Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Record Store Day in Japan has been getting bigger every year. This year there are dozens of exclusive vinyl releases to be found on the shelves of these record shops on Saturday April 19.

Below is a selection of releases that particularly got my attention, with Chabe/Cubismo Grafico Five, Yukari Fresh, Nosa Reina, sugar me, Muro, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and more. Find the whole list here.

Good news for those abroad is that these will hopefully be orderable online a week or two later (the timing varies depending on each release). Also check out the Record Store Day official site for details of what's going on around the world.

Those in Tokyo might want to check out a free show from 12:30 at Disk Union dues in Shinjuku. Chabe will be DJing. (One drink charge applies.)

Nosa Reina & The Blue Valentines "hoshi furu oka c/w warui onna" (7"+CD)
野佐怜奈とブルーヴァレンタインズ 「星降る丘 C/W 悪い女」

New single from Nosa Reina and her new band started in February 2014. Comes in a 2-pane fold-out jacket and with a bonus CD that contains both songs and instrumentals.

A special show will be held on Record Store Day (April 19) at Disk Union dues in Shinjuku from 19:00, free for those who bought the single at Disk Union Shinjuku (main shop).

A. hoshi furu oka
B. warui onna

Voltage Records BQGS-30
Out 4/19, ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Yakenohara x chabe "Record Players" (7")

Collaboration track by rapper Yakenohara and Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo Grafico). The B-side is a remix by Your Song Is Good's JxJx.

A. Record Players
B. Record Players (JxJx Remix)

Jet Set JS7S072
Out 4/19, ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Chabe / Koncos "Keep in Touch / tetote to metome" (7")
Chabe / Koncos 「Keep in Touch ／ てとてとめとめ」

Two tracks from a long sold out limited 10" released in 2011.

A. Keep in Touch
B. tetote to metome

Niw! Records NEP45
Out 4/19, ¥1380 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Cubismo Grafico Five "Pomp and Circumstance / No No No (feat. Wataru Buster)" (7")

Re-issue of Cubismo Grafico Five's hit cover single from 2007. Features Wataru Buster of Oi Skall Mates.

A. Pomp and Circumstance
B. No No No (feat. Wataru Buster)

ska in the world SIWI248
Out 4/19, ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Cubismo Grafico Five / Yukari Fresh "Easy Love Baby / If You Love Something, Set It Free" (7")

Split 7" of Cubismo Grafico Five and Yukari Fresh(!). Both are covers of Nukey Pikes.

A. Cubismo Grafico Five / Easy Love Baby
B. Yukari Fresh / If You Love Something, Set It Free

Niw! Records NEP44
Out 4/19, ¥1380 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

sugar me "Why White Y?" (LP)

Vinyl edition of sugar me's first album "Why White Y?".

A1. summer queen
A2. 1,2,3
A3. couleur café (serge gainsbourg cover)
A4. monsieur le démon
B1. don't say so (Why White Y? ver.)
B2. morning of the world
B3. as you grow
B4. sometimes lonely

Flakes FLAKES-098
Out 4/19, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

YeYe "Hue Circle" (LP)

Another album release from a Rallye female singer, YeYe.
(When both YeYe and sugar me's LPs are bought at the same time, a special bonus CD containing a duet of sugar me and YeYe is included.)

A1. Parade
A2. oide
A3. Do We We a
A4. ashita wa konai ka
A5. TAO
B1. Progre
B2. aruaru iitai
B3. Hi, Dear, Penelope
B4. fangjia
B5. Miserable

Flakes FLAKES-097
Out 4/19, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Muro "Rodeo Drive" (7")

A 7" from King of Diggin' DJ Muro.

A. Rodeo Drive (Original)
B. Rodeo Drive (Muro's Edit)

Out 4/19, ¥1260 (excl. tax)
Order: Jet Set

Shibata Satoko "ikisugita tomodachi" (7")
柴田聡子 「いきすぎた友達」

Previously unreleased track from upcoming album "ijiwaru zenshū", as well as a non-album cover.

A. ikisugita tomodachi
B. shikake no koi (MAHOΩ cover)

Narisu Record NRSP-712
Out 4/19, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu "Ninjya Re Bang Bang - Extended Version" (7")

Here's another beautiful picture 7" from Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. This is a one-sider press of an extended version of "Ninjya Re Bang Bang", edited by Nakata Yasutaka.

A. Ninjya Re Bang Bang - Extended Version

Warner / Jet Set JS7S067
Out 4/19, ¥1300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Kimura Kaela "Funkytown" (7")
木村カエラ 「FUNKYTOWN」

Kimura Kaela covers Lipps Inc.'s hit track "Funky Town", produced by Ishino Takkyu (Denki Groove), taken from her cover album "Rock" released last year. A remix is included.

A. FUNKYTOWN
B. FUNKYTOWN - Montag Edit

T-ANNEX TANX-10004
Out 4/19, ¥1250 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Quruli "Rock 'n' Roll Honeymoon" (7")
くるり 「ロックンロール・ハネムーン」

Previously only released digitally, this new track by Quruli is included as its original version and a tofubeats remix.

A. Rock 'n' Roll Honeymoon
B. Rock 'n' Roll Honeymoon (tofubeats remix)

Out 4/19, ¥1300 (excl. tax)
Order: Jet Set

Turntable Films "Yellow Yesterday" (12")

This is the vinyl edition of Second Royal band Turntable Films' latest album. "Animal's Olives" features singer Predawn.

A1. Misleading Interpretations
A2. Portrait
A3. Animal's Olives
A4. Toy Camera
A5. Uncle Tree
B1. Named For
B2. Ghost Dance
B3. Collection　Of You
B4. Evil Tongue
B5. 10 Days Plus One
B6. Summer Drug
B7. Little Giant

Second Royal EMF-051
Out 4/19, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set

Again, this is only a selection. Find all the rest here.