It’s been a while. I’ve been out of touch for about a week, almost as if I had an out-of-body experience. It wasn’t intentional, but after a whirlwind March filled with events and a trip to Hollywood, I found myself needing quite some time to realign both mentally and physically—and to figure out what’s next.
As for the event: I dare say I was able to create quite a creative space. Thanks to having worked with the same members multiple times now, we’ve developed a solid musical groove and a natural flow of improvisation. That energy definitely fueled my own performance, and I feel that the street shows I did in LA helped eliminate a lot of hesitation within me. One major highlight was working with the sound engineer introduced to me by Gai—it was a game changer. Even though the venue was just a rehearsal studio, not a live hall, he brought in speakers and in-ear monitors to build the sound from scratch. That allowed us to finally experience how powerful and stress-free it can be to sing while truly feeling the full presence of the band. It was honestly a revelation—I never imagined I could perform with such ease while still immersed in that live energy.
And above all, I cannot express enough gratitude to those who came out despite the sudden shift from early-summer warmth to freezing winter rain. I felt that during the one-hour live performance—which served as a culmination of five hours of rehearsal—something almost indescribable, a kind of passion I wanted to convey, truly reached the audience. That made me incredibly happy. What weighs on me now is the question: can this passion be captured and shared through recorded footage with those who weren’t there? And if not, then as a producer, can I truly gather people in the same space, at the same time, to witness it live again?
Even so, I want to keep burning with the desire to reach even greater artistic heights.
To everyone who supported and participated in this bold and challenging project—thank you so much. I send my deepest respect for your incredible passion and relentless curiosity. I hope to find a way to give back to you all someday.
Please look forward to the official photos and videos once post-production and editing are complete!
⸻
P.S. Thank you so much for the early birthday gift! Dian&Susan
Photos by: Mr.Nobi & Mr.Maekawa
The team of “今夜はずっとリハーサル？”
Vocal, Composer & Director: Dan Mitchel Piano, Synthesizer & Sax: Hinata Ishii Bass: James Hodaka Kageta Electric Guitar: GODO Terasawa Percussion: Gai Seki Sound Engineer: Ken Yamakawa
Cinematographer: Tatsuhiko Maekawa Camera Operator: Shinichiro Sakaguchi Lighting: Kimiyoshi Kimura Makeup Artist (Dan): Wakana
Official Photographers: Paula Hool Leo Kuroyanagi
Bar Master: Karuna
Guest Composer: Aiko Yoshiba
Special Thanks for Dan’s Wardrobe: Wardrobe: Tsukasa Yamaguchi Belt: ComaCo ITALIA Accessories: lalamuu With heartfelt thanks to DAISY’M for introducing ComaCo ITALIA and lalamuu
Produced by: Dramatic Frontier Co., Ltd. Special Support: Ryota KOGA & Toru Karasawa
Hollywood’s Behind Me—And Here Comes the First Event Back in Japan.
On Saturday, March 29, we’re throwing an unprecedented party.
It’s called:
“Tonight, Just Rehearsing…?”
To put it simply:
This is an experimental event where musicians, together with a full sound crew, conduct a serious rehearsal session—live. The audience gets to observe the entire process, raw and unfiltered, offering a unique opportunity for non-musicians to experience how music is actually made.
Think of it as something between a workshop and a live performance.
At its core, this project is about:
Giving people a deeper understanding of how musicians think, create, and perform—beyond the surface-level image often imposed by celebrity culture.
Highlighting the artistic value of music in society by bridging the gap between artists and audiences.
Capturing it all as a documentary film, so that even those who can’t attend can still feel part of it.
It’s a statement. It’s part of our STEAM education mission. And yes, it’s also a celebration of art.
Now, that might sound a little heavy-handed for an invite—but at the end of the day, what we want most is for you to have fun.
There’ll be a bar corner run by a beautiful bar manager and skilled bartenders, and you’re absolutely welcome to chat and mingle during the rehearsals. And if the music moves you—please, dance! When I performed on the streets of LA, one thing that really struck me was how naturally people let their bodies respond to the rhythm.
So come with the mindset that you are the star of this party. I won’t be outshined so easily—but I welcome the challenge. 😉
Feel free to watch the rehearsals from anywhere in the studio—even right next to the musicians. (Just a heads-up: the cameras will be rolling continuously, and footage will be used as-is, so we kindly ask for your discretion if you don’t want to appear on camera.)
We believe the physical experience of music is irreplaceable—something even the most advanced AI can’t replicate.
Event Schedule:
14:00 – Doors Open
14:30–19:00 – Full Rehearsal (with DJ time breaks)
19:00 – Screening of my short film, which was selected for the Hollywood Film Festival (Japan Premiere)
19:30–20:30 – Short Live Performance featuring the best cuts from the day’s rehearsal
20:30–22:00 – After Party
Throughout the event, I’d love to chat with everyone who comes.
Performers:
Vocal & Composer: Dan Mitchel
Grand Piano, Synth & Alto Sax: Hinata Ishii
Bass: James Hodaka Kageta (IKILLU)
Guitar: GODO Terasawa
Percussion: Gai Seki (w.a.u, La señas)
Sound Engineer: Ken Yamakawa
DJ: mariennu
Dancer: Sessey
Dancer: Jasmine Mazlika
Guest Pianist: Aiko Yoshiba
Plus, there might be a few surprise guests—so stay tuned!
Tickets:
Please purchase your entry tickets in advance via the link below, as drinks will be stocked based on headcount.
🎟 Tonight, Just Rehearsing…? Price: ¥5 to ¥20,000 [Purchase Now]
We’ve set the base admission at just ¥5—so that anyone who’s interested can come. We hope it leads to new connections and meaningful encounters.
We’re also offering:
All-You-Can-Drink Plan (soft drinks, beer, highballs, wine): ¥3,000
Supporter’s Special Seat: ¥20,000 (includes all-you-can-drink, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, and a private table)
Drinks like tequila shots and soft drinks can also be ordered individually (about ¥1,000 per drink). There’s even a secret menu with premium champagnes—just allow a little extra time for preparation.
※ You’re welcome to bring your own food, but please refrain from bringing wine or champagne bottles.
Venue:
Studio Theory D-Room (4F) Near Yoyogi-Hachiman Station Take the elevator to the 4th floor
Address: 6-2 Motoyoyogicho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo (Dolce Motoyoyogi 1F)
This will likely be our only hosted event around my birthday season (April 14), so I’d be thrilled if you could come and celebrate with us.
Looking forward to seeing you there. With all my thanks, Dan
I’ll be staying in Hollywood from March 4 to March 12, bringing one photographer with me. For the parties on the 7th and 8th, I’ll be meeting up with a local interpreter.
I’m still looking for:
• An interpreter for the 5th
• A makeup artist for the 5th, 7th, and 8th
• Anyone else who seems like a great fit for the project
I’d love for us all to make this project a success together!
Dan Mitchel 