Zen Buddhist Monk Makes SXSW Debut

This March, I had the honor of attending SXSW in Austin, Texas to support the festival debut of Zen Buddhist monk Yogetsu Akasaka. As Yogetsu’s manager, this was an invaluable opportunity to help him break into the global music scene.

Yogetsu, my former podcast guest in 2021, was nominated as an official SXSW artist this year. Our shared friend Teemu Arina, founder of Biohacker Center Finland, connected us back when I introduced Yogetsu on my show. Teemu invited Yogetsu to perform at last year’s Biohacker Summit Helsinki, marking his first Europe tour. Since then, we’ve continued collaborating, even launching a Web3 music platform called Bankless Monk.

SXSW was the perfect chance for Yogetsu to share his music with a broader audience. His Zen training gives him a unique sound incorporating Japanese flutes, gongs, and chanting. During the festival, he had three major showcases:

On March 14th, Yogetsu played a midday set at the Ballrom ahead of NASA’s keynote on the James Webb Space Telescope. The cosmic vibe matched perfectly with his transcendent music. That evening, he transported the crowd at a historic jazz club, The Driskill's Victorian Room.

His final performance was on March 17th at Central Presbyterian Church. The acoustics amplified his harmonies beautifully in this sacred venue.

Throughout SXSW, I helped Yogetsu navigate booking logistics, stage setups, and promoting his shows. It was eye-opening to support an artist during this high-energy festival. I learned so much about live performances and the music business.

Above all, I'm proud to see Yogetsu's unique Zen music reaching more ears. His SXSW shows were a huge success, and this is only the beginning. Yogetsu's sound offers a sacred auditory experience unlike anything else out there. I can't wait to build on this momentum and continue accelerating his career.

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