Universal Music Japan Opens Retail Destination in Tokyo

Music Japan (UMJ), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), has announced the opening of a concept retail store dedicated to supporting music super-fans. The four-floor superstore is situated in Harajuku, Tokyo – one of the world’s most recognizable destinations for fashion, culture and fandom.

The Universal Music Store Harajuku will feature dedicated fan experiences, product launches and retail pop-up shops. It will also offer a platform for UMG artists to express their creative vision and share this with their fans through bespoke activity programs.

In 2020, ‘RS No.9 Carnaby’ opened a street-level store on London’s Carnaby Street, gaining widespread attention from fans of The Rolling Stones worldwide for its apparel, merchandise and exclusive collaborations, in-store and online. The new store features the “Lips and Tongue” logo of the Rolling Stones and offers a wide range of unique items on display and for sale. “RS NO.9 Harajuku” also offers exclusive original Japanese-only merchandise and products, with the opening alongside the release of “Hackney Diamonds,” The Rolling Stones’s first new studio album in 18 years, released last week.

“We’re thrilled to bring the RS No.9 brand to Japan to support our new album,” says The Rolling Stones. “We hope our fans are excited to experience everything the store has to offer.”

“We are excited to welcome the new Universal Music Harajuku concept store to Tokyo’s world-famous Harajuku district, a gathering point for people, styles and culture from all over the world,” says Naoshi Fujikura, president, chief executive officer, Universal Music Japan. “This store represents an exciting new venture for UMG and celebrates the incredible impact and role that fans play in supporting their favorite artists. In the coming months, the store will offer unique fan experiences for our artists, both domestic and international, creating new commercial opportunities for our artists and business.

“Like Harajuku as a district, Japanese music fans are globally known for their dedicated fandom, and this store will only help to strengthen the connection between our artists and their fans while becoming the go-to destination in Tokyo for all fashion, culture and music lovers.”

After the initial takeover, RS No.9 will retain a permanent space within the store. Further artist and fan experiences to feature across the floors will be announced shortly.