Japanese Live House Vocabulary: Useful Words and Phrases for Musicians

Japanese live houses use a mix of ordinary Japanese, music-industry shorthand, and English loanwords that may not mean exactly what an English speaker expects. A schedule can contain iri, rehearsal, open, start, honban, and seisan without explaining how those moments connect. A booking email may mention taiban, noruma, or torioki as if every performer already knows the system.

You do not need fluent Japanese to play a well-organized show. You do need to recognize the words that affect your arrival time, equipment, set length, ticket obligations, and payment. This performer-first glossary gives you the Japanese script, a practical reading, a plain-English meaning, and a phrase you can actually use.

Venue procedures are not standardized. The same term can be applied differently by different venues and organizers, so use the translations below as a starting point and confirm the exact rule in writing. For the bigger picture, read What Is a Live House in Japan? before you accept a booking.

How to use this guide

The romanization is designed to help you recognize a word in conversation, not to replace the Japanese text. When you message a venue, copying the Japanese term from the schedule is often clearer than trying to reproduce it from memory.

Three habits prevent most misunderstandings:

Repeat the exact term. If the schedule says 入り 15:30, ask about 入り時間 rather than simply asking, “What time?”
Confirm the unit and scope. A 30分 set may or may not include the changeover or MC. A ノルマ may be a ticket count, a sales value, or a different guarantee formula.
Keep the answer in writing. After a call or in-person discussion, send a short message confirming the date, times, equipment, ticket terms, and settlement method.

Quick-reference schedule

Japanese	Reading	Working meaning
入り / 入り時間	iri / iri jikan	Performer arrival or call time
搬入	hannyū	Load-in
顔合わせ	kaoawase	Lineup or staff introduction
リハーサル / リハ	rihāsaru / riha	Rehearsal or soundcheck slot
開場 / OPEN	kaijō / open	Doors open to the audience
開演 / START	kaien / start	Show begins
本番	honban	The actual performance or show
持ち時間	mochi jikan	Your allotted stage time
転換	tenkan	Changeover between performers
終演	shūen	End of the show
精算	seisan	Financial settlement
物販	buppan	Merchandise sales
搬出 / 完全撤収	hanshutsu / kanzen tesshū	Load-out / fully cleared from the venue

Treat this as a sequence, not a guaranteed timetable. One venue may give every act a separate rehearsal. Another may run a line check immediately before the set. The event’s final timetable is the authority.

Booking and event-format words

ライブハウス — raibu hausu — live-music venue

ライブハウス is the Japanese term commonly used for a venue built around live performance. It is a category of venue, not a promise about size, genre, equipment, or business terms.

Useful question:

会場の機材表を送っていただけますか？
Kaijō no kizai-hyō o okutte itadakemasu ka?
Could you send me the venue equipment list?

ブッキングライブ — bukkingu raibu — venue- or booker-arranged show

A ブッキングライブ is usually a show for which a venue or booker assembles a bill. It often has several acts, but the set length, ticket conditions, and responsibilities vary.

Ask:

ブッキングライブの出演条件を確認したいです。
Bukkingu raibu no shutsuen jōken o kakunin shitai desu.
I would like to confirm the performance terms for the booking show.

対バン — taiban — co-billed act or multi-act bill

対バン can refer to the other artists sharing the bill, or to the multi-act format itself. Do not assume the venue will choose every act. Some venues may ask the performer or organizer to arrange a co-bill.

Ask:

対バンは会場側で決まりますか？
Taiban wa kaijō-gawa de kimarimasu ka?
Does the venue arrange the other acts?

ワンマン — wanman — one-artist headline show

In live-house usage, ワンマン means a concert centered on one artist or band, not a person performing entirely alone. A guest or opening act may still be possible, so confirm the actual format.

ホールレンタル / 貸切 — hōru rentaru / kashikiri — venue rental or private hire

ホールレンタル and 貸切 indicate that the organizer hires the venue for a defined block of time. Rental can give you control of the lineup and schedule, but it may also shift more financial, staffing, ticketing, and production responsibility to you.

Ask for a written estimate and check what is included:

会場費に音響・照明スタッフは含まれていますか？
Kaijō-hi ni onkyō, shōmei sutaffu wa fukumarete imasu ka?
Are the sound and lighting staff included in the venue fee?

仮押さえ — kariosae — tentative hold

A 仮押さえ is a temporary hold on a date or time slot. It is not always a confirmed booking, and the hold can have a deadline.

Ask both questions:

仮押さえの期限はいつですか？
Kariosae no kigen wa itsu desu ka?
When does the tentative hold expire?

何を提出すると日程確定になりますか？
Nani o teishutsu suru to nittei kakutei ni narimasu ka?
What do we need to submit for the date to be confirmed?

出演条件 — shutsuen jōken — performance terms

This is a useful umbrella phrase for the commercial and operational conditions of the offer. Requesting the 出演条件 gives you a natural way to ask about set time, tickets, fees, equipment, and settlement without presuming one standard model.

If you are still choosing where to apply, see How to Play a Gig in Japan as a Foreign Musician or Music Artist.

Arrival, load-in, and soundcheck words

入り / 入り時間 — iri / iri jikan — call time

入り is when performers or staff are expected to arrive. It may also imply check-in and the start of access to the room. Do not confuse it with doors or show time.

入り時間は何時ですか？
Iri jikan wa nanji desu ka?
What time is the performer call?

搬入 / 搬出 — hannyū / hanshutsu — load-in / load-out

These words refer to bringing equipment into and removing it from the venue. Ask about the route, stairs or lift, vehicle access, and the time by which equipment must be removed.

搬入口と搬入可能な時間を教えてください。
Hannyū-guchi to hannyū kanō na jikan o oshiete kudasai.
Please tell me the load-in entrance and the time when load-in is possible.

リハーサル / リハ — rihāsaru / riha — rehearsal or soundcheck

At a live house, リハ often means a scheduled soundcheck rather than a full band practice. Use the time to set input levels, monitors, playback, and key cues. Ask whether the order follows the show order or is reversed.

リハは何分ですか？
Riha wa nanpun desu ka?
How many minutes is our soundcheck?

音出し — oto-dashi — making sound / audio check

音出し can mean permission to make amplified sound, a brief line check, or the start of testing instruments. The context matters.

入り時間の前に音出しはできますか？
Iri jikan no mae ni oto-dashi wa dekimasu ka?
Can we make sound before the scheduled call time?

セッティング図 — settingu-zu — stage plot

A セッティング図 shows where performers, amplifiers, drums, microphones, direct boxes, and monitors should be placed. Some venues call it a stage plot; others use a venue-specific form.

セットリスト — setto risuto — set list

The set list may be needed for stage management, lighting, recording, rights administration, or timekeeping. Ask where and when to submit it.

セットリストはいつ、どこに提出しますか？
Setto risuto wa itsu, doko ni teishutsu shimasu ka?
When and where should we submit the set list?

Stage, sound, and equipment words

PA — pī ē — sound system or sound engineer

In Japanese venue conversation, PA can refer to the sound-reinforcement system, the sound operator, or both. Be specific when you need the person rather than the equipment.

PA担当者に入力リストを送ってもいいですか？
Pī-ē tantōsha ni nyūryoku risuto o okutte mo ii desu ka?
May I send the input list to the sound engineer?

音響 / 照明 — onkyō / shōmei — sound / lighting

These are the broader terms for audio and lighting. A quote may list the staff or service as 音響費 or 照明費. Confirm whether those charges are included rather than assuming the venue package covers them.

機材 / 機材表 — kizai / kizai-hyō — equipment / equipment list

機材 covers musical and technical equipment. The 機材表 should be treated as the source of truth for models, quantities, and available accessories.

ドラム、アンプ、マイクの機材表を確認できますか？
Doramu, anpu, maiku no kizai-hyō o kakunin dekimasu ka?
Can we check the equipment list for the drums, amplifiers, and microphones?

持ち込み — mochikomi — bringing your own equipment

Use 持ち込み when asking whether you may bring an amplifier, DJ controller, keyboard, projector, camera, food, or another item. Permission, space, power, and fees may be separate questions.

ギターアンプの持ち込みは可能ですか？
Gitā anpu no mochikomi wa kanō desu ka?
May we bring our own guitar amplifier?

返し — kaeshi — stage monitor mix

Musicians commonly use 返し for the sound returned to the stage through monitors. Instead of only saying “more,” name the source and monitor position.

ボーカルの返しを少し上げてください。
Bōkaru no kaeshi o sukoshi agete kudasai.
Please raise the vocal a little in the monitor.

ギターを返しから少し下げてください。
Gitā o kaeshi kara sukoshi sagete kudasai.
Please lower the guitar a little in the monitor.

DI / ダイレクトボックス — dī ai / dairekuto bokkusu — direct box

Use DI for the device that sends an instrument or playback signal to the PA system. Confirm the number of channels you need, especially for stereo playback, keyboards, acoustic instruments, or DJ setups.

立ち位置 — tachi-ichi — stage position

This is where each performer stands. Marking 立ち位置 on a stage plot helps the sound and lighting teams understand microphone and monitor placement.

SE / 出囃子 — esu ī / debayashi — walk-on music or intro audio

SE is often used for recorded intro, transition, or exit audio. 出囃子 can mean music used as a performer enters. Confirm the file format, playback device, operator, and cue.

SEは会場で再生してもらえますか？
Esu-ī wa kaijō de saisei shite moraemasu ka?
Can the venue play our intro audio?

Performance and timetable words

本番 — honban — the actual show or performance

本番 distinguishes the real performance from rehearsal. A staff member may say 本番お願いします to signal that it is time to begin or proceed.

持ち時間 — mochi jikan — allotted time

Your 持ち時間 is the time assigned to your act. Ask whether it includes MC, tuning, entry, exit, or changeover.

持ち時間はMCを含めて30分ですか？
Mochi jikan wa emu-shī o fukumete sanjippun desu ka?
Is the 30-minute stage time inclusive of talking?

転換 — tenkan — changeover

転換 is the transition between acts. It can include removing instruments, moving amplifiers, changing drum hardware, checking inputs, and preparing the next act.

転換時間は何分ですか？
Tenkan jikan wa nanpun desu ka?
How many minutes are allowed for changeover?

押している / 巻いている — oshite iru / maite iru — running late / running early

If the show is 押している, the timetable is behind. If staff ask you to 巻いて, they want the schedule shortened or accelerated. Do not cut a set or extend it based only on another act’s timing; confirm with the stage manager.

上手 / 下手 — kamite / shimote — stage left / stage right from the audience’s view

In Japanese stage terminology, 上手 is the audience’s right and 下手 is the audience’s left. For performers facing the audience, that means the sides feel reversed. Pointing to the stage plot prevents confusion.

Tickets, door charges, and settlement words

前売り / 当日 — maeuri / tōjitsu — advance / door

Event listings often separate the advance ticket price from the day-of-show price. They may appear as ADV / DOOR or 前売 / 当日.

ドリンク代別 / 別途1ドリンク — dorinku-dai betsu / betto wan dorinku — drink charge separate

Many event listings state that the drink charge is separate from admission. The amount and payment method can change by venue or event.

チケット代とは別にドリンク代が必要ですか？
Chiketto-dai to wa betsu ni dorinku-dai ga hitsuyō desu ka?
Is a drink charge required in addition to the ticket price?

取り置き — torioki — reservation held under a name

取り置き usually means a ticket reservation recorded by the artist, organizer, or venue for payment or collection at the door. Ask who manages the list, what visitor details are needed, and when it closes.

取り置きはお名前と枚数だけで大丈夫ですか？
Torioki wa onamae to maisū dake de daijōbu desu ka?
For reservations, are the guest name and number of tickets sufficient?

ゲストリスト — gesuto risuto — guest list

A guest list may mean complimentary admissions, discounted admissions, or simply a reservation list. Confirm whether the artist pays the difference and whether the guest still pays the drink charge.

ノルマ — noruma — ticket quota or minimum commitment

At live houses, ノルマ often refers to a minimum ticket-sales commitment. The formula is not universal. A venue may have no quota; another event may use a ticket count, sales target, guarantee, or shortfall calculation.

Never accept only the word. Ask for the complete formula:

ノルマの枚数、金額、不足分の計算方法を教えてください。
Noruma no maisū, kingaku, fusokubun no keisan hōhō o oshiete kudasai.
Please tell us the ticket count, amount, and how any shortfall is calculated.

チケットバック generally refers to money returned to the performer from ticket sales, often after a threshold or according to a rate. Ask whether the calculation uses gross ticket revenue, a fixed amount per ticket, a percentage, or another formula.

精算 — seisan — settlement

精算 is the calculation and payment of the final event amount. It can include ticket sales, reservations, guest adjustments, venue or equipment charges, merchandise commission, taxes, and performer payment.

精算は終演後ですか？必要な書類はありますか？
Seisan wa shūen-go desu ka? Hitsuyō na shorui wa arimasu ka?
Is settlement after the show? Are any documents required?

The Tokyo Club performance flow explicitly describes confirming the date after submitting event details, checking the performer call time, and settling payment under the agreed terms after the show. Its current performer FAQ also shows why venue-specific confirmation matters: it publishes its own rules for rehearsal, equipment, guest handling, co-billed acts, and settlement, while stating that its performance slots do not use a ticket quota. Those policies describe one operator, not every live house in Japan.

Backstage, merchandise, and people words

楽屋 — gakuya — dressing room or backstage room

楽屋 can be a dedicated room, a shared space, or unavailable. Ask before planning costume changes, secure storage, catering, or private calls.

物販 — buppan — merchandise sales

物販 can refer to the merchandise activity, the sales table, or the scheduled sales period. Confirm the location, available table space, payment responsibility, and any commission.

物販の場所と利用時間を教えてください。
Buppan no basho to riyō jikan o oshiete kudasai.
Please tell us where and when we can sell merchandise.

受付 — uketsuke — reception or door desk

The 受付 may handle tickets, reservations, drink charges, guest lists, and performer check-in. If you have a ticket problem, say which list or seller should contain the reservation.

主催 / 会場 / 出演者 — shusai / kaijō / shutsuen-sha — organizer / venue / performer

These labels tell you who owns a task. 主催 is the organizer, 会場 is the venue, and 出演者 is the performer. A line such as 主催者側で手配 means the organizer must arrange it; 出演者側 places the responsibility on the artist.

担当者 — tantōsha — person in charge

Use 担当者 when you need the correct contact for booking, PA, lighting, ticketing, or settlement.

当日の担当者と連絡先を教えてください。
Tōjitsu no tantōsha to renrakusaki o oshiete kudasai.
Please tell us the day-of contact and how to reach them.

Eight confirmation phrases worth saving

Copy these into your notes and replace the bracketed detail:

入り時間は何時ですか？ — What time is the performer call?
持ち時間はMCを含めて[30分]ですか？ — Does the [30-minute] set include talking?
リハーサルと転換はそれぞれ何分ですか？ — How long are soundcheck and changeover?
使用できる機材表を送ってください。 — Please send the equipment list.
チケット条件と精算方法を書面で確認したいです。 — We would like to confirm the ticket terms and settlement method in writing.
ドリンク代はチケット代と別ですか？ — Is the drink charge separate from the ticket?
当日の担当者はどなたですか？ — Who is the day-of contact?
認識が合っているか、下記の内容をご確認ください。 — Please confirm that the details below match our shared understanding.

That final phrase is especially useful before a show. Follow it with a compact summary:

date and venue room;
arrival, soundcheck, doors, start, set, settlement, and load-out times;
set length and whether MC is included;
equipment you will bring and equipment the venue provides;
ticket, drink, quota, fee, and payment terms;
the day-of contact.

A musician’s day-of language checklist

Before leaving for the venue, make sure you can show—not only say—the following:

the event name and venue address;
入り時間 and the final timetable;
your セッティング図, input list, and セットリスト;
the current 機材表 and a list of your 持ち込み equipment;
持ち時間, 転換時間, and any strict end time;
取り置き and guest-list procedures;
the exact ノルマ, チケットバック, fees, and 精算 formula, if applicable;
the 担当者 name and a working contact method.

Save screenshots or an offline copy. Basements and backstage areas do not always have reliable reception, and the staff member you meet may not be the person who answered your booking email.

If you are looking for an event rather than decoding one you already have, explore Live Performance Opportunities in Tokyo and then verify every listing with the organizer. You can also browse music venues on ViVaLiVe and check upcoming events before contacting a live house.

The goal is a shared understanding, not perfect Japanese

Venue staff do not need you to speak like a native speaker. They need the correct information at the correct time. Japanese script, a stage plot, an input list, a timetable, and a written financial formula are more reliable than confident but vague conversation.

Learn the words that change your obligations: iri, mochi jikan, tenkan, noruma, and seisan. Keep the rest of this guide available when you need it. When a term is unclear, repeat it, ask what it includes, and write down the answer.

Sources checked

Checked September 1, 2026. Venue procedures, prices, schedules, and terminology can change; confirm the current page and your event agreement.