Toru Nishijima

Kasokeki Toki

  • Toru Nishijima — Contrabass
  • Kanon Aonami — Saxophone
  • Fumi Endo — Piano

Formed in 2022 at the initiative of Nishijima. Not to "express" something, but simply to "be." Each of the three inhabits their own independent world — without explaining one another, without completing one another, without hierarchy — existing together in the same time. Not what is made to happen, but what happens of its own accord: sounds begin as if they were already there, and vanish before one notices. "To simply be present, to listen closely, to wait." To remain in the space between controlling and surrendering, between intending and what simply occurs. And that is an open question — the same question — for performer and listener alike. Kasokeki Toki is not something finished, but the trace of something in the process of occurring — presenting the movement of sound before it becomes meaning, the time and space that exists just before.

Kasokeki Toki — Toru Nishijima, Kanon Aonami, Fumi Endo

Next Live

Kasokeki Toki 2026.9.4 Paris flyer ACT bar

Sep 4 (Fri)

Europe Tour — Paris, France

Zen et Harmonie
Association Culturelle Franco-Japonaise de TENRI
Show 20:00
8-12 Rue Bertin Poirée, 75001 Paris, France
With: Maki Nakano (Sax, Metal Clarinet) / Karsten Hochapfel (Cello)
Tickets: weezevent
Details

Co-organized by Trio KASOKEKI TOKI and Association culturelle franco-japonaise de Tenri
Supported by Arts Council Tokyo (Start-up Grant)

Kasokeki Toki 2026.9.6 Zürich flyer

Sep 6 (Sun)

Europe Tour — Zürich, Switzerland

Studio Nik Bärtsch, EXIL Basement
Doors 16:30 / Show 17:00
Kollekte (donation-based)
Reservations: event@kagitani.com
Hardstrasse 245, 8005 Zürich, Switzerland

Organized by Kasokeki Toki
Co-organized by KAGITANI art&music management, ronin rhythm productions and Nik Bärtsch
Supported by Arts Council Tokyo (Start-up Grant)

Past Live

Kasokeki Toki 2026.7.20 flyer

July 20 (Mon)

Shinjuku — Pit Inn (matinée)

Doors 13:30 / Start 14:00
¥2,750 (incl. tax & 1 drink)
pit-inn.com
Accord Shinjuku B1, 2-12-4 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to Shinjuku Pit Inn on such a hot day.
The 2nd set is streaming on Pit Inn Net Jazz through 8/20 — please check it out.
https://streaming.pit-inn.com/contents/5892

1st

  1. improvisation
  2. Norn
  3. Interdependence 2
  4. かささぎ

2nd

  1. 閑雲抄
  2. improvisation
  3. Shalom

E.C.

  1. まげてのばして

Video

you - on (遙音)

you - on (遙音)Shibuya Koen-dori Classics, 2025.11.16

Improvisation

ImprovisationShibuya Koen-dori Classics, 2025.11.16

川のこと

川のことOyamadai um, 2025.9.7

Kasokeki Toki with Akiko Nakayama

Kasokeki Toki with Akiko NakayamaShibuya Koendori Classics, 2024.4.22

Recording & Production

Recording took place in July 2023 at Sougakudo in Mito. Engineer Akihiko Goto captured in full the subtle presence the three create together — the way each sound is released into space, drifting and resonating with the others.

The jacket artwork is taken from a single unrepeatable frame of footage from a 2024 performance alongside Akiko Nakayama, who creates "Alive Painting" — the improvised flow of color. The two-disc album is gathered in a sleeve designed by art director Tadashi Kitagawa; three holes cut into the sleeve offer a glimpse of the artwork within.

The special edition, limited to 200 copies, includes a card printed with one of 200 different frames extracted from Nakayama's footage. The three members also each punched holes at their own chosen positions on all 200 sleeves by hand, giving every copy a unique appearance.

Recording at Mito Sougakudo, 2023 Live with Akiko Nakayama (Alive Painting), Shibuya Koendori Classics, 2024.4.22 Album packaging Assembling the packaging Sealing the packaging Punching holes in the sleeves

Album

Kasokeki Toki

Kasokeki Toki

2024 / Relativa Records

2-disc CD

Available at live venues

Standard edition ¥4,500

Special edition ¥5,500
Includes Akiko Nakayama original print

Disc 1

  1. Improvisation 1
  2. 水の色Fumi Endo
  3. Interdependence 1Toru Nishijima
  4. DecaToru Nishijima
  5. かささぎFumi Endo
  6. Improvisation 2
  7. UrbildKanon Aonami

Disc 2

  1. 2022 IToru Nishijima
  2. 2022 IIToru Nishijima
  3. 2022 IIIToru Nishijima
  4. 2022 IVToru Nishijima
  5. NornToru Nishijima
  6. 小さな空Toru Takemitsu

Live History

  • 2022
  • 2022.1.24 Tokyo — Koendori Classics First live
  • 2022.4.17 Tokyo — Koendori Classics
  • 2022.7.3 Ogose — Gallery & Café 山猫軒
  • 2022.12.4 Tokyo — cafe Beulmans
  • 2023
  • 2023.4.27 Tokyo — Koendori Classics
  • 2023.7.17 Tokyo — Koendori Classics
  • 2023.12.13 Tokyo — cafe Beulmans
  • 2024
  • 2024.4.22 Tokyo — Koendori Classics with Akiko Nakayama (Alive Painting)
  • 2024.10.11 Tokyo — Koendori Classics Album release tour / with Akiko Nakayama (Alive Painting)
  • 2024.10.15 Kobe — 100BAN Hall Album release tour
  • 2024.10.16 Nagoya — Hase Album release tour
  • 2024.12.6 Tokyo — 試聴室 MA TO KI × Kasokeki Toki
  • 2025
  • 2025.2.24 Tokyo — 月花舎
  • 2025.3.25 Tokyo — Koendori Classics Genki Kanki trio × Kasokeki Toki
  • 2025.6.7 Tokyo — 工房花屋
  • 2025.9.7 Tokyo — um
  • 2025.11.16 Tokyo — Koendori Classics
  • 2026
  • 2026.1.11 Tokyo — 工房花屋
  • 2026.5.22 Nagoya — JAZZ茶房 靑猫 Tour "途の折節"
  • 2026.5.23 Okayama — 䕃凉寺 Tour "途の折節"
  • 2026.5.24 Fukuoka — Bar 柑 Tour "途の折節"
  • 2026.5.25 Ube — GLYCINES Tour "途の折節"
  • 2026.5.26 Kobe — 100BAN Hall Tour "途の折節"
  • 2026.5.29 Tokyo — um Tour "途の折節"
  • 2026.5.30 Mito — 奏楽堂 Tour "途の折節"
  • 2026.5.31 Ogose — Gallery & Café 山猫軒 Tour "途の折節"
  • 2026.7.20 Shinjuku — Pit Inn