Record Day 2024
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"...
Posted on November 19, 2024 at 23:36. | Released on November 3, 2024
RYUSENKEI "Illusions" (12")
A vinyl edition of RYUSENKEI's new album "Illusions" has just been released! The album was first released on CD in April, and it has now also been made available digitally (, Spotify, OTOTOY). RYUSENKEI is the city pop group led...
Posted on July 27, 2024 at 01:00. | Released on July 24, 2024
Natsu Summer "Orange Airmail"
Natsu Summer has just released a brand new album titled "Orange Airmail". As usual it is produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (RYUSENKEI). In addition to reggae city pop sounds that Natsu Summer is well known for, this time touches of Amapiano...
Posted on July 24, 2024 at 23:33. | Released on July 24, 2024
RYUSENKEI "Super Generation" (Download)
RYUSENKEI, the city pop group led by Cunimondo Takiguchi, is back with a new song and also some big news. The group was joined by singer Sincere (Instagram, 𝕏) as an official member. Their first song "Super Generation" is...
Posted on April 1, 2024 at 23:58. | Released on March 29, 2024
Various Artists "City Music Tokyo interchange" (12")
From the excellent series of city pop compilations "City Music Tokyo" selected by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryusenkei), comes a new vinyl release of a selection from the cross-label compilation "City Music Tokyo interchange". Many of the songs are available on vinyl...
Posted on February 12, 2024 at 11:01. | Released on January 24, 2024
Natsu Summer "Think of Summer" (7")
Natsu Summer (Facebook, Instagram) has released just recently a new 7", of her latest song "Think of Summer". The city pop reggae song was written and arranged by her main producer Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryusenkei). First released digitally last October,...
Posted on February 11, 2024 at 23:53. | Released on January 24, 2024
Record Day 2023
Record Day is being held this year again, on November 3, coinciding with public holiday Culture Day. Below are some picks that are not to be missed from the November 3 crates, but there's also much more to be found...
Posted on November 3, 2023 at 11:43. | Released on November 3, 2023
Various Artists "City Music Tokyo multiple"
The excellent "City Music Tokyo" compilation series continues, always selected by Cunimondo Takiguchi, the leader of city pop band Ryusenkei. This 7th installment is released on Nippon Columbia, from which Cunimondo selected city pop gems, though actually of no precise...
Posted on July 24, 2023 at 23:48. | Released on July 19, 2023
Various Artists "City Music Tokyo corner"
One more compilation of the excellent "City Music Tokyo" series selected by Cunimondo Takiguchi, leader of city pop band Ryusenkei. This is a selection from Universal Music's repertory, the first on the label in this series (which was so far...
Posted on July 1, 2023 at 13:03. | Released on June 28, 2023
Record Store Day 2023
Record Store Day will be held worldwide on Saturday April 22! Below is a list of recommended releases coming from Japan. The full list of Record Store Day Japan can be found here. As always, there are no online pre-orders,...
Posted on April 15, 2023 at 23:40. | Released on April 22, 2023
Various Artists "City Music Tokyo parallelism"
Here's another compilation of the excellent "City Music Tokyo" series selected by Cunimondo Takiguchi, leader of city pop band Ryusenkei. The selection this time focuses on Sony's repertory (the 2nd of these, following "City Music Tokyo invitation"). Some of the...
Posted on March 19, 2023 at 23:59. | Released on March 22, 2023
Various Artists "City Music Tokyo signal"
Cunimondo Takiguchi, leader of city pop band Ryusenkei, has released a new compilation of the "City Music Tokyo" series, this time of songs from the Victor label. Some of the songs are rare, unavailable digitally or for the first time...
Posted on February 13, 2023 at 00:46. | Released on January 25, 2023
Lafuzin "Love Energy Motivation"
Lafuzin (Instagram), described as a "new retro sophisti-pop duo", has just released their first album! The duo is formed of main singer Mika Tamura and producer Brian Shinsekai this year. Included on the album is "Silk no Cardigan" produced by...
Posted on September 30, 2022 at 00:42. | Released on September 21, 2022
Ryusenkei "incomplete feat. Yasuyuki Horigome"
Ryusenkei, the project of Cunimondo Takiguchi, has released last month a mini-album featuring Yasuyuki Horigome (ex-Kirinji). Included are four vocal songs that were released in advance digitally, plus an unreleased piece titled "incomplete". It had been 16 years since the...
Posted on September 17, 2022 at 23:54. | Released on August 17, 2022
Natsu Summer & Ryusenkei "Sun Kissed Lady"
Reggae-touch city pop singer Natsu Summer released a brand new album titled "Sun Kissed Lady", this time fully backed by band Ryusenkei which is led by Cunimondo Takiguchi. A cover of "nagisa no Unlucky Boys" is included, a song originally...
Posted on July 16, 2022 at 22:38. | Released on July 6, 2022
Ryusenkei "two silhouette feat. Horigome Yasuyuki" (Download)
Ryusenkei, the project of Cunimondo Takiguchi, is doing a series of digital releases of brand new songs. Following last month's "route no.3 shibuya" (, Spotify, YouTube Music) (a Ryusenkei self-cover), here comes a 2nd song titled "two silhouette" (in...
Posted on March 26, 2022 at 10:25. | Released on March 25, 2022
hitomitoi "Surfbank Social Club" (2LP), "Snowbank Social Club" (2LP)
hitomitoi's "Surfbank Social Club" (2013) and "Snowbank Social Club" (2014) albums, which had followed "City Dive" (2012), are both being released as double-LPs. "Surfbank Social Club" comes on blue colored vinyl, and "Snowbank Social Club" on white vinyl. A concert...
Posted on March 28, 2021 at 16:48. | Released on March 31, 2021
Natsu Summer "Hayama Nights" (12")
Natsu Summer's latest album, "Hayama Nights" (2020), is getting a vinyl release! Produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei), the album features collaborations with Kobayashi "Mimi" Izumi and Saigenji. Covers of Ryusenkei's "3gōsen" (aka "Route No.3 Shibuya") and Miyazawa Rie's "kokoro kara...
Posted on March 15, 2021 at 23:06. | Released on March 17, 2021
Various Artists "City Music Tokyo invitation"
Cunimondo Takiguchi, the leader of city pop band Ryusenkei (and also known as the producer of albums by hitomitoi and Natsu Summer), has selected this compilation of songs that have influenced him. While some are famous songs, others are rare...
Posted on November 8, 2020 at 21:48. | Released on November 4, 2020
hitomitoi "City Dive" (2LP)
hitomitoi's album "City Dive" (2012) is being released as a double-LP! The album was produced by DJ Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei), and featured collaborations with Dorian and guitarist Kashif, all of which set the course for her further releases. Songs from...
Posted on May 30, 2020 at 13:02. | Released on June 3, 2020
Natsu Summer "Time Distance (toki no Silhouette)" (7")
Reggae-touch city pop singer Natsu Summer has a brand new single out now! Again produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi, it is backed by a full band like her excellent previous mini-album "Natsu Summer & Dub Sensation" (2018). Natsu Summer will...
Posted on July 20, 2019 at 11:18. | Released on July 17, 2019
Natsu Summer "Old School Surfer" (7")
This is a 7" single cut from Natsu Summer's latest mini-album "Natsu Summer & Dub Sensation" that was produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei) and backed by a real band with drums and bass, organ, steel pan, etc. The B-side...
Posted on August 13, 2018 at 21:53. | Released on August 18, 2018
Natsu Summer "Natsu Summer & Dub Sensation"
City pop singer Natsu Summer has released earlier this month a new mini-album! Like her first album "Hello, future day" this is produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei), though this time the whole is backed by a real band with drums...
Posted on July 16, 2018 at 12:46. | Released on July 4, 2018
Natsu Summer "Hello, future day"
After the release of a few EPs, tropical city pop female singer Natsu Summer has a first full-length album being released. The producer is Cunimondo Takiguchi (of Ryūsenkei, who also produced hitomitoi's "City Dive" album). Check out the clip below...
Posted on July 2, 2017 at 22:33. | Released on July 5, 2017
dahlia "Mirror"
Singer dahlia has a brand new album out soon! This was sound produced by Groove Unchant who had previously produced her album "Beautiful, But Noir" (2006). One song features programming by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei). A very limited edition of 100...
Posted on February 14, 2017 at 07:34. | Released on February 22, 2017
hitomitoi "The Memory Hotel"
hitomitoi has a brand new album out now! Producers and musicians include Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryusenkei), Dorian, Kashif (PPP, Jintana & Emeralds), LUVRAW (ImageCluv), Crystal ((((sssurrounddd))), Jintana & Emeralds) and mabanua. This is the follow-up to album "Snowbank Social Club" (2014)...
Posted on October 22, 2015 at 22:35. | Released on October 21, 2015
hitomitoi "Pacific High / Aleutian Low"
hitomitoi has a new mini-album out this week! With a title that refers to summer and winter, it contains three summer songs previously released digitally, then three new winter-themed songs, plus a cover of Yuming's "A Happy New Year". Producers...
Posted on December 9, 2014 at 20:32. | Released on December 10, 2014
hitomitoi "natsu kōsen, kira." (Download)
Here's the 2nd of a trilogy of summer singles by hitomitoi, now available on iTunes Japan (not worldwide this time). This new urban track was produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei) who produced her album "City Dive" as well as many...
Posted on August 14, 2014 at 19:19. | Released on August 13, 2014
hitomitoi "Snowbank Social Club"
Following last summer's hot "Surfbank Social Club", hitomitoi now brings us a winter album, the kind that should warm you up. Again collaborators Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei), Kashif (aka Stringsburn) and LUVRAW & BTB are in, as well as tofubeats, Avec...
Posted on January 14, 2014 at 22:59. | Released on January 29, 2014
hitomitoi "Surfbank Social Club"
Following last year's wonderful "City Dive", here's a new summer city pop album by singer hitomitoi! Again she is joined by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei), Dorian, Kashif aka StringsBurn, as well as new collaborators LUVRAW & BTB, grooveman Spot and Avec...
Posted on July 14, 2013 at 00:42. | Released on June 19, 2013
Full-text search results for Cunimondo TAKIGUCHI
RYUSENKEI "Illusions"
RYUSENKEI, the city pop group led by Cunimondo Takiguchi, has come back as a unit fronted by new singer Sincere (Instagram, 𝕏) as an official member. The new album "Illusions" has just been released, as the first original release of...
Posted on April 28, 2024 at 11:29. | Released on April 24, 2024
Record Day 2022 Day 2
It's still time to check out Record Day held a month ago on December 3, which had many great releases and therefore took me some time to write it up. It was the 2nd of two days, following November 3....
Posted on January 3, 2023 at 20:16. | Released on December 3, 2022
City Pop on Vinyl 2022
"City Pop on Vinyl" is a campaign organized by Japan's famous record press Toyo Kasei. It takes place again in 2022, for the 3rd tme. Below is a selection of some titles not to be missed by readers of this...
Posted on August 6, 2022 at 00:55. | Released on August 6, 2022
Ryusenkei "melody feat. Yasuyuki Horigome" (Download)
Ryusenkei, the project of Cunimondo Takiguchi, is continuing to drop digital releases of brand new songs. "melody" is the 3rd featuring Yasuyuki Horigome (ex-Kirinji) who had also appeared on the "Talio" soundtrack. This follows "two silhouette" (, Spotify, YouTube...
Posted on May 2, 2022 at 23:28. | Released on April 29, 2022
Ryusenkei "route no.3 shibuya feat. Yasuyuki Horigome" (Download)
Ryusenkei, the project of Cunimondo Takiguchi, is starting a series of digital releases of brand new songs. "Route No.3" (in Japanese "3gōsen") is a self-cover of a song that first appeared on Ryūsenkei's 2003 album "City Music" (, Spotify),...
Posted on February 26, 2022 at 21:13. | Released on February 25, 2022
Record Day 2021 Day 2
Record Day, previously happening only on November 3 for "Culture Day" (a public holiday), has being held once more this November, on Saturday November 27. Also check out the post about day 1! Items can be ordered online. Below is...
Posted on December 4, 2021 at 00:54. | Released on November 27, 2021
Ryusenkei / hitomitoi "Talio" (12")
Ryusenkei (project of Cunimondo Takiguchi) and hitomitoi's city pop-themed soundtrack of NHK TV series "Talio", released on CD and digitally last November, is about to be released on vinyl. All 21 tracks of the soundtrack are included, including theme song...
Posted on March 22, 2021 at 20:46. | Released on March 24, 2021
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.12
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...
Posted on December 24, 2020 at 00:34.
Ryusenkei "Friday Night / Airport '80" (7")
City pop unit Ryusenkei (project of Cunimondo Takiguchi) has just released a 7" cut of two songs from 2003 album "City Music" (Spotify, ). This follows another 7" of two other songs that was released for Record Day 2020...
Posted on December 5, 2020 at 00:41. | Released on December 2, 2020
Ryusenkei / hitomitoi "Talio"
Ryusenkei (project of Cunimondo Takiguchi) and hitomitoi have teamed up to produce the city pop-themed soundtrack of the currently ongoing NHK TV series "Talio". After releasing the song "kanashii kurai Diamond" digitally last month (Spotify, ), here comes the full...
Posted on November 10, 2020 at 00:23. | Released on November 11, 2020
Ryusenkei / hitomitoi "kanashii kurai Diamond" (Download)
Ryusenkei (project of Cunimondo Takiguchi) and hitomitoi made the music for new NHK drama series "Talio" that just started last week. The plot is about a fired lawyer and a crook who join forces to help people take their...
Posted on October 14, 2020 at 23:25. | Released on October 14, 2020
Natsu Summer "Hayama Nights"
Reggae-touch city pop singer Natsu Summer has a brand new album about to be released! Like her previous mini-album "Natsu Summer & Dub Sensation", it is produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei). The album features collaborations with Kobayashi Izumi (Mimi of...
Posted on August 4, 2020 at 00:55. | Released on August 5, 2020
hitomitoi "YOUR TIME Route #1"
Following its "Choice" series of foreign song covers, Billboard Records begins a series of Japanese song cover albums titled "Your Time". The first artist of the series is hitomitoi who released her latest original album "City Dive" on the label....
Posted on November 5, 2012 at 21:58. | Released on November 14, 2012
hitomitoi "City Dive EP" (12")
Here's a 6-track EP cut from hitomitoi's latest album "City Dive". The album was produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi. Also included here are tracks in collaboration with Dorian and Stringsburn (Pan Pacific Playa). Jet Set ran out of stock in one...
Posted on September 23, 2012 at 01:34. | Released on September 21, 2012
Gig report: hitomitoi sings "City Dive"
Text by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last June singer hitomitoi's new album "City Dive" was released on Billboard Japan Records. The album was produced by Cunimondo Takiguchi of city pops unit Ryūsenkei, with some tracks by Dorian and...
Posted on September 3, 2012 at 00:20.
hitomitoi "City Dive"
Singer hitomitoi has a brand new album coming, produced by jazz DJ Cunimondo Takiguchi (Ryūsenkei), in collaboration with Dorian and guitarist Kashif aka StringsBurn (Pan Pacific Playa). This album, being described as contemporary city music, is when summer starts! Coming...
Posted on June 15, 2012 at 23:28. | Released on June 20, 2012
