Akasaka Blitz, Concert venue in Akasaka, Tokyo, Japan
Akasaka Blitz was a live house in Akasaka Sacas, wedged between the TBS Broadcasting Center and Akasaka Biz Tower. Its main floor held 1,147 standing, the second floor 120 fixed or movable seats plus 151 standing places, and all-seated shows took 604. The old 1996 building held 1,944 people. The current building carries grey ribbed metal panels with large silver letters reading "BLITZ".
The first Akasaka Blitz opened on 16 April 1996 on the site of TBS's former television building and transmission tower; MR. BIG played the opening show, and Denki Groove gave the first Japanese act's performance. It closed on 5 September 2003 with a Dragon Ash concert for the Akasaka 5-chome redevelopment, and a new building opened on 20 March 2008 beside the TBS Akasaka ACT Theater, with KREVA as the first act. The live house shut on 22 September 2020 and reopened on 8 October 2022 as TBS AKASAKA BLITZ STUDIO.
The venue became a gathering place for Tokyo's music lovers, who came to experience Japanese and international artists performing across many genres. The space drew crowds of devoted fans who connected through live music and the energy of performances.
The nearest stations are Akasaka on the Chiyoda Line, Akasaka-Mitsuke on the Ginza and Marunouchi lines, and Tameike-Sanno on the Ginza and Namboku lines; none connects directly to the building. The venue sits in Akasaka Sacas between the TBS Broadcasting Center and Akasaka Biz Tower, beside the TBS Akasaka ACT Theater. Since 2022 the former hall is a working studio, though the third-floor corridor stays open for viewing.
The first AKB48 general election was held at this venue, and the semi-finals of TBS's King of Conte take place here. The building also hosted TBS Holdings' shareholders' meetings and a memorial symposium for newscaster Tetsuya Chikushi.
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