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Tokyo Gakki Expo 2024


We said we would be traveling the globe and promoting MIDI 2.0 around the world.

Our friends from the Japan Programmers Association and Association of Musical Electronics Industry (AMEI) recently helped to put on the Tokyo Gakki Expo.

Just set your browser to always translate Japanese, click on the Tokyo Gakki Expo link above and you can surf the site and see all the cool events that were held, but here is a sampling (pun intended!).


MIDI 2.0 Seminar

Black MIDI logo and text on a coral background. Below, Japanese text reads: MIDI 2.0 セミナー 音楽電子事業協会 (AMEI), meaning MIDI 2.0 Seminar, Association of Music Electronics Industry (AMEI).

This is a MIDI 2.0 seminar held by the Association of Musical Electronics Industry (AMEI).
The latest MIDI 2.0 compatible devices will be operated and their functions will be demonstrated.
Some unreleased driver information will also be made public. This is a great opportunity to learn about the future of MIDI.

Cast: Daisuke Miura (Yamaha Corporation), Takayuki Tomizawa (Roland Corporation), Toshihiro Sugawara (Korg Inc.), Takashi Uesugi (JSPA)


JSPA members’ top pick! Highlights of Tokyo Musical Instrument Expo 2024!

A circular Tokyo Instrument Fair 2024 logo with musical instruments on the left, and a white abstract JSPA logo on the right. Japanese text is centered below on a black background.

We will introduce the booths that JSPA members are personally looking forward to and paying attention to at this year’s Tokyo Musical Instrument Expo! If you check this out, you will definitely be an information expert at this year’s Tokyo Musical Instrument Expo! There will also be an announcement about the concept of this year’s event by the creator of the “unofficial” song for Tokyo Musical Instrument Expo 2024!

Cast:Yusuke Asada, Takashi Morio, Masaaki Enatsu, Miki Nomiyama, Mion Tsuruta


Synthesizer Battle Royale 2024

Promotional image for Synth Battle Royale 2024 featuring three men—tatsuya, and two others in Japanese text—each in individual portrait photos, with Korg, Roland, and Yamaha logos at the bottom.

Following on from last year, the three major synthesizer brands, Korg, Roland, and Yamaha, will be holding the “Synthesizer Battle Royale 2024.” Don’t miss the battle between the cutting-edge synthesizer sounds and specs of the most talented keyboardists representing each company.

Cast: tatsuya (Korg), Keiki Uto (Roland), Yuzo Okusu (Yamaha)


Children’s Synthesizer Workshop

Front view of a Korg Monotron Duo analog ribbon synthesizer with black and white touch keyboard, four control knobs, and labeled settings for pitch, cutoff, and peak on a blue panel.

Let’s experience the mechanism and performance of an analog synthesizer using KORG’s monotron DUO! You can also touch modular synthesizers and rhythm machines! Calling all future music producers!

Target audience: 3rd grade elementary school students to 3rd grade junior high school students.
Cast:Masaaki Enatsu


Cute gadget experiment time

Two Stylophone instruments are shown on a light green background: one black and silver with circular controls labeled BEAT, and one pink and silver with rectangular keys and an on/off switch.

Using cute battery-powered gadgets, we will experiment with making sounds and sampling! We will create simple music using sounds recorded in mono with a mini plug. What will the sound produced by the JSPA director’s collaborative experiment be?!

Cast: Miki Nomiyama Mion Tsuruta


Yamaha MONTAGE M Synth 50th Anniversary Special Demo by Katsunori Ujiie

A man with gray hair and glasses plays a Yamaha Montage M keyboard. Japanese text and “by 氏家克典” appear on screen, marking the synth’s 50th anniversary special demo. The background is dark, focusing on the performer.

Talk and demonstration by Katsunori Ujiie of the MONTAGE M special sound to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Yamaha synthesizers.
Look forward to famous songs by famous artists and sounds of rare synthesizers.

Cast: Katsunori Ujiie


Avant-garde stage keyboard AstroLab feat. Kurumi Fujioka

A woman in a white dress plays an Arturia keyboard on stage under colorful lighting, with long hair draped over her shoulder and focused expression. The name _Kurumi Fujioka appears in the upper left corner.

A new era for Arturia’s new stage keyboard.
Kurumi Fujioka plays and Nicolas Woolley explains AstroLab.
Witness the many new features of AstroLab!


There were a lot of MIDI Association companies participating in the event (not just Japanese companies) including Ableton, Arturia, Hammond, Korg, Melbourne Instruments, Mellotron, Oberheim, Roland, Sequential, Spectrasonics, Udo and Yamaha.

A grid of 48 logos representing various synthesizer brands, each in its own box with the brand name, logo, and category listed below, such as Ableton, Korg, Roland, Yamaha, and more.