Save the Night: New Planet Ball
- Event
- Digital
- video
As part of the ongoing Jägermeister Brand Icon campaign, poweredby.tokyo supported dancer Chise Ninja in hosting the biggest ball in Tokyo ballroom history to date. In addition to producing an offline event with the voguing legend, we invited two international brand ambassadors from the ballroom community to take part in a cross-cultural immersion, producing a documentary of their experiences.
When poweredby.tokyo first met dancer Chise Ninja, she was already the Japan Mother of the world famous House of Ninja and a pillar in the local ballroom scene. As we facilitated her partnership with Jägermeister, her ambitions of fostering and nurturing the culture of ballroom in Japan culminated into a marquee event held in April 2024. New Planet Ball was an 8 hour marathon of non-stop artistry, featuring over 20 categories and performances by over 250 participants hailing from all over the world.
more than just
a safe space
The ballroom community provides queer people and allies with a community, where all are welcome to flourish as their true selves. Participants hone their skills in various styles of dance, performance, and fashion styling. At balls, everyone battles for Grand Prize in their chosen categories, making a name for themselves and forming families.
The New Planet Ball raised the bar within the local scene while shifting its focus beyond Japan, and the highly anticipated event saw participants flying in from Hong Kong, Korea, Indonesia, and more to try their luck in the competition. The cast was filled with internationally known icons and legends, from Icon MC Dashaun Wesley, Icon Judge Asia, Judge Sattva Ninja, Judge Teddy Oricci, DJ Seven Angels, and lighting designers MES. On top of the top tier organizers to amp the battlers up, New Planet Ball boasted an elevated runway at the venue, a rare sight in local events that brought a taste of ballroom authenticity. New Planet Ball was more than just a safe space for the queer community to connect and express themselves, it also acted as a catalyst for all to aim higher.
Expanding the brand network
New Planet Ball presented a fruitful opportunity for Jägermeister to strengthen the ambassador network especially in the ballroom culture context, and through the incorporation of the Save The Night initiative we were able to invite two special guests — Ambrosia from Berlin, Germany and Felix Pimenta Zion from Sao Paolo, Brazil. No strangers to the brand, Ambrosia and Felix initially represented the ballroom community in their countries as part of their respective Jägermeister Night Embassy events. Through Chise’s New Planet Ball, the duo were welcomed to experience Japan and the Tokyo queer nightlife to the fullest, embodying the brand and initiative ethos of cultural exchange.
Felix and Ambrosia’s once-in-a-lifetime experience included visiting Japanese landmarks, connecting with the local ballroom community, teaching and attending workshops and dance classes, and immersion into a ballroom scene unlike their own. As the pair take part in cultural activities like yakatabune boat rides and Japanese indigo dying, the documentary illustrates the magic of community and the value of bringing cultures together.
CLIENT
Jägermeister
ROLE
Casting
Event Production
Talent Management
Still Photography
Film Production
TEAM
New Planet Ball
Creative Producer: Utana Kishino, Hibiki Kato
Venue: Robin Club Omotesando
Lighting Design: MES
Documentary
Videography: Jimi Okelana (on-1)
Still Photography: Big Yen (on-1)