Round Table featuring Nino "Singles Best 2002-2012 Memories"
Round Table has a greatest hits album out now of a selection from the many "featuring Nino" singles released over the last 10 years. Most of the songs were used in anime series. This release also marks an end to...
Posted on December 2, 2012 at 23:53. | Released on November 28, 2012
Various Artists "Good Lovin' - Shimokita-kei Guitar Pop Compilation -"
Here's a compilation album that focuses on 90's Shimokitazawa guitar pop. Shimokitazawa is a young area of Tokyo where many artists live, and also the home of CD shop and live space mona records. Included are tracks by Luvy Van...
Posted on October 2, 2010 at 11:04. | Released on October 6, 2010
Various Artists "AKSB ~kore ga Akishibu-kei da!~"
There's a relatively new genre called Akishibu-kei, a mix of Shibuya-kei and Akiba-kei (the latter referring to cosplay idols singing in high-pitched voices over electro-pop), which is getting acknowledged by this compilation of anime songs from Victor's discography. Featured producers...
Posted on July 31, 2007 at 15:35. | Released on September 21, 2007
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Record Store Day 2025
Record Store Day will be held worldwide on Saturday April 12. Below is a list of recommended releases coming from Japan. The full list of Record Store Day Japan can be found here. Online sales in Japan should start the...
Posted on April 12, 2025 at 10:35. | Released on April 12, 2025
Record Store Day 2024
Record Store Day was held worldwide on Saturday April 20. Below is a list of recommended releases coming from Japan. The full list of Record Store Day Japan can be found here. Online sales in Japan have already started. Also...
Posted on April 23, 2024 at 00:54. | Released on April 20, 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
YMCK "Family Innovation"
YMCK is back with a brand new 9th album, titled "Family Innovation"! Taking for theme technology of the recent years and apparently posing as an imaginary company, they reflect on "innovation" and how it affects our lives and the music...
Posted on September 30, 2022 at 12:11. | Released on September 30, 2022
Record Day 2021 Day 1
Record Day, previously happening only on November 3 for "Culture Day" (a public holiday), is being held on two separate days in 2021: November 3 and 27. Items can be ordered online without any delay. Below is a list of...
Posted on November 3, 2021 at 00:44. | Released on November 3, 2021
RYUTist "Party o tsuzukeyou!" (Download)
Niigata-based idol group RYUTist has just released a brand new song digitally! "Party o tsuzukeyō!" (translates to "Let's continue the party!") was written by connie (main producer of Negicco) and arranged by Kitagawa Katsutoshi (Round Table). This follows the...
Posted on August 10, 2021 at 20:38. | Released on August 10, 2021
Interview: BJ Rubin
Interview of BJ Rubin by Patrick Benny (Tokyo's Coolest Sound)--> BJ Rubin is the New Yorker who is behind the eclectic TV show titled "The BJ Rubin Show" that's currently being aired on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN). The show...
Posted on February 27, 2021 at 22:00.
April Set "asayake ga kieru mae ni / yakan hikou" (7")
April Set, the solo project of DJ & producer Suzuki Masanori (Instagram), has just recently released a new 7"! The A-side is a cover of Ishikawa Seri's hit song "asayake ga kieru mae ni", written by Yuming, this time...
Posted on January 3, 2021 at 19:42. | Released on December 16, 2020
Posted on December 30, 2020 at 11:21. | Event held on Sunday January 17, 2021 at 13:00 (JST)
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.
Posted on October 10, 2020 at 21:01. | Event held on Saturday October 24, 2020 at 18:00 (JST)
sugar me "Wild Flowers"
Singer-songwriter sugar me is releasing a brand new album, her first original album since "Around the Corner" (2015) which had been followed by cover mini-album "6 femmes". Featured musicians include Horie Hirohisa (Neil & Iraiza) on keyboards, Kamiya Jumpei (Akai...
Posted on October 5, 2020 at 21:35. | Released on October 7, 2020
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.7
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 July 22, 2020 at 23:35.
RYUTist "Falsetto"
Niigata-based idol group RYUTist has a 4th album finally being released, after having suffered some delays from the virus situation. Including some songs previously released as singles, and also a bunch of brand new ones. It had been 3 years...
Posted on July 8, 2020 at 23:22. | Released on July 14, 2020
Tokyo's Coolest Sound radio show on La Face B: "Tokyo's Coolest Sound" vol.2
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 January 22, 2020 at 23:55.
Record Store Day 2019
Record Store Day 2019 is just around the corner! This year it's to be held on April 13, a week earlier than usual. This year again there are many great releases happening in Japan. Below are Tokyo's Coolest Sound's picks!...
Posted on April 11, 2019 at 22:33. | Released on April 13, 2019
Gig report: Adieu, Vanilla Beans!: Retrospective & last gig reports
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound They came carried by winds from Northern Europe, where they returned to last October 7 (2018). So goes the setting of Vanilla Beans, a unique idol group that had debuted...
Posted on December 31, 2018 at 22:03.
Record Day 2018
Record Day is this Saturday November 3, always held on the same day as national holiday "Culture Day". Led by Japan's long-running record factory Tōyōkasei, many labels and artists coordinate their releases in the favorite physical format of many to...
Posted on November 2, 2018 at 23:22. | Released on November 3, 2018
Nao (Negicco) "Nanohana"
For her 30th birthday (April 10, 2018), Negicco leader Nao is releasing a first solo single! The A-side has lyrics written by herself and music by Kitagawa Katsutoshi (Round Table), while the B-side has music written and arranged by Hase...
Posted on April 10, 2018 at 22:26. | Released on April 11, 2018
Record Store Day 2017
Record Store Day 2017 will be taking place this weekend, on Saturday April 22! As usual, many limited releases will be available at record shops only from that date. Below is a selection of some of the best stuff that...
Posted on April 18, 2017 at 22:15. | Released on April 22, 2017
DJ Hasebe "DJ HASEBE Butter Smooth - Tokyo 90's Groove -"
DJ Hasebe (official Facebook page) has a new mix album out now of 90's songs revolving around Shibuya-kei. This includes a brand new original song that features Nomiya Maki! DJ Hasebe "DJ HASEBE Butter Smooth - Tokyo 90's Groove -"...
Posted on February 24, 2017 at 00:10. | Released on February 22, 2017
Record Store Day 2016
This year again Record Store Day is being held in Japan, this time on Saturday April 16! A lot of special and limited vinyl editions are being released on that very day, and at first only available in physical shops....
Posted on April 14, 2016 at 23:15. | Released on April 16, 2016
Hanazawa Kana "Blue Avenue"
Voice actress Hanazawa Kana's recent 3rd album "Blue Avenue" has an all-star lineup of songwriters and producers including Kitagawa Katsutoshi (Round Table), Nakatsuka Takeshi, Yakushimaru Etsuko (sōtaiseiriron), Yano Hiroyasu (ex-Cymbals), mito (clammbon), Studio Apartment, Okuda Kensuke with Nishidera Gōta (Nona...
Posted on May 31, 2015 at 16:57. | Released on April 22, 2015
Negicco "Rice&Snow"
Negicco have a brand new album just out this week! This includes songs written by Tajima Takao (Original Love), Yoshida Tetsuto, Yano Hiroyasu (ex-Cymbals), Nishidera Gōta (Nona Reeves), Miura Kōshi (Kuchiroro), and of course Negicco's main producer Connie. Also there...
Posted on January 22, 2015 at 21:25. | Released on January 20, 2015
Vanilla Beans "Vanilla Beans IV"
Vanilla Beans have a brand new album coming, you guessed it, "Vanilla Beans IV"! Once again this comes with artwork that's both very non-idol-like and unforgettable. The album will include several brand new songs, plus the title tracks of the...
Posted on December 31, 2014 at 23:24. | Released on February 3, 2015
Kitagawa Katsutoshi "47 todōfu-ken R 'Wan'derful Songs"
This is the soundtrack of animated TV program "47 todōfu-ken R" about 5 dogs, of which the music is written by Kitagawa Katsutoshi (Round Table). Two tracks are arranged by Yoshida Tetsuto ("Mont Blanc Panic" and "Yuquru"), and three others...
Posted on May 8, 2014 at 20:28. | Released on April 23, 2014
quasimode "My Favorite Songs"
Jazz band quasimode have a new cover album out now, including covers of Radiohead, Stevie Wonder, Boys Town Gang, Nat King Cole and more. The limited edition comes as a higher quality SHM-CD (plays in normal CD players) and a...
Posted on April 27, 2014 at 11:22. | Released on April 23, 2014
Record Store Day 2014 in Japan
Record Store Day in Japan has been getting bigger every year. This year there are dozens of exclusive vinyl releases to be found on the shelves of these record shops on Saturday April 19. Below is a selection of releases...
Posted on April 13, 2014 at 13:46. | Released on April 19, 2014
Jintana & Emeralds "Destiny"
Jintana & Emeralds is a band featuring Jintana and Kashif (both of the Yokohama-based Pacific Pan Playa collective), DJ Crystal (Traks Boys, (((sssurrounddd)))), and 3 female vocalists including hitomitoi. While having a nostalgic sound from another time, borrowing from Phil...
Posted on April 10, 2014 at 23:45. | Released on April 23, 2014
Hanazawa Kana "25"
This 2nd album by voice actress Hanazawa Kana was released on her 25th birthday (February 26, 2014), and the 2-CD package contains 25 tracks, involving a bunch of Shibuya-kei related artists. The whole is produced by Kitagawa Katsutoshi (Round Table),...
Posted on March 2, 2014 at 22:13. | Released on February 26, 2014
Hanazawa Kana "Love Planet"
Voice actress/singer Hanazawa Kana's new single again features a great line-up. The title track was written and produced by Kitagawa Katsutoshi (Round Table), with strings arranged by Hase Yasuhiro (Yume to Cosme). "Spanish Apartment" was written and produced by Okii...
Posted on December 31, 2013 at 18:35. | Released on December 25, 2013
Gig report: Monochromoon: Tabuchi Jun, Nosa Lena, Nacional, DeliciouSweets
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On March 6 was event "Monochromoon!" at yumemiru kimiomou (aka Moon Romantic). I wanted to go there for at least 3 reasons. The first was to see Nosa Lena, a...
Posted on March 22, 2013 at 23:59.
Hanazawa Kana "claire"
This is the first album by anime voice actress Hanazawa Kana. This seems to have a good dose of Shibuya-kei, as the whole is sound produced by Kitagawa Katsutoshi (Round Table), with some songs written by Kaji Hideki ("Library de...
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 23:25. | Released on February 20, 2013
Hanazawa Kana "Silent Snow"
This is a 4th single by Hanazawa Kana, a voice actress who debuted as a singer last year. All songs are written by Kitagawa Katsutoshi (Round Table), and the title song has strings arranged by Hase Yasuhiro (yume to...
Posted on January 15, 2013 at 22:20. | Released on January 16, 2013
Gig report: Portable Rock
Text by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On Saturday June 2, I went to see Portable Rock at small venue Club Crawl in Shibuya. It was the first of two "one-man" shows (no opening band) the band played. This...
Posted on June 3, 2012 at 21:57.
Gig report: Nomiya Maki's 30th anniversary concert
Text by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound. Photos by Kasuga Miwa. On Monday March 19, I went to Nomiya Maki's 30th anniversary concert held at O-East, coincidentally (?) almost the same place where was held Pizzicato Five's last concert...
Posted on March 23, 2012 at 22:31.
Gig report: The Aprils "Magical Girls E.P." pre-release party
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last night (November 22) at Koenji High was the pre-release party for The Aprils' new CD, "Magical Girls" EP going on sale on January 11, 2012. The event was even...
Posted on November 23, 2011 at 22:37.
Gig report: Vanilla Beans & Negicco release day in-store event
Text by Patrick for Tokyo's Coolest Sound This week was the release of Vanilla Beans' 2nd full-length original album "Vanilla Beans II"! They are now touring several record stores around the Kantō area in a promotion rush, but it all...
Posted on July 24, 2011 at 00:00.
Gig report: Hikashu & Shinohara Tomoe at The Japan Society, NYC
Text and photos by Nicholas D. Kent (Japanese Electronic Music) for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Back in late 2009 Tomoe asked to let her listen to some Hikashu (MySpace) tracks, specifically "Biro Biro", a classic 1980 released track of theirs because...
Posted on May 17, 2011 at 23:22.
Gig report: "Swing in the JICOO" with Nakatsuka Takeshi
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last Saturday, May 7, was another swinging cruise hosted by Nakatsuka Takeshi aboard JICOO, the water bus-turned-floating bar designed by manga artist Matsumoto Leiji. The event was a sort of...
Posted on May 12, 2011 at 22:58.
Gig report: Ohno Yumiko "The Rainy Table" release party
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last Friday was a public holiday, Japan's National Foundation Day, and early evening I went to Roppongi SuperDeluxe for an event organized by multi-talent Ohno Yumiko of Buffalo Daughter. Yumiko...
Posted on February 14, 2011 at 22:52.
Various Artists "Second Royal vol.6"
Label Second Royal brings a new compilation full of brand new previously unreleased tracks by its artists (and then some)! Check out the sampler clip below. Various Artists "Second Royal vol.6" 1. New House / Small World 2. Turntable Films...
Posted on February 5, 2011 at 12:30. | Released on February 9, 2011
Gig report: Harajuku Performance+: Nomiya Maki, Open Reel Ensemble
Text by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last week on Tuesday December 22 was the first of two days of a performance-themed event at La Foret Museum, Harajuku, titled "Harajuku Performance+". On that day were two artists that I...
Posted on December 30, 2010 at 21:37.
Gig report: Future Pop Lounge 2010
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound On August 28, I went to Future Pop Lounge (official site), a festival style event at Shibuya O-Nest. It was the 3rd time the yearly summer event was held though...
Posted on September 8, 2010 at 22:37.
Gig report: "E*P=10Y" Elektel and Pyokn's 10th anniversary
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last weekend, on Sunday June 13, was held an event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of two bands, Elektel and Pyokn, incidentally formed around the same time. The event was...
Posted on June 20, 2010 at 18:21.
Gig report: Rogue Wave vol.1
Text and photos by Patrick Benny for Tokyo's Coolest Sound Last Tuesday after a rough day at work, I headed to Shindaita Fever (Shindaita is the station next to Shimokitazawa), a venue I had yet never been to. There was...
Posted on May 30, 2010 at 23:00.
Round Table featuring Nino "koi o shiteru ~Web-tama 3 Ending Theme"
Round Table feat. Nino has a new single coming up, and I hear that it features Kinbara Chieko strings, with the strings arrangement by solange et delphine's Hase Yasuhiro. The title track is also the ending theme to late night...
Posted on April 29, 2008 at 14:21. | Released on June 25, 2008
Shibuya Organic vol.6
This event of the Shibuya Organic series sounds like a great opportunity to catch vibraphone-led jazz unit the fascinations, and also Round Table's leader, flexlife and one note. All of that for a rather good price! Event official page Shiubya...
Posted on April 8, 2008 at 14:45. | Released on April 13, 2008
Saint yume to Cosme
solange et delphine is back with a 3rd of its fantastic "yume to Cosme" (dreams & cosmetics) live shows series. This time they will share Aoi Heya's intimate stage with arcorhyme (ex-P5's Takanami K-tarō's unit) playing a first full set...
Posted on October 26, 2007 at 11:22. | Released on December 16, 2007
Pizzicato Five "Pizzicato Five CUT UP" (Download)
Probably mostly (if not only) tracks that will appear on the May-released "5 minutes of pizzicato five", but for those who can't wait these will be available on iTunes Music Store Japan and other download sites by the end of...
Posted on March 20, 2006 at 16:47. | Released on March 29, 2006
