Tokyo's Coolest Sound

This year again, Tanzaku CD Day is being celebrated on July 7, the same day as Tanabata. Started last year for the 35th anniversary of the now nostalgic 8cm CD format (3" CD/mini CD), Tanzaku CD Day brings several great releases by all kinds of artists. See recommendations below, and also don't miss checking out the full list.

Beware that you may need a special adapter to play the smaller disc in regular CD players (except those designed to support them).

A special event named "Tanzaku CD Festival 2024" will be held on July 15 at Younger Than Yesterday in Yokosuka. Find details here.

Tokyo Kakehiki Club "himitsu no kennan Show / Tochigi, shō ga nai Lullaby" (3" CD)
Tokyoかけひき倶楽部 「秘密のケンナンSHOW/栃木、しょうがないララバイ」

New songs by Tokyo Kakehiki Club, following the release of album "Encore". The company president of Iwashita New Ginger is featured in his first singing appearance. The jacket and music video (not yet available at time of writing) were shot at the New Ginger Museum.

1. himitsu no Kennan SHOW
2. Kennan ni yōkoso
3. Tochigi, shō ga nai Lullaby
4. Tochigi, shō ga nai Lullaby (Karaoke Ver.)

dapple DAP-013
Out now (7/7), ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Masakosan "10cm no kujira" (3" CD)
マサ子さん 「10cmの鯨」

Special release of late-80s/early-90s band Masakosan. Included are the song "10cm no kujira" (from album "Monkeys Wax"), plus for bonus tracks two recordings from a rehearsal in 1991.

1. 10cm no kujira
2. 10cm no kujira (Studio Rehearsal 1991)
3. Crystal Papa (Studio Rehearsal 1991)

dapple DAP-014
Out now (7/7), ¥1000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Frenesi "Märchen" (3" CD)
フレネシ 「メルヘン」

8cm collector-only release of a selection of three songs from Frenesi's album "Märchen" (2010).

1. furyō Mannequin
2. machi
3. Märchen

Otomesha OTMSH-101
Out now (7/7), ¥1364 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Fumio Nunoya with Niagara Shachū "Eiichi Ohtaki Produce: Niagara Ondo EP" (3" CD)
布谷文夫 with ナイアガラ社中 「大瀧詠一プロデュース: ナイアガラ音頭 EP」

Compilation of summer songs produced by Eiichi Ohtaki. Included are "Niagara Ondo (Single Version)", "Let's Ondo Again" and previously unreleased tracks. The EP is also available digitally (, Spotify).

1. Niagara Ondo (Single Version)
2. anata ga utau Niagara Ondo
3. Let's Ondo Again ('81 Mix)
4. Let's Ondo Again ('81 Mix Karaoke)
5. natsubate (necchushō Version)

Sony Music SRDL-4755
Out now (7/7), ¥1364 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

BABY JOHNSONZ "BABY JOHNSONZ e.p." (3" CD)

First release of a brand new unit which features Tetsuto Yoshida (who last year released albums "The Summing Up" and "The World Won't Listen") with Tomonao Tanaka (a.k.a. Tremorela).

1. POLE SHIFT
2. SLOW DANCE
3. ONE
4. SON (of) POLE SHIFT

Gouache / Neo New Music / Narisu Records GCNM0001
Out now (7/7), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

3776 "mō hashirenakunatte mo" (3" CD)
3776 「もう走れなくなっても」

Advance single cut from the upcoming new album of Mount Fuji local idol 3776 (minanaro). It is expected that the album versions would probably differ.

1. mō hashirenakunatte mo
2. futari nori yori yabai koto
3. mō hashirenakunatte mo [Instrumental]
4. futari nori yori yabai koto [Instrumental]

Narisu Records 8CMCD-3776
Out now (7/7), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Evenyan Roller Coaster "Sartre de nemurenai" (3" CD)
イヴにゃんローラーコースター 「サルトルで眠れない」

Solo idol Evenyan Roller Coaster's first 8cm CD is a techno arrangement cover of "Sartre de nemurenai" (song first released by Saho Nozaki in 1985, and later covered by Yukako Hayase). The B-side is a techno-pop sound song.

1. Sartre de nemurenai
2. futsū no onna no ko
3. Sartre de nemurenai (Original karaoke)
4. futsū no onna no ko (Original karaoke)

Narisu Records NRSD-3125
Out now (7/7), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Wink Music Service "To Rome With Love / My Funny Honey" (3" CD)
Wink Music Service 「ローマでチャオ／ヘンな女の子」
(Japanese title: "Roma de Ciao / hen na onna no ko")

The first single of Wink Music Service (K-tarō Takanami and Sally Kubota), of which the 7" edition had since gone rare, is back as a 8cm CD. This single featured guest singer Angie Hiyori. Instrumentals are also included.

1. To Rome With Love
2. My Funny Honey
3. To Rome With Love (Inst.)
4. My Funny Honey (Inst.)

Vivid Sound VSCD9738
Out now (7/7), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV, Tower Records ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Jun Parker "Summer Silhouette / If You'd Only Known" (3" CD)

New songs by Australia-based city pop singer-songwriter Jun Parker. The title song "Summer Silhouette" was arranged by Rillsoul (of Blackstone Village), and is available digitally (, Spotify, YouTube Music).

1. Summer Silhouette
2. If You'd Only Known
3. Summer Silhouette - instrumental -
4. If You'd Only Known - instrumental -

Sello Casa Robot / Jun Parker Music ANCP-1989
Out now (7/7), ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Rukatama "Kana, atama o yoku shite ageyō / dakko shite cho" (3" CD)
ルカタマ 「香菜、頭をよくしてあげよう／だっこしてチョ」

New covers, of songs by Kinniku Shōjo Tai (King-Show) and Fumie Hosokawa ("dakko shite cho" has music written by Takkyu Ishino (Denki Groove)). Instrumentals are included. The single is also available digitally (, Spotify, YouTube Music).

1. Kana, atama o yoku shite ageyō
2. dakko shite cho
3. Kana, atama o yoku shite ageyō (Original Karaoke)
4. dakko shite cho (Original Karaoke)

Narisu Records/Les Disques Du Echalote NRSD-3135
Out now (7/7), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Yuri Hirano (Yurimaru) "Super Yurimaru Ondo" (3" CD)
平野友里（ゆり丸） 「超ゆり丸音頭」
(Japanese title: "chō Yurimaru Ondo")

New song by Yurimaru, with music written and produced by Ryōmei Shirai (moonriders). Two different karaoke versions are included. The single is also available digitally (, Spotify, YouTube Music).

1.　Super Yurimaru Ondo
2.　anata ga utau Super Yurimaru Ondo - Ondo De Yurimaru
3.　Super Yurimaru Ondo ~Super Inst.~ (instrumental)

Narisu Records NRSD-3133
Out now (7/7), ¥1572 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Kiyotaka Sugimoto "Return to music" (3" CD)
杉本清隆 「Return to music」

This year is the 20th anniversary of the CD debut of Kiyotaka Sugimoto a.k.a. orangenoise shortcut. This special CD release includes new song "Return to music" (which had been played live lately), as well as "Blowin' (the gloom away)" which was previously released on 7" only in 2017, and a new version of "Number 5" re-recorded with current live members. Mixed by Seiki Satō (microstar).

1. Return to music
2. Blowin' (the gloom away)
3. Number 5 (Re-Recording)

miobell records PCMR-0028
Out now (7/7), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Various Artists "BLUE TENTION #bt20240707" (3" CD)

3rd compilation of the "Blue Tention" series from miolbell records. Includes a selection of songs by Japanese and international artists, all remastered in 2024.

(Title / Artist)
1. shiroi asa / advantage Lucy
2. Mellow Yellow Spring / Hideki Kaji
3. Femme Fatale / The Velvet Underground
4. Our Secret Life / BMX Bandits
5. Small Blue Sailboat (Mono Mix 2018) / Swinging Popsicle
6. Podria Ser Peor / La Casa Azul

miobell records PCMR0027
Out now (7/7), ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Tower Records ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.