Tokyo's Coolest Sound

View artist profile at Nippop.

One upcoming gig is listed at Tokyo Gig Guide!

• HARCO, HIDEKI KAJI, GOING UNDER GROUND

1. Nomiya Maki "30 ~Greatest Self Covers & More!!!~"
   Let's start 2012 with a bang! Finally here's a new album by Nomiya Maki! This time she celebrates 30 years of her singing career by doing self-covers in collaboration with various other artists. Featured are Cornelius, Kaji Hideki, Takahashi Yukihiro,...
   Posted on January 2, 2012 at 13:00
2. Love and Hates "L.A.H."
   Love and Hates, the girl party unit of Yuppa (HNC) and Moe (Miila and the Geeks) has finally a first album coming, after several cassettes that all sold out almost instantly! 17 tracks are included, totaling 36 minutes (2:07 average)....
   Posted on November 27, 2011 at 17:27
3. Magic Party "2 tai 5"
   Boy-girl unit Magic Party has a new mini-album with a concept of inviting 5 different artists to produce each track, hence the title that translates to "2 vs 5". Those producers are Konishi Yasuharu, Kaji Hideki, Matsuda "Chabe" Gakuji (Cubismo...
   Posted on August 7, 2011 at 23:27
4. Charity event: KAJI Hideki, Chabe, Harvard, Love and Hates
   Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last Wednesday was held a charity event organized by Kaji Hideki, with the help of Harajuku Astro Hall where he has been doing regular events for a long time. The...
   Posted on April 25, 2011 at 23:25
5. Kaji Hideki to Riddim Saunter "Teens Film"
   Kaji Hideki's new album is fully backed by band Riddim Saunter. All songs are written by Kaji-kun except for a cover of Captain Sensible "Happy Talk" (1982). Kaji Hideki to Riddim Saunter "Teens Film" カジヒテキとリディム・サウンタ－ 「TEENS FILM」 1. akogare 2....
   Posted on October 30, 2010 at 16:16
6. Kaji Hideki to Riddim Saunter "anettai Girl / Happy Talk" (7")
   Kaji Hideki has a new album coming on November 3rd, with music performed by band Riddim Saunter. Meanwhile here's a 7" with 2 cuts. The B-side is a cover of "Happy Talk" (1982) by U.K.'s Captain Sensible (The Damned). Audio...
   Posted on September 10, 2010 at 22:51
7. HNC Release Party "Cult Club"
   Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Friday April 30 was the overdue release party for HNC's album "Cult" released last December. HNC used to be known as Hazel Nuts Chocolate, the solo project of a girl...
   Posted on May 2, 2010 at 14:50
8. Vanilla Beans "Vanilla Beans Produce kaigi DVD" (DVD)
   Neo-Shibuya-kei idol unit Vanilla Beans has a first DVD coming. Included is a talk event held earlier this year with Okite Porsche (of unit Roman Porsche), a funny long-haired guy who's an important figure of the idol scene. The DVD...
   Posted on October 26, 2009 at 23:00
9. Kaji Hideki "Strawberries and Cream"
   One year since "Lollipop", here's a brand new album from Kaji Hideki (MySpace)! This includes the song "Passion Fruits" (see video below) which was released on a "Blue Boys Don't Cry e.p." earlier this year. Guest musicians include Hidaka Tōru...
   Posted on October 18, 2009 at 23:41
10. Vanilla Beans "LOVE&HATE"
    Vanilla Beans are back with a new single, following their first full-length self-titled album earlier this year. They continue to appeal to Shibuya-kei fans, with title song "LOVE&HATE" having lyrics by Kaji Hideki. The two B-sides are also great! This...
    Posted on September 14, 2009 at 23:58
11. Kaji Hideki "Blue Boys Don't Cry e.p."
    Kaji Hideki (MySpace) has a new EP coming up! This includes 3 new songs plus a song from the movie "Detroit Metal City". Featured musicians include Horie Horhisa (pupa, Neil & Iraiza) and Hidaka Toru (Beat Crusaders). Kaji Hideki "Blue...
    Posted on April 11, 2009 at 12:41
12. Various Artists "Second Royal vol.4 ~Winter Issue~"
    Kyoto label Second Royal brings us a 4th compilation, this time with a winter theme. This contains new tracks by residents Handsomeboy Technique, Rufus and Halfby (actually, Halfby's is a recycled iTunes-only release from 2 years ago). There's also a...
    Posted on November 24, 2008 at 20:31
13. Kaji Hideki "Lollipop"
    Kaji Hideki has an 11th album out now! Said to have an 80's taste, it not only features guests such as Yoshié, Horie Hirohisa (pupa, Neil & Iraiza), Cornelius and Yoshida Jin (Salon Music), but the super catchy song "amai...
    Posted on October 21, 2008 at 00:54

1. Vanilla Beans "koi no Theory" (Download)
   More good post-Shibuya-kei pop from Vanilla Beans with their latest single "koi no Theory", now available for download only. The song is the theme of movie "fujoshi kanojo". There's some remix contest going on, grab the files by going here...
   Posted on June 10, 2009 at 23:59
2. Family kanshasai - YMCK 2 days live
   YMCK presents this 2-day event in Shibuya this week. Each day has artists of different styles, Wednesday focusing on Shibuya-kei ties with Kaji Hideki and Watanababy, and Thursday with 8-bit/game units such as Sexy Synthesizer, Hally (Hally from VORC) and...
   Posted on August 26, 2008 at 00:42
3. Various Artists "Speed Racer Japan ~Mach GoGoGo Tribute~"
   Anime series "Mach GoGoGo", known to the rest of the world as "Speed Racer", is being paid homage on this tribute album featuring Fantastic Plastic Machine, Halfby, Kaji Hideki, Kiiiiiii+DJ Codomo, Ishino Takkyū (Denki Groove, InK), Kawanabe Hiroshi (Tokyo No.1...
   Posted on August 24, 2008 at 23:37
4. Various Artists "Tokyo Pudding presents Tokyo Soundscapes"
   Avex brings us a collaboration album of club artists and female vocalists with the mysterious(?) Tokyo Pudding (why is a pudding releasing CDs anyway?). Featured are the likes of Nakatsuka Takeshi (Qypthone), Kaji Hideki, Hayashibe Tomonori (Plus-Tech Squeeze Box), Yasuda...
   Posted on September 28, 2007 at 14:50
5. Suzuki Ami joins Nakata Yasutaka "Free Free / Supermusic Maker"
   Following her recent album "Connetta" on which she joined Buffalo Daughter and Kaji Hideki, Suzuki Ami has a new single lined up together with Nakata Yasutaka (capsule). The single will be offered in two editions, a limited one containing a...
   Posted on June 23, 2007 at 01:44
6. Various Artists "Bossa Nova 1991 Shibuya Scene Retrospective"
   Well the title says it all, or almost! This 2-CD compilation of Shibuya-kei is selected by none other than Pizzicato Five's Konishi Yasuharu! A surely difficult (let's hear the "where's this?" and "what's that?") but thoughtful selection and salute to...
   Posted on April 27, 2007 at 11:21
7. Kaji Hideki "La Boum ~My Boom Is Me~" (7")
   Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Kaji Hideki's first album "Mini Skirt", recently re-released in a deluxe edition with DVD (Amazon, Amazon U.S.), Jet Set now brings us a 7" of the hit song "La Boum ~My Boom Is Me~" coupled...
   Posted on March 19, 2007 at 14:34
8. Suzuki Ami "Connetta"
   Shortly after the release of her three collaboration singles (one with Buffalo Daughter), Suzuki Ami also has a new album planned. The three collaboration singles' title tracks should be included, as well as more collaborations with the likes of Kaji...
   Posted on January 23, 2007 at 10:15
9. Harco "Be My Girl ~kimi no Daily News~"
   Harco, who will next year celebrate his 10th anniversary since his debut, has a new single of which the title song is a collaboration with Kaji Hideki, and is being used used in a TV commercial for Kaō. Other artists...
   Posted on August 8, 2006 at 17:29
10. Kaji Hideki "New Pretty"
    Two years after his previous album, Kaji Hideki is back this year with his 7th, a club music album produced by Swedish artist Hird (aka Christoffer Berg). Jet Set offers an original bonus 60-minute CD-R of Kaji-kun interviewed by Handsomeboy...
    Posted on June 5, 2006 at 15:26