Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on December 2012

Annual performance-art shindig Harajuku has for the past six years presented a holiday season feast of Japan’s more imaginative dance, music and audiovisual creators. This year it chucks out the baby with the bathwater, turning the event into an audition-style search for emerging talent. Masterminding the festivities is VJ, animator and computer-graphics wizard Naohiro Ukawa, impresario behind web streaming micro-club Dommune. Fellow audiovisual wunderkind Takagi Masakatsu will also present a special performance on day two.

Laforet Museum, Dec 22-23, various times, ¥2,000-4,000. Laforet Harajuku. Nearest stn: Meiji-jingumae or Harajuku. www.laforet.ne.jp