Make Believe Bonus: Thai Festival With 4EVE, MAZZEL Debut Live Showcase, And Sobs Japan Tour Finale

Embracing The New Normalcy Of Tokyo

Thai Festival, Yoyogi Park, May 21st

I have loved the rush of tourists from all over the world returning to Tokyo in recent months. The city just feels more lively when filled with people from all over. Some neighborhoods feel a little too packed sure, and the occassional chaotic-content livestreamer has surfaced, but generally this influx makes Tokyo feel like…Tokyo.

With open borders also comes new musical intersections. The number of foreign acts touring Japan has shot up in 2023, while the country’s status as a major music market also continues to draw industry attention. Thailand’s pop players have been on this for a bit now — over the past year, special digital concerts from stars such as Billkin and PP Krit recieved pushes in the Japanese market (eventually leading to an IRL set at Summer Sonic) along with T-pop showcases tied to the annual Thai Festival held in Yoyogi Park every May. This year, that meant actually bringing Thai acts to Tokyo to perform at the festival. That was all the reason I needed to brave the crowds on a sunny Sunday in May.