Jazz accounts for around 5 percent of total recorded music sales in Japan, but despite that the genre is ubiquitous in cities nationwide.
Don't believe me? Take a closer listen to the background music you hear while shopping at your local shōtengai (shopping arcade) or relaxing at a cafe, chances are the soundtrack includes some jazz.
However, the music will come out from the basement live houses and into the daylight at a slew of events taking place through May and November across the country. The vast majority of these neighborhood festivals, though, are designed to drum up extra business for local shops and bars, but they still provide a chance for the casual fan to rub shoulders with the aficionado.