Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra

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.