There's a particular kind of energy that settles into the A.I.R. Building when a Tokyo Vibes night is going well. It's hard to describe exactly, something between a gallery opening and a house party, with music underneath it all that makes the whole thing feel a little bit magic. Volume 10 had that energy from the first hour, and throughout the whole evening.
We've been doing this long enough now to recognise the rhythm of a good night. But Vol. 10 surprised us in the best way.
Old Friends, New Faces
One of the things we love most about Tokyo Vibes is watching the building fill up by the hour. By the time the evening was in full swing, we'd spotted so many familiar faces, people who've been with us for several volumes now, who've become part of what this community actually is. Seeing them walk through the door feels like coming home every single time.
But what made April 25th stand out was how many new people were there too. And not just standing around the edges trying to figure out the vibe, genuinely part of the crew, talking to artists, laughing with strangers, getting their photo taken, leaving with plans to come back. That's the thing about Tokyo Vibes: if you show up with an open mind, the vibe does the rest. Vol. 10 proved that better than ever.
The Exhibition
Eight artists brought their work to the A.I.R. Building, and together they turned the space into something worth getting lost in.
Each artist claimed their corner of the building and made it entirely their own. The range across the evening was striking, from painting to sculpture to photography, and yet somehow it cohered into a single experience. We watched people move from piece to piece, stopping longer than they expected to, pulling out their phones not to scroll but to photograph something that caught them off guard.
Some people took the opportunity to try out one of Divij's 3d printed guitars, or had a chat with Ian from our friends at Artedly, another awesome recurring community- and art event in Tokyo. And don't forget the insanely addictive brownies from Brownie Shots. I'm still drooling thinking about those.
That's what we're always going for. Vol. 10 delivered it.
The Details That Made the Night
If you were there, you might have seen the mysterious sprouts peeking out of people's heads.
We got our hands on a batch of tiny clip-on plant sprouts and set them out as a little detail for guests to take. We weren't sure how people would react. Within the first hour, half the room was wearing them. People were finding each other because of them, laughing, comparing, asking where they came from. It became this completely unplanned thing for the night. Sometimes the smallest ideas land the hardest.
The Tokyo Circle photo booth was another moment that took on a life of its own. They helped us out with their pop-up photo booth, and the queue never really stopped. The pictures are proof of an awesome night.
The Music
The evening was carried by a lineup that built exactly as it should, slow and warm at first, then deeper, then undeniable.
In between, the live music sets were the kind of thing you don't expect and then can't stop thinking about after. Leo Herron opened the live portion with something that made people stop their conversations. FiJA pushed it further. Keagan Raphael brought the room to a peak that we're still talking about weeks later.
What Stays With You
The roof terrace. Conversations that lasted longer than expected. A stranger complimenting your sprout. A photo you didn't plan on taking. A song that hit at exactly the right moment.
Vol. 10 was our tenth time doing this, which means it was also a kind of milestone, a moment to look back at how far this community has come since we started in 2024. And what we kept coming back to, talking with the team afterwards, was how natural it all felt. Like the event has grown into itself. Like the people who come have started to shape it as much as we do.
That's everything we ever wanted Tokyo Vibes to be.
What's Next?
We're already deep into planning the next one.
Volume 11. July 4th, 2026. The A.I.R. Building, Nihonbashi.
More details coming soon (artists, performers, and a few surprises we're not ready to talk about yet). Follow us on Instagram to be the first to know, and if you want to make sure you're in the room, keep an eye on the website for tickets.
See you on July 4th. 🖤
Tokyo Vibes runs quarterly at The A.I.R. Building in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. Entry is ¥2,500 at the door. Follow us in Instagram at @tokyovibes.jp and visit tokyo-vibes.jp for updates on Vol. 11!
