"Tokyo Tunes: A Century in Cafes with Roman Coppola"

"A Century in Sound," a documentary series that unfolds the enthralling story of Tokyo's vibrant 'music cafes' over a century, just added a dash of Hollywood to the mix! Veteran filmmaker, Roman Coppola, has recently hopped on the bandwagon as an executive producer. The documentary, currently making waves worldwide, is set for its UK premiere at the Sheffield DocFest on June 19, following blockbuster screenings at CPH:DOX, Melbourne Intl. Film Festival, and the world-renowned Nippon Connection Film Festival in Germany.

Narrated and steered by Nick Dwyer, and his right-hand man Tu Neill, "A Century in Sound" is a sonic love letter to Tokyo's cultural phenomenon known locally as ongaku kissa or music cafes. This comes at a moment where the worldwide taste for 'Japanese Listening Bars', inspired by the kissa culture, is hitting all the right notes. It's about time this rich musical legacy gets its spotlight, and who better to join the crew than Coppola?

Coppola is joining a star-studded lineup of executive producers that encompass American Zoetrope Films. Other big names include Kasper Collin of "I Called Him Morgan" fame, Dana O’Keefe of Double Agent, Sohichiro Matsumoto of Analogue Foundation Films, and the dynamic duo, Dan Braun and Josh Braun of Submarine.

Coppola, upon joining the crew, said, "Nick Dwyer and his opus lured me in via mutual friends with a shared passion for the rich, the intriguing, and the unexpected. I love all things offbeat and intriguing!" Naturally, the quirky world of jazz kissa captured his heart. "Diving headfirst into such a historical yet vivid world, guided by individuals so passionate about their niche, fills me with an incredible amount of inspiration," he added.

The brains behind the operation, Dwyer, and Neill are not new to the documentary world. They've previously created "Diggin' in the Carts," illuminating the unsung Japanese creators of '80s and '90s video game soundtracks. In addition to that, Dwyer also co-directed the Nat Geo TV show "Making Tracks," which traversed the global musical landscape.

This six-part series is already turning heads and has a planned release for 2025. The opening trio of episodes is cleverly packaged into a single documentary for festival screenings. Buckle up, folks, because this downright fascinating project promises to be a rollercoaster ride through the lively core of Tokyo's music scene.