What this is
Angela Aki — the Japanese-American singer-songwriter beloved for her piano-driven ballads and the iconic 2008 NHK Tōkyō school song 'Te wo Nobashite' — returns to the concert stage in Hiroshima, the city she has deep personal ties to. Her performances are intimate and emotionally charged, built around her voice and grand piano rather than elaborate production. This is a rare live appearance from an artist who stepped back from the Japanese music industry in 2013 to study music in the United States.
Who should go
Fans of Japanese pop ballads and piano-based songwriting, particularly those who grew up with her music in the late 2000s. This will draw a strongly Japanese domestic audience, but the emotional directness of her performances crosses language barriers for non-Japanese speakers who know her work.
Good to know
Tickets are typically sold via eplus.jp and pia.jp, both of which accept foreign credit cards; convenience store pickup at Lawson or FamilyMart is the most reliable collection method for visitors without a Japanese delivery address. Hiroshima Ueno Gakuen Hall (also known as Ueno Gakuen Hall) is a mid-sized seated concert hall with good acoustics suited to piano-vocal performances — expect a formal, attentive atmosphere rather than a standing crowd. Photography and video recording are almost certainly prohibited during the performance, as is standard for Angela Aki concerts. The hall is located in central Hiroshima, roughly 15–20 minutes by public transport from Hiroshima Station. Bring cash for any merchandise, as venue stalls in Japan frequently do not accept cards.
This event was sourced and translated from Japanese by What's On Japan. Details may change — verify with the official source before attending.