Blog

Membo
Blog

Guides, live house info, and tips for finding music partners and starting a band in Japan.

Latest Articles

2026.03.02

Benefits and Considerations of Forming a Band with Foreign Musicians — An Honest Account from Someone with Experience

"A band with foreign musicians? But won't there be language barriers?" — No, it will be fine. In fact, your musical range expands dramatically. After over 30 years of continuous band activity in Japan...

A Beginner's Guide to Japan's Music Scene — Genres, Culture, and How to Get Started

J-POP, Visual Kei, City Pop, anime songs — Japanese music has undergone a unique evolution recognized worldwide. But simply listening isn't enough to appreciate...

2026/03/01

5 Common Patterns of People Who Can't Find Band Members (And How to Solve Them) [Advice from Someone with 20+ Years of Experience]

"I post recruitment notices but get no response." "Communications fade out." "I can't find good people."—If you're feeling discouraged about finding band member...

2026/02/28

Start a Band This Spring — The Complete 2026 New Life Band Guide

Spring is when new life begins. If you've been thinking "This year I really want to start a band," this guide is for you. From choosing your instrument to findi...

2026/02/27

[2026 Latest Edition] Comprehensive Comparison of 7 Band Member Recruitment Sites and Apps — Which One Really Works?

Looking for the best band member recruitment site in Japan? We compared 7 platforms — OURSOUNDS, with9, BandMix, Jimoty, Membo & more — rating ease of use, feat...

2026/02/26

How to Rent a Rehearsal Studio in Japan — Complete Guide for Foreign Musicians [2026 Edition]

Japan has countless rehearsal studios run with passion for musicians. Equipment is complete, soundproofing is perfect, and most importantly — music-loving peopl...

2026/02/25

Top 10 Recommended Live Houses in Tokyo — Complete Guide for Foreign Musicians【2026 Edition】

Tokyo has over 800 live houses, but for foreign musicians, "where to even start" is a major hurdle. Without understanding the quota system (norma), how booking ...

2026/02/24

[Complete 2026 Guide] How Foreign Musicians Can Find Band Members in Japan

If you're a foreign musician looking for band members in Japan, you're not alone. Japan has over 3,000 live houses nationwide and rehearsal studios are found ev...

2026/02/23

< 前へ 12345 次へ >

What is Membo? — Japan's Only 8-Language Member Recruitment Service

Membo is a completely free service for finding music partners and band members in Japan. Supporting 8 languages — Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Nepali, and Hindi — it connects foreigners and Japanese people beyond language barriers.

8-Language Real-Time Translation Chat

Messages you send are automatically translated into the recipient's language. Even replies in another language appear in yours

Map-Based Search

Find nearby postings on Google Maps. Station-based search is also supported

7,000+ Recruitment Posts

Browse recruitment info collected from major Japanese sites, available in multiple languages

Completely Free

Registration, posting, messaging, searching — all free with no paid features

Find Members on Membo

Band Member Recruitment Site Comparison

A comparison of major services for finding band members in Japan.

Feature	Membo	OURSOUNDS	bandcrew	BandMix.jp	SNS
Multilingual	8 languages	Japanese only	Japanese only	English & Japanese	Platform dependent
Price	Free	Free	Free	Paid plans available	Free
Translation Chat	○	×	×	×	×
Map Search	○	×	×	×	×
User Base	Newly launched	650K monthly users	33K monthly PV	International	General public
Genres	Bands, Theater, Clubs	Bands	Bands	Bands	All

* OURSOUNDS user data from Trustia. bandcrew data from SimilarWeb.

How to Use Membo — Start in 3 Steps

Free Registration

Post or Search

Post your own recruitment or search 7,000+ posts by area, station, or map

Chat with Translation

Send a message to someone you're interested in. The 8-language real-time translation lets you communicate across languages

For Foreign Musicians

Even if your Japanese isn't strong, Membo lets you search for members in your native language and communicate with Japanese members through translation chat. This blog also covers live house info, studio guides, and tips for the music scene in Japan.

Find Members on Membo

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Membo free?

Yes, Membo is completely free. Registration, posting, searching, messaging, and translation chat — all features are available at no cost. There are no paid plans or in-app purchases.

Can foreigners use it?

Yes. Membo supports 8 languages: Japanese, English, Chinese (Simplified & Traditional), Korean, Vietnamese, Nepali, and Hindi. The interface can be switched between all 8 languages, and translation chat allows communication in your native language.

What kinds of recruitment are available?

Primarily bands (rock, pop, jazz, metal, etc.), but also theater groups and social clubs. You can search by instrument — vocals, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, and more.

How is Membo different from other recruitment sites?

Membo is Japan's only 8-language member recruitment service. Its real-time translation chat enables smooth communication between members who speak different languages. It also features map-based search and station-based search for location-oriented discovery.