Japan, an El Dorado for Indonesian musicians on tour
Too bad if they have to pay out of pocket. More and more Indonesian bands, whether they play rock, pop, or experimental music, dream of performing in Japan. The Japanese magazine “Nikkei Asia” wanted to understand why.
Unparalleled music fans, well-established record stores, and plenty of pop culture references ready to take you back to your childhood... These are just some of the reasons why Japan has, in recent years, been a favorite destination for Indonesian artists on tour.
With their meager resources and the meager income distributed by their sponsors, none of the Indonesian rock bands (mostly independent) that visit the archipelago do so with the aim of enriching themselves. These tours are more like self-funded tourist trips, complete with musical instruments and the occasional concert in small venues.
“Japan has always been a dream destination for many artists, thanks to its culture and the dynamism of its music scene,” explains Dylan Amirio, a composer of experimental electronic music. Under the stage name Logic Lost, he has already toured Japan twice, in 2022 and 2024, performing in Tokyo, Nara, Ginowan, and Koza Province.
According to him, Japan offers “enviable living conditions” compared to his native country and knows how to recognize its non-commercial music at its true value. “Abroad, Japan is seen as a
Take advantage of the special digital offer to access all of our content without limits.
Courrier International
