邦楽 ざくろSHOW in 東京

Zakuro Show completely exceeded our expectations. From the very first moments you feel the energy in the room and it only builds as the evening goes on. The performers are incredibly engaging and make every guest feel involved in a natural and comfortable way. The whole experience feels vibrant and alive. The music, costumes and atmosphere come together beautifully and create something that feels both authentically Japanese and genuinely fun. Nothing feels forced or artificial. We left with big smiles and a feeling that we had experienced something special.

This was one of the most fun and unforgettable nights we had in Tokyo. Zakuro Show is full of energy, humor and constant interaction. The performers are amazing and you can feel how much they enjoy what they are doing. That energy spreads through the room and pulls everyone in. At some point you stop thinking and just enjoy the moment. The atmosphere is warm, lively and very welcoming. It works perfectly for a group and creates those moments you will still be talking about later. If you are thinking about going, just go. It is absolutely worth it.

I was looking for some traditional Japanese music to see while in Tokyo, and this was the perfect one! I got to witness Aioi Six perform some traditional and some modern pieces, and each member had an opportunity to talk about their instruments and the history. Worth every yen/dollar.

A must-see cultural experience in Tokyo, showcasing superb musicianship in an exceptional setting

Unique experience to learn and feel the musical heritage of Japan. Our favorite evening in Tokyo!

It was an absolutely wonderful show that everyone should experience. It is a unique opportunity to hear traditional Japanese instruments and music because similar performances and concerts open to general public do not exist as such in Japan.

An immersion experience in a very modern form of traditional Japanese musical styles. Part very informative and part brilliant musicianship, this musical troupe produced exquisite sounds. A great introduction to traditional Japanese music.

Fantastic show! Learned a lot about Japanese traditional instruments and got to enjoyed the music and the musicians. The show offered an unforgettable experience filled with amazing musical pieces, history and humor. Would definitely recommend it to everyone who wants to experience Japanese culture in depth.

I went to the Zakuro show in December. The musicians are very talented and welcoming, and everyone working at the show is very accommodating with the guests. The show is a good starting point if you want to see and hear some traditional Japanese instruments played along with explanations of how they are played or their origins. However, I wished the event focused more on the musicians playing (which was about 30% of the alleged 60-minute event) and less on the talking. The host translates the explanations of the musicians about the instruments from Japanese into English (which is fine), but spends too much time (on multiple occasions, even during the show) trying to sell more stuff, like advertising their other show, the merchandise they sell at the venue, their YouTube channel or asking the audience to leave good reviews. I understand that the musicians need publicity to keep growing and support to keep playing, but there are other less predatory ways of doing that. It was really hard for me to enjoy the moment and the music with someone repeatedly asking to spend money mid-show. The host also tries to engage with the audience (which in theory, is fine). However, she would ask questions like "Which places of Japan have you visited?". Some was intended to tie the answers back to the show (e.g. origin of the instruments), but a lot of time was spent on trying to engage the audience that could have been spent actually listening to the music. In general, I had the impression that the host was leading the show, telling the musicians what to say and when, at times subtly interrupting them. At one point the host asked the audience to guess the age of the koto player. She’s 25 but looks younger, and someone in the crowd yelled out “15”. Watching a skilled professional get reduced to an age guessing game was uncomfortable and completely out of place. It also made me wonder if this is something the host asks at every show. If so, that means the musician is repeatedly put in a position where strangers publicly announce how young they think she looks. That’s not a harmless bit of banter. It chips away at how seriously she’s treated onstage and forces her to hear other people’s perceptions of her appearance over and over. Many musicians, especially young women, work hard to build a career and shouldn’t have to put up with commentary that undercuts her professionalism. If the goal was to build rapport with the audience, there are far better ways to do it without putting a performer in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. I'm leaving three starts because I still want to support the musicians, but seriously, the host doesn't deserve the three starts and should really reconsider some of her choices. Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't visit but find traditional music concerts instead.

One of the best experiences in Tokyo! We were able to enjoy the beautiful melody of traditional japanese instruments and also learning about their history, in a very intimate performance. Ideal for people who love music.