A night spent listening to the young talent of the Chigusa Award winners at a live music spot in Yokosuka

Immerse yourself in jazz tonight
File.8 Yokosuka Younger Than Yesterday
Mayuko Niimura (Jazz Cafe Chigusa)

The Chigusa Award was established to discover outstanding young jazz musicians. A competition is held each year, and the winner is given the opportunity to produce an LP and CD as a prize.
This is the sixth time the award has been given, and it was won by clarinetist Atsushi Miyawaki (26), a native of Yokosuka City.
At first glance, they seem like a cute young man of the modern era, but as soon as they start playing, a passionate, bouncy energy bursts forth. The moment you gasp, the mellow, lustrous tone captures the listener's heart and holds it in place.
He has great technique, of course, but the depth of his passion is apparent in his music, and the contrast with his carefree appearance is also great. It's no wonder he already has so many fans.
After the LP and CD are produced, a release concert is held every year. Usually, it is held only once in the area around Yokohama Noge, but this time, since the winner is from Yokosuka City, the concert was also held at Younger Than Yesterday (commonly known as YTY), a live spot with which he has a connection.
YTY has been a hub of Yokosuka culture since it opened in September 2001, and is a space where you can enjoy a variety of live performances regardless of genre. In a spacious space renovated from a former movie theater with over 100 seats, you can not only relax and enjoy the live performance, but also enjoy drinks and food.

Many live music venues have soundproofing issues and tend to feel closed off and confined. However, YTY is located on the fourth floor of a nostalgic-looking building, formerly a movie theater, and has an open lobby space. You can spend the time comfortably while waiting for the show to start.
The cool, retro interior that retains the atmosphere of the Showa era will be irresistible to those who like it.

The owner, Shigeru Sasaki, was born and raised in Yokosuka and is actually a practicing dentist!
During Sasaki's childhood, the United States still had a conscription system, and there were cultural figures and musicians among the U.S. military stationed in Yokosuka. It was in Yokosuka that he was exposed to authentic American music, and he himself entered the world of music.
The reason for opening YTY was that an old friend, the building owner, approached him about reusing the site of a former movie theater. He accepted the offer, thinking, "I want to create a place where music can come together!" He named it "Younger Than Yesterday" to convey the idea of staying young no matter how old you are. Currently, a number of renowned musicians perform here, and it is no exaggeration to say that it is one of Yokosuka's most representative live music spots.

The members of this record release live show were young, in their 20s and early 30s, but they blended wonderfully with the retro, Yokosuka-style space, and one word: "Cool!" Their talent is obvious if you listen to them in person, but combined with the atmosphere of YTY, it was a one-of-a-kind live show.

We may be in the Reiwa era, but if you want to immerse yourself in the ska culture that has been passed down since the Showa era, then you should definitely visit YTY.

*YTY live schedule here >> http://www.yty-jp.com/index.html

*Jun Miyawaki's album "SCENERY" is now on sale!
Official website