• Dec

Naruyoshi Kikuchi 3Days

A bit early, but congratulations on Shinjuku Pit Inn’s 60th anniversary! 1965 was the year the bombing of North Vietnam began, the Izanagi economic boom started, Malcolm X was assassinated, and I turned two. It was the year I resolved inwardly, “In four or five years, I’ll have to start helping out at the bar my family runs.” That’s why I’ll never forget it. With new releases like Coltrane’s ‘A Love Supreme’ and Miles’ ‘ESP’ hitting the market, it was a hardcore year, wasn’t it?

 

At Pit Inn’s 50th anniversary, when Hisato Aikura passed away, I stepped in as the MC at the cultural center. The seniors gave me looks like, “Why the hell are you hosting?” I was subjected to such icy stares that I vowed in my heart, “I’ll kill every last one of you”—a youthful folly, haha. Ten years have passed since then. I think I’ve grown up a little.

 

Or rather, from 1965 to 60. A lot happened in the Japanese jazz scene, too. I deeply respect all my seniors, both those in heaven and those on earth. Could those senior musicians back in 1965 have ever imagined a world where people from their twenties to their nineties remain active, like in the world of Noh and Kyogen? And what would those seniors, who were still in their twenties or thirties back then, think if they could see the future sixty years later—that is, this year?

 

“Right now” is always the most hopelessly desperate moment, and always the most hopeful one. Compared to the past or future, how bitter is the “right now”? I wonder if jazz, more than any other music, is the music for savoring that bitterness to the fullest.

 

Thanks to your generous support and kind guidance, it’s been about 20 years since a good-for-nothing prodigal son like me in the jazz world was given the “Year-End Three Days” slot. There are two programs that we have continued since the very first time: “Duo with Otomo Yoshihide” and “Duo with Yosuke Yamashita.” Pit Inn Manager Suzuki told me, “ Why don’t you do those two programs at the cultural center?” and I was like, “Huh? We’re doing that?  lol. Those closed-room programs make me sweat.” But the Japanese jazz scene has aged considerably, and it’s been ages since anything riot-like happened. So, I plan to get heckled, make people think hard, move them to tears, or infuriate them to death—basically, I intend to unnecessarily raise everyone’s blood pressure and shorten their lifespans—for the Japanese jazz fans who come to the cultural center.

 

Instead, this year’s 3DAYS event at the end of the year will be even more intense. Otomo Yoshihide and Yosuke Yamashita are Japan’s greatest jazz musicians, but this year, instead, I’ll be performing as a jazz pianist with a piano trio and also doing a solo performance using generative AI. You’re probably thinking, “Huh? What did you just say?”

 

– Naruyoshi Kikuchi

 

12/2(tue) 24(wed) 25(thu)

 

Open19:00 start19:30
Advance ticket:5,500 yen Ticket on the day:6,050 yen (Both one drink included)

 

◎Tickets will be on sale at Ticket Pia（https://t.pia.jp） and Shinjuku Pit Inn (store sales only from 11:00 AM) from 11/2 (sun).

 

*Only on the first day of the ticket sales, one customer can buy up to two tickets for each concert day.

P-code:311-631

 

2th Naruyoshi Kikuchi Quintet

Naruyoshi Kikuchi (sax, vo), Masaki Hayashi (p), Yosuke Miyajima (g), Yuka Konishi (b), Shu Akimoto (ds)

 

24th Naruyoshi Kikuchi Trio
Naruyoshi Kikuchi (sax), Takashi Sugawa (b), Shu Akimoto (ds)

 

25日 Naruyoshi Kikuchi Solo
Naruyoshi Kikuchi (sax, p, voc, sabal, rap)

 

• Jan

NEW YEAR SPECIAL 2026 Takeo Moriyama 3days

“I’m a drummer, after all.”

 

When there are too many players, and you don’t know who to look at, look at me.
I’ll find your sound in the crowd and be your ally.
Because I’m a drummer, after all.

 

If you make a mistake while playing in a quartet, listen to me.
I’ll stick by you when you slip up, and we’ll charge ahead together no matter what.
Because I’m a drummer, after all.

 

When we’re playing a duet, and you’re pushing yourself, pushing yourself, and still get tired.
Leave it to me. I won’t let what you’ve done go to waste.
Because I’m a drummer, after all.

 

If all else fails and the audience starts leaving, just leave it to me.
I’ll keep drumming until the very last person leaves.
Because I’m a drummer, after all.

 

Takeo Moriyama

1/2(fri) 3(sat) 4(sun)

 

open17:30 start18:00
5,500 yen (1Drink付)

 

*Advance tickets (reservations accepted) will be available from AM11:00 on December 1 (mon) by phone (03-3354-2024), at the reception desk of Pit Inn Shinjuku, or through the online ticket reservation form for each concert date on our website. A priority entrance number is given at the time of reservation.

 

*Admission to the ‘ Takeo Moriyama 3days ‘ concert will be in the order of ticket number, so if you have already made a reservation for a ticket, please be sure to purchase your reserved ticket at the Pit Inn reception desk.
*Numbers are assigned at the time of reservation.
*Tickets are available for purchase prior to the performance date.

 

Requests to Our Customers
Please be aware that the venue will be very crowded if you try to purchase your ticket reservations shortly before the opening time of 17:30. In order to avoid the congestion and ensure a smooth opening, we will start accepting reserved ticket purchases at the reception desk starting at 16:30. We apologize for the inconvenience, but we would like to ask for your cooperation in purchasing tickets early in the time difference. After purchase, you will be able to enter the venue in numerical order upon your return at 17:30 when the venue opens. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

2nd Takeo Moriyama (ds), Toshiyuki Honda (sax), Hitomi Aikawa (vib, per), Takashi Sugawa (b), Guest: Ayako Kanisasare (sho), Hitomi Niikura (cello)

 

3rd Takeo Moriyama (ds), Miyuki Moriya (sax), Nobumasa Tanaka (p), Takashi Sugawa (b)

 

4th Takeo Moriyama (ds), Tetsuro Kawashima (sax), Kunikazu Tanaka (sax), Ami Ogaeri (p), Takashi Sugawa (b)

 

Photo:Toru Fujimori

• Feb

Shinpei Ruike 2days

In November 2025, I had the honor of participating in the 20th anniversary live performance of the “Asian Meeting Festival,” hosted by Otomo Yoshihide, held at PIT INN. Creative musicians from across Asia—Singapore, South Korea, Kuala Lumpur, and China—gathered to deliver an outstanding performance. Playing together brought many discoveries, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am filled with astonishment and profound respect for Mr. Otomo, who has been pursuing such endeavors for the past 20 years.

 

Over the past few weeks, Japanese musicians’ performances in China have been canceled one after another. Sometimes, music may be powerless in the face of something greater. Building deep connections and trust across national borders requires a long time and immense passion. We have overcome the pandemic. We know firsthand the importance and preciousness of never stopping our activities, and also that what has been broken down does not easily return to its former state. Music and entertainment are the first to be eliminated when unprecedented events occur. That is precisely why we feel strongly that we must protect the culture and connections we have carefully nurtured so they are not lost. We also know well that music can effortlessly cross the artificial boundaries humans set, like national borders. We pray for the situation to improve as soon as possible.

 

This time, we’ll be performing at PIT INN for two consecutive nights. The first night will be a duo performance with Yoshihide Otomo, and the second night will feature my own band, RS5pb. The duo with Mr. Otomo stems from a concert we held at the cafe “kakululu” in Ikebukuro in 2024, where we also did a live recording. The audio from that session will likely be ready in time for release on this very day. Please look forward to both the live show and the recording! Above all, I’m personally very excited to make music with Mr. Otomo in this duo format.

 

RS5pb has been together for so many years I can’t even remember how long. I fondly recall performing with this band in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, China, where we were so warmly welcomed. I feel truly blessed to make music with these members who consistently elevate my compositions to a dramatically richer level.

 

We sincerely look forward to welcoming you to both performances.

 

Shinpei Ruike

2/26(thu) 27(fri)

 

open19:00  start19:30
3,850 yen (one drink included)

 

*Reservations (priority entrance at the time of opening) will be accepted from 15:00 on January 2 (fri) by phone (03-3354-2024), at the reception desk of Pit Inn Shinjuku, or through the online ticket reservation form for each performance date on our website.

Reservations will be accepted until the day before the event.

 

26th Shinpei Ruike×Otomo Yoshihide Duo
Shinpei Ruike (tp), Otomo Yoshihide (g)

 

27th RS5pb (RUIKE SHINPEI 5piece band)
Shinpei Ruike (tp), George Nakajima (p, key), Tak Tanaka (g), Koji Tetsui (b), Daisuke Yoshioka (ds)