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!
Inevitably, I always come to the conclusion that I need a dedicated manager.
That person would be my most essential business partner.
But what I truly need isn’t just someone with marketing or promotional skills—those come second. What matters most is someone who has the passion and commitment to fully understand my vision and creative intent. Of course, technical skills are important, and having them is better than not, but if someone prioritizes those over everything else, they would suffocate me.
I refuse to do anything that goes against my beliefs. I think my principles are crystal clear and easy to grasp, but because there aren’t many people who serve as a reference for the way I operate, it’s not something that can be instantly understood or categorized.
That’s why this is going to be a painstaking process. And I wonder—how many people out there are willing to walk this thorny path with me? There are countless easier ways to make money.
On top of that, I can’t afford to pay a fixed salary. The only option is a full commission-based system. Even so, I’m searching for someone who wants to share this dream with me.
If someone is willing to dedicate their life to this, they can take equity, or even a significant percentage of the profits—I wouldn’t complain.
This EP is centered around the theme of “soul liberation.”
“Generation” was a song I created seven years ago, inspired by witnessing my father battle terminal cancer.
At that time, I was in my twenties, and seeing him fight the illness made me realize, “Things don’t need to last forever.”
Letting go of attachments is essential, and the idea that endings lead to new beginnings is something I find deeply important—not only in love and career but in every stage of life.
“Heart-in-true Dance” was written around the same time as Generation.
I found myself trapped in a slump, unable to write any music because I was too focused on trying to be liked by others.
In the end, I accepted that some people might walk away, but I made the decision to live honestly and true to my heart—and that’s when this song was born.
“My Way” was a song I wrote for my younger classmates when I graduated high school.
At first glance, letting go of attachments and following one’s own path might seem contradictory, but I don’t see it that way.
Rather, I believe that by freeing ourselves from unnecessary attachments, our true path becomes clear.
The final track, “Your Way, My Way,” is an answer song to the short film I directed, and it is also included in my album released in January.
Its theme revolves around the idea that if two people truly love each other, they don’t need to force themselves to stay together.
Once again, this song is about letting go of attachment, even when it comes to the person you love the most.
I hope this EP helps liberate your soul from the constraints of meaningless preconceptions.
今作は、「魂の解放」をテーマにしたEPです
Generationは7年前に私の父が末期がんの闘病をしている姿に
インスピレーションを受け制作した楽曲です
「ずっと 続いていくことは 必要ないんだ」
ということを20代だった時分に気づかされたというか
それはあらゆる執着を捨てるという事だし
終わるから、始まる、次へと繋がるという考えは
恋愛やキャリアなどあらゆる人生のステージにおいても
とても重要な事だと思っています
ときめきダンスはGenerationと同時期に制作した曲で
周りの人に好かれようとばかり考えていたら
一切、曲が書けなくなってしまったというスランプの中で
結果として、去っていく人はいるかもしれないけど
自分の心に正直に生きてゆこうと決意したときに制作した曲です
我が道をゆけは高校卒業の時に後輩たちに向けて書いた曲です
執着を捨てることと、我が道をゆくことは
一見、相反するようですが、私はそうは思っていなくて
むしろ不必要な執着から解放されることによって
真の我が道が拓けるのではないかとそう考えています
最後のYour Way, My Wayは1月リリースのアルバムにも収録されている
私が初監督したショートフィルムのアンサーソングですが
本当に愛し合っているなら、無理して一緒にいる必要はないという
やはりこれも、最愛の恋人に対する執着を捨てることがテーマになっています
つまらない先入観による抑圧から
皆さんの魂が解放されることを願っています
Tomoka Shindo’s Comment
When he asked me, I hesitated whether to bridge the gap between his world and the world beyond him.
The image of flowers that instinctively came to mind had various shapes and colors, and I wanted to weave them into the story of the song, which led to this visual.
Thank you for entrusting me with such a precious piece.
私にお願いしてくれた時、彼の世界と彼以外の世界の狭間を埋めようか埋めないか迷いました。
直感的に浮かんだ花の姿は多種多様な形と色をしていて、
曲の物語の中に添えたいと思い今回のビジュアルに至りました。
大切なピースを託してくれてありがとう。
She listened to the song and, without any input from me, brought it to life purely through her inspiration.
Dan Mitchel’s directorial debut, A Love Story in The Summer, has been officially selected for the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival (HRIFF)!
With this honor, I am planning to embark on my very first journey to the United States this March.
At the end of last year, guided by a flash of inspiration, I submitted my film to several of the countless festivals around the world. It seems one of those sparks has ignited. I can’t help but feel that performing in English was the right choice after all.
Just as I declared my hope to visit America this year, the doors of opportunity have opened wide. This is a moment I cannot afford to let slip away.
Simply attending the festival isn’t enough for me. I want to create a promotion team and, if possible, capture this milestone through a documentary. Yet, I realize that directing the documentary myself may be a task too great to take on alone.
The announcement of my film’s screening schedule is set for February 20. The festival itself will span from March 5 to 15—ten days filled with endless possibilities. On the technical side, I’m still quietly wrestling with the mysteries of DCP (Digital Cinema Package) submission. Terms like “5.1 surround sound” and other specifications feel like another world to navigate, but I’ll find my way through.
I would love to have a team by my side, including a documentary director, a cameraman, an interpreter, and a hair & makeup artist. However, I have yet to extend any formal offers. Ideally, I hope to find team members who can take on multiple roles. I’m also hoping to arrange costume consultations here in Japan before my departure.
Depending on the length of my stay, this venture may cost as much as 2 million yen.
Fortunately, with the submission deadline for the DCP set for February 20, I still have time to refine and edit the film. I am considering adding the names of sponsors to the end credits as a way to showcase their support on the Hollywood stage. I wonder how many sponsors would be willing to join me on this journey under such mutually beneficial terms.
Of course, simple donations would also be greatly appreciated. I would be incredibly grateful for any support. In time, I will find a way to give back to this country that has shaped me.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting deeply on why I sometimes feel frustration toward Japan. It’s because, at my core, I am Japanese. Despite everything, I cannot abandon the love I hold for this country. This is a truth I feel in my heart every day.
I can’t align myself with the current trend of escaping Japan or glorifying such avoidance as a virtue. I cherish this country’s culture, its natural heritage, and above all, the family and friends who live here.
It is precisely because of this deep attachment that I feel the need to succeed abroad. That’s why I have adopted the name “Dan Mitchel”—to blend in overseas—not because of any infatuation with foreign trends or aesthetics.
This coming week will be a battle, particularly in assembling the right team. But I will face it with unwavering determination.
Please, I humbly ask for your support. Your encouragement would mean the world to me.
Thank you very much in advance.
Dan Mitchel初監督作品「A Love Story in The Summer」が
ハリウッドの映画祭、”Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival/HRIFF”に入選しました