Formed in 1988, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra has remained at the forefront of the Japanese ska scene by incorporating elements of jazz, pop, and rock along the way. ∙ Just two years after releasing their self-titled debut EP in 1989, the band headlined Japan’s famous Budokan arena. ∙ Their 2002 album, Stompin’ on Down Beat Alley—which featured a variety of guest vocalists, including Pizzicato Five’s Takao Tajima—has sold more than 500,000 copies in Japan alone. ∙ Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra was the first Japanese act to play at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, and they were featured in the documentary film Live from Bonnaroo 2004. ∙ The band has recorded a series of successful collaborative singles, including 2006’s “Hazumu Rhythm” with the pop-rock duo PUFFY—a No. 15 hit on the Japanese charts. ∙ From 2009 to 2016, they hosted their music festival, the Tokyo Ska Jamboree, and showcased such international acts as Fishbone and Venezuela’s Desorden Público. ∙ In 2019, the group received a Lunas del Auditorio—an award honoring the best live concerts in Mexico, which had previously been given to Marcel Marceau and Philip Glass.