Shibuya’s Club Asia suspended operations as the COVID-19 outbreak ramped up, leading the venue, an entertainment staple since 1996, to launch an online fundraiser on April 30.
Within hours, the Tokyo nightclub breezed past its initial goal of ¥5 million. More than 4,800 contributors (myself included, full disclosure) helped push the venue past 500 percent of its target on fundraising site Campfire. At a time when businesses in the capital are struggling due to the ongoing state of emergency, the idea of fans coming together to save something dear to them is uplifting. Well, kind of.
The same day the Club Asia funding project launched, the company behind the venue also announced it would shutter three smaller clubs in the area — Glad, Lounge Neo and Vuenos — because of the continued impact of the pandemic. That trio of spaces provided room for young artists from all genres to hone their skills and build their own community. Starting from there, they could move up to Club Asia ... and beyond.