Tokyo's Coolest Sound

The Kamisuzuki twin rappers (of P.O.P) and Mexico-based Japanese rapper MEK (aka Mek Piisua) have released a collaboration EP of two songs, available digitally! "Kanpai Asia" has a track by DJ JET BARON (aka Takano Mandokoro, Pro Hambuger), and "Incomplete Amigos" (Japanese title "fuzoroi no Amigo-tachi") was produced by P.O.P's Saitō Ryōji.

MEK & kamisuzuki bros (P.O.P) "MEK & kamisuzuki bros" (Download)
MEKと上鈴木兄弟 「MEKと上鈴木兄弟」
(Japanese title: "MEK to Kamisuzuki kyōdai")

1. Kanpai Asia
2. Incomplete Amigos
3. Kanpai Asia (Instrumental)
4. Incomplete Amigos (Instrumental)

indahouse
Out now (1/26)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music

Sunny Day Service has released a new digital single titled "Omiyage wo motte", a song that's now used as the theme for travel TV series "burari tochū gesha no tabi".

There's a music video in which member Tanaka Takashi walks the streets of the band's local town Shimokitazawa (Tokyo) in a way similar to the TV show.

Sunny Day Service "Omiyage Wo Motte" (Download)
サニーデー・サービス 「おみやげを持って」

Rose Records ROSE 275
Out now (1/26)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music

A 3rd digital EP of "Lum no Love Song" remixes has been released, based on composer Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi's rebooted version released in November. This new EP has remixes by Gus Bonito (of Kero Kero Bonito), funk unit Simonger Mobile, and Fumitaka Anzai (Twitter). Check out the two short movies below!

Also check out the previous two EPs: "Mimix EP.1" (remixes by Kenmochi Hidefumi, 3asic, Limited Toss) and "Mimix EP.2" (remixes by tofubeats, SKYTOPIA, T.won). Another music video of SKYTOPIA's remix was also posted here.

Izumi Kobayashi "Lum no Love Song (Reboot) Mimix EP.3" (Download)
小林泉美 「ラムのラブソング (Reboot) Mimix EP.3」

1. Lum no Love Song (Reboot) [Gus Bonito Remix]
2. Lum no Love Song (Reboot) [SIMONGER MOBILE Remix]
3. Lum no Love Song (Reboot) [Fumitaka Anzai Remix]

Fujipacific Music Publishing / Universal Music Publishing
Out now (1/26)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music

"Lum no Love Song (Reboot) [SIMONGER MOBILE Remix]" (Short movie)

"Lum no Love Song (Reboot) [Fumitaka Anzai Remix]" (Short movie)

Girl chorus group Machida Girls' Choir, formed in 2015, has just released a brand new album! Aside from the many songs by their main producer Ishida Shōkichi (ex-Scudelia Electro, Spiral Life), there are also songs written by Sally Kubota ("yūsei shōjo Matilda", arranged by Okada Yumi), microstar's Seiki Satō and Yūko Iizumi ("Voice In Space"), and Tetsurō Yafune ("Planetarium no aru machi de") among others.

The album has an obvious overall space theme, and as their previous album releases had several covers it can be said that this is their first original full album.

Machida Girls' Choir "Orion-za ryūseigun"
まちだガールズ・クワイア 「オリオン座流星群」

1. hoshi meguri no uta
2. Planetarium no aru machi de
3. hoshizora no Synthesizer
4. ginga Station (album ver.)
5. hitotsuboshi Polaris
6. Voice In Space
7. Seven Stars
8. Moon base (album ver.)
9. yūsei shōjo Matilda
10. hoshi no shioiri
11. Blackhole to taiyō
12. uchū no shigarami
13. kujira-za no Mira
14. Orion no Belt

SAT Records SAT-043
Out 1/26, ¥2800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Asakura Seira (Twitter), who was active as a lyricist mainly in the 80s and 90s (having written lyrics for artists such as Koizumi Kyoko, Watanabe Marina, Shonentai, PSY·S, Yamashita Kumiko, ribbon and many more), has finally released a first original album of her own. All of the album's lyrics were written by herself, and she also wrote some of the music while also asking some close artists to write some of the songs. Although one of the songs is sung by herself ("tsukikage jōsho no Seventeen"), the other songs are sung by various singers including one featuring Keitarō Takanami (Playtime Rock, ex-Pizzicato Five) ("boku no soba ni inasai") whose solo album "So So....." (1993) contained a song with lyrics by Asakura Seira, as well as many others.

The whole was arranged and recorded with the help of Abe Ohji, and featured musicians include Muramatsu Kunio (ex-Sugar Babe, also a member of Sunny Kubota & Old Lucky Boys), Kubota Haruo (Pearl Brothers), Hoppy Kamiyama, among many others.

For those in Japan, Disk Union gives away a CD-R of three demo tracks sung by Matsunaga Kayoko (while supplies last).

Asakura Seira "Que Será, Seira - Angel birth -"
あさくらせいら 「Que Será, Seira - Angel birth -」

1. Period no kokoro
2. gekkō no Dress
3. HEART CUTE UNIVERSE
4. tsukikage jōsho no Seventeen
5. Look Back
6. Poetess
7. Engage
8. boku no soba ni inasai
9. Kiss Tell Me
10. yoiyami maigo
11. MY OWN(MIND)
12. ya-sa-shi-i Tea for Two
13. Church Side On The Rock
14. eien no setsuna

Tenshi Records ASAS001
Out now (1/19), ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Sampler clip

Soichi Terada (aka Omodaka), has just recently released a new instrumental house album, revisiting his roots from over 25 years ago.

Artist comment from Bandcamp:
"I tried to recall my feelings 30 years ago, but when I tried it, I found it super difficult, I didn't even know what I thought about myself five years ago, and the mental metabolic cycle seems to be faster than I thought. I tried different methods, including digging up my old MIDI data and composing by remembering old experiences. With the help of Rush Hour, I found some of the light from my heart that I had 30 years ago. I nicknamed the light I found in my heart, 'Asakusa Light'."

Find it at Bandcamp or on download/streaming platforms. In Japan the album was released on CD last month, while internationally the album can now be found on CD and double-LP from Rush Hour (Amsterdam, Netherlands).

Soichi Terada "Asakusa Light"
寺田創一 「Asakusa Light」

1. Silent Chord
2. Double Spire
3. Bamboo Fighter
4. Diving into Minds
5. Marimbau
6. Takusambient
7. Soaking Dry
8. From Dusk
9. Runners
10. Blinker
11. Epoxy Lamp

Japanese CD edition
Music 4 Your Legs IMFYL113
Out now (12/15), ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

International CD edition (Holland)
Rush Hour RHM041CD
Out now (12/11)
Order: HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

International double-LP edition (Holland)
Rush Hour RHM041
Out now (1/13)
Order: Bandcamp, Jet Set, Tower Records ^†, Rush Hour
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Bamboo Fighter"

Rock band Boris, celebrating its 30th anniversary(!), has just released a brand new album titled "W". The whole is sound produced by suGar Yoshinaga (Buffalo Daughter), and also features guest bassist Tokie. The jacket artwork is by painter Kotao Tomozawa. Follow-up the album "NO" (2020), and actually picking up from its closing track "Interlude" (of which an interpolation appears in opening song "I want to go to the side where you can touch..."), the new album's title completes the previous' resulting in "NOW".

In November, a single titled "Reincarnation Rose" was also released, containing the non-album title track plus a different version of "You Will Know".

Additionally to the Japan release on KiliKiliVilla (of which the details are below), the album is also available internationally on CD, LP and cassette tape from Sacred Bones Records (U.S.). Check out the label's site and the Bandcamp page for the release for details on the various formats including digital.

Boris "W"

1. I want to go to the side where you can touch...
2. Icelina
3. Drowning by Numbers
4. Invitation
5. The fallen
6. Beyond Good and Evil
7. Old Projector
8. You Will Know ("Ohayo" Version)
9. Jozan

KiliKiliVilla KKV-127
Out now (1/21), ¥2545 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Drowning by Numbers"

"Beyond Good and Evil"

Haruko Tajima (Instagram, Twitter) has just released a new song digitally! "Dreamer" is a self-produced song, and it's the follow-up to last year's "King Diva feat. Yukkyun".

Haruko will be part of an event titled "AVYSS Imaginary Line" on February 4 at Shibuya Contact.

Haruko Tajima "Dreamer" (Download)
田島ハルコ 「夢小説」
(Japanese title: Tajima Haruko "yume shōsetsu")

Haruko Tajima
Out now (1/19)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Good Bye April is a band that takes inspiration from 70s new music, city pop and 80s sound, with their added touch of fresh air. "swing in the dark" is their 4th full-length album, follow-up to "Xanadu" that was released in late 2020. Guest musicians are trumpeter Orita Yūsuke and Fujita Junnosuke (both of TRI4TH), trombonist Yuasa Kayoko and pianist Kiyono Yūshō. The jacket was illustrated by Imoto Sachie.

The songs "Sailor fuku to kikanju" (known as the debut song of Hiroko Yakushimaru) and "feel my hush" were released on 7" for City Pop on Vinyl 2021.

GOOD BYE APRIL "swing in the dark"

1. feel my hush
2. FANTASY
3. missing summer
4. regret orange
5. jōdan
6. nightingale
7. Sailor fuku to kikanjū
8. tapestry
9. spring kiss
10. sora no kazu dake

DOBEATU DBTU17
Out now (1/19), ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"missing summer"

Here's already a 2nd single by Sotaro (Twitter), the 10-year-old son of the couple forming chorus group Smooth Ace who debuted last month with "Parade". This times he covers Tatsurō Yamashita's "itsuka (Someday)" and Jackson 5's "I Wanna be Where You Are". Like the previous single (which consisted of covers of Tatsurō Yamashita and Folder), both songs are produced by COUNTJOKE.

Check out the teaser clip below, and also the audio samples at Jet Set.

SOTARO "Someday" (7")
SOTARO 「いつか」
(Japanese title: "itsuka")

A. itsuka (Someday)
B. I Wanna be Where You Are

High Contrast / Vivid Sound HCR9714
Out now (1/19), ¥1700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Teaser clip

Singer-songwriter Machi Akari has released digitally a song in English for the first time ever! Check out the catchy & fun pop track of which the lyrics carry a message of "memento mori".

Machi Akari's latest album is "sore yuke! dengeki ryūkōka" (2020) (, Spotify). On January 1st, 2022, she also released a song titled "Let's Dance! FruFull" (, Spotify, YouTube Music), theme song of the Shizuoka fruit jelly shop FruFull.

Machi Akari "Dead In A Hundred Years" (Download)
町あかり 「Dead In A Hundred Years」

Machi Akari
Out now (1/20)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music

Izumi "Mimi" Kobayashi, composer of "Lum no Love Song" (the famous theme song of "Urusei Yatsura"), has released a 2nd digital remix EP of the song which she rebooted in November. The new EP features remixes by tofubeats, SKYTOPIA (Twitter) (Mimi's son) and Korean producer T.won.

There's also been word that Kero Kero Bonito (UK) will be doing a remix of the song.

Also check out the previous EP, "Mimix EP.1".

Izumi Kobayashi "Lum no Love Song (Reboot) Mimix EP.2" (Download)
小林泉美 「ラムのラブソング (Reboot) Mimix EP.2」

1. Lum no Love Song (Reboot) [tofubeats Remix]
2. Lum no Love Song (Reboot) [SKYTOPIA Remix]
3. Lum no Love Song (Reboot) [T.won Remix]

Fujipacific Music Publishing / Universal Music Publishing
Out now (1/12)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music

"Lum no Love Song (Reboot) [SKYTOPIA Remix]" (Short ver.)

This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these pages. Tune in at the times below at https://lafaceb.live. Happy listening!

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.23) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on January 13, 2022 from 20:00 (EST = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: January 14, 2022 from 10:00 a.m.

This episode was not archived as-is, but it was replayed at the times below:

EST (Montréal/New York) —

Fri. Jan. 14 at 16h30, Mon. 17 at noon, Tue. 18 at 8h, Wed. 19 at 4h, Thurs. 20 at 0h

Japan time —

Sat. Jan. 15 at 6h30, Tue. 18 at 2h, Tue. 18 at 22h, Wed. 19 at 18h, Thurs. 20 at 14h

Listen to the Spotify playlist of most of the songs (some replaced according to Spotify availability), or scroll down this page to find music videos and individual songs, and also listen to the narration.

Below is the full tracklist with liner notes, and narration parts that you can listen to.

1. microstar "Swing In The Life" (2021)
(Japanese title: マイクロスター 「日常のSwing」 "nichijō no Swing")

microstar is a duo of producer Seiki Satō and singer Yūko Iizumi (aka P-chan). This song is their brand new single released on 7" for Record Day 2021. The B-side is a self-cover of the song "If I fall in love with you" ("koi o suru nara"), song they had written for Monari Wakita. This year is their 25th anniversary! The 7" is available at disques blue-very, Jet Set, Amazon and HMV.

Tokyo's Coolest Sound recently interviewed Seiki Satō and The Courettes, read it here (in English & Japanese).

🎙 Listen to Narration I
Presenting: microstar, Three Berry Icecream

2. Three Berry Icecream "Jour bleu pâle" (2021)

Three Berry Icecream (Facebook page) is the solo unit of Mayumi Ikemizu (a former member of band Bridge). The song "Jour bleu pâle" is from her brand new album "Three Berry Icecream" released in November, the first full-length album by Three Berry Icecream that was recorded over a short span as a band. This song is also the first one that Mayumi has sung in French! I had the great pleasure to help with lyrics translation.

The album is currently only available on LP, and can be ordered at Jet Set and disques blue-very. There's a special page in English about the release. Two songs from it have been released digitally: "Another World" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) and "Rainbow mountain road" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Three Berry Icecream also recently released a split-cassette with Funny Little Dream (from Indonesia) (2021), and also the vinyl LP "The Selection of Three Berry Icecream" (2020).

Since "Jour bleu pâle" can't be heard online, here's a recent live performance from an in-store event at disques blue-very in Koenji.

3. Emiri Kanou "Steppin'" (2021)
(Japanese title: 加納エミリ Kanou Emiri "Steppin'")

Singer-songwriter and arranger Emiri Kanou released in December this brand new single titled "Steppin'" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). This song was produced by Indonesian city pop band ikkubaru (Facebook page).

Aside from digitally, this new song is also available on 7" with for B-side a Japanese version remix of Ikkubaru's "City Hunter" (of which the original remix had appeared on Ikkubaru's "Amusement Park Expanded Edition").

Emiri also released last year a digital single titled "Wasurenaiwa feat. Ryūto Kasahara", and also did the sound production of Shōko Suzuki's single "So Help Me, GOD!".

4. DISCOMPO with Mari Izumi "Merry go ahead" (2021)
(Japanese title: DISCOMPO with 泉茉里 「Merry go ahead」)

DISCOMPO with Mari Izumi is the latest project led by Dr.Usui (ex-OTOCOMPO, ex-(M)otocompo). The group also features guitarist (etc.) Junya Junya and VJ Hirohisa Nakama (also member of The Aprils). "Merry go ahead" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) is their latest single, released digitally last October.

This one followed singles "Shadow Venus" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) and "Rinkaku" (Music video), both of which were released in April 2021.

There's more to be found on their YouTube channel, where members of the group get together via Zoom every week for a meeting that viewers can participate in. Don't miss checking out their impressive one-cut session from last year.

🎙 Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Emiri Kanou, DISCOMPO with Mari Izumi, xiangyu

5. xiangyu "LIFE!" (2021)

xiangyu (Twitter, Instagram) just released last month a new song titled "LIFE!" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). It's the theme song of the movie "hotobori Meltsounds" which features xiangyu and Keiichi Suzuki (Moonriders). The song was produced by Kenmochi Hidefumi (Wednesday Campanella).

In 2021, xiangyu also released the songs "Milano Sandwich A" (played regularly at Doutor cafés, as the song took inspiration from a popular menu of the chain) and "Manhole".

6. hitomitoi "Frozen Horizon" (2014)
(Japanese title: 一十三十一 「Frozen Horizon」)

Here's a city pop winter favorite, "Frozen Horizon" from hitomitoi's album "Snowclub Social Club" (Spotify, (Japan), YouTube Music). This album as well as "Surfbank Social Club" were released on vinyl as double-LPs in 2021.

The big recent news in late 2021 was a new album from Jintana & Emeralds, titled "Emerald City Guide". Jintana & Emeralds is a neo-doo-wop group that features hitomitoi as one of the three singers.

7. HALLCA "Precious Flight" (2021)

HALLCA released in November a brand new 2nd album titled "Paradise Gate" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), of which "Precious Flight" is the opening song. This song was composed by HALLCA and arranged by PellyColo.

A few days before the album release, HALLCA performed all of the album's songs from her home studio on her YouTube weekly program. Tune in every Sunday from 21:00 (JST) to hear a few songs and also chat.

In 2021, HALLCA also formed a new unit called HallKariMaako (Twitter), along with Seira Kariya and AmamiyaMaako. They released the mini-album "Terminal", and more recently a song titled "One day traveller".

🎙 Listen to Narration III
Presenting: hitomitoi, HALLCA, MANON

8. MANON "Girlfriend" (2021)

MANON (Instagram, Twitter) has just released last month a new song titled "Girlfriend" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The song is produced by DJ Chari (Twitter, Instagram), with music written by ZOT on the WAVE and dubby bunny. Check out the 3DCG music video! There's also another one further down the page of another recent song, "Galchan Mode".

MANON will be turning 20 at the end of the month, and she'll hold an event on that day, January 29, at Shibuya Contact. Find details here.

Thank you for tuning in! There are also replays within one week listed at the top of the page.

Find previous radio shows right here. You can also listen to some older ones on Mixcloud.

Here are more music videos by the artists featured in this episode.

microstar "Night Flight"

Three Berry Icecream "Rainbow mountain road"

Emiri Kanou "koi seyo otome"

DISCOMPO with Mari Izumi "Rinkaku"

xiangyu "Manhole"

Jintana & Emeralds "Oh! Southern Wind"
(Sung by hitomitoi)

HALLCA "Labyrinth"

MANON "GALCHAN MODE"

Toki Asako released recently a brand new original album titled "Twilight". Included is a collaboration with singer-songwriter TENDRE. It had been 2 years since her previous album "Passion Blue", since which she also released an album of covers titled "Home Town -Cover Songs-".

The limited edition comes with a Blu-ray or DVD of a specially recorded session in which she is accompanied by keyboards and guitar.

Toki Asako "Twilight"
土岐麻子 「Twilight」

1. Solleim
2. close to you
3. travellers
4. Door
5. NEON FISH
6. Mirrors
7. Calling
8. birthday song
9. Apple pie in the sky
10. nemurenu hitsuji (With TENDRE)

Blu-ray/DVD (Limited edition only)
"Toki Asako Harvest Moon Live 2021 'Round Twilight' 2021/9/21 @ The Prince Park Tower Tokyo"
1. HOME
2. mellow yellow
3. close to you
4. Flame
5. RADIO
6. NEON FISH
7. Bubble Gum Town
8. Solleim

Limited edition (CD+Blu-ray)
A.S.A.B RZCB-87054
Out now (11/24), ¥5500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon (11% off *), HMV (10% off *), Tower Records ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Limited edition (CD+DVD)
A.S.A.B RZCB-87053
Out now (11/24), ¥4500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon (10% off *), HMV (10% off *), Tower Records ^†
* Discount at time of writing
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

Regular edition (CD only)
A.S.A.B RZCB-87055
Out now (11/24), ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, YesAsia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, , Spotify, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Door"

]

"nemurenu hitsuji (with TENDRE)"

"close to you"
(from "Toki Asako Harvest Moon Live 2021 'Round Twilight' 2021/9/21 @ The Prince Park Tower Tokyo")

"NEON FISH"
(from "Toki Asako Harvest Moon Live 2021 'Round Twilight' 2021/9/21 @ The Prince Park Tower Tokyo")

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu released digitally today a new song titled "Maybe Baby". This is the theme song of TV anime series "Ninjala", based on the game of the same name. The new song is written and produced by Nakata Yasutaka (CAPSULE).

Kyary previously sang two Ninjala-related songs: the Steve Aoki remix of "Ninja Re Bang Bang" and also "Gum Gum Girl".

Also be sure to check out Kyary's new album "Candy Racer" which was released in October 2021.

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu "Maybe Baby" (Download)
きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ 「メイビーベイビー」

1. Maybe Baby
2. Maybe Baby (Instrumental)

KRK Lab
Out now (1/8)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Official video Valentine's Day version

Lyric video

Opening of anime series "Ninjala"

Cutemen, the techno unit of CMJK (ex-Denki Groove) and singer Picorin, has released towards the end of 2021 a new single titled "Love On The Beach", and also a greatest hits album covering their 30 years of activity. Both are available digitally on download and streaming platforms. Check out the lyric video and sampler clip below!

Cutemen released in 2021 a new original album titled "2121" (, Spotify, OTOTOY), and also a mini-album titled "Covers & Mellow Tunes 2" (, Spotify, OTOTOY).

Cutemen "Love On The Beach" (Download)

1. Love On The Beach
2. Love On The Beach - Edit
3. Love On The Beach - Instrumental
4. Love On The Beach - Edit Instrumental

22nd Century Tunes
Out now (11/24)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Cutemen "Cutemen 30th Anniversary Best CM30" (Download)

1. Celebration - Album Remaster
2. Born To Love You - Edit
3. shūmatsudokei - Album Remaster
4. The Light - Album Remaster
5. Forever - Album Remaster
6. Cucumber - Album Remaster
7. Sympathizer - Album Remaster
8. Hurt Me - Album Remaster
9. Fish - Album Remaster
10. Time Rider - Album Remaster
11. 2121 - Album Remaster
12. Hometown Sea - Album Remaster

22nd Century Tunes
Out now (11/24)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

"Love On The Beach" lyric video

Sampler clip

World Standard, the solo unit of Sōichirō Suzuki, has released recently a 13th original full-length album titled "Eden". While previous album "Shikisai Ongaku" (, Spotify, YouTube Music) was a vocal album sung by Suzuki himself, this new album also features singing by Yoriko Matsumoto (a member of Noahlewis' Mahlon Taits, Misola, etc.). Two songs can be heard below.

Comment from Sōichirō Suzuki:
"There is no so-called bright song on this album, but I drew <my blue sky>. I pray that the blue sky can be seen in your heart."

The first pressing of the album's CD edition comes with a B4-size booklet written by Sōichirō Suzuki with artwork and illustrations by graphic designer Yu Yokoyama. Also only in the first pressing, a download code for the instrumental album is included.

Recently, all of World Standard's previous albums were made available digitally worldwide for the first time, newly remastered. Find them on your favorite streaming platform.

World Standard "Eden"
ワールドスタンダード 「エデン」

1. Evening Calm
2. Floating Clouds
3. Little Sorrow
4. Marronnier
5. Where Have All The Flowers Gone
6. The power that is going to live
7. Almost Full
8. Read The Rain

Stella SLIP-8510
Out now (11/27), ¥3500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†, Far Side Music
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Little Sorrow"

"Evening Calm"

Happy New Year 2022! Still doing a little bit of catching up on late 2021 releases that shouldn't be missed.

Sotaro (Twitter), the 10-year-old son of the couple forming chorus group Smooth Ace, has released his debut single on 7"! These are covers of Tatsurō Yamashita's "Parade" and Folder's "Parachuter". Both are produced by COUNTJOKE.

Check out the teaser clip below, and also the audio samples at Jet Set.

A 2nd single will be coming soon on January 19, of covers of Tatsurō Yamashita's "itsuka (Someday)" and Jackson 5's "I Wanna Be Where You Are". Stay tuned!

SOTARO "Parade" (7")
SOTARO 「パレード」

A. Parade
B. Parachuter

High Contrast / Vivid Sound HCR9713
Out now (12/15), ¥1700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records ^†
† Tower Records ships within Japan only

"Parade"

"Parade / Parachuter" teaser clip