Where Tokyo’s fashion-forward youth culture meets cutting-edge beauty education, Belle Epoque Beauty College has transformed its Harajuku campus event hall with an L-Acoustics Kiva II professional sound system. This isn’t your typical beauty school. The 25-year-old institution operates at the intersection of beauty and entertainment, regularly hosting fashion shows, idol events, and influencer productions where students do hair and makeup for performing guests. The multi-purpose hall pulls double duty as both classroom and professional event space—student shows and competitions during the week, entertainment companies and talent agencies on weekends. The new K Series system ensures students learn on the same rider-friendly, professional equipment they’ll encounter at major fashion shows and entertainment productions across Japan.
“The hall regularly programs events for YouTube celebrities and fashion models, who are very popular among young people,” explained Maiko Mitsui, Secretary General of Belle Epoque Beauty School. “Seeing the models showered with cheers during these shows gives the students a boost of confidence and pride in the work they’ve accomplished with their honed skills.”
Belle Epoque’s Harajuku location isn’t just about being trendy—it’s strategic. Students get hands-on experience working with professional talent, fashion models, and social media influencers, building the confidence and technical skills they’ll need in the real world. To achieve their goal of becoming Japan’s top beauty school and placing graduates in prestigious salons and famous fashion brands, both domestically and internationally, they needed an audio system that would attract higher-profile entertainment partnerships.
Kiva II Flexibility Meets Rider-Friendly Industry Standards
The upgrade wasn’t driven by equipment failure—it was about keeping pace with industry evolution and rising expectations. “In recent years, idol events have seen a huge variety of sound sources and tones being used,” noted Nobuyuki Matsuoka of Best Produce Inc., the project coordinator. “While our previous equipment was sufficient for live audio playback, it was lacking the clarity of individual sounds. We advised all partnering companies in this upgrade project that a certain level of quality was required to meet the demands of the entertainment industry.”
The College chose the L-Acoustics K Series for its flexibility to scale with changing industry demands and its reputation as a rider-friendly solution recognized by touring professionals.
Hiroshi Sudo, President of Sound Office Co., Ltd., a longtime L-Acoustics user, led the design and installation. Bestec Audio, a certified L-Acoustics partner, provided the system.
“We’d heard from the technical contractors who regularly use the venue that they were looking forward to working with an L-Acoustics system,” said Sudo. “I selected Kiva II for its sonic clarity, scalability, and flexibility—all critical for a venue where industry-standard performances have become central to the educational experience. The modular design allows for future expansion as the school’s needs evolve, and its rider-friendly reputation means visiting production teams immediately recognize and trust the equipment.”
The system features a main left/right configuration of one SB15m subwoofer over four Kiva II enclosures per side, powered by two LA4X amplified controllers for robust performance and operational reliability.
Industry Validation and Educational Excellence
Response to the K Series installation has been overwhelmingly positive.
“It’s been extremely well received,” confirmed Manami Uchida, the College’s administrative director and PR lead. “It’s only been about a month since installation, and we already had a fashion show-style event with models walking the runway. Attendees were very impressed with the sound quality.”
The enhanced audio capabilities position Belle Epoque to attract higher-profile entertainment partnerships while reinforcing its reputation as Japan’s most trend-conscious beauty education institution.
“Among the many beauty schools across the country, I want Belle Epoque to be the school that stands at the top,” concluded Uchida. “I want the most fashionable and trend-conscious students to think: If I’m going to a beauty school, it has to be Belle Epoque.”
