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The Kimi Kato Show

The Kimi Kato Show

By: Kimi Kato
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The Kimi Kato Show is your gateway to Japanese culture. We invite you to join us each week as we explore the vibrant world of Japanese pop culture and dive into the colorful world of Japan's music, anime, fashion, film, and cuisine. As the Founder of Project Asteri, a boutique music label, Kimi connects artists with global audiences, effortlessly transcending borders and connecting East and West. Having previously worked at Universal Music Japan, Kimi has introduced international sensations such as Ariana Grande, Black Eyed Peas, Carly Rae Jepsen, Hoobastank, Jack Johnson, Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Sum 41, and Taylor Swift. He has worked with renowned artists like Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Mariah Carey, and U2. Don't miss an exciting episode of The Kimi Kato Show - Your invitation to the dynamic world of Japan! https://projectasteri.com evolve entertainment network | Pantheon Podcasts | Radio Candy Media2026 Project Asteri Music Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Japan Music Journey: Yokohama Part 1

    Japan Music Journey: Yokohama Part 1
    Jun 7 2026
    In this episode of The Kimi Kato Show – Japan Music Journey, Kimi Kato begins a multi-part exploration of Yokohama, one of Japan’s most important and internationally connected cities. What started as a quiet fishing village on the shores of Edo Bay became the gateway through which modern Japan entered the world. Kimi traces the dramatic chain of events that transformed Yokohama from an obscure coastal settlement into one of the largest cities in Japan, beginning with Commodore Matthew Perry’s arrival in 1853 and the appearance of the infamous “Black Ships.” Listeners will follow the geopolitical tensions of the mid-19th century, learn about Japan’s 200-year policy of controlled isolation, discover the remarkable diplomatic negotiations that took place through Dutch and Chinese interpreters, and uncover the political crisis that ultimately led to the collapse of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The episode also reveals one of the greatest bureaucratic maneuvers in Japanese history: how the shogunate, attempting to keep foreign influence away from the main highways of Japan, redirected international trade to a small fishing village called Yokohama—accidentally creating the city that would become Japan’s primary window to the world. Featuring music from Kroi, Fujii Kaze, and Vaundy, this episode blends history, diplomacy, politics, international trade, and cultural transformation into the fascinating origin story of modern Yokohama. Host: Kimi Kato Producer: Kimi Kato Executive Producer: Jeremiah D. Higgins Powered by: Project Asteri | Pantheon Media | Radio Candy Media Inquiries: info@projectasteri.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Japan Music Journey: Tokyo 07 - Aoyama & Nishiazabu

    Japan Music Journey: Tokyo 07 - Aoyama & Nishiazabu
    May 30 2026
    In this episode of The Kimi Kato Show – Japan Music Journey, Kimi Kato explores two of Tokyo’s most sophisticated and culturally layered neighborhoods: Aoyama and Nishiazabu. From the samurai origins of the Aoyama name under Tokugawa Ieyasu, to the transformation of the district into Tokyo’s center of international fashion, architecture, music, and creative culture, this episode traces the hidden history behind one of the city’s most elegant areas. Kimi takes listeners through Aoyama Cemetery, Omotesando’s world-famous architecture, the rise of Japanese designer fashion, and the internationalization of Minato Ward after World War II. The episode also dives into the fall of the samurai class during the Meiji Restoration, the Satsuma Rebellion, and the historical inspirations behind The Last Samurai, connecting Japan’s modernization directly to the neighborhoods listeners walk through today. Crossing into Nishiazabu, Kimi explores Tokyo’s hidden nightlife culture — the signless restaurants, late-night creative circles, and private social networks that shaped Japan’s entertainment world through the 1980s and 90s. The story of legendary restaurant Chianti, the rise of City Pop, Blue Note Tokyo, and the rediscovery of Miki Matsubara’s “Mayonaka no Door〜Stay With Me” reveal how this corner of Tokyo became one of the spiritual homes of modern Japanese music. Featuring music from Suchmos, Official HIGE DANdism, King Gnu, Fujii Kaze, Yuming, Matsubara Miki, and Yellow Magic Orchestra, this episode blends history, architecture, jazz, fashion, nightlife, and City Pop into a portrait of Tokyo at its most refined, creative, and quietly magnetic. Host: Kimi Kato Producer: Kimi Kato Executive Producer: Jeremiah D. Higgins Powered by: Project Asteri | Pantheon Media | Radio Candy Media Inquiries: info@projectasteri.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Japan Music Journey: Tokyo 08 - Asakusa

    Japan Music Journey: Tokyo 08 - Asakusa
    May 30 2026
    In this episode of The Kimi Kato Show – Japan Music Journey, Kimi Kato concludes the Tokyo series with a journey to Asakusa, the historic heart of old Edo and one of Japan’s most beloved cultural districts. More than a tourist destination, Asakusa is a living connection to over 1,400 years of Japanese history, spirituality, craftsmanship, and community. Listeners will explore the legendary founding of Sensō-ji Temple in 628 AD, the story of the golden Kannon statue discovered by two fishermen on the Sumida River, and the evolution of Asakusa from a small riverside settlement into the spiritual center of Edo. Along the way, Kimi unpacks the origins of the name “Asakusa,” the mysteries of Japanese language and kanji pronunciation, and the unique relationship between Buddhism, Shintoism, and everyday life in Japan. The episode also takes a deeper dive into Tokyo’s hidden spiritual geography, examining the ancient concept of kekkai—protective sacred barriers that once defended Edo from misfortune. From Sensō-ji and Ueno’s Kan’ei-ji Temple to Kanda Myōjin Shrine, Taira no Masakado, and the legendary “Demon Gate” of Tokyo, listeners will discover a side of the city rarely covered in guidebooks. Kimi also explores Nakamise Street, Sanja Matsuri, the Sumida River Fireworks Festival, Yoshiwara, Tokyo Skytree, and the enduring spirit of shitamachi culture that continues to define Asakusa today. Featuring music from Kenshi Yonezu, Aimyon, SEKAI NO OWARI, Hoshino Gen, YOASOBI, and ONE OK ROCK, this episode blends history, folklore, religion, language, urban mythology, and modern Japanese music into a rich portrait of the neighborhood many consider the soul of Tokyo. Host: Kimi Kato Producer: Kimi Kato Executive Producer: Jeremiah D. Higgins Powered by: Project Asteri | Pantheon Media | Radio Candy Media Inquiries: info@projectasteri.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
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