The Room

The Room is a basement club at 15-19 Sakuragaokacho in Shibuya, Tokyo. It opened in 1992 with a focus on jazz and soul, and was conceived as a place where guests could gather as if visiting someone’s room. It was also intended as a meeting point for members of Mondo Grosso who had moved from Kyoto to Tokyo. Owner Shuya Okino is a DJ associated with Kyoto Jazz Massive.

The venue has one room and a capacity of 100; its open floor is rearranged to suit each event. Jazz and soul remain among its influences, alongside funk, disco and house, with Kenta Tominaga among the promoters to have run events there. Artists who have played include Tominaga and vinylDJ Eiji Takehana. The Room’s staff and DJs have produced tracks including Mondo Grosso’s “Family,” UA’s “Rhythm” and Kyoto Jazz Massive’s “Eclipse.” In 2011, it moved away from the nightclub category and adopted the “TAMARIBA” policy, describing the venue as a gathering place for artists and audiences.