Hitting the Right Note: JBL’s Connection to Tokyo’s Kissa Bars

Audio Talks continues its latest season celebrating JBL's 80th anniversary with host Oisin Lunny joined by Mark de Clive‑Low and filmmaker Nick Dwyer to explore Japan’s legendary Ongaku Kissa — intimate listening spaces where music, community and craftsmanship come together. The conversation unpacks the origins of Kissa culture and its evolution into “movie theatres for music,” where silence, respect and full‑album listening create a uniquely immersive experience. At the heart of many of these spaces are meticulously tuned JBL systems, engineered to reveal the full emotional depth of every record and deliver sound as it was intended to be heard. Drawing on personal stories and a decade‑long documentation of the culture, Mark and Nick explore how intentional listening — shaped by ritual, design and human connection — transforms how we experience music. From the reverence of the listener to the dedication of Kissa owners, the episode highlights how JBL technology and Japanese listening traditions work in harmony to create deeply transportive moments.