Get ready to say farewell – but fortunately not goodbye – to one of Shibuya’s most reliable purveyors of smooth tunes and spicy bar bites. Diminutive DJ bar Zubar has been a fixture of the area’s underground scene since 2009, but will be shuttering its current space at the end of August and reopening in Magome down in Ota-ku the following month.
Renowned for its eclectic programming, where everything from electronica to Showa pop is fair game, the enduringly popular Zubar celebrated its 16th anniversary this year. But owner Kenji Kimura reveals that he’s been looking to get out of Shibuya for a while already. ‘Our rent has been rising, and it’s gotten to the point where we’ve had to give up on a lot of things,’ he says. ‘Economic concerns have gotten in the way of our creative pursuits.’
Originally located in a tiny building between Ebisu and Shibuya, Zubar moved to its current spot just south of Shibuya Station in 2018. With a line-up of resident DJs as comfortable with hip hop as they are with noise and proficient in even the most obscure of genres, plus the occasional surprise appearance by luminaries like UK dub legend Adrian Sherwood and DJ Spinna, the venue has established itself as an essential stop on the Tokyo underground circuit.
Zubar’s regular parties have also been big – and long-lasting – draws. Wednesday’s Kaidan Club features freestyle rap by a reliably solid cast of MCs, while the signature AOP night has welcomed well over 100 guests over the years, entertaining a generation of local heads with techno and house as well as hip hop, reggae, juke, noise and gabber. The programming has even included poetry readings and hands-on DJ classes for beginners.
That spirit of experimentation will live on at the new Zubar, says Kimura, despite the surroundings being rather different. Set to open in a largely residential area, within walking distance from Magome and Nakanobu stations on the Toei Asakusa line as well as Ebaramachi Station on the Tokyu Oimachi line, the bar should fit right in in an area known for its high concentration of old-school shops and other indie businesses.
‘It might not be the most convenient location,’ says Kimura, ‘but we trust people to come seek us out.’ In its new incarnation, the venue will be open from 10am to late at night and take on roles including brunch and lunch spot, casual café and listening bar. And while being surrounded by private dwellings can make organising all-night parties challenging, Kimura and his team are hoping to turn the restrictions into an advantage by leaning into smaller-scale shows and acoustic gigs instead.
Thankfully the Taiwanese flavours on the food menu will also be retained, so you can look forward to Zubar’s famous minced pork rice, boiled gyoza dumplings and other delicacies in Magome too. These familiar favourites will be complemented by breakfast sets, curry, homemade sweets and more.
Most importantly, Kimura promises to stay true to Zubar’s ethos of equality in its new digs. ‘We’ve been blessed to host so many people who truly love music [over the past 16 years],’ he says. ‘I think that’s because we’ve let everyone express themselves freely in the DJ booth, not caring about genre restrictions, credentials or technique. We’ve treated all people, all DJs, as equals – no judgment – and that’s something we won’t be changing.’
Zubar will be reopening in Magome this September. Stay tuned for the details.
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