Direct from the mountains of Central Japan - To Your Home
Imagine a hilltop in Nagano: the late summer sun warming your face, a gentle breeze rustling through the trees, and the soulful sound of jazz and blues echoing across the valley. This is the atmosphere of the Takato Jazz & Blues Festival 2025, a one-day celebration of music held in the heart of Japan’s mountains.
But what if you can’t make it to Nagano? This year, for the first time ever, we’re bringing the magic straight to you.
📅 Date: Saturday, September 6th, 2025
🎟 Livestream Ticket: ¥2,000
🌐 Platform: Stream Ticket
🔗 Get your ticket here
Why Watch the Livestream?
Festivals are special. It’s not just the music — it’s the connections, the atmosphere, the emotions that merge into a single unforgettable experience. Travel isn’t always possible, so we’ve created a livestream that delivers the full charm of Takato directly to you.
Livestream ticket benefits:
Full festival access: Enjoy all six acts from the acoustic opening to the final encore.
High-quality audio & video: HD video and crystal-clear sound produced by top Japanese PA engineers.
Flexible viewing: Watch live or catch the full archive until Monday, October 6, 21:00 JST.
Support music culture: Ticket sales help local cultural events, Japanese musicians, and regional revitalization.
Lineup — Live on Stream
This year’s lineup spans generations and genres, from traditional blues to experimental funk:
Twilight Brothers – Acoustic duo with deep emotional resonance
Don Kururi – Sharp grooves with jazz guitar and saxophone interplay
Ikuto Shimizu Organ Trio – Technical jazz blending vintage organ and powerful guitar
Jiro Yamaoka Solo & Band – Nagano blues storyteller, heartfelt performances
Shoka Okubo Blues Project – Female trio with blues passion and rock energy
Gecko & Tokage Parade – Tokyo-based band with tight rhythms and playful jazz-funk fusion
This diversity is what makes #TakatoJazzBlues a true representation of Japan’s jazz and blues scene.
A Special Venue
The festival takes place at Pole Pole no Oka, a beautiful hill overlooking Takato Castle town. It’s not just a venue; it’s a “hideaway” where your mind and body relax, surrounded by greenery, fresh air, and panoramic views — all enhancing the connection between artists and audience.
Never experienced a rural Japanese music festival? Now you can, from anywhere. Hear not just the music, but the summer sounds – cicadas, wind, laughter. This isn’t just a stream; it’s an invitation.
Why This Festival is Unique
Unlike urban festivals, Takato is small, independent, and community-rooted. Artists, vendors, and volunteers all work together to foster creativity and connection, revitalising the region.
Buying a livestream ticket isn’t just “watching” — it’s joining the movement: sharing music with a new audience, supporting emerging Japanese talent, and showing the world what’s possible from a mountain town in Nagano.
Watch Anywhere, Your Way
📱 On your smartphone during your commute
🖥️ On your TV for a home festival experience
🧑🤝🧑 With friends in your living room
Whether you’re a longtime jazz and blues fan or just curious, there’s something new to discover.
Ticket Information
🎟 Price: ¥2,000
📅 Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
🕛 Start Time: 12:00 JST (full timetable coming soon)
📺 Platform: Stream Ticket
📆 Archive Access: Until Monday, October 6, 21:00 JST
Join the festival from wherever you are – no luggage, no hotel, no long drives, no queues. All you need is your ticket, your screen, and your love of music.
Takato is ready. The bands are rehearsing. The stage is coming together. And you? You’re invited, wherever you are.
Lose yourself in music. Let the blues fill your heart. Let the jazz lift your spirit.
Takato Jazz & Blues Festival 2025 — livestreamed to you.















Hey,
Max Hightower here from Greenville, SC, USA…
I will be on Tour in Japan in February/August 2026 and would love to add the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Fest to the Tour.
Featured Stories in Soul Bag, British Blues, & Blues Matters Magazine.
…Short Promo Video
After years burning up the Blues Highway with Mac Arnold, MoMojo Records recording artist Max Hightower cut Nothin’ But The Truth down at BigTone Studio in New Orleans — a raw, unfiltered mix of NOLA funk and greasy Southern blues.
New Official Video Double Bubble
“S.O.U.L in every breath.” – The Rocking Magpie
“A rootsy jaunt through New Orleans’ most storied sound.”
– Rock & Blues Muse
“Explosive harp, phenomenal band.”
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“A treasure trove of funky Southern blues — honest, fearless, and full of fun.”
– Making A Scene
“Southern-fried blues with funk and fire — invigorating, gutsy, and timeless.”
— Americana Highways
Radio:
TOP 50 Blues Actu Radio
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(CRB) PowerBlues list
Available for solo, 4-piece, or full 7-piece with horns. Please let me know if you have any questions.