Mishio Ogawa: 小川美潮, 4to3, ウレシイノモト & 檸檬の月

I've been having a troubling time with uploading to Mediafire so I decided to try Mega, but then I was having issue with that. Very frustrating.

I apologize for the delay but these are definitely worth the wait! If you enjoyed her work with Chakra, then you will definitely enjoy her solo efforts. 

The first track I ever heard from her was "走れ自転車" which was featured in the brilliant anime film "老人Z" which former Chakra member, Bun Itakura, composed the soundtrack for. Ogawa and Itakura have frequently collaborated with one another over the years and 走れ自転車 is a great example of this.

Each of the albums highlights Ogawa's distinct style while simultaneously bringing something new to each individual effort. Her self titled debut is mostly minimal and abstract however with the following three albums, Ogawa really builds upon a strong foundation with incrementally improving production values, powerful; emotive vocals  and a noticeable effort for a wider pop appeal.   

All these albums are courtesy of an anonymous post from Jpddl. Give them a listen and best wishes during this holiday season! Enjoy!





小川美潮 (1984)

1. おーい
2. 行っといで
3. 時計屋
4. ポテトロイド
5. おかしな午後
6. 光の糸 金の糸
7. 花の子供











4to3 (1991)

1. デンキ
2. Four to Three
3. 夜店の男
4. 野ばら
5. On the Road
6. 記憶
7. ほほえみ
8. 天国と地獄
9. 窓
10. おかしな午後






ウレシイノモト (1992)

1. ウレシイの素
2. きもちのたまご
3. Link
4. 恋
5. Marble
6. 走れ自転車 (album version)
7. Charming
8. Picnic
9. ひとりごと
10. 人と星の镚
11. 逪い夏
BONUS from 老人Z OST
走れ自転車









檸檬の月 (1993)

1. はじめて
2. 檸檬の月
3. ふたつのドア
4. Shambhaline I
5. Shambhaline II
6. Tall Noser
7. Dear Mr. Optimist
8. Monday
9. Chat Show
10. Blue

[REQUEST/REPOST] Anzen Chitai: 安全地帯II & 安全地帯IV

A request for a repost from "99". Hopefully with the holiday coming up this week I can cover some more new post and past reposts! Enjoy!



安全地帯II (1984)

1. ワインレッドの心
2. 真夜中すぎの恋

3. 眠れない隣人

4. マスカレード

5. あなたに

6. ・・・ふたり・・・

7. 真夏のマリア

8. つり下がったハート

9. ダンサー

10. La-La-La

安全地帯IV (1985)

1. 夢のつづき

2. デリカシー

3. 碧い瞳のエリス

4. 合言葉

5. こしゃくなTEL.

6. 消えない夜

7. 悲しみにさよなら

8. 彼女は何かを知っている

9. ガラスのささやき

10. ありふれないで

Chakra: チャクラ, さてこそ & 南洋でヨイショ

While this post may focus on this short lived but fantastic group, it's really in recognition of it's vocalist Mishio Ogawa. 

Active since the late 70's, Ogawa began her career with Chakra releasing these three fantastic albums. Eclectic, poppy, and Minyo/Ryukuyuan influenced, Chakra fits right in with truly enviable alternative/new wave scene emerging in Japan during this time. 

Quickly after Chakra's demise, Ogawa released 4 fantastic solo albums which continued very much in the style of the band and has also been with several "super groups" so to speak (Wha-ha-ha, Toshiyuki Honda Radio Club, Haniwa). 

These three albums come highly recommend and are courtesy of JPDDL.com. If you're a fan of early Haruomi Hosono, Miharu Koshi or Taeko Ohnuki, you'll definitely dig them! "さてこそ" in my opinion really embodies their perfect sound. 

You can click on any of the albums names to find the link. You can also expect to see her solo albums and two more from Hideaki Tokunaga  Enjoy!

チャクラ (1980)

1. 福の種
2. マネキン
3. あこがれ
4. 島の娘
5. 東京スウィート
6. いっしょに
7. アイ・アム・ソーロー
8. 空の友達











さてこそ (1981)

1. めだか
2. ミュン ミュン
3. おちょーし者の行進曲
4. You Need Me
5. これから死んでゆくすべての生命体に捧げる詩
6. いとほに
7. Free
8. III
9. 微笑む
10.ちょっと痛いけどステキ









南洋でヨイショ (1983)

1. スウィング(タコにささげるよ)
2. 南洋でヨイショ
3. 本当のこと言えば
4. 私と百貨店
5. ペリカン
6. まだ
7. テーマ(Instrumental)

Hideaki Tokunaga: BIRDS & Dear

Another two great listen from Tokunaga. The ballads really shine off these two. Enjoy!


BIRDS (1987)

1. 輝きながら…
2. シック
3. ため息のステイ
4. ノースリーブのクリスマス
5. 夏の素描(デッサン)
6. BIRDS
7. 君は悲しいギター
8. さよならの水彩画
9. Silent good-night 〜君のために…
10. レター
BONUS FROM "INTRO"
1. さよなら言葉
2. ノースリーブのクリスマス(INTRO.Version)
3. セレブレイション

Dear (1988)

1. 風のエオリア
2. HONG KONG NIGHT
3. あなたのために
4. Tendely
5. Dear...
6. 幾つものワンシーン
7. ガラス越しのあなた
8. どれくらいの時がたてば
9. 真夜中のリバティー
10. Melody -永遠の鍵-

Hideaki Tokunaga: Girl & radio

When it comes to J-pop, I'd say that my preference lies mainly with the many female idols of the "Silver Age" and the producers that help define their careers. However, there are a handful of strong male contenders that I feel get overlooked when people look back on a decade of fantastic music. Hideaki Tokunaga is definitely a perfect example of this and his raspy voice with a more ballad approach, set him apart from many of the singers at the time. This has allowed him a lot of staying power and in fact he is the first male artist in Japan to have at least one album chart #1 on the Oricon four decades in a row (80s-10's)! 

I was only familiar with a handful of Tokunaga's songs that I were featured of compilations and such but thanks to a russian blog I stumbled upon J-Music, I was allowed access to nearly his entire catalog. 

Featured in this post are his first records  which I have re-tagged in Japanese but if you would like, I urge you to check out the source links. I only plan to post his albums from the 80s but if you are interested in more, this site definitely has it. Enjoy!





Girl (1986)


1. レイニー ブルー
2. リアリストとロマンチスト
3. 夏のプリズム
4. 冬の動物園
5. ガール
6. 僕の憂鬱
7. 未完成
8. Air Port 20:13
9. レター
10. 最後の学園祭
11. 奇跡のようなめぐり逢い

Video Link to Air Port 20:13





radio (1986)

1. 9月のストレンジャー
2. 夏のラジオ
3. 僕のハートに君はSTAY
4. ライディーン
5. 夢に抱かれて
6. 抱きしめたい
7. ペンダント
8. 感じるままに
9. 振られるなんて
10. 心の中はバラード
11. 愛の中から

Haruomi Hosono: Nokto de la Galaksia Fervojo (Night on the Galactic Railroad)

Over the course of my small years in blogging, I've avoided posting a lot of cool finds since they aren't my original files. However, with the internet and file sharing getting more restrictive and many losing their passion to share, I've felt an urge to post some albums that many wouldn't otherwise hear. My site isn't large and I don't have the chance to post as much as I'd like but hopefully I can keep the spirit alive of all the individuals who have provided me with so much joy over the years.

Nokto de la Galaksia Fervojo is the soundtrack to the meta-anime film Night on the Galactic Railroad (銀河鉄道の夜) by the amazing Haruomi Honsono. The film itself is based off the novel of the same name by renowned Japanese writer, Kenji Miyazawa. Miyazawa was interested in the obscure latin based language Esperanto and this can be seen in his novel, the film and Honsono's tracklisting. 

The film is beautifully animated, slowly paced, thought provoking and the music compliments this perfectly. While the film was slightly controversial due to director Gisaburo Sugii's decision to interpret the story with anthropomorphic cats, I still feel that Miyazawa's message of "what is true happiness?" resonates. It may not be for everyone but I recommend you give it a chance if your a fan of Honsono or want to try something new. Sugii also recently released a spiritual successor to his film adapting another of Miyazawa's novels, Guskō Budori no Denki (グスコーブドリの伝記), last year with the same art style and cats! Enjoy!

File source (Defunct): Music Blog of Saltyka and His Friends

Nokto de la Galaksia Fervojo (1985)

1. La Ceftitolo

2. Temo el la Mondo de la Fantazia Kvara Dimensio

3. Fantazio Kaj Realo

4. En Tago Serena

5. La Kanto de la Rondiro de la Steloj

6. Fantazio de Giovanni

7. La Stelfesto de Centauro

8. La Masto de 'Tenkirin'

9. La Gojo

10. La Norda Kruco

11. La Pliocena Marbordo

12. La Historio en Fantazio

13. La Harpo de la Paradizo

14. La Travida Malgojo de Giovanni

15. La Pleja Felico

16. Temo de la Adiauo

17. Kuro

18. 45 Minutoj

19. Rekviemo

20. Temo Finala- Nokto de la Galaksia Fervojo

Here is the soundtrack in its entirety

Here is the film in its entirety

Various Artists: スタまにシリーズ BLUE SEED

Great compilation album of various songs written for the anime series BLUE SEED and its OVA counterpart. Definite highlights are the songs from TAKADA BAND, a in house band of sorts that worked with the series' score composer Kenji Kawai and from actress Megumi Hayashibara, who voiced the main character of the series Momiji. Enjoy!

Special note, the track "Blame or Blade", is sung by voice actress Kotono Mitsuishi, most notably known as the voice of Sailor Moon!

Tracks 1,3,4,6,8, 13-14 by TAKADA BAND
Tracks 2,9 by Megumi Hayashibara
Track 7 by Megumi Hayashibara & Sakura Yamazaki
Track 10 by Kotono Mitsuishi
Track 11 by Sakiko Tamagawa
Track 12 by Kazuhiko Inoue & Yuji Ueda
Track 15 by Akio Otsuka & Ari Orikasa

スタまにシリーズ BLUE SEED (2005)

1. EXCEED ILLUSION
2. 私だけの夢へ
3. CARNIVAL・BABEL～カルナバル・バベル～
4. 夜はねむらない -FOR THE LONELY CITY GIRL-
5. Touch and Go!!
6. BORDERLESS UNIVERSE
7. 星を飛び越えて
8. HUsH-A-BYE LULLABY
9. GO IT ALONE
10. Blame or Blade
11. Cry for the Moon
12. Risky Game
13. Eternal Truth
14. SECOND KISS
15. 二人の夜明け

Huong Thanh & Nguyên Lê: Fragile Beauty

This is an album I picked up at the library in town and I was quite surprised at what I heard. Huong Thanh is one of the most prominent Vietnamese vocalists and started singing with her family at an early age in Vietnam. However, it was when her family moved to France when she was a teenager that Thanh started to discover and develop who she was an artist outside of her traditional training. Jazz had a huge influence on Thanh and she began a career fusing it with her traditional background. 

Musician and composer Nguyên Lê, coming from a similar background, helped Thanh develop this sound as a producer and with her third release, the two came together to create this album. While the album has a more New Age/World Music feeling, it's the jazzy accents that are added to each song that give the entire album a rich and unique sound. I highly recommend everyone to give this album a listen! Enjoy!


Fragile Beauty (2007)

1. Drifting On The Water
2. Weaving & Awaiting
3. Faithfulness
4. Plantation Song*
5. The Five Calls Of The Night
6. Fragile Beauty
7. Rowing The Sampan
8. The Pavillon Of Crystallized Azure
9. At Dusk, From The West Balcony
10. Go Cong Blues
11. The Swallow's Bridge*
12. Tales Of The Mountain

Katsumi Horii Project: I Believe

Here is the special album I have been waiting for and I so happy to come across this on ebay, getting it for a VERY LOW PRICE!!~  

"I Believe" is the 1995 soundtrack to the NHK Drama "走らんか!". I don't know too much about the show but I can tell you this is another great album in the collectives discography. 

You'll notice that several tracks are repeated, don't worry it isn't a error rather they are themes and variations (it is a soundtrack after all). While I was a tad disappointed that the tracks were a little short, there are 17 tracks providing one of the longer albums from the Katsumi Horii Project.

Special thanks to Fen, JJ, Corwyn and the others who have continued to support the page and sent me messages while I've been in and out of posting.

Enjoy!


I Believe (1995)

1. FREE AS THE WIND
2. OUR TOWN
3. ALONE AT LAST , IN YOUR EYES
4. I BELIEVE
5. CATTY TALK
6. I BELIEVE
7. I SAY HELLO
8. YOU'LL NEVER KNOW
9. FREE AS THE WIND
10. LET IT RIDE
11. I BELIEVE
12. FREE AS THE WIND
13. LET IT RIDE
14. COMING HOME
15. EVERY REASON
16. COMING HOME
17. FRAMES OF MIND

Here is a clip from the show. You can hear a portion of "FREE AS THE WIND"  start at 1:43

Koji Tamaki: T [REPOST]

Sorry for the delay on this one. I will be trying to go through the comments and repost all of the request that are possible. Enjoy!

T (1995)

1. 正義の味方(ヒーロー)
2. 情熱
3. キ・ツ・イ
4. じれったい
5. ふたりなら
6. あの頃へ
7. カリント工場の煙突の上に
8. ROOTS
9. ワインレッドの心
10. 悲しみにさよなら
11. I Love Youからはじめよう
12. ロマン
13. コール
14. 星になりたい

Ippu-Do: Discography

Now here is one of my favorite groups. From humble New Wave/Surf rock beginnings to Avantgarde synthpop, Ippu-Do had a short but amazing run from 1979-1984. Under the guidance of Yellow Magic Orchestra and Japan, Ippu-do never achieved fully received the recognition of their peers but left their own imprint in the budding New Wave scene in Asia and Europe. If you enjoyed my earlier posts from the band's vocalist Masami Tsuchiya solo career, then I strongly urge you to check these out. I found these on a now defunct blog a few years ago and I am forever grateful for it! I also have a two albums from the bands keyboard player, Akira Mitake if anyone is interested! Enjoy! 


Normal (1980)

1. Adventure
2. ブレイクアウト・ジェネレーション (狂育世代)
3. ブラウン管の告白
4. TV SCENE
5. 電気人形
6. PANIC IN THE CITY
7. I LOVE YOU
8. 思春期 PARTⅡ
9. チャイニーズ・レゲエ
10. ESCAPE
11. 心配しないで
12. MORNING FANTASY
13. もっとリアルに
14. DIS-COMMUNICATION
15. ADVENTURE<新宿LOFT 1980年2月9日>
16. ブレイクアウト・ジェネレーション(狂育世代)<新宿LOFT 1980年2月9日>
17. PANIC IN THE CITY<新宿LOFT 1980年2月9日>





REAL (1980)

1. ジャーマン・ロード
2. BROKEN DUMMIES
3. ロンリー・パイロット
4. IN Side/OUT Side
5. ミステリアス・ナイト～OUT Side/IN Side
6. HEIDELBURG SYMPHONY
7. FUNK #9 (A present for disco people)
8. NEU! (Changing the history)
9. HELPLESS SOLDIER
10. LUNATIC GUITAR






Radio Fantasy (1981)

1. RADIO COSMOS
2. ふたりのシーズン
3. ラジオ・ファンタジー
4. YOMOTOLO-WAIYA
5. チャイナ・ステップ
6. RADIO JAPAN
7. イミテーション・チャチャ
8. モーニング・メニュ
9. MAGIC VOX
10. スパイ大作戦
11. DUBLING RADIO
12. LISTEN TO ME
13. I NEED YOU
14. LISTEN TO ME (English Version)
15. CHINESE REGGAE (English Version)
BONUS (すみれ September Love [SINGLE] 1982)
1. すみれ September Love
2. ルナティック・シャドウズ

Featuring "モーニング・メニュ", "ふたりのシーズン", MAGIC VOX, RADIO JAPAN



Night Mirage (1983)

1. プランツ・ミュージック
2. アフリカン・ナイツ
3. 僕の心に夏の雨
4. Water Flower
5. ロンリー・シーライオン
6. Sorrow
7. ドリーム・オブ・ザ・ジプシーズ
8. “Sail On”
9. 月の蜃気楼
10. 水晶の葉
11. Alone
12. Things to Worry About
13. Fear for the Future
14. In Time - Out of Time
15. Nightgulls
16. Never Mind
17. ムーンライト・マジック

Live and Zen (1984)

1. 開幕/LISTEN TO ME
2. ふたりのシーズン
3. MAGIC VOX 1
4. MAGIC VOX 2
5. SECRET PARTY
6. VIOLATION 1
7. VIOLATION 2
8. アフリカン・ナイツ
9. RICE MUSIC
10. すみれ September Love
11. ナイト・イン・ザ・パーク

Keiko Matsui - Collection

While I haven't had much time for the blog as I would like, I couldn't turn down the chance to post this album! Strangely enough I found it at a library in town and was very happy to do so. Keiko Matsui is a fantastic Jazz/New Age pianist who has had a long career in both Japan and the States. Some of you may be familiar her work as "Keiko Doi" in the all female fusion group, "Cosmos". I love her work with Cosmos and thats all thanks to WAX MASK posting up 4 of their albums. This post consists of a best of album featuring songs from her solo efforts in the 80s and early 90s.  I strongly urge everyone to check out both her projects, and if I am lucky, I will be able to track down more albums from her!

As a side note, I will be receiving a much sought after album within a few weeks that I am sure many of you will be interested in as well! Look out for it and I will try to get back to posting once my life decides to cut me some slack haha!

Collection (1997)

1. Mountain Shakedown
2. The Wind And The Wolf
3. Under Northern Lights
4. Light In The Rain
5. The Morning Moon
6. Believer
7. Walls Of The Cave
8. Kappa (Water Elf)
9. Secret Forest
10. In The Mist
11. Souvenir
12. The Gate

Full album stream

Akiko Yano: ト・キ・メ・キ & BROOCH

 Here are two other albums from Ms. Yano I recently acquired from an anonymus uploader! Both a slightly more stripped albums with more focus on Yano and her piano. While ト・キ・メ・キ holds her more familiar sound, BROOCH is a more eclectic/avantgarde tribute to french composers. The album isn't for everyone but I do think it has some really enjoyable tracks and any fan of hers' should check it out. More reposts and such will be on their way but I may be without internet for a short period of time so it may not be until later in the month. Thanks to all my steady visitor and any newcomers. Comments are always appreciated! Enjoy!



ト・キ・メ・キ (1978)

1. こどもたち
2. カタルンカララン
3. ウオーサオー
4. TWO ON THE STAGE
5. 大きな石\
6. アンダンテ・カンタービレ
7. やめるわけにゃいかないわ
8. ヨ・ロ・コ・ビ
9. ト・キ・メ・キ

やめるわけにゃいかないわ



BROOCH (1986)

1. ゆめのよる
2. 小まどから
3. リンゴ
4. はこ
5. From (Piety)
6. Beau Soir (Beautiful Evening)
7. Pastorale (Pastoral)
8. Vorfruhling (Eariest Spring)
9. The Owl and the Pussy-Cat
10. Chanson Francaise (French Song)
11. Chevaux de Bois (Wooden Horses)
12. Die Wetterfahne (The Vane)
13. Il Pleure dans mon Cosur (Tears Fall in my Heart)
14. Voici que le Printemps (Here is Spring)
15. Die Forelle (The Trout)
16. Der Lindenbaum (The Linden-Tree)
17. Standchen (Serenade)
18. La Temps a Laissie son Manteau (Did Time Now his Mantle hath Doffed)

Miki Imai: fiesta & MOCHA

Here are two more from Miki Imai. fiesta is an interesting compilation of covers of popular western songs from the 70's (The Carpenters, Peaches & Herb, Roberta Flack, etc.) with two original songs (one instrumental) . The songs are sung in English with Miki's voice and the arrangements complimenting the original versions very well. Also included is MOCHA, her third full length LP and her last of the 80's. Both great albums thanks to an anonymous uploader! Enjoy! 



fiesta (1988)

1. Prelude
2. (They long to be) Close to you
3. The lady wants to know
4. Reunited
5. Feel like makin' love
6. Snow falling thick and slow
7. Lovin' you
8. Superstar
9. Company~Epilogue~
10. ひとりでX'mas








MOCHA (1989)

1. TOKYO 8月サングラス
2. 横顔からI LOVE YOU
3. Boogie-Woogie Lonesome High-Heel (Album Version)
4. Anytime Manytimes
5. 飽きたら言って
6. 明るくなるまで
7. ありふれたlove scene
8. 泳ぐ
9. 地上に降りるまでの夜

Masahiro Andoh: Arc the Lad Original Game Sound Track

Arc the Lad is a strategy RPG game that was developed for the Playstation One in 1995. It was also the first video game soundtrack to be composed by Masahiro Andoh of The Square/T-Square fame. Andoh would go on to compose a multitude of game soundtracks including  the games two sequels. These were eventually released State side in a wonderful compilation thanks to now defunt Working Designs. While I enjoy the games for what they are, they aren't personal favorites but the music for the first game is fantastic. The album featured is arranged version of the protagonists themes and orchestral arrangements of the games themes. Even if you aren't familiar with the game or play games, the soundtrack is a definitely listen for any fan of Andoh. Enjoy!  



Arc the Lad Original Game Sound Track (1995)


1. Opening**
2. Arc
3. Kukuru
4. Poco
5. Tosh
6. Gogen
7. Chongara
8. Iga
9. Finale**
10. Departure**
11. Ending**

**performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Keiichi Oku 

Also featuring
Hirotaka Izumi, Hiroyuki Noritake, Toshimi Nagai, Masato Honda, Mitsuru Sudoh, Takayuki Hijikata & Jun Kajiwara

Toshiyuki Honda: reLAX [RE-UP]

Per Request. Sorry for the delay!

reLAX (1991)

1.Updraft
2.In the Middle of Reef
微風のまなざし
3.Beside You
君に包まれて
4.My Happiness
5.Silhouette
6.Carnival in Sunshower
7.Blue Skyscraper
蒼い摩天楼
8.Taking from the Rain
天気雨
9.Party Mix
10.Vingt-Cinq ans  ヴァンサンカン

Miki Imai: elfin

Finally got ahold of this one thanks to an online uploader! Two more early albums of her's to come! Enjoy! Hope Corwyn and Fen don't have this yet! 

elfin (1987)

1. どしゃ降りWonderland
2. ポールポジション
3. クラブ・ロンリーハーツ・エキゾティカ
4. 思いだしただけ
5. ふたりでスプラッシュ
6. ラスト・シークエンス
7. SAYONARAの行方
8. 光の夢
9. elfin
10. 野性の風 (Album Remix)
BONUS
野性の風 (Single Version)