Start the Halloween weekend with cumbias, taquitos and pan-Pacific vibes at Mexican Night, the second instalment in our monthly series of internationally themed parties at Ark Hills Gallery. On Friday October 30 from 6pm, the intimate space in Roppongi Itchome will be rocking to traditional and contemporary tunes from across Mexico, courtesy of Duo Camino and Shin Miyata, while the food will be provided by Salsa Cabana.
Duo Camino consists of Natsumi Imamura, Japan’s only professional arpista (Mexican harp player), and guitarist Kohei Takeda, who usually perform as part of Mexico City-born Alex Mejía’s Mariachi Mexican La Fiesta band and promote Mexican folklore and traditional music across Japan.
They’ll be taking the stage twice on the night, interspersed by a DJ set from Tokyo’s own Shin Miyata, the owner of Barrio Gold Records and a promoter who specialises in distributing Chicano music on these shores. Miyata has been the driving force behind bringing artists such as Chicano Batman, Joe Bataan and Quetzal to Japan, and just a few weeks ago gave a talk at Fresno City College about fostering cross-cultural dialogue between East Los Angeles and Tokyo. To go with Duo Camino’s mariachi tunes, Miyata will be playing an old-meets-new, all-vinyl set heavy on cumbia and norteño.
All the while you can munch on fish tacos and taquitos courtesy of Salsa Cabana, the ever-reliable Mexican bar and restaurant with locations in Yotsuya and Nakano, which was just last month certified as authentic by the Mexican government.
Tickets are available now through Time Out Tokyo Shop.