Tokyo's Coolest Sound

This year again, Record Day was held earlier this month on November 3, coinciding with the public holiday Culture Day.

Here are some picks from the many releases of this year. The full list can be found here.

Cruisic "Euphoria" (12")

1st full-length album of human-driven electronic band Cruisic, which uses live drums and sequencing. Included are covers of 808 State's "Pacific 707" and Azymuth's "Jazz Carnival". Also available digitally (Bandcamp, , YouTube Music, Spotify, OTOTOY).

A1. Pacific 707 -Full Length Version-
A2. Come With Me
A3. Snake Eyes
A4. Time Will Tell
B5. Jazz Carnival
B6. Inspector Norse -Full Length Version-
B7. Floating -Full Length Version-
B8. Finally -Full Length Version-

Flower Records FLRL-021
Out now (11/3), ¥4000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Bandcamp, Play-Asia, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

DJ Misoshiru & MC Gohan with Tetsuro Yafune Trio "Swim! Taiyakikun / YA.KU.MI" (7")
DJみそしるとMCごはんwith矢舟テツロー・トリオ 「およげ！たいやきくん / YA.KU.MI」
(Japanese title: "oyoge! Taiyaki-kun / YA.KU.MI.")

Collaboration single of DJ Misoshiru & MC Gohan and Tetsurō Yafune Trio. The A-side is a class kids' song from TV show "hirake! ponkikki", while the B-side is a new original (yakumi means "condiments"). The single is available digitally with instrumentals (Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY).

A. Swim! Taiyakikun
B. YA.KU.MI

Octave OTS-363
Out now (11/3), ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV, Tower Records ^†,
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Kaoru Inoue "Rhythms of Dedication" (12")

New EP. Includes a remix by Buenos Aires (Argentina) artist SidiRum, and also self-reworks and previously unreleased songs. The first 5 songs were also released digitally (, Spotify, YouTube Music).

A1. Nagareru SidiRum Remix
A2. Nagareru Anatomy
A3. La Isla Secreta
B1. Karyobinga
B2. Hoshifuru Drums
B3. Cityscape 4:20 am Harajuku

Deep Ground Records DGR-003
Out now (11/3), ¥2700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Hideki Kaji "Being Pure At Heart" (12")
カジヒデキ 「BEING PURE AT HEART ～ ありのままでいいんじゃない」
(Japanese title: Kaji Hideki "BEING PURE AT HEART ~ ari no mama de iin janai")

Vinyl release of Hideki Kaji's latest album.

A1. Being Pure At Heart
A2. We Are The Borders
A3. April Fool
A4. Preppy Peach
A5. Naked Coffee Affogato
A6. Looking For A Girl Like You
B1. Don't Wanna Wake Up!!
B2. Summer Sunday Smile
B3. Claire's Knee
B4. Walkin' After Dinner
B5. A Room Without You
B6. Dreams Never End

Blue Boys Club / AWDR/LR2 DDJB-91251
Out now (11/3), ¥4000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Shino Kobayashi x small garden "Soundtrack 'Mijn Nijntje'" (7")
小林しの x small garden 「サウンドトラック "私のナインチェ"」

Sequel to Shino Kobayashi's latest album "The Wind Carries Scents Of Flowers" released last spring. It comes as a collaboration with small garden, who had appeared on two songs of the album and this time did all sound production upon which Shino recites a short story. The EP is a fictional soundtrack. There's a sampler clip on YouTube.

A1. Garden's Gate
A2. Mijn Nijntje
B1. A Tsui A-KI
B2. summer in blue jelly
B3. Garden's Gate part 2

blue-very label blvd-051
Out now (11/3), ¥2200 (excl. tax)
Order: Tower, HMV, Bandcamp

the Tiger "Get Ready" (12")

Vinyl edition of the Tiger's 1st album "Get Ready", first released on CD & digitally in March. Apparently, a new song titled "Ophelia" has been added to the tracklist.

A1. Kanamachi
A2. My town
A3. While smoking a cigarette
A4. Tell me
A5. Travelin'
B1. Hard worker's song
B2. A melody I can't remember
B3. Last night
B4. Ophelia
B5. I can not stand it

Just Luck Records/DIW JLDU-2
Out now (11/3), ¥5000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Towa Tei "ZOUNDTRACKS" (12")

Vinyl edition of the instrumental album released last year.

A1. MUSE
A2. FEATHER
A3. FRESH!
A4. ANANAS
A5. 2BAD
A6. OPEN
B1. TIPSY
B2. TOURIST REPORT
B3. HANEDA
B4. CHOP SUEY
B5. AMIKO
B6. COINCIDENCE

Machbeat.com MBLP-2411
Out now (11/3), ¥4500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, CDJapan, Play-Asia, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Various Artists "City Music Tokyo anagram" (12")

Vinyl edition of the compilation of the "City Music Tokyo" series selected by Cunimondo Takiguchi. "City Music Tokyo anagram" was first released on CD in June (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower), and a digital edition of selected tracks is also available (, Spotify, YouTube Music).

(Title / Artist)
A1. Love Is Easy / Ami Ozaki
A2. CRAZY BABY / Linda Yamamoto
A3. Maya maya Beach / Yuko Kanai
A4. Okinawan Passion / Sadao China
A5. Nagisa No Unlucky Boys / Seikō Itō
B1. Wasurechau Hitotoki / Fishmans
B2. Chotto Tsurainda / THE BEATNIKS
B3. KOWLOON DAILY / Parachute
B4. SHADOW ON THE WALL / Takuya Takahashi
B5. Call Back / FAIRCHILD

Pony Canyon PCJA-00157
Out now (11/3), ¥4000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Amaiwana "New Shibuya / New Wave" (12")
アマイワナ 「新渋谷 / 新電波」
(Japanese title: "shin Shibuya / shin denpa")

2-in-1 of Amaiwana's two recent EPs. Includes a collaboration with Maki Nomiya. Mixed & mastered by Ginger Root.

Side A "New Shibuya"
A1. She's so cute
A2. Shanghai Girl
A3. First Date
A4. COVER GIRLS (feat. Maki Nomiya)
Side B "New Wave"
B1. Seesaw Game
B2. Taiwan Girl
B3. Virtual Date
B4. LOVELY BOY

0101RECORDS/HMV record shop HRLP-351
Out now (11/3), ¥3500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Amaiwana "Sweet Sweet Sweet" (12")
アマイワナ 「SWEET SWEET SWEET」

Previous mini-album of Amaiwana, including a cover of Pizzicato Five's "Message Song". Also mixed & mastered by Ginger Root.

A1. Love Robber (Album ver.)
A2. Chocolate Lemonade
A3. Jane
A4. Shiny Girl
B1. Shanghai Rendezvous
B2. Sweet Trap
B3. Message Song

0101RECORDS/HMV record shop HRLP-350
Out now (11/3), ¥3500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Q.A.S.B. "kono machi de (Shuya Okino Edit) / kono machi de" (7")
Q.A.S.B. 「この街で (Shuya Okino Edit) / この街で」

Single cut from Q.A.S.B.'s recent 6th album "Will", including a new edit by Shūya Okino (Kyoto Jazz Massive) who wrote the song's lyrics. The new edit is available digitally (, Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY). The album "Will" was released in August on vinyl and digitally.

A. kono machi de (Shuya Okino Edit)
B. kono machi de

HMV record shop HR7S319
Out now (11/3), ¥2100 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

PUNPEE "Family Sale (feat. Father)" (7")
PUNPEE 「Family Sale (feat. 親父)」

New single by rapper Punpee, in a collaboration with his dad! Check out the music video below. The song is also available digitally (, Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY).

A. Family Sale (feat. Father)
B. Family Sale (feat. Father) (Instrumental)

Summit, Inc. SMMT-232
Out now (11/3), ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Crazy Ken Band "Sekai" (2x12")
クレイジーケンバンド 「世界」

Vinyl edition of the 2023 album.

A1. Cosmic Diver
A2. eye catch * transit lounge
A3. what the world needs now is love
A4. SHHH!
B1. Oriental Hotel
B2. Mandarin Palace
B3. eye catch * CKB23
B4. Soul Love
B5. Sweet Vibration - CKB tune -
C1. Nokoriga
C2. Sweet Soul Train
C3. TERIYAKI
C4. you and me and vinyl
D1. Night has a Thousand Eyes
D2. Yokohama Bimiraisan
D3. eye catch * airport limousine
D4. Sightseeing

Universal Music UMJK-9149
Out now (11/3), ¥5000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Crazy Ken Band "Jyuei" (2x12")
クレイジーケンバンド 「樹影」

Vinyl edition of the 2022 album.

A1. Almond
A2. Dubai VR Tour
A3. Squall
A4. Gora
B1. Sarah
B2. Soramimi
B3. Orange Cinnamon Sunset
B4. Jyuei - Eye Catch -
B5. The Roots
C1. Me and Healey and Harley
C2. Honmoku Funk
C3. Yokosuka Rainy Night
C4. My face is wet
D1. Daini Jyuei - Eye Catch -
D2. Koutai
D3. Honmoku Chowmien
D4. Kowamote
D5. Almond Jelly Annin Tofu - Dessert -

Universal Music UMJK-9147
Out now (11/3), ¥5000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi & Flying Mimi Band "Sea Flight" (12")
小林泉美 & Flying Mimi Band 「Sea Flight」

Re-issue of the album first released in October 1978, the last of Flying Mimi Band.

A1. Concrete Wave
A2. Angel Sky
A3. Naze
A4. Summer Wine
B1. Whisper Of Shell
B2. Sea Flight
B3. Carnival
B4. It's Raining

Universal Music PROT-7299
Out now (11/3), ¥4000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Play-Asia, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Vibrastone / Kyōko Isobe "ichinichijū boke- / shitsuren shigan" (7")
ビブラストーン／磯辺恭子 「一日中ボケーッ／失恋志願」

Two more songs that appeared on the "City Music Tokyo anagram" CD compilation.

A. Vibrastone / ichinichijū boke-
B. Kyōko Isobe / shitsuren shigan

Pony Canyon PCKA-00024
Out now (11/3), ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.