Meet the Artists
Teshi’s Fine Hour
Our Cultural Ambassador and Berlin's self-proclaimed nerdiest music nerd from Japan. On Friday, Teshi dives into the world of Japanese gaming music with a Listening & Talking Session full of nostalgia, discoveries and the stories behind the sounds.
Teshi x kidkanevil
After the listening session, the decks stay on. Teshi teams up with British producer and DJ kidkanevil for a B2B set to take our Opening Night into its final stretch.
Nilo x Hayatonnu
80s Tokyo City Pop, bossa nova grooves and anime nostalgia. Japanese singer-songwriter Nilo brings her new album City Pop ’26 to the stage, joined by Tokyo street dancer Hayatonnu, who turns her music into movement and brings the crowd into the performance.
Nobutaka Shomura
A Japanese sound artist, dancer and media artist based in Berlin since 2018. Nobutaka combines field recordings, feedback systems and improvisation with a physical language rooted in his martial arts background – somewhere between concert, performance and experiment.
Shinkawasaki
“Producer of sound and vision infusing cultures across the Pacific Ocean.” Through voice, guitar and beats, Shinkawasaki shares stories and lived experiences from a Japanese-American perspective, bringing different musical worlds together.
Nanaco Violin
Forget everything you think a violin sounds like. Violinist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Nanaco moves between jazz, funk and fearless improvisation, putting the violin firmly up front. At BRF26, she's bringing the crew for a set of original music and serious groove.
Akiko Grabein Quartet
One last bowl. One last set. Akiko Grabein and her quartet close out BRF26 with jazz standards made their own, playful scat vocals and touches of Latin and funk. Joining her are James Crutchfield on guitar, Wataru Saito on bass and Shinichi Nakajima on drums.
Nijikai Club: Japan Takeover DJs
On Saturday night, the Nijikai Live Stage becomes a dancefloor for the first time. Teshi, NOB, Maurizio Iannuzzi, Kayuka and Hisashi take over the decks, moving through different corners of Japanese music culture – from city pop and jazz to dub, disco and electronic sounds. Five DJs. One Japan Takeover. Until open end.