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JGIGLIVE HOUSE GUIDE JAPAN
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Playing a live house in Japan: noruma, taiban and drink fees

Key findings

  • Under a ticket quota, or noruma, the act carries the risk of unsold tickets, according to a Tokyo live house operator's explainer (HYPE Inc., August 2026).
  • A Tokyo live house operator's explainer (HYPE Inc., Aug 2026) says a hall rental has no noruma, because the renter is the organizer.
  • Doors open a median of 30 minutes before the start at JGIG-listed shows (395 shows in Tokyo and Osaka, 20 Oct – 31 Dec 2026).
  • At JGIG-listed shows, the median ticket is ¥3,800 (440 shows), and 88.5% of shows with a drink fee charge ¥600 on top (279 shows, 20 Oct – 31 Dec 2026).
  • Visas and taxes for paid shows depend on each case; Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration Services Agency and the National Tax Agency publish the official rules.

By JGIG editorial · Updated Oct 20, 2026

At a glance

The short version

WordRomajiWhat it means for the act
ノルマnorumaA minimum number of tickets the act is responsible for selling. The act carries the risk of unsold tickets
チャージバック / チケットバックchāji bakku / chiketto bakkuPart of the money from tickets sold goes back to the act
レンタル / 箱貸しrentaru / hako-gashiRenting the room. The renter is the organizer, so there is no noruma
ギャラgyaraA performance fee paid to the act
ブッキングbukkinguA night the venue or a promoter puts together
対バンtaibanSeveral acts share one bill and play in turn
ワンマンwanmanOne act plays the whole show
ドリンク代dorinku-daiThe drink fee each audience member pays at the door

Table 1. Booking words an overseas act may see, in plain English

Note: Definitions of ノルマ, チャージバック and 箱貸し follow the HYPE Inc. explainer (checked 20 Oct 2026). Terms differ by venue and by night. This table explains words, not any venue's terms.

How does a live house night get booked?

In general, a night is either put together by the venue or a promoter, or rented by an organizer. The money risk sits in a different place in each.

  • A booked night (ブッキング). The venue or a promoter builds a bill of several acts. The HYPE Inc. explainer says noruma applies to this kind of event. Each act is responsible for a minimum number of tickets. Part of ticket sales can come back to the act as a chargeback.
  • A rented night (レンタル, 箱貸し). An organizer rents the room and runs the event. The same explainer says there is no noruma here, because the renter is the organizer and takes the risk.
  • A paid fee (ギャラ). The explainer compares noruma with a fee-based format, where the act is paid to play.

Terms are not fixed across Japan. The explainer says quotas tend to be set lower on weekdays and higher from Friday to Sunday. One venue in Kyoto Prefecture publishes its terms online. They include a quota and a per-ticket chargeback once the quota is met. They also note that rates vary by act and content. Read any terms you are offered closely, and check what happens if fewer tickets sell.

What does taiban mean for a band?

On a taiban night, your act is one of several on the bill, and the acts play one after another. The start time is when the first act begins, so your set may come much later. For the audience side of the same night, see How a live house night works: taiban, set times, end times.

JGIG's listings show where the most nights are. Saturday has the most listed shows (86), followed by Sunday (83) and Friday (78). Wednesday has the fewest (49). JGIG's listings do not yet show how many acts are on each bill.

What will your audience pay?

Your guests pay for a ticket, plus a drink fee at the door. In JGIG's listings, the median ticket is ¥3,800, and half of tickets fall between ¥3,000 and ¥4,775 (440 shows). Among shows with a drink fee, 88.5% charge ¥600 (279 shows). With both added, the median total is ¥4,100 (257 shows).

So when you tell people the ticket price, tell them about the drink fee too. How much is the drink fee at Japanese live houses? explains why the fee exists. Advance vs door tickets in Japan explains why the door price can differ.

How is a night timed?

Doors (開場) open first, and the first act starts later (開演). At JGIG-listed shows, the median gap is 30 minutes (395 shows). A 30-minute gap is the most common, at 249 shows, and 78 shows have a 60-minute gap.

For when the audience arrives, see Doors or start: what time should you arrive?.

What paperwork applies to overseas performers?

Read the official rules before you plan a paid show. JGIG is not a legal or tax adviser, so this section only points to the official sources.

  • Visas and taxes. These depend on each case. The official pages are the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/), the Immigration Services Agency (https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/status/entertainer.html) and the National Tax Agency (https://www.nta.go.jp/taxes/shiraberu/taxanswer/gensen/2884.htm). This is not legal or tax advice; check the official pages or a qualified adviser before you book.
  • Gear through customs. Japan Customs accepts the ATA Carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment.
  • Power. Japan's mains power is 100 V. It runs at 50 Hz in eastern Japan, including Tokyo, and 60 Hz in western Japan, including Osaka.

JGIG data

What the listed shows say

Table 2. Minutes from doors to start at listed shows

Doors to startShows
0 minutes (doors and start at the same time)7
15 minutes6
20 minutes19
25 minutes5
30 minutes249
45 minutes30
60 minutes78
89 minutes1
All shows with both times395

Note: Shows listed on JGIG at small live houses in Tokyo and Osaka, 20 Oct – 31 Dec 2026 (computed 20 Oct 2026). Median: 30 minutes. These figures describe JGIG's listings, not every live house in Japan.

Table 3. Listed shows by night of the week

NightShowsMedian total (ticket plus drink fee)
Monday52¥4,600
Tuesday56¥4,100
Wednesday49¥4,100
Thursday61¥3,750
Friday78¥4,100
Saturday86¥4,500
Sunday83¥4,600

Note: Same period and scope as Table 2. All 465 listed shows are counted for the number of shows. The median total counts only shows that list both a ticket price and a drink fee.

All the numbers: Live House Index

What to do next

What to do next

See how listed shows are timed and priced

FAQ

Questions people ask

What is noruma at a Japanese live house?
A minimum number of tickets an act is responsible for selling. The act carries the risk of unsold tickets.
Is there noruma when you rent a live house?
According to the HYPE Inc. explainer, no. The renter is the organizer and takes the risk.
Can a band play paid shows in Japan on a tourist stay?
It depends on each case. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Immigration Services Agency and the National Tax Agency publish the official rules. This is not legal or tax advice; check the official pages or a qualified adviser before you book.
What voltage do Japanese live houses use?
Japan's mains power is 100 V, at 50 Hz around Tokyo and 60 Hz around Osaka.

Method and scope

  • JGIG figures. From the JGIG Live House Index CSV, computed on 20 Oct 2026. It covers 465 upcoming shows at 16 venues listed on JGIG in Tokyo and Osaka, dated 20 Oct to 31 Dec 2026.
  • What is counted. Doors to start uses the 395 shows that list both times. The total is counted only when a show lists both a ticket price and a drink fee (257 shows).
  • Booking terms. JGIG has no data on booking terms. Definitions come from one Tokyo operator's explainer and one venue's published terms. They show how terms are described, not what any act will be offered.
  • Rules. Visa, tax, customs and power facts come from official pages read on 20 Oct 2026. Rules change, so read the current page.
  • Not a national statistic. These figures describe JGIG's listings. They are not statistics for all of Japan.

How to cite

  • Title: Playing a live house in Japan: noruma, taiban and drink fees
  • URL: https://www.j-gig.com/columns/playing-live-house-japan-international-band
  • Updated: 20 October 2026
  • Data: JGIG listings computed 20 Oct 2026
  • Suggested citation: JGIG, "Playing a live house in Japan: noruma, taiban and drink fees," updated 20 October 2026, https://www.j-gig.com/columns/playing-live-house-japan-international-band

Sources

Sources and last checked

By JGIG editorial · Updated Oct 20, 2026. Show details can change, so check the official information before you go.

This column was drafted with AI and checked by a person against official sources. How we make JGIG