By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here.
As spring continues and the weather continues to warm, New Yorkers can enjoy activities all over the city both indoors and out.
This month’s highlights include:
Friday, May 1, 8:00 p.m.
Mahler Chamber Orchestra: Yuja Wang, Piano and Director
Carnegie Hall, 881 Seventh Avenue
From $350
For the first time at Carnegie Hall, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra is led by Grammy-winning piano phenomenon Yuja Wang, who directs from her instrument. This exemplary touring ensemble has been a highlight in recent Carnegie Hall seasons, and its collaborations with Wang are highly renowned. It’s an ideal pairing, as Wang is not only one of the world’s leading virtuosos, but also an artist with a true gift for “drawing you into the world of each composer” Financial Times. Featuring concertmaster and leader Matthew Truscott, the evening’s selections will include Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Symphony No. 1, “Classical,” as well as Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1. With more than 45 musicians spanning over 20 different countries, this show will prove that music is truly the universal language.
Sunday, May 3, 8:00 p.m.
Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway
From $88.50
HoYoFair Fan Concert Once Upon HoYoFair LIVE In 2026 will come together in France, Germany, the UK, and the U.S. for six LIVE fan concerts! In celebration of the upcoming 2026, which marks the 5th anniversary of HoYoFair, HoYoverse is excited to announce the HoYoFair Fan Concert—a fan art-driven music feast organized by 54 Entertainment and CHARISMA TANUKI PRODUCTIONS. This unique event will feature musical performances from Honkai: Star Rail, Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and Honkai Impact 3rd, all in one show. Fans will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the touching melodies of HoYoverse’s beloved titles.
Monday, May 4, 8:00 p.m.
Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street
$21 nonmembers, $14 members
One late night in an overworked office, Miyabi is offered a bite of home-cooked fish and politely turns down the offer with a white lie. As acts of extreme politeness and Japanese office etiquette begin to stack on top of this innocent lie, office workers are stretched to the breaking point, until a sudden change overtakes Miyabi’s team… In her signature style for finding the farcical in the mundane structures of Japanese society, Kishida Kunio Drama Award winner Kei Ando’s play Earthly Bones dives deep into the inherent absurdities of Japanese office life. NYC-based director Lauren Zeftel and her cast of local actors take audiences on this mad joyride of distinctly Japanese dark humor in an English-language reading.
Tuesday, May 5, 8:00 p.m.
Racket NYC, 431 West 16th Street
$56.50 general admission
ONE OR EIGHT is a rising eight-member Japanese boy group quickly gaining international attention for their genre-blending sound and high-energy performances. Their name, ONE OR EIGHT, is derived from the Japanese idiom “Ichika Bachika”—meaning “all or nothing”—reflecting the group’s fearless ambition and commitment to chasing their dreams. With the tagline “BET ON YOURSELF,” the group embodies a spirit of self-belief, camaraderie, and risk-taking as they strive to make their mark on the world. Formed in 2024 and shaped by a global pop influence, the group combines elements of J-pop, hip-hop, and contemporary R&B, positioning themselves as part of a new wave of export-ready Japanese artists. Now, the group is launching their first-ever U.S. tour in support of their new mini album, GATHER—their most ambitious project to date. The release features the focus track “TOKYO DRIFT,” written by Pharrell, and follows a milestone debut run that includes the No. 1 Billboard Japan Heatseekers hit “Don’t Tell Nobody” (produced by Ryan Tedder & David Stewart) and a U.S. Top 5 iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap single, “KAWASAKI,” featuring Big Sean. With a strong emphasis on choreography, fashion-forward visuals, cross-cultural collaborations, and more than one million TikTok followers, ONE OR EIGHT is rapidly establishing itself as a global act to watch.
Opens Friday, May 15
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe
Various theaters
Various prices
The year is U.C.0105, twelve years after Char’s Rebellion. “Mafty” has begun resisting the Federation government’s tyrannical rule by assassinating its high-ranking officials. Its leader is actually Hathaway Noa, the son of Bright Noa, who fought in the One Year War alongside Amuro Ray. A girl named Gigi Andalusia, who displays uncanny powers, has reminded Hathaway of a past trauma. Though he is bewildered by her words, he prepares to carry out an air raid on the Adelaide conference, determined to fulfill Mafty’s goals and lay his own past to rest. While swayed by her cryptic words, he continues preparing for Mafty’s mission — the attack on the Adelaide Conference. Meanwhile, Kenneth Sleg of the Federation Forces prepares a defense operation for the Adelaide Conference and a plan to eliminate Mafty, when he is approached by Handley Yoxon of the Criminal Police Organization with a secret proposal. As Hathaway and Kenneth pursue their respective goals, Gigi also sets off for Hong Kong to fulfill her own role.
For more JQ articles, click here.
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