Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Vanilla Beans are celebrating their 10th anniversary! This is a greatest hits album that consists of all singles since their debut in 2007. Also included are one brand new song and also a new version of "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji" (Pizzicato Five cover, aka "the night is still young") especially re-arranged by Konishi Yasuharu (ex-Pizzicato Five)! Vanilla Beans have been covering "Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji" in their live shows for a long time, and a previous version was included on "VaniBest" (2010).

Check out their new clip below for "tokeijikake no Wonderland", a new song that revisits their previous singles & various outfits.

There are two limited editions which include respectively a Blu-ray and DVD with different contents. The Blu-ray contains 19 video clips plus live footage from the 10th anniversary show held on October 7, 2017. The DVD has the same live footage, plus exclusive discussion footage featuring Endō Mai and Kaede (Negicco). Each of the editions have a different CD bonus track.

Vanilla Beans are currently touring all of Japan's Tower Records shops! The next in-store events announced so far will be on December 2 at Tower Records Ario Hashimoto (Kanagawa pref.) from 12:00 and 14:00, and at Tower Records Yokohama Vivre from 19:00. Look out for more dates on their official site. Also they will tour 6 cities of Japan from February to May 2018. Find details and tickets on their schedule page.

Vanilla Beans "Vani Best II"
バニラビーンズ 「Vani Best II」

1. tokeijikake no Wonderland
2. U♡Me
3. Nicola
4. sakasaka Circus
5. LOVE & HATE
6. toki no kakera
7. Choco Mint Flavor Time
8. Non-Section
9. Muscat Slope Love
10. Please me, Darlin'
11. watashi... fukō guse
12. Cup no Fuchiko Official Song "kitto ii fuchi"
13. uchōten Girl
14. onna wa sore o gaman shinai
15. Beanius
16. lonesomeX
17. Tokyo wa yoru no 7ji - Konishi Yasuharu remix -
18. Nihao! Zaijian! Yodaredori!! (Omisohan to Richakohan) (DVD limited edition-only bonus track)
18. Tokyo Crawl (Rena from Vanilla Beans) (Blu-ray limited edition-only bonus track)
18. sweet life (Regular edition-only bonus track)

DVD (DVD limited edition only)
"10th Anniversary Live"
1. Nicola
2. toki no kakera
3. Beanius
4. sweet life
"Vanilla Beans 10th anniversary special talk"
- Rena x Endō Mai / Lisa x Kaede (Negicco)

Blu-ray (Blu-ray limited edition only)
"Music videos"
1. U♡Me
2. a little crying
3. Nicola
4. sakasaka Circus
5. LOVE&HATE
6. D&D
7. KIDS (MGMT cover ver.)
8. 100 mankai no SMK
9. älskar dig
10. Choco Mint Flavor Time
11. Non-Section
12. Killer Kyui-n
13. Muscat Slope Love
14. Please me, Darlin'
15. watashi... fukō guse
16. kitto ii fuchi
17. uchōten Girl
18. onna wa sore o gaman shinai
19. tokeijikake no Wonderland
"10th Anniversary Live"
1. Nicola
2. toki no kakera
3. Beanius
4. sweet life

DVD limited edition (Region 2 NTSC)
avex trax AVCD-93779
Out 12/6, ¥3704 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon (19% off *), HMV (11% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Blu-ray limited edition (Region free NTSC)
avex trax AVCD-93780
Out 12/6, ¥4630 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon (19% off *), HMV (11% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition
avex trax AVCD-93781
Out 12/6, ¥2778 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"tokeijikake no Wonderland" (Short ver.)

Perfume have a 2nd collection of video clips being released on Blu-ray and DVD! This contains everything from "Spring of Life" (2012), when they moved to label Universal Music, up to the latest "If you wanna" (2017), pursuing from where "Perfume Clips" (2014) had left.

The limited edition comes with a bonus disc that consists of TV commercials and also commentary by the members about all of the songs, as well as a special booklet with commentary for the video directors (most likely in Japanese).

CDJapan gives away an A2-sized poster, while supplies last.

Perfume "Perfume Clips 2" (Blu-ray/DVD)

1. Spring of Life
2. Spending all my time
3. mirai no Museum
4. Magic of Love
5. 1mm
6. Sweet Refrain
7. Cling Cling
8. DISPLAY
9. Hold Your Hand
10. Relax In The City
11. Pick Me Up
12. STAR TRAIN
13. FLASH
14. TOKYO GIRL
15. Everyday
16. If you wanna

Limited edition Blu-ray (Region free, NTSC)
Universal UPXP-9010
Out 11/29, ¥6500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon (24% off *), HMV (13% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Limited edition DVD (Region 2, NTSC)
Universal UPBP-9012
Out 11/29, ¥5500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon (24% off *), HMV (13% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition Blu-ray (Region free, NTSC)
Universal UPXP-1012
Out 11/29, ¥4000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon (26% off *), HMV (13% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Regular edition DVD (Region 2, NTSC)
Universal UPBP-1012
Out 11/29, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Play-Asia, Amazon (24% off *), HMV (13% off *), Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Singer-songwriter YeYe has just released a 4th album earlier this month! Otherwise full of new songs, the album includes a self-cover of "TWIST", a song previously heard in a collaboration with Takano Hiroshi on "We Are Here" (2014). "yurayura" is the theme song of movie "koi to sayonara to Hawaii". "MOTTAINAI" is the follow-up to "hito" (2016).

The album is available at YeYe's online shop for overseas orders only. It's also on iTunes and Spotify. Don't miss checking it out.

All songs can be sampled at CDJapan.

YeYe "MOTTAINAI"

1. Blessing in Disguise
2. Paddle
3. TWIST
4. yurayura
5. Walking on the Trees
6. unzaridesuyo
7. Slightly
8. I SEE THE FOREST YOU SEE
9. I SEE THE FOREST YOU SEE piano ver.

Rallye Label RYECD-275
Out now (11/8), ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, , Spotify, YeYe online shop for overseas
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"unzaridesuyo"

"yurayura"

Record Day 2017 was held on November 3, and this year again led to the release of many vinyl records. Below is a selection of the titles, but you can find the whole list on the official site here.

Record Day (not the same as "Record Store Day") is set to coincide with Japan's "Culture Day" public holiday on November 3. Japan's famous record press Tōyō Kasei takes the lead inviting Japanese artists and labels to release vinyl records on Record Day.

Oh! Penelope "Let's Fly The Ad-Balloon" (7")

Part of Konishi Yasuharu's 7" project "A" (Ace) comes this release of two songs by Oh! Penelope, originally released on CD in 1996 and 1997. Limited to 500 copies.

A. Let's Fly The Ad-Balloon
B. I'M GONNA MISS YOU

Great Tracks MHKL-10
Out now (11/3), ¥1800円 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Kihara Satomi "Carnival" (7")
木原さとみ 「カーニヴァル」

Also from Konishi Yasuharu's selection. This is a cover of the Cardigans' hit song by Kihara Satomi (previously leader of Tokyo Performance Doll). It was released in 1995 as her 6th solo single, and it's now available on vinyl for the first time. 500 copies.

A. Carnival
B. Carnival (backing track)

Great Tracks MHKL-10
Out now (11/3), ¥1800円 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Roger Nichols & The Small Circle of Friends "Roger Nichols & The Small Circle of Friends ~ Special 7" Box" (7"x10)

A special box of 10 7"'s containing the whole of the self-titled album, plus several single versions.

Disc 1
A. Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Mono Single Version)
B. Our Day Will Come (Mono Single Version)
Disc 2
A. Love Song, Love Song (Mono Single Version)
B. Snow Queen (Mono Single Version)
Disc 3
A. I'll Be Back (Mono Single Version)
B. Just Beyond Your Smile (Mono Single Version)
Disc 4
A. Can I Go (Mono Version)
B. Didn't Want To Have To Do It (Mono Version)
Disc 5
A. I Can See Only You (Mono Version)
B. Don't Take Your Time (Mono Version)
Disc 6
A. Let's Ride (Mono Single Version)
B. Love So Fine (Mono Version)
Disc 7
A. Snow Queen (Mono Version)
B. Kinda Wasted Without You (Mono Version)
Disc 8
A. The Drifter (Mono Single Version)
B. Trust (Mono Single Version)
Disc 9
A. With A Little Help From My Friends (Mono Version)
B. Cocoanut Grove (Mono Version)
Disc 10
A. Just Beyond Your Smile (Mono Version)
B. I'll Be Back (Mono Version)

Universal Music UIKY-75031
Out now (11/3), ¥10000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

KYOTO JAZZ SEXTET "UNITY" (2LP)

Original album by Kyoto Jazz Sextet, unit of Okino Shūya (Kyoto Jazz Massive), released in 2017.

HMV record shop HRLP091
Out now (11/3), ¥5500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Salome no kuchibiru "Ahodarakyō Yahrinen bushi" (7")
サロメの唇 「阿呆陀羅経 ヤーリーネン節」

The A-side is from Salome no kuchibiru (aka Salome Lips)'s new album "Everybody have Capriccio" ("minna no kyōsōkyoku"). The B-side is a non-album track.

A. Ahodarakyō Yahrinen bushi
B. Aizu-bandai-san

Sazanami Label SZDW-1047
Out now (11/3), ¥1400 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

The Pen Friend Club "Wonderful World Of The Pen Friend Club" (LP)

60's style band The Pen Friend Club's 4th album (2017).

Sazanami Label SZDW-1042
Out now (11/3), ¥3300 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

WHY@DOLL "WHY@DOLL+2" (12"+7")

The 2nd album of idol group WHY@DOLL, which contains 2 songs written and produced by Yoshida Tetsuto (co-arranged by Hase Yasuhiro (Yume to Cosme)). A 7" of songs "anata dake konban wa" and "Love Story wa shūmatsu ni" is also included.

T-Palette Records TPRV-0029
Out now (11/3), ¥4200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

The Collectors "Collector" (LP)
ザ・コレクターズ 「僕はコレクター」
(Japanese title: "boku wa Collector")

The Collectors' 1st album, first released in 1987. Remastered in 2016.

Teichiku TEJI-37019
Out now (11/3), ¥3500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

The Collectors "niji-iro Circus" (LP)
ザ・コレクターズ 「虹色サーカス団」

The Collectors' 2nd album, first released in 1988. Remastered in 2016.

Teichiku TEJI-37020
Out now (11/3), ¥3500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

See also: Record Day 2016

The Aprils' debut album "Astro" was released on Usagi-chang Records in 2003 and had long been discontinued. Now it's back all newly remastered and reworked using the latest technology, sounding better than ever before. In addition, rare bonus tracks such as a cover of Flipper's Guitar's "Blue Shinin' Quick Star" and theme songs made for drug store Create SD are also included.

Also be sure to check out the Aprils' latest single "Horror Survivor"!

The Aprils "Astro +Early Works"
エイプリルズ 「ASTRO +EARLY WORKS」

1. NINTRO
2. ASTRO
3. kinsei Rocket
4. Poolside Star
5. NINTERLUDE
6. hajime no owari
7. 3001
8. HELLO WORLD
9. BLUE SHININ' QUICK STAR (hoshi no kanata e)
10. Create SD no Theme (2003)
11. Create SD no Theme (2015)

Aprils APR-1711
Out now (11/15), ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, , Spotify, OTOTOY, Amazon MP3 Japan

Sampler clip

"ASTRO" (from 2003)

Izumi Ookawara (Qypthone) has a new song out now digitally! P.O.P's trackmaker Saitō Ryōji and the twin rappers collaborated to make this groovy disco track, to which Izumi wrote the lyrics. Check it out on iTunes worldwide, Spotify, etc.

Izumi Ookawara x P.O.P "How I met you" (Download)
大河原泉×P.O.P 「How I met you」

Delicatessen Recordings
Out now (11/22)
Sample/buy: , Amazon MP3 Japan, OTOTOY, Spotify

Wakita Monari has a new single out this week! Her new funky jazz tune "Wingscape" was written and produced by COUNTJOKE (aka jōdan hakushaku, unit of Maezono Naoki and Arai Toshiya) (Facebook page) and features Smooth Ace on chorus! The B-side is a cover of CountJoke's own "LED" (single, which Monari had often been singing on stage for a while since her solo debut a year ago. Lyrics of the A-side were co-written by Monari, and "LED"'s lyrics were also tweaked just for her.

Several in-store events will be held, including ones at Tower Records Ikebukuro on release day November 22 from 19:00, at HMV record shop Shinjuku Alta on November 25 from 17:00, HMV record shop Shibuya on November 26 from 12:00, and at Tower Records Shibuya on November 30 from 21:00. There's more, so find the whole list here.

Wakita Monari "Wingscape / LED" (CD+7")
脇田もなり 「WINGSCAPE / LED」

CD
1. WINGSCAPE
2. LED
3. WINGSCAPE (Inst.)
4. LED (Inst.)

7"
A. WINGSCAPE
B. LED

Vivid Sound / High Contrast HCCD-9594
Out 11/22, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Sampler clip

Francis, the solo unit of Ori Makoto (ex-The Collectors), has started a new collaboration unit with Tajima Haruko. Here comes a first mini-album limited to 300 copies. Included is a cover of France Gall's "Der Computer Nr.3". Tajima Haruko also released a solo album on the same label earlier this year.

The duo can next be seen at event "Shout Essence" on December 4 at Shibuya Roots.

Francis avec HARUKO "Jamón, jamón"
ハルコとフランシス 「ハモンハモン」

1. Jamón, jamón
2. Der Computer Nr.3
3. peek-a-boo
4. Stardust
5. Da Du Da Di décadence

Suezan Studio SSZ-3032
Out 10/25, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Bandcamp, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Spotify, YouTube Music, jamón - EP by Francis avec HARUKO on Apple Music" style="border: 0px none;">
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Jamón, jamón"

Sampler clip

Studio 75, the instrumental project of Small Circle of Friends, has a 4th album out now! This is a collection of 15 songs, with the help of Musicaänossa's Nakamura Tomoaki as selector.

Release official page

Small Circle of Friends can next be seen live on November 18 at event "DUBPOPNIGHT 08" at Bar Eight in Shinjuku, and also on Wednesday November 22 at Organ Bar's 22th anniversary event. Find details and their whole schedule here

STUDIO 75 "Over Your Shoulder"

1. O'Keeffe's cactus
2. HELIX
3. Chime's Ren
4. Ride jet on the slope
5. mackerel sky
6. stroll along in a daydream
7. Indigo bubbles
8. dopey
9. hello,translation
10. parallelogram
11. underground
12. view of cathedral
13. 9 times knock
14. Inside chimney
15. Over Your Shoulder

Musicaänossa Gryps MNGP-013
Out now (10/25), ¥2315 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Bandcamp, CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Audio samples