In mid-March, as spring began uncoiling anew, the world's music industry once again turned its eyes to Austin, Texas, the self-styled "live-music capital of the world," for the annual South by Southwest industry conference and festival. Planes disgorged thousands of band members, record-label bigwigs, promoters, producers, journalists, music fans and more, all of whom converged on the city's tiny downtown district for a week of live music, seminars and schmoozing.

A particular highlight of the festival is Japan Nite. A SXSW staple since 1996, last year's Japan Nite launched the Stateside career of Osaka's Oreskaband, who went on to join the massive Warped Tour and star in a forthcoming Hollywood movie, "Lock and Roll Forever," and is undoubtedly the prime event for any Japanese artist hoping to crack the West.

This year's Japan Nite included shows by cartoon punks Ketchup Mania and garage rockers Detroit 7 (interviewed on this page) as well as newcomers Sodopp and others. Extremely well attended — with lines outside the Elysium music venue for several hours and an ebb and flow of punters coming and going — it reached its 550-person capacity at least once. Its organizer, SXSW Asia, arranged other Japanese showcase events, too, for around 15 acts (including ragtime honey Maki Rinka, interviewed below, The Pillows, The Emeralds and more), and all with the support of Japan's trade body JETRO.