeared on stage to perform a collaboration, and Nakamura sang “MIU” with a carefree voice into a handheld microphone, delivering a performance filled with the joy of playing with music until the very end.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-0f012f0def2174d5779ed2902f6e58c3-1800×2700.jpg Kaho Nakamura KID FRESINO reappeared on stage, delivering
“Coincidence,” featuring a progressive rhythm and a skillful flow. Ishiwaka and Nishida are members of KID FRESINO’s band, so their groove was second to none. They also performed “RUN,” a song by Answer to Remember, Ishiwaka’s band, featuring KID FRESINO. While this track also features an aggressive rhythm with an odd time signature, the rap and instrumentation were both very organic, and Watanabe’s synth solo was a highlight. KID FRESINO’s approach of expressing himself solely through rap, without unnecessary words, was also cool.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-1605c20eacf31717776d84f4446c212a-3000×2000.jpg KID FRESINO
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-8e94404cd0c97921a983d5ac756a9e51-3000×2000.jpg Watanabe Shota The performance began with the poignant “Chicken, Snake and Pig ~Gate of Living~,” introducing it as “the first song we’re performing live,” and then Shiina Ringo, clad in a kimono and hat, appeared on stage. His presence was truly exceptional, and he intertwined with KID FRESINO’s rap. He then threw away his hat for the following Tokyo Incidents number, “Nobuteki Sanbun,” eliciting thunderous cheers from the audience, who were completely captivated by his voice. In recent years, Ishiwaka has joined Shiina’s band, bringing various genres of music to the world of J-pop, with jazz being one of the core elements. It could be said that the encounter between Shiina and Ishiwaka was inevitable. The final song performed by Shiina and Ishiwaka was the classic “Marunouchi Sadistic.” Given that the Tokyo International Forum is located in Marunouchi, many in the audience were likely expecting a special performance. Those expectations were met with a bang, and the “EXPO Ver.”, with lyrics in English, was a unique opportunity this year. Holding a fan and looking up, he sang with grace and elegance, making for an undeniably excellent performance.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-d6b40365ccc8df81398c8c73642a7738-3000×2000.jpg Ringo Shiina
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-55465db72b82571826f67caca92e9218-1800×2700.jpg Ringo Shiina
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-fc3442eab1bafd6d1142b699dc687238-1800×2700.jpg Robert Glasper
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-5687b6671c541e8ac742b7f0a391a0a6-3000×2000.jpg Shun Ishiwaka & Robert Glasper
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-26afcbcc81bf5ba441f619f968678ed5-3000×2000.jpg Shun Ishiwaka & Robert Glasper
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-0b117002e6ce5469f69285d2fdc3c9b2-3000×2000.jpg Shun Ishiwaka & Robert Glasper Band
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-c56108af8c88ed6e1bc9892b35797219-1800×2700.jpg Marty Holobec During the encore, Ishiwaka spoke of Glasper, saying, “I never thought I’d get to play with someone I’ve been listening to since I started playing jazz. I wish I could tell my younger self that.” At the end, all the guests gathered on stage to perform Ringo Sheena’s “Long, Short Festival ~In Summer, The concert concluded with “Jazz Not Only Jazz Night.” The audience rose to their feet once again, enjoying the spectacular microphone relay that began with Shiina, and then Glasper’s piano solo was added to the mix – a spectacle that could only have been achieved with “JAZZ NOT ONLY JAZZ.” As the trend of Japanese music being transmitted to the world becomes clearer, it’s fair to say that this night, with top artists from Japan and abroad playing together, marked a definite achievement for Japanese jazz and Japanese music culture.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-58a44bf3bbb132abf71bbc1b06a4964f-3000×2000.jpg encore The concert will be broadcast and streamed on WOWOW on Sunday, November 16th. Additionally, tickets for high-quality streaming in Dolby Atmos and high-resolution formats are on sale on Streaming and Live Extreme, available from Sunday, November 23rd. The theatrical version of last year’s live performance is currently receiving rave reviews. We hope you’ll experience the overwhelming energy and resonance in every detail, even through the video. Text: Atstake Kaneko Photo: Yoshiharu Ota [Setlist] ■The Shun Ishiwaka Septet: Transition ■Aina the End: frail, Kakumei Dochu ■Aina the End & Yasuyuki Okamura: My True Heart ■Yasuyuki Okamura: Season of Prayer, Lion Heart, Shameless ■The Shun Ishiwaka Septet: Still Be Bop ■Kaho Nakamura: Goodbye Claire, Forgetful Angel, MIU ■KID FRESINO & Kaho Nakamura: OPENING ■KID FRESINO: Coincidence, RUN ■KID FRESINO & Ringo Shiina: Chicken, Snake and Pig ~Gate of Living~ ■Shiina Ringo: Active Three Minutes, Marunouchi Sadistic ■Robert Glasper: Find You ■Ishiwaka Shun & Robert Glasper: RISE & SHINE ■ Shun Ishiwaka & Marty Holobeck & Robert Glasper: Jelly’s Da Beener ※Encore ■ All Line Up: Long, Short Festival ~In Summer, Night~
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/1355/8430/1355-8430-cc7011749916b4b1476c68e9a21e0090-1200×628.jpg Key visual
[Movie information] Title: Theatrical Version “JAZZ NOT ONLY JAZZ” ◆Release Date: Nationwide release from Friday, September 19, 2025 ◆Cast: Aina the End, Hiromi Uehara, Trio Ohashi, Takao Tajima (Original
Love)PUNPEE, Yasuyuki Horikomi Band Members: The Shun Ishiwaka Septet (Drums: Shun Ishiwaka, Guitar: Shudai Nishida, Guitar: Tokutaro Hosoi, Ba. Marty Holobec, Sax: Kei Matsumaru, Trumpet: Jozo Yamada, P. Shota Watanabe) *Performers in alphabetical order ◆Produced and distributed by: WOWOW ◆Ticket price: ¥3,500 (tax included) *109 Cinemas Premium Shinjuku has a different pricing structure ◆HP: https://jnoj.jp/film/ ◆Trailer:
https://img.youtube.com/vi/eUie5wwJt4U/sddefault.jpg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUie5wwJt4U ◆Synopsis: The
long-awaited film adaptation of the legendary one-night-only live concert “JAZZ NOT ONLY JAZZ,” held in June 2024. This theatrical version brings to life the explosive session that saw these stellar artists, centered on jazz, crossing a variety of genres including soul, hip hop, and pop, and spanning generations. This is not archival footage. Directed camerawork captures new aspects that could not be seen from the seats at the venue. Even those who remember that night will see a “completely new view” on the screen. It’s not just footage, it’s an experience that transcends the real thing. [WOWOW program information] JAZZ NOT ONLY JAZZII Scheduled to air and stream on Sunday, November 16th *After the broadcast and streaming ends, an archived version will be available for one month on WOWOW On Demand Recording date: September 18, 2025 / Tokyo International Forum, Hall A, Tokyo [Program website]https://www.wowow.co.jp/music/jnoj/ [Paid distribution ticket information] Streaming starts at 4:00 PM on Sunday, November 23rd 1. Streaming Stereo streaming: 3,500 yen https://eplus.jp/jnoj2-st/ 2. Live Extreme High-Resolution Stereo Streaming: ¥4,000 / Dolby Atmos Streaming: ¥4,500
https://eplus.jp/jnoj2/ *Separate compatible equipment may be required depending on the distribution format. *Some footage may be cut from the broadcast and streaming versions. Performance summary ■Performance name JAZZ NOT ONLY JAZZ II ■Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025, Doors open at 6:00 PM / Show begins at 7:00 PM ■Venue: Tokyo International Forum, Hall A (3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0005) ■Organizer WOWOW / Wise Connection / Kyodo Tokyo ■Planning and Production: WOWOW / Wise Connection ■Cast: Aina the End, Yasuyuki Okamura, KID FRESINO, Ringo Shiina, Kaho Nakamura, Robert Glasper ■Band Members: The Shun Ishiwaka Septet (Drums: Shun Ishiwaka, Guitar: Shudai Nishida, Guitar: Tokutaro Hosoi, Bass: Marty Holobec, Sax: Kei Matsumaru, Trumpet: Jozo Yamada, Pianist: Shota Watanabe) *Performers in alphabetical order Opening DJ: Mitsutaka Yanagihara (Jazz The New Chapter) ■Official website: https://jnoj.jp ■Official X (old: Twitter): https://x.com/jnoj_tokyo ■Official Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jnoj_tokyo ≪Inquiries regarding this performance≫ Kyodo Tokyo 0570-550-799 (Weekdays 11:00-18:00 / Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 10:00-18:00)