City Pop on Vinyl 2020

"City Pop on Vinyl" is a campaign organized by Japan's famous record press Toyo Kasei, and on August 8 will be a special day with many releases that file under the "city pop" category that we love! While only sold from August 8, there's no limitation regarding pre-orders or reservations, so hurry while stocks last.

Below is a selection of a bunch of those August 8 releases that wouldn't be missed by Tokyo's Coolest Sound, but find many others in the full list here, including lots of re-issues of famous city pop artists. Note that some items on the full list are already released on different dates so availability may vary. Why not share your own recommendations in the comments. :)

The campaign aims to encourage enjoying city pop on vinyl, (re)discovering some of the best of Japanese city pop hit releases through re-issues, and also finding out about today's young artists who found inspiration in city pop. Let's go dig great music! By the way the official site has titles and artist names that you can read on the individual item pages.

hitomitoi "Wake Up!" (7")
一十三十一「Wake Up!」

"Wake Up!" from album "TOICOLLE", plus a new remix by Sunaga Tatsuo (Sunaga t Experience). The edit is up on SoundCloud.

A. Wake Up! (Original)
B. Wake Up! (Tatsuo Sunaga EDIT)

Disc Minor DM-0020
Out 8/8, ¥1700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Wakita Monari "passing by c/w Kiss" (7")
脇田もなり「passing by c/w 接吻」
(Japanese title: "passing by c/w seppun")

"passing by" from latest album "Right Here" (written and arranged by COUNTJOKE), and a previously unreleased cover of Original Love's "seppun -Kiss-" arranged by Arai Toshiya (COUNTJOKE) (video on YouTube).

* "passing by" was played on Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show vol.7

A. passing by
B. seppun -Kiss-

Vivid Sound / High Contrast HCR9697
Out 8/8, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

The Pen Friend Club "ippon no ongaku" (7")
ザ・ペンフレンドクラブ「一本の音楽」

First release featuring new singer Megumi! A-side "ippon no ongaku" is a cover of Murata Kazuhito, and B-side is a self-cover with the current line-up. There's a short version of "ippon no ongaku" and a remote session music video of "Rainy Day In August" up on YouTube.

A. ippon no ongaku
B. Rainy Day In August (Japanese title: "hachigatsu no ame no hi")

Sazanami Label SZDW1086
Out 8/8, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Negicco "attōteki na Style / Gatta! Gatta! Gatta!" (7")
Negicco 「圧倒的なスタイル / ガッター！ガッター！ガッター！」

Re-issue of Negicco's first 7" single (released in February 2013), with a slightly different jacket. Watch the music video for "attōteki na Style" below.

A. attōteki na Style
B. Gatta! Gatta! Gatta!

T-Palette Records TPRV-0053
Out 8/8, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

microstar "Feelin'! / Tokyo no sora kara" (7")
マイクロスター「フィーリン！ c/w 東京の空から」

Two songs from microstar's first album "microstar album" (2008) (Spotify, ).

A. Feelin'!
B. Tokyo no sora kara

Vivid Sound / High Contrast HCR9695
Out 8/8, ¥1500 (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.

microstar "Sunset Girl" (7")
マイクロスター「夕暮れガール」
(Japanese title: "yūgure Girl")

Re-issue of 2011 single, now rare. "Sunset Girl" also appeared on microstar's latest album "She Got the Blues" (2016).

* "Sunset Girl" was played on Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show vol.3

A. Sunset Girl
B. daisy daisy (99-11 English Version)

Vivid Sound / High Contrast HCR9696
Out 8/8, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Amane Trill "Sunset Trail / Wonderful Journey" (7")
アマネトリル「SUNSET TRAIL / Wonderful Journey」

New single by city pop male duo Amane Trill. The recording also features keyboardist Inoue Kaoru (Blue Peppers), drummer Ibuki Fumihiro and bassist Sakamoto Noboru. Jacket design by Sally Kubota, who also directed the music video. Amane Trill also released another 7" at the end of 2019 titled "Candy Blue / Cruise WIth Me" (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, , Spotify).

A. SUNSET TRAIL
B. Wonderful Journey

Azabudai Music Communications AMC-073
Out 8/8, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, , Spotify

Arai Hitomi "koi no Mirage" (12")
新井ひとみ「恋のミラージュ」

First original solo song by Arai Hitomi (Tokyo Girls' Style). 12" single includes a remix by Night Tempo. The release will also be available digitally. There's a short teaser clip on YouTube. There's also a digital release out the same day, with a different tracklist (, Spotify).

A1. koi no Mirage - Night Tempo 'Romantic Romance' Remix -
A2. koi no Mirage - Night Tempo 'Romantic Romance' Remix Instrumental -
B1. koi no Mirage - Original ver. -
B2. koi no Mirage - Acappella ver. -

Toyo Kasei TYO12S1011
Out 8/8, ¥2500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Shin Rizumu "Flavor of lie c/w Half of the Living" (7")
シンリズム「Flavor of lie c/w 暮らしの半分は」
(Japanese title: "Flavor of lie c/w kurashi no hanbun wa")

Two songs from 3-song EP "NOVO RITMO" released digitally in May 2020 (Spotify, ). There's a video for "Half of the Living".

A. Flavor of lie
B. Half of the Living

Toyo Kasei TYO7S1021
Out 8/8, ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

TDO "Summer Blue / makka na taiyō feat. bird" (7")
TDO 「Summer Blue / 真っ赤な太陽 feat. bird」

TDO (aka Tokyo Discotheque Orchestra) is the project of bassist Watusi (Cold Feet) with percussionist matzz (also of très-men and quasimode) and guitarist Horikoshi Yūsuke. "Summer Blue" is a cover of Bread & Butter (arranged by Hosono Haruomi) and B-side "makka na taiyō" is a cover of Misora Hibari. Both songs are from album "Tokyo Discotheque Orchestra" (2017) (Spotify, ).

A. Summer Blue feat. bird
B. makka na taiyō feat. bird

Brickwall Records BWEP-0015
Out 8/8, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Best Music "Super City Pop 2020" (7")

Best Music, a unit formed of illustrator/designer Odajima Hitoshi and musician/arranger Hosono Shinichi, came back this year with new song "Stay Home Ondo" which showed up on YouTube recently, and now here's another new song titled "Super City Pop 2020". The jacket was illustrated by manga artist Suzy Amakane. Best Music is known for their cult album "Music For Supermarket" (2007) which was released on vinyl for Record Day 2019 with a bonus track (there seem to still be copies available).

A. SUPER CITY POP 2020
B. STAY HOME ONDO

Narisu Records NRSP-784
Out 8/8, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Polycat "The Earrings / The Flowers" (7")
POLYCAT 「君のピアス / たくさんの花」

Polycat is a band from Thailand that takes influence from Japanese city pop. This 7" consists of two songs from their first album released in Japan, "doyōbi no terebi" (2017). Both are sung in Japanese. There are music videos for both songs below.

A. The Earrings
B. The Flowers

Toyo Kasei TYO7S1022
Out 8/8, ¥1800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Bagus! "Cheek time" (7")
Bagus! 「チークタイム」

Lovers rock tune that takes influence from Happy End, city pop and Shibuya-kei. Check out the music video. The B-side is a remix by HF International.

A. Cheek Time
B. Cheek Time (HF International Lovers remix)

Hawaii Label HLV07-0001
Out 8/8, ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Various Artists "Kayama no shin sekai" (12")
オムニバス「加山雄三の新世界」

Vinyl edition of the 2017 tribute album to Kayama Yūzō, released to celebrate his 80th anniversary. There's a music video and sampler clip below.

A1. oyome ni oide 2015 feat. PUNPEE
A2. aoi hoshikuzu feat. Momoiro Clover Z x Cypress Ueno & Roberto Yoshino x Dorian
A3. yozora no hoshi feat. KAKATO x Kawanabe Hiroshi
A4. Black Sand Beach ~Eleki danjiri~ feat. Scha Dara Parr
B1. tabibito yo feat. RHYMESTER / RHYMESTER
B2. yūhi wa akaku (yah-man version) feat. RITTO x ALTZ
B3. umi sono ai feat. Wednesday Campanella
B4. kimi to itsumademo (together forever mix) feat. ECD x DJ Mitsu The Beats

Dreamusic MUJD-1004
Out 8/8, ¥4000 (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.

GREAT3 "Richmondo High" (2LP)

First album by GREAT3 (released in 1995), and the first time it's released in its entirety on vinyl. A bonus track of a demo of "Cruel World To Heaven" is included. Cut from the original analog master.

A1. Richmondo High
A2. Fool & the Gang
A3. I Believe In You
A4. Oh Baby (Original Version)
B1. Eden Express
B2. Madness Blue
B3. Summer Breeze
C1. Koshinuke Machine
C2. Jet Coaster Biyori
C3. Summer's Gone
C4. Mr. Spicoli (with The Guitar Hero)
D1. Under the Dog
D2. My Bunny Eyes
D3. Cruel World To Heaven (Original Demo)

USM UPJY-9103/4
Out 8/8, ¥4500 (excl. tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower (Japan only), CDJapan

Last but not least, five re-issues from Sony on clear vinyl of different colors.

Sakamoto Ryuichi & Kakutougi Session "Summer Nerves" (12")
坂本龍一＆カクトウギセッション「サマー・ナーヴス」

Cut by Bernie Grundman. Clear yellow vinyl.

A1. Summer Nerves
A2. You're Friend To Me
A3. Sleep On My Baby
A4. Theme For "Kakutougi"
B1. Gonna Go To I Colony
B2. Time Trip
B3. Sweet Illusion
B4. Neuronian Network

Great Tracks MHJL-155
Out 8/8, ¥3700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Far Side Music (UK)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Hosono Haruomi, Ishikawa Takahiko, Mastutōya Masataka "The Aegean Sea" (12")
細野晴臣・石川鷹彦・松任谷正隆「エーゲ海」

Cut by Bernie Grundman. Clear vinyl.

A1. Aegean Fantasy / Mastutōya Masataka
A2. Atlantis / Ishikawa Takahiko
A3. Reggae Aegean Woman / Hosono Haruomi
A4. Mykonos Bride / Hosono Haruomi
B1. Image / Mastutōya Masataka
B2. The Rose Between Waves / Mastutōya Masataka
B3. Day Break / Ishikawa Takahiko
B4. Aphrodite's Mourning / Ishikawa Takahiko

Great Tracks MHJL-153
Out 8/8, ¥3700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Far Side Music (UK)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Hosono Haruomi, Suzuki Shigeru, Yamashita Tatsurō 「Pacific」 (12")
細野晴臣・鈴木茂・山下達郎「PACIFIC」

Cut by Bernie Grundman. Clear blue vinyl.

A1. saigo no rakuen / Hosono Haruomi
A2. Coral Reef / Suzuki Shigeru
A3. Nostalgia of Island / Yamashita Tatsurō
A4. Slack Key Rumba / Hosono Haruomi
B1. Passion Flower / Suzuki Shigeru
B2. Noanoa / Suzuki Shigeru
B3. Kiska / Yamashita Tatsurō
B4. Cosmic Surfin' / Hosono Haruomi

Great Tracks MHJL-151
Out 8/8, ¥3700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Far Side Music (UK)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Akiyama Kazumasa, Omura Kenji, Suzuki Shigeru, Takeda Kazuo, Matsuki Tsunehide, Matsubara Masaki, Mizutani Kimio, Yajima Masaru "New York" (12")
秋山一将・大村憲司・鈴木茂・竹田和夫・松木恒秀・松原正樹・水谷公生・矢島賢「NEW YORK」

Cut by Bernie Grundman. Clear orange vinyl.

A1. Kennedy Airport / Suzuki Shigeru
A2. Hard Times / Matsubara Masaki
A3. New York Subway / Mizutani Kimio
A4. Him To Staff / Matsuki Tsunehide
B1. Central Park / Akiyama Kazumasa
B2. My One And Only Love / Omura Kenji
B3. Manhattan Sunrise / Yajima Masaru
B4. New York Woman Serenade / Takeda Kazuo

Great Tracks MHJL-152
Out 8/8, ¥3700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Far Side Music (UK)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Inoue Akira, Matsutōya Masataka, Satō Hiroshi "Seaside Lovers" (12")
井上鑑・松任谷正隆・佐藤博「SEASIDE LOVERS」

Cut by Bernie Grundman. Clear aqua blue vinyl.

A1. Lovers Paradise / Matsutōya Masataka
A2. Melting Blue / Inoue Akira
A3. Sun Bathing / Satō Hiroshi
A4. Sunset Afternoon / Inoue Akira
A5. X'S And O'S / Satō Hiroshi
B1. Wind Wave And Wine Glass / Inoue Akira
B2. Coconut Island / Matsutōya Masataka
B3. Evening Shadows / Satō Hiroshi
B4. Blue Memories / Matsutōya Masataka

Great Tracks MHJL-154
Out 8/8, ¥3700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Far Side Music (UK)
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

There's also much more on the full list on the official site!

hitomitoi "Wake Up! (Tatsuo Sunaga EDIT)"