Shibuya-AX
Concert hall in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shibuya-AX (stylized as SHIBUYA-AX) was a concert hall in Tokyo, Japan, near the Yoyogi National Gymnasium.
The venue in 2012 | |
 Interactive map of SHIBUYA-AX | |
| Location | 2-1-1 Jinnan Tokyo, Japan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 35.666199°N 139.700001°E |
| Owner | Dentsu and Nippon Television[1] |
Seating type | standing |
| Capacity | 1,500 |
| Type | Music venue |
| Construction | |
| Opened | December 16, 2000 |
| Closed | May 31, 2014 |
| Website | |
| http://www.shibuya-ax.com | |
Layout
Shibuya-AX was the only purpose-built concert hall or "live house" in the Tokyo metropolitan area that could accommodate 1,500 people. It was a popular venue for concerts by both Japanese and western artists.
History
The site originally served as a parking lot for the Yoyogi National Gymnasium.[2] Because regulations prohibited the construction of a permanent entertainment facility on the land, Shibuya-AX was built and operated as a "temporary structure" for over a decade.[2]
On September 27, 2013, it was announced through the venue's official website that it would seize operations on May 31, 2014.[3][4][5] The staff of Shibuya-AX requested J, the artist with the most performances at the concert hall, perform one last time at the venue. The concerts, entitled -Thank You AX!! Good Bye AX!!-, were held on May 3–4, 2014.[6] The building was demolished and reverted back into a parking lot for the Yoyogi National Gymnasium.[2]
Notable events
- Following their formation in 2001, EXILE's first tour, Styles of Beyond, kicked off at this venue in April 2003.
- Buck-Tick's 2004 live album At the Night Side contains songs that were recorded at their April 30, 2003 performance here.
- Sonata Arctica's performance in this venue on February 5, 2005 (during the Reckoning Night world tour) was recorded and later released as a live DVD For the Sake of Revenge (released in 2006).
- Lady Gaga performed here on June 8, 2009, during The Fame Ball Tour.
- From May 5 to 9, 2011, J held five consecutive concerts here titled "J 14th Anniversary Special Live Set Fire Get Higher -Fire Higher 2011-", each day with different bands such as Mass of the Fermenting Dregs, Nothing's Carved in Stone, Avengers in Sci-Fi, Pay Money to My Pain and The Hiatus.[7]
- South Korean Girl Group, T-ara held First Showcase in this venue on July 5, 2011, before release their debut Japanese single Bo Peep Bo Peep .
- Shibuya-AX served as one of the venues for A-Nation 2012 Music Week.
- For consecutive 3 years, Shibuya-AX was the official "home" of Shibuya-based pop idol group Passpo☆ (last show was on March 1, 2014)
