[On Ultra Japan Days] Why Not Skip It? Club Events Have Better Overseas Acts [House and Techno Only]
AI-generated illustrative artwork.
So, the fifth Ultra Japan is coming up this weekend, but...
As I have repeatedly written in the articles below, this year it has shrunk to two days and has the weakest lineup ever, so music-focused “real dance music lovers” do not merely skip it—it may not even register on their radar.
Perhaps as part of sightseeing, or as a substitute for a cafe or bar to chat with friends who are there... but in terms of enjoying dance music, I really cannot find a reason to go, haha.
Ultra Japan's Last-Minute Hype Is a Bit Questionable Too...
Will it be hot this year? 🌞 Let's go shopping! 👗💓
Preparing with your friends is fun!
My job is marketing, so I understand: repeatedly using the word “friends” means they are targeting the “mild yankee” demographic...
Just as I was about to write that, apparently they are giving away “Chupa Chups,” a “mild yankee” item, which made me even more convinced, haha.
Also, recently, there seems to have been an event called “TGC × ULTRA JAPAN SPECIAL COLLECTION” (This link was unavailable when checked in October 2026.), which makes the already obvious point clear: “real dance music lovers” have been excluded from the target audience.
Especially with no Resistance, which should now be called Ultra's actual main content, I think it is in a pretty terrible state.
*Update: Ultra Japan appears to appeal strongly to audiences like these below.
..Well, fine, I guess, since it seems to be stimulating the economy.
There Are Quality Events on Ultra Japan Days
Living in Southeast Asia, I know that Japanese event lineups are among Asia's best. There are many quality events, and excellent international DJs are often invited.
If you are a “real dance music lover,” you should look for good events on Ultra Japan's dates.
In 2018, Charlotte De Witte played Contact Tokyo on the first night of Ultra Japan, packing it until admission had to be restricted. Among the DJs in Japan at that time, she must have been the standout headliner.
Being a headliner has nothing to do with stage size or the event's name recognition.
Events Worth Skipping Ultra Japan For
My interests and this site's interests are only Techno and House, so please bear that in mind.
Friday, September 13: ALIVE presents THE CROSS feat. LUIGI MADONNA, TAKKYU ISHINO at Sound museum Vision Tokyo
Familiar from their tracks on Drumcode: LUIGI MADONNA and TAKKYU ISHINO. It would have been great if they were in Resistance Tokyo's lineup, haha.
Italy's young ace and key “Drumcode” player delivering the next generation of Techno, “LUIGI MADONNA,” makes his first visit to Japan!
Raised in Naples, Italy, LUIGI MADONNA was influenced from the age of just 14, in the mid-1990s, by House DJ masters “Louis Vega,” “Frankie Knuckes,” and “David Morales,” and went on to play alongside them. He then established his own, more modern sound before becoming immersed in the minimal Techno of “Richie Hawitin,” “Jeff Mills,” “Chris Liebing,” and “Marco Carola.” This further polished the distinctive DJ style he had built in House, adding depth and power, and appearances on radio shows by “Dave Clarke,” “Adam Beyer,” and “Marco Bailey” brought him into the ranks of top DJs. Needless to say, he is now indispensable at leading clubs worldwide and at major Techno festivals such as “AWAKENINGS,” “Drumcode Fes,” and “Resistance.” His releases have become too numerous to count since his striking 2008 debut on “Structure Records,” spanning labels up to and including “Richie Hawtin”'s “Plus8” and “Adam Beyer”'s “Drumcode.”
“LUIGI MADONNA” is now a definitive key player in “Adam Beyer”'s “Drumcode,” and an unquestionable ace delivering next-generation Techno at the center of Europe's fiercely competitive Techno scene. This edition of “THE CROSS” also welcomes Japan's Techno boss “ISHINO TAKKYU” as its first-ever domestic guest, along with regular member “DRUNKEN KONG” and new addition “MAREAM,” for a grand event.
The endless summer continues, and the Techno frontline is only getting started; all that remains is to dance straight through to the year's end. Stay tuned for further announcements!
Event Details
ALIVE presents THE CROSS feat. LUIGI MADONNA, TAKKYU ISHINO | SOUND MUSEUM VISION
Saturday, September 14: OTAKU TOKYO presents KHEN “THE SEPTEMBER” at WOMB
Also known for releases on Progressive House king Guy J's label Lost&Found, KHEN comes to Japan to play.
Both Guy J and KHEN have released on Above&Beyond's label anjuadeep, so many fans of the anjua family should be checking them out too.
Otaku Tokyo, a vintage shop handling vintage synths, drum machines, and custom turntables favored by Sven Vath, invites a must-watch artist this September: Israeli newcomer Khen, supported by legends such as Hernan Cattaneo, Sasha, Dubfire, and Guy J.
Praised as an artist to watch by DJ Mag and Mixmag, Khen is attracting major attention in the scene. He started producing music at just 11 and performing as a club DJ at 15. In 2016, he released his breakthrough debut album “One Day of Independence” on Guy J's Lost & Found label. Supported by major artists such as Pete Tong, Noir, Dubfire, and Paco Osuna, it also reached number one on the Beatport chart.
Japanese acts joining KHEN are DJ OGAWA, organizer of SMASH and a pioneer of Nagoya's underground scene, and DHADHA” aka 1000DREAM, a Berlin-based artist now representing Kansai. This time, the fourth-floor VIP LOUNGE also has a special, luxurious lineup to make connoisseurs dance: Richie Hawtin's close ally John Acquaviva, Rambo, and Jaime Forson from Australia. Having played alongside artists such as Booka Shade, Ame, Henrik Schwarz, and Matthias Tanzmann, Forson now bases himself in Tokyo and co-hosts the monthly House music night “Side by Side” at Oath, working across borders!!
On the first floor, WOMB LOUNGE hosts the ADS 10th Anniversary Series Party. “ADVENTURE,” formerly held in Roppongi, relaunches with a renewed party centered on its home genre, PSYCHEDELIC TRANCE. DJs who previously led the scene, mainly in Tokyo, all gather on this day.
It will be a night when no floor can be missed from start to finish.
Event Details
OTAKU TOKYO presents KHEN – EVENT – WOMB
Saturday, September 15: RESISTANCE TOKYO at WOMB
Resistance is being held at a club almost as an afterthought... but I think the commitment to providing Techno and House in whatever form is wonderful.
Hearing TECHNASIA and PATRICE BAUMEL together for around ¥3,000 is a rare opportunity, and I would love many people to experience it.
“RESISTANCE,” which has thrilled crowds in MIAMI, IBIZA, and worldwide, is confirmed this year exclusively as an all-night event at WOMB. Double headliners are TECHNASIA, a constant fixture in RESISTANCE lineups, and PATRICE BAUMEL, who made a major leap forward through his performances at this year's RESISTANCE parties in Ibiza. ULTRA JAPAN 2019 wristbands from that day's event in Odaiba also grant discounted entry, so excitement is guaranteed.
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