PØRTAL ZINE is an independent music and culture zine based in Tokyo, serving as an editorial platform that documents and connects independent music and culture across local and international scenes.
About PØRTAL
Editorial Focus
PØRTAL ZINE focuses on independent music and culture, with an emphasis on indie rock, alternative rock, post-punk, dream pop, shoegaze, electronic music, and emerging underground scenes, as well as cultural movements such as indie sleaze. Through interviews, features, essays, photography, and cultural reporting, we document artists, communities, record stores, venues, independent labels, and creative movements in Tokyo and across the world.
Mission
Our mission is to document, preserve, and connect independent music and culture from Tokyo, where independent scenes, cultures, and ideas from around the world intersect. Through PØRTAL ZINE, we create lasting connections between local and international independent communities beyond borders and trends.
What We Publish
PØRTAL ZINE publishes interviews, features, essays, reviews, photography, playlists, and cultural reporting that explore independent music and culture. We cover artists, records, live music, record stores, independent labels, venues, communities, and emerging cultural movements from Tokyo and around the world.
Editorial Policy
PØRTAL ZINE is editorially independent. We prioritize originality, artistic integrity, and cultural relevance over trends, algorithms, or commercial influence. Our editorial decisions are guided by curiosity, independent thinking, and a commitment to documenting music and culture with authenticity and respect.
Published by PØRTAL
PØRTAL ZINE is published by PØRTAL, an independent collective based in Tokyo. Alongside the zine, PØRTAL organizes live shows, DJ events, artist showcases, and cultural projects that connect independent music and culture through both editorial and real-world experiences.
History
PØRTAL ZINE was launched in 2019 alongside the founding of PØRTAL. Since its first issue, the zine has published interviews with independent artists, musicians, producers, label founders, and cultural figures from around the world, while documenting underground music scenes through features, essays, and editorial projects. Today, PØRTAL ZINE continues to explore independent music and culture from Tokyo with an international perspective.
PØRTAL ZINE Archive
Since 2019, PØRTAL ZINE has featured interviews with artists including The Underground Youth, Crocodiles, Drab Majesty, Choir Boy, Softcult, Korine, Blushing, Buzz Kull, Queen Kwong, Cruush, Zack Zack Zack, Snarls, Wynona Bleach, Swiss Portrait, and many others.
Issue 1（2019）
Issue 2（2019）
Issue 3（2019）
Issue 4（2020）
Issue 5（2021）
Issue 6（2022）
Issue 7（2022）
Issue 8（2022）
PØRTAL G is for GEMINI（2023）
Issue 10（2024）
Issue 11（2025）