[Crowdfunding Roundup] Let's Support Clubs That Have Suspended Business Because of Coronavirus

The other day, I wrote an article titled “Why I Cannot Agree at All with the #SaveOurSpace Petition Campaign: It Is Too Self-Serving”. But it was only the statement explaining the circumstances of the petition that I could not agree with; I do want to support clubs that have voluntarily suspended business.

As April began, many clubs started crowdfunding campaigns. This time, under the theme “Let’s Support Clubs That Have Suspended Business Because of Coronavirus,” I will introduce the relevant crowdfunding projects.

Please take a look. I would be happy if you could support them with an amount that is comfortable for you.

Also, each project has a deadline, so please complete your support as soon as possible.

CAVE

Thank you so much for supporting DJ Bar Koenji Cave for the past 11 years.

With the recent impact of coronavirus causing economic turmoil worldwide and particularly threatening the survival of culture, Cave itself is now in a situation where keeping the venue going is extremely difficult. Our scene truly faces a matter of life and death, and every day our sense of crisis grows: if things continue like this, an entire culture could be destroyed.

We are therefore urgently asking for support from our fellow artists, staff, and everyone who has visited Cave.

We sincerely ask for your love and support.

Source: Save Koenji Cave!

THE ROOM

Thank you very much for your continued support of THE ROOM.

For 27 years, we have been based in Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya, sharing a variety of music and culture with the world.

In response to the government’s request amid the recent spread of coronavirus, we will voluntarily suspend all business during April 2020 (and possibly May, depending on the situation).

As this has made it difficult to keep the venue going, we understand that this is a painful request to make, but we are urgently seeking your support.

We sincerely ask for your support.

Source: [SAVE THE ROOM] Support THE ROOM’s Operations

UNDERBAR / UNDER DEER Lounge

Thank you very much for your continued support of UNDERBAR / UNDER DEER LOUNGE / GREEN LOUNGE.

Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, which emerged last December, we have continued to refrain from holding events and parties since late February. From April 1, we decided to suspend all events and parties.

Under these circumstances, all of our staff repeatedly discussed ways to keep the venues going, but following the recently announced state of emergency, we have suspended business until May 6. Even after May 6, however, it remains uncertain whether events and parties can be held. Continuing like this would make maintaining the venues extremely difficult. This project arose from the strong desire of all our staff to keep the venues going.

Source: UNDERBAR UNDERDEERLOUNGE Support Project

VENT

We are VENT, a venue specializing in techno and house in Omotesando, Tokyo. Together with a sound system featuring a world-first new mechanism and artists carefully selected from around the world, we offer high-quality musical experiences.

Although we are a small venue that has been operating since August 2016, our meticulously crafted sound system and bookings have earned the trust of guests and artists alike. In the past, world-class artists whose presence would seem unimaginable for a venue of our size—including Andrew Weatherall, Richie Hawtin, Dixon, Floating Points, Scuba, and Max Cooper—have played here. In the just under four years up to now, we have welcomed a total of 110,000 guests.

In that time, many connections and wonderful moments have been created, from the many regulars who visit every weekend to couples who met at VENT and married. We have also served as a third place within a large city.

In 2019, we were invited to speak at ADE, the global music gathering held annually in Amsterdam, and our activities were just beginning to receive recognition internationally.

However, following the government’s request to refrain from holding events because of the spread of the novel coronavirus, and putting the safety of our guests, artists, and employees first, we have suspended business since mid-March 2020.

To be honest, it is clear that if this suspension continues any longer, operating the venue will become difficult. We are very sorry to impose, but this has led us to ask for your support.

With our fourth year approaching, just as operations were finally beginning to stabilize and our team was coming together, this happened. We can only feel frustrated. Of course, there were areas where we could have worked harder, and we should have built up reserves sooner. We are fully aware of our own shortcomings.

At the same time, we are certain that we can still contribute to the music scene and our guests. So, although we are very sorry to impose, we have come to ask for your support.

When this situation settles down, we will work even harder to improve our service so that we can contribute further to this music-scene community and enjoy time together with you.

We sincerely ask for your encouragement and support.

Source: Support Project for VENT, a Small, Renowned Japanese Venue Where the World’s Top Artists Play

ZERO

We are ZERO, a club in Aoyama, Tokyo. Our predecessor was a venue called LOOP, which opened in 1995. In 2013, we moved because the building was aging, changed our name to ZERO, and made a fresh start. In total, we have been operating for 25 years. While remaining underground, we have engaged directly with club culture and devoted ourselves fully to creating the best possible space for sound.

Our daily operations are largely made up of regular events, including DJ NORI’s “Tree.” The DJs, artists, and organizers who lead Japan’s club and cultural scenes and provide our “sound” include Kenichi Aono, Kaoru Inoue, FT, Calm, DJ PI-GE, Ayumu Okada, OHISHI, KAJI, KENNTA, KITANO, Katsuyoshi Kimura, Hiromichi Kobayashi, Junya Shimizu, SMS, Dazzle Drums, Toshimitsu Takagi, Kentaro Takizawa, Akio Dobashi (REBECCA), Kenji Hasegawa, Velocity, Makoto, MICK, TUSU→, TOMOMI, TOYO, and Yako (honorifics omitted). With them at the center, “DJs, the venue, and our guests” have come together in a “music journey” that approaches the heart of dance music.

However, to prevent the spread of coronavirus and infections, we have had to temporarily suspend business from April 2, 2020. As this has made it difficult to keep the venue going, we know this is a painful request to make, but we are urgently seeking your support.
Could you allow us to continue the “music journey” we have created together with you a little longer?

Source: SAVE THE ZERO〜KEEP ON MUSIC JOURNEY〜

Aoyama Hachi

We are Aoyama Hachi. We previously ran a project here once before.

Aoyama Hachi has currently suspended business since April 1 to prevent the spread of coronavirus. This is a very difficult request to make, but we have created this page to ask for emergency support during our closure.

Our venue was founded in May 1996. For the 24 years through March 2020, we have operated with the aim of creating a space that offers quality music regardless of genre, a variety of art and food, and creative encounters.

Under the amended Entertainment Business Act that came into force in June 2016, we were outside the area where permits for specified entertainment restaurant business could be issued. On January 27, 2018, we became the first venue to be raided under the amended law and suspended business for a little over a month. At that time, we asked for support on this site, and we have somehow been able to keep the venue going to this day.

Since then, we have operated on all business days from daytime until before the last train. We continue to offer a space for quality music beyond dance music, art, food, and encounters between people, striving to provide rich programs that remain vividly in your memory the next day and even the day after.

about Aoyama Hachi

https://aoyama-hachi.net/info/

https://www.tokyo-club.net/aoyama-hachi/

Past Interview Article

https://www.timeout.jp/tokyo/ja/music/aoyama-hachi-resurrection

You Can Watch Aoyama Hachi’s Video Streams Here!

https://www.facebook.com/InterestMatch/live/

Source: Please Help Keep Aoyama Hachi Going!

RUBY ROOM (Added April 18)

We sincerely thank you for your exceptional and continued support of RUBY ROOM.
Our venue has voluntarily suspended business since April to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.
At this stage, we have no prospect of reopening and are facing a crisis over the venue’s survival.
Since opening in 2002—and counting from the days of Sugar High, RUBY ROOM’s predecessor—we have operated for more than 20 years, loving music and parties while nurturing encounters, connections, and memories.
We want to continue this venue, where guests, artists, and staff have teamed up to keep the beat going. It is very painful to make this request when everyone is facing difficult circumstances, but please allow us to ask for your support through crowdfunding to keep the venue alive. Looking toward the post-pandemic era after the novel coronavirus subsides, we hope to reach the day when we can meet you again at RUBY ROOM, carrying the spirit of “KEEP THE BEAT.”
We sincerely ask for your warm encouragement and support.

nagomix (Added May 3)

Thank you very much for your continued support of nagomix Shibuya.

First, on New Year’s Eve 2019, we received a great deal of warm support through this crowdfunding project and were able to make our wonderful countdown DJ event a success. Thank you again to all our patrons.

nagomix Shibuya is a club venue that opened in Shibuya, Tokyo, in August 2014.
[An eight-minute walk from the Hachiko exit of JR Shibuya Station. (Directions to nagomix Shibuya)]

We have been voluntarily suspending all business since April 6, putting the health and safety of our guests and employees first in preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Following the closure request under the “Emergency Measures in Tokyo” announced on April 10, we are now closed until May 6.

The outlook remains uncertain. With revenue at zero during this time, if the situation continues, keeping the venue going will become difficult, and in the worst case we will have to close permanently.

We hope somehow to overcome this situation and enjoy time together with you again.

We recognize that this is an imposition, but we would be very grateful for your support of this project.

ONE’S IKEBUKURO (Added May 3)

Introduction and Greeting

Music Cafe Bar ONE’S has operated every day for approximately two years and four months, hosting three or four DJ events each week and operating as a bar on the other days. Since opening our DJ bar by Ikebukuro Station, we have met so many wonderful people and, together with our guests and performers, grown into the space we are today. We are grateful to everyone who has been involved.

We somehow managed to stay open until mid-March this year, but the effects of the novel coronavirus gradually spread, and even before the state of emergency was declared, the mood of refraining from business had taken hold completely, making it difficult to operate.

What We Want to Achieve Through This Project

Above all, once coronavirus subsides, we want many people to gather at ONE’S again and have a party.

So that ONE’S can be the starting point for dance music gaining momentum in Ikebukuro too, we want to continue putting on parties that get people dancing more than anywhere else, in our own ONE’S style.

Specifically, we want to increase our DJ events beyond the previous number to at least five per week, and build high-quality parties, a sound system, and a lighting system centered on House & Techno.

Beyond that, we want to move forward with larger-scale parties that ONE’S has already been planning, such as pool parties and outdoor DJ events at campsites, as well as plans for parties and DJ performances overseas.

clubasia (Added May 3)

Since our establishment in 1996, we at Culture Of Asia have operated four venues—clubasia, VUENOS, Glad, and LOUNGE NEO—putting down roots in Shibuya and working to share music and culture for 24 years.

Since establishing in 1996, we at Culture Of Asia have been operating four venues in Shibuya, starting with clubasia, and growing to include VUENOS, Glad, and LOUNGE NEO. We have been running all four venues at the same time in the heart of Shibuya, Tokyo, with the goal of disseminating music and culture for the last 24 years.

However, in response to requests to suspend business amid the recent spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in March 2020, when we marked our 24th anniversary, we put the safety of guests, artists, and staff first and abandoned our plans to keep running through the end of the month. Furthermore, following the government’s declaration of a state of emergency, we canceled all business in April and closed temporarily.

With the outlook still uncertain, we were forced to make a decision.

It was an utterly devastating decision: to permanently close our three venues in the 8th Yazawa Building—VUENOS, Glad, and LOUNGE NEO—and vacate our office. We held repeated discussions and explored ways to continue operating, but could find no alternative beyond keeping clubasia going.

However, in response to the request to self-restrict business due to the recent spread of COVID-19, we decided to put the safety of our guests, artists and staff first. In March 2020, shortly after our 24th anniversary, we decided to cease operations. Furthermore, due to the government’s emergency declaration, all business in April was suspended.
As the situation continues to be uncertain, we have made a hard decision.
It is a difficult choice to shutter our three venues of VUENOS, Glad, and LOUNGE NEO and leave the 8th Yazawa Building office. But after much discussion, it was the only choice we could make to keep clubasia open.

“We Want to Keep clubasia in Shibuya”
“I want clubasia to stay in Shibuya”

We are fully aware that this is a very painful request when so many people are in difficult circumstances, but we sincerely ask for your support to protect this remaining path.

We understand that many of you are yourselves in difficult situations, both financial and otherwise. But we humbly ask for your assistance in protecting our remaining future.

SOUND MUSEUM VISION (Added May 23)

Introduction and Greeting
Thank you for reading.
My name is Norita, and I am the head of VISION.

This venue began in 2011, the year of the Great East Japan Earthquake, from owner Daizo Murata’s desire to lift everyone’s spirits. We have continued operating with support from guests and many artists and others involved. However, in response to requests to suspend business to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), we have been closed since April, and we still do not know when we can reopen.
We would like to raise whatever funds we can through crowdfunding and use them for operations after reopening. We are fully aware that not only we, but all of you, are in difficult circumstances, and we are very sorry to impose. But if you feel inclined and can afford to do so, please support us.

Our Activities So Far
Since opening, we have hosted a variety of artists from Japan and abroad, including global artists such as Ariana Grande, Diplo, and A$AP Rocky.
Our four-floor venue is used for events spanning a wide range of music, including daytime idol and band performances as well as our regular club nights.

How the Funds Will Be Used
The funds will be used for rent, utilities, and other expenses during our business suspension, CAMPFIRE payment processing fees, and expenses and shipping costs for rewards.

Contact Tokyo (Added June 24)

Introduction and Greeting
Contact opened in April 2016, and ordinarily we would have held our fourth-anniversary party this April. Unfortunately, we had to abandon it because of coronavirus, but we are deeply grateful for the support of the guests who always come to enjoy themselves and all the DJs and artists who have performed here since we opened.

The effects of coronavirus began to emerge in February. Tourist numbers declined day by day, and many people started refraining from going out to prevent coronavirus infection. In February and March alone, we incurred operating losses of ¥10 million, and these losses continue to grow because fixed expenses such as rent still have to be paid while we are closed. We plan to reopen as soon as restrictions are eased, but because the club business makes it extremely difficult to avoid the “three Cs”—closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings—we will need to limit attendance and take other measures, and it seems it will still take considerable time before we can turn a profit.

With so many people around the world needing help, is it really right to ask for support to keep a club going? Like many others involved with clubs, we agonized over this. But considering that opening a venue of this scale from scratch in Tokyo would require enormous funds amounting to hundreds of millions of yen, we concluded that somehow getting through the present was better than withdrawing, and have therefore decided to launch this crowdfunding campaign. We also expect revenue to fall as operations are scaled down, so we need to build up whatever operating funds we can in order to keep moving forward with you.

About the Rewards
One of the rewards, “Support for Part-Time Staff,” was created for our non-regularly employed staff. Your contributions will make it possible for us to ask part-time staff to do work related to preparing for reopening. Most of the staff who actually interact with you at the venue are in a situation where they cannot receive compensation either. Contact has been supported by many part-time workers, helpers, and outsourced staff. Four years have passed since we opened, and most of the staff have changed. We have always watched staff who joined us leave with feelings of sadness and regret. Developing staff also means developing the venue. One of our goals is to leave a path for as many staff members as possible to be involved with clubs as their life’s work.

When you send comments of support, please also share your opinions on what you would like Contact to improve, what you like and dislike, and the DJs or artists you want to hear. We would be delighted to build the future of Contact together with you. Thank you for your support.

Let’s Start The Dance Again.
Until the day we meet you on the dance floor again.

STUDIO COAST (Added June 24)

[Introduction and Greeting]
Thank you very much for your continued support of STUDIO COAST. We established our facility in Shinkiba, Koto-ku, in 2002, and thanks to the support of countless people, we have reached our 18th year.

We had been working on measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus since late January, but from March, event cancellations followed one after another. Following the government’s declaration of a state of emergency in April, we were forced to suspend all business.

That state of emergency has now been lifted, and everyday life in society is beginning to return to the way it was. However, event spaces like ours that bring together large numbers of people still have no prospect of resuming normal operations.

As an event space that has been at the forefront, we have worked hard through trial and error to lead the industry. But with fixed expenses alone exceeding ¥30 million a month, and no end in sight to the period of suspended business, our management situation has become extremely severe: if this continues, we cannot see a way to survive beyond the summer.

After repeated discussions and exploring various approaches, we have reached the point of seeking your support through crowdfunding. We would be grateful for your understanding.

From opening until now, we have been loved by many artists, industry participants, and fans from Japan and abroad—as a dream stage for some and as a home to return to for others. The club event ageHa, which started at the same time as our establishment, has invited renowned DJs from Japan and abroad and grown into an event loved worldwide as well as in Japan, ranking within the top 100 of global club rankings.

We Want to Share “WE BELIEVE OUR FUTURE” from Shinkiba Again
At the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, there was similarly a period when performances were canceled across the board. Since then, we have displayed the message “WE BELIEVE OUR FUTURE” every year and overcome difficult circumstances. Today, too, we continue to share this message, believing in a bright future.

We sincerely hope to bring smiles to you once again from our home in Shinkiba.

We are fully aware that the entertainment industry as a whole is in extremely difficult circumstances, and this is a very painful request to make, but we sincerely ask for your support.