Tokyo in Retrograde
Tokyo in Retrograde is a short film PUSH produced for Budweiser about Masayoshi Anotani, aka Mars89 — a musician whose uncompromising electronic compositions have cemented him as one of the most unique and exciting prospects within Tokyo’s underground club circuit, and whose contribution to the city’s culture extends far beyond the dancefloor.
Soundtracked by original songs representative of Mars89’s signature style — a bricolage channeling the guttural, sub-bass-infused body music from UK dubstep’s heyday and the mutant rhythms of Bristol’s signature bass scene — the film touches on his music production as well as his presence within Tokyo’s activist community, where he spearheads a series of anti-establishment ‘Protest Raves’ that have seen sound trucks drive through some of the city’s most iconic vistas while blasting out hard techno, galvanising Tokyo’s youth into new, emergent strands of political engagement.
Outside of music and activism, Mars89 has also collaborated on an apparel collection with fashion brand Undercover‘s Jun Takahashi, as well as releasing a record through the brand. He created the soundtrack for Undercover’s AW19 collection, has been remixed by Thom Yorke, Zomby and Low Jack, and has played at Virgil Abloh’s club night, Sound Design.
The film was directed by director duo DEJA (PUSH Japan’s Dan Buyanovsky and Mike Sunda) and shot by Tokyo-based cinematographer Seiya Uehara.
Video Credits.
DIRECTORS: DEJA
PRODUCER: Yuumi Aoyama
ASSISTANT PRODUCER: Michie Hamaya
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Seiya Uehara
Assistant Camera #1: Shotaro Sugiyama
Assistant Camera #2: Leo Youlagi
Gaffer: Haruka Harazawa
Lighting Assistant: Souta Sugiyama
Edit: Andy Nagashima
Music: Mars89
Color: Victor Ivanov
Drivers: Kyohei Daiguji, Juna Takeuchi
Camera Equipment: Capsule Rentals
Location: Contact, Tokyo
Special Thanks: Yiqing & Kai
Client: Budweiser
Soundtracked by original songs representative of Mars89’s signature style — a bricolage channeling the guttural, sub-bass-infused body music from UK dubstep’s heyday and the mutant rhythms of Bristol’s signature bass scene — the film touches on his music production as well as his presence within Tokyo’s activist community, where he spearheads a series of anti-establishment ‘Protest Raves’ that have seen sound trucks drive through some of the city’s most iconic vistas while blasting out hard techno, galvanising Tokyo’s youth into new, emergent strands of political engagement.
Outside of music and activism, Mars89 has also collaborated on an apparel collection with fashion brand Undercover‘s Jun Takahashi, as well as releasing a record through the brand. He created the soundtrack for Undercover’s AW19 collection, has been remixed by Thom Yorke, Zomby and Low Jack, and has played at Virgil Abloh’s club night, Sound Design.
The film was directed by director duo DEJA (PUSH Japan’s Dan Buyanovsky and Mike Sunda) and shot by Tokyo-based cinematographer Seiya Uehara.
Video Credits.
DIRECTORS: DEJA
PRODUCER: Yuumi Aoyama
ASSISTANT PRODUCER: Michie Hamaya
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Seiya Uehara
Assistant Camera #1: Shotaro Sugiyama
Assistant Camera #2: Leo Youlagi
Gaffer: Haruka Harazawa
Lighting Assistant: Souta Sugiyama
Edit: Andy Nagashima
Music: Mars89
Color: Victor Ivanov
Drivers: Kyohei Daiguji, Juna Takeuchi
Camera Equipment: Capsule Rentals
Location: Contact, Tokyo
Special Thanks: Yiqing & Kai
Client: Budweiser
