The Word: Japanese records generally introduce Japanese culture in expected ways, from the music of the many festivals to classic songs everyone in Japan is expected to know. There are also inspired instrumental works, religious and theatrical records, and records in noted series such as Genoa Keawe's or, for that matter, all record labels' series covering music of the world.
We don't attempt to offer a lot, just a few favorites that belong in any good collection and a few others that may catch interest. Please note that many other listings (Martin Denny, other pan-Asian exotica) have further Japanese tunes, instruments, and musicians. For more info on many other Japanese records, please see the Japan page in our guide.
Links: are to artists bio/discog pages in the Hyp Records guide:
Images: accurately represent items but are not always the exact copy listed/purchased
Discount: ALWAYS try to buy more than one item at a time
[Keawe] Club Nisei Orchestra & Singers: Sayonara Farewell Japan; 49th State Hawaii LP-3450; E/N- ES $20 -- Japanese; authentic "Souvenir Songs of Japan; eight of the twelve songs originally released on a 10" LP (and probably also as singles or 78 album); Tokyo Boogie Woogie, China Night (Shina No Yoru), Japanese Rhumba, Tokyo Serenade, Tanko Bushi, Ginza Kan Kan Musume, Tonko Bushi, Tokyo Ka-Chin-Ka Musume, Doyobi No Yoru, Machi No Hatoba, Hyo-Tan Boogie, Sayonara
[Keawe] The Japanese Modernaires Orchestra and Singers: Modern Songs of Japan; 49th State Hawaii LP-3451; black vinyl N/V+ $20 -- Japanese; one of the best in the Japan series (also one of the rarest) in top sound and clean except for a couple of pressing anomalies (press bump and defect), priced accordingly; Gomen Nasai, Ringo No Hana Wa Saita Kedo, Musume Sendo-San, Ringo Mura Kara, Otomi-San, Wakare No Isochidori, Ina No Koi-Uta, Yu-hi Wa Haruka, Hibari No Madorosu-San, Oranda Yashiki No Hana, Ringo Oiwake, Yu-hi Ni Akai Ho
[Keawe] The Tokyo Serenaders: Holiday in Japan; 49th State Hawaii LP-3452; E+/E+ $25 -- Japanese; Asatoya Yunta, Koko Ni Sachi Ari, Watari Dori de Gozan-su, Ohtone Zukiyo, Madorosu-san Wa Dai-kirai, Bungawan Solo, Yuuyake Koyake, Momotaro-san, Kisha Poppo, Kutsu ga Naru, Hana Kotoba No Uta, China Night (Shina No Yoru)
[Keawe] The Tokyo Serenaders: Holiday in Japan; 49th State Hawaii LP-3452; V+/N- ES $20 -- Japanese; later, black-vinyl pressings such as this usually mean better sound, and it is very rare in "stereo," tho not true stereo and priced low also for some water damage to the jacket; Asatoya Yunta, Koko Ni Sachi Ari, Watari Dori de Gozan-su, Ohtone Zukiyo, Madorosu-san Wa Dai-kirai, Bungawan Solo, Yuuyake Koyake, Momotaro-san, Kisha Poppo, Kutsu ga Naru, Hana Kotoba No Uta, China Night (Shina No Yoru)
[Keawe] The Tokyo Serenaders: To Remember Japan; 49th State Hawaii LP-3453; N/N- shrink $35 -- Japanese; Asatoya Yunta, Koko Ni Sachi Ari, Watari Dori de Gozan-su, Ohtone Zukiyo, Madorosu-san Wa Dai-kirai, Bungawan Solo, Yuuyake Koyake, Momotaro-san, Kisha Poppo, Kutsu ga Naru, Hana Kotoba No Uta, China Night (Shina No Yoru)
Mamoru Miyagi & the Graduates of Tokyo's University of Arts: Japan Revisited; Capitol [of the World] T-10195; N/N- shrink $25 -- Japanese; excellent stuff, definitely not sleepy koto music!; Sakura Sakura, Tanko Bushi, Kagoshima Ohara Bushi, Echigojishi, Kojo No Tsuki, Kappore, Oedo Nihombashi, Matsuri Bayashi, Kazoe-Uta, Kiso-Bushi, Sishi No Kyoku, Chugoku-Chiho Komoriuta, Shinnai Nagashi
Takarazuka Dance Theatre; Columbia Adventures in Sound WS-315; deep groove white-label promo E+/E S $25, specify -- Japan/theatrical music; from the Takarazuka Grand Theatres in Japan; cond. Emerson Buckley w/Ren Takahashi; one of the most exciting titles in this wonderful series (that started w/Sabu's Sorcery); Ya Kyu Ken (Baseball), Mitsumen (Three Masks), Sayonara, Iwato Kagura (Masked Dance at Celestial Cave)..
Takarazuka Dance Theatre; Columbia Adventures in Sound WL-163; deep groove white-label promo N-/N- $20 -- Japan/theatrical music; from the Takarazuka Grand Theatres in Japan; cond. Emerson Buckley w/Ren Takahashi; one of the most exciting titles in this wonderful series (that started w/Sabu's Sorcery); Ya Kyu Ken (Baseball), Mitsumen (Three Masks), Sayonara, Iwato Kagura (Masked Dance at Celestial Cave)..
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