April 21, Kabusacki with Pikachu in Tokyo

April 21, Kabusacki and Pikachu at Hacchobori Nanahari, Tokyo

Cherry blossoms are gone!

I noticed these flowers in my morning walk to Roppongi

...and walked by this pet shop. I thought my daughter would love a pet someday....

Lunch at the legendary Tenkaippin

The venue:

This venue is unique, located in the basement of an apartment building, the owner built an acoustic sliding door and a thick sinthetic curtain to isolate sound. The sound in this venue is superb. Wood! Very cozy, good sounding and friendly venue, with remarkable pre-show and after-show music by insects and animals from the rainforest

Kabu and Pika

Pikachu is an amazing musician. We met at Osaka Bridge's FBI, an improvised music Festival that used to be organized by Uhihashi Kazuhisa where Pika played with her band Afrirampo. I was blown away by them! I love Afrirampo!

Pika played drums and piano, and she also sang:

My corner:

For a change, I used a Fender amp. Very powerful amp! We are borrowing it from Shugo, I believe.

A very enjoyable performance, full of fun, intensity and adventure. And the surprise of Pika's great piano playing!

Pika is flying tomorrow early morning from Osaka to the USA for a long and intensive tour with Mr Kawabata, of Acid Mothers Temple

Mr Iketani was in the audience, although I didn't recognize him at the moment I left the stage...he gave an inmensely valuable gift. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!


One of my keys for being able to survive an intense tour like this is to drink a lot of water (a tip from my friend Sama) and not drink alcohol. But since tomorrow is my day off, I enjoyed a glass of delicious sake with Koki at a restaurant near the hotel.

raw horse was on offer, but I opted for other dishes...

April 20th: Yokohama

Yokohama Shichoshitsu Sono 2

Kabusacki with Teruyuki Oshima, Mitsuru Nasuno, Muneomi Senju and Tatsuhisa Yamamoto


In the morning I walked around Shibuya,

Shibuya is deserted: no foreigners around, no tourists, much fewer people than usual...this made me more aware of the real situation of catastrophe and fear in Japan...I felt very sad, but I remain hopeful

Visiting a favorite shop to buy fabric for my wife and daughter...

A question asked many times... why come to Japan in this times of disaster?
Apart from discussing on the phone with Koki, phoning the Argentinean Embassy, exchange emails with friends in Japan before taking the final decision to come and not to cancel my visit, I have read very many reports about the day to day situation. The British Embassy adviced "Only Essential Travel to Japan in these days". For me, music is essential, and also in difficult times music is needed. I don't claim anything special about my musicianship or that of the musicians I was going to play with in Japan, but I am certain that our intention in music is good, genuine, I aim at being a true musician, being genuine and honest with the music I play and with my musical projects and ideas. I hope the music I play is good for people. Does good to people. So I assume I play towards good music. And good music can do good, and it's needed. Music is essential. That's why I came to japan in this difficult days. In very difficult times, music can keep people alive. Music can help spirits, it has the power to heal. It can make people happy. It can nourish souls. Also it can save lives. I am certain of this. Yes, I aim towards good music and the musicians I play with in Japan are superb. I'm very fortunate.

The venue:

The bassist's corner: Mr Mitsuru Nasuno, member of the amazing group Altered States. (I played with A.S. as guest several years ago in Osaka at a Festival by the river. I remember a guy dancing non stop in front of the stage that day. They rock!!!!!!!)

The guitarist's corner, Mr. Terushuki Oshima:

Tatsuhisa Yamamoto's drums

Senju Muneomi's corner...

My corner...

New delay pedal, a TC Electronic Flashback:

My amp: A Roland Jazz Chorus. A classic in Japan. My choice in most of the gigs here. Beast amp!

Train and taxi to the hotel. Tired but happy.

April 19: Shimokitazawa 440

I visited Promo Arte at noon, an Art Gallery in Omote Sando specialized in LatinAmerican Art, I had a friendly meeting with the owner to arrange possible participation of Moni in an upcoming group exhibition next December. This meeting has been arranged in advance by the Argentinean Embassy. The owner was very kind, and expressed obvious concern for the future of Japan.

After the meeting I had lunch here...tempura...

In the evening I played with Yuji Katsui (electric violin), Yumiko Ohno (bass and keyboards), Eiko Ishibashi (piano), Yasuhiro Yoshigaki (one of my very favorite drummers of all times in the world) at Shimokitazawa 440 , Tokyo

Luxury! Lots and fun, grooves, quiet, surprise, noise, color, sonic beauties, music and good heat!!!! What a treat to play with these superb musicians. We began the concert with a piano duet with Eiko Ishibashi! yes I dared.....I so much enjoy playing my Roland GR55 guitar synth piano sounds that I proposed a piano duet to Eiko...and this is how we began the set...

This is Yumiko's Moog, signed by Bob Moog himself...

As always, the owner and staff of this venue were so kind!

Very generous and enthusiastic audience. Good attendance.

Good to see Hajime and Naomi after the show, we have toured together a few years ago. Heroes!

Back to the hotel on the subway with Kaz.

I had dinner here...noodles...

And here's a pic of Ace Drummer Takashi Numazawa happy wearing his brand new Luck T-Shirt last night!

And here's a photo from my archives: about 4 or 5 years ago in Tokyo with Yumiko, DJ Moog and Cornelius

April 18: Shimokitazawa 440

Getting used to aftershocks, although not completely at ease.... read the news periodically, with particular attention to the Fukushima Daichi plant developments. Since I can't read Japanese, I buy the Japan Times at the hotel reception.

At noon I had lunch with my dear friend Kepel Kimura. I'm so grateful to Kepel for helping so much in my first visits to Japan. He was central in bringing my music to Japan, along with other Argentinean musicians' such as Juana Molina, Alejandro Franov, Santiago Vazquez and others. In my first visits to Tokyo I stayed in his house, in his kids' bedroom. He and his family were enormously generous, so kind! He specializes in Brazilian music and he loves Miles Davis' music. Actually I due my appreciation of Miles music mostly to Kepel. Nowadays Kimura hosts a superb radio program. Thanks Kepel!!!!!

In the evening I played with Yuji Katsui, Yumiko Ohno, Sugar Yoshinaga, Natsuki Kido and Takashi Numazawa at Shimokitazawa 440, where years ago I shared with Katsui and Seiichi Yamamoto a memorable performance. Nice venue, such kind staff!!!!

Another luxurious performance. No words.....very happy!

I am invited to play with Bufallo Daughter at a Festival in Osaka on April 29th. Happier!

April 17th: Ueno and Powers!

Cherry blossoms and a visit to Ueno Park, to see my friend Uchihashi Kazuhisa play in a festival

Walked around the streets of Ueno.

...Uchi rules!!!!! How does he do it? Complete mistery. He plays electric guitar with several processors, and also Daxophone, an instrument developed by a European musician named Hans Reichel. Wonderful sounds!!!! Great to see him.

Met with Kaz in Shibuya, by Hachiko Dog.

In the evening I played at Powers, invited by Yuji Katsui, Takashi Numazawa, Deep Cover and friends. Very nice venue, warm sound, beautiful visuals!!!! Drums, electric violin, 2 keyboards and electric/synth guitar. Such enjoyable performance. More luxury.