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RIDE THE EXPERIENCE
This is a highly subjective blog where I sporadically categorize japanese music from the 80s/90s that catches my attention for one reason or the other. Anything with an interesting angle, story, or if I think it's just worth the listen
Artist: 小林明子 (Akiko Kobayashi) Album: Bon Voyage (ボン・ヴォヤージュ) Release: Sep 1, 1989 (Japan) Genre: J-Pop / City Pop / Synth-pop / Kayōkyoku Label: Funhouse (original Japanese press) Format: CD • 10 tracks (~48 min) Structural Notes: Studio pop album featuring melodic song structures with synth and city-pop-leaning arrangements
Bon Voyage was released in 1989 as part of Akiko Kobayashi’s late-’80s recording period and presents a mix of melodic J-pop, synth-pop textures, and city-pop inflections. Sequenced with upbeat pop songs and mid-tempo numbers, the album reflects late-1980s production aesthetics within Japan’s pop scene while aligning song structures around accessible vocal performance and rhythmic hooks typical of the era.
Artist: 小林明子 (Akiko Kobayashi) Album: City Of Angels Release: Mar 25, 1988 (Japan) Genre: J-Pop / Adult Contemporary / AOR-leaning pop Label: Sony Music • CD/Vinyl Format: CD / LP (Japanese press) Structural Notes: Studio album with a mix of original songs and English-language pop compositions produced with Western session musicians
City Of Angels is Akiko Kobayashi’s 1988 studio album produced in collaboration with Richard Carpenter of The Carpenters, featuring a set of polished pop and AOR-leaning tracks that blend Japanese songwriting with English vocals and international arrangements. The record’s sequencing balances melodic originals and pop standards, reflecting a cross-cultural production approach and highlighting Kobayashi’s vocal versatility in both Japanese and Western pop idioms.
Artist: Anri (杏里) Album: CIRCUIT of RAINBOW Release: May 27, 1989 (Japan) Genre: Japanese pop / City pop / J-pop Label: For Life Records • FLC-4005 Format: CD (and later cassette/LP promo) Structural Notes: Mix of upbeat pop, dance-leaning grooves, and mid-tempo city pop arrangements
CIRCUIT of RAINBOW is Anri’s 13th original studio album, recorded and released in 1989 during a period of chart success including Oricon peak positions and recognition at the Japan Record Awards; it features a blend of pop songwriting with city-pop and AOR influences, combining instrumental interludes and full vocal tracks in a layout that emphasizes rhythm, melodic hooks, and layered studio production typical of late-’80s Japanese pop.
Artist: Spectrum (スペクトラム) Album:Second Navigation / Spectrum 4 Release: 1981 (Japan) (original CD and LP issue) • reissued on CD in 1991 by Victor Entertainment (VICL-23025) Genre: Jazz / Funk / Brass Rock / Pop-Inflected Fusion Label: Victor Entertainment / SJX-30077 (Japan LP) • Victor Entertainment / VICL-23025 (Japan CD) Format: LP / CD Structural Notes:Second Navigation (Spectrum 4) is the fourth studio album by Japanese brass-rock fusion ensemble Spectrum, blending horn-centered jazz and funk textures with pop-oriented arrangements and vocal elements. Released toward the end of the band’s original active period, the record features tracks such as “Night Night Knight,” “Summertime Story,” “Paradise,” and “Never Can Say Good-by,” which balance upbeat, horn-driven grooves with smoother, melodic balladry. Unlike the tighter fusion focus of earlier entries, this album carries a slightly more eclectic and pop-sensibility approach, likely reflecting the band members’ individual songwriting contributions selected from a large pool of material. The overall tone spans from dance-ready brass funk to introspective moments, showcasing Spectrum’s versatility in navigating between instrumental prowess and accessible composition within late-’70s/early-’80s Japanese jazz-pop fusion traditions.
Artist: Spectrum (スペクトラム) Album:Optical Sunrise / Spectrum 2 Release: 1980 (Japan) Genre: Jazz Fusion / Funk / City Pop / Horn Rock Label: Victor / SJX-20185 (Japan LP) • later CD issues (e.g., VICL-23023) Format: LP / CD Structural Notes:Optical Sunrise / Spectrum 2 is the second studio album by Japanese ensemble Spectrum, released in 1980 and characterized by its vibrant fusion of jazz, funk, horn-driven rock, and elements that sit adjacent to the city pop sound palette of the era. Tracks such as “Motion,” “F・L・Y,” “In The Space,” and “Sunrise” showcase tight brass arrangements, syncopated grooves, and spirited ensemble interplay that define Spectrum’s energetic approach — combining horn sections with rhythmic funk underpinnings and catchy melodic hooks. The album continues the band’s exploration of jazz-informed fusion across concise grooves and sophisticated arrangements, securing its place as a standout in Japan’s late-’70s/early-’80s brass rock and fusion canon.
Artist: 小林明子 (Akiko Kobayashi) Album: Fall In Love Release: 1987 (Japan) Genre: J-Pop / City Pop / Pop Label: Sony Music • 32DP-181 Format: CD / LP Structural Notes: Studio pop album with slick production and melodic arrangement focus
Fall In Love is Akiko Kobayashi’s third studio album, released during the mid-1980s pop boom in Japan and produced with the era’s polished, city-pop-leaning studio sheen. The record balances melodic J-pop songwriting with rhythmic and harmonic elements typical of late-’80s Japanese pop production, sequencing a mix of mid-tempo and upbeat tracks that reflect both commercial pop sensibilities and crafted studio arrangements.
空と海と風と・・・2 Sora to Umi to Kaze to 2 (1994, Japan) Genre: Japanese pop / Instrumental-leaning ensemble Catalog: BVCR-695 (Ariola Japan CD) Release Date: December 16, 1994
空と海と風と・・・2 is the second full-length release attributed to the group or project titled Sora to Umi to Kaze to…, following their earlier 泣くんじゃない (1992) record. According to release data, the album features ten tracks that blend instrumental and vocal pieces such as “渋谷でマンボ,” “Morning Bell,” “光,” “涙のドライブ,” and “夕日になりたい.” The mix of English and Japanese titles suggests a hybrid approach to composition and naming common in early-’90s Japanese studio projects.
Artist: 角松敏生 (Toshiki Kadomatsu) Album:Weekend Fly to the Sun Release: 1982 (Japan) Genre: City Pop / AOR / Funk / Urban Pop Label: RCA / RHL‑8802 (Japan LP) • later CD issues on BMG Japan / BVCR‑1518 (catalogue varies) Format: LP / CD Structural Notes:Weekend Fly to the Sun is Toshiki Kadomatsu’s second studio album, recorded in Los Angeles with top session players and arrangements by Tom Tom 84. It blends city pop, AOR, funk, and soulful urban pop across tracks like “Office Lady,” “Rush Hour,” “Brunch,” “Space Scraper,” “Friday to Sunday,” “Crescent Aventure,” “I’ll Never Let You Go,” and “4 A.M.” The album conveys a sunny, weekend‑getaway mood framed by polished production and rhythmic grooves typical of early ’80s Japanese pop fused with West Coast influences. While not as commercially successful as later works, its mix of danceable rhythms, melodic hooks, and high‑level musicianship makes it a key early entry in Kadomatsu’s evolving city‑pop style.
Artist: Fujimaru Yoshino (芳野藤丸) Album: YOSHINO FUJIMAL Release: 1982 (Japan) Genre: AOR / City Pop / Soft Rock / Funk / Soul Label: MOON RECORDS / MOON-28004 (Japan LP) • later reissues on vinyl and CD with remasters Format: LP (original) / CD (reissues, remastered editions) Structural Notes: YOSHINO FUJIMAL is the 1982 solo album by Japanese singer, guitarist, and songwriter Fujimaru Yoshino (later known for forming the AOR/fusion band AB’S). The record blends bright AOR sensibilities with city pop grooves, smooth funk rhythms, and melodic soft rock — featuring backing contributions from members of AB’S (including Makoto Matsushita, Naoki Watanabe, and Okamoto) and backing vocals by Haruko Kuwana and EPO on some tracks. Songs like “Who Are You?”, “Midnight Plus 1,” “One Shot Lady,” “Free Way 5 to South,” and “Girl’s in Love With Me” combine slick instrumentation and mellow grooves typical of early-’80s Japanese urban pop, capturing a polished fusion of Western-leaning pop/boogie and sophisticated studio production.
Artist: Keiichi Oku (奥 慶一) Album:Misty Morning Release: 1981 (Japan) Genre: Jazz / Fusion / Mellow Soul / Instrumental pop Label: Victor / JVCS-30055 (Japan LP) • later reissues (CD versions like Misty Morning+1) Format: LP (original) / CD (Misty Morning+1 reissue with extra tracks) Structural Notes:Misty Morning is a 1981 solo album by Japanese keyboardist and composer Keiichi Oku (also known for his work in Spectrum), showcasing a blend of jazz-fusion, mellow soul grooves, and rich instrumental textures anchored by piano and synths. The album features tracks ranging from laid-back melodic pieces like “Paradise” and “Hundred Thoughts in the Twilight” to more groove-oriented numbers such as “Come And Dance Another Boogie.” Many tracks incorporate warm horn lines, tasteful vocal contributions, and ensemble interplay that reflect early ’80s Japanese fusion aesthetics — a mix of contemplative moods and light dance influences.
Artist: Shigeki Watanabe & Super Trick-O- (渡辺茂樹 & Super Trick-O-) Album:Super Trick-O- Release: 1981 (Japan) Genre: Electronic / Disco / Synth-Pop / Jazz-Fusion Label: Continental (CI-6) (Japan LP) Format: LP Structural Notes:Super Trick-O- is a 1981 Japanese LP credited to Shigeki Watanabe with Super Trick-O-, blending electronic, disco, and synth-pop textures with elements of jazz and funk-leaning instrumentation. Tracks such as “Techno Night (想い出テクノ・ナイト),” “Super Trick-O-,” “Sunrise City (朝焼けのCity),” “Good Luck,” and “Sadness of Lennon (哀しみのレノン)” showcase a hybrid approach where early ’80s electronic rhythms interweave with melodic experimentation and live instrumentation — synths, vocals, guitar, and rhythm sections — producing a sound that reflects both dancefloor sensibilities and adventurous studio production typical of Japan’s transitional period between disco and electronic pop. While oblique in mainstream recognition, the record’s eclectic mix of groove-oriented tracks and synthesizer work marks it as a distinctive and exploratory release within the era’s underground electronic/urban music landscape.
Artist: Spectrum (スペクトラム) Album:Spectrum Release: 1979 (Japan) Genre: Jazz / Funk / Soul / Fusion Label: Victor / SJX-20150 (Japan LP), later reissues as CD (Victor / VICL-23022) Format: LP / CD reissue Structural Notes:Spectrum is the 1979 self-titled debut album by Japanese band Spectrum, a horn-driven jazz-rock/funk fusion group active from the late ’70s into the early ’80s. The record blends tight brass arrangements, rhythmic funk grooves, and jazz-informed improvisation across tracks that typify the band’s eclectic sound, bridging pop-sensible hooks with more adventurous ensemble interplay. Spectrum quickly became known in Japan for its technical blend of jazz, soul, and funk elements, spawning multiple albums in just a few years and influencing the country’s fusion scene with its melodic yet rhythmically complex approach.
Artist: 高橋洋子 (Yooko Takahashi) Album: Silhouette Release: 1980 (Japan) Genre: J-Pop / City Pop / Light Mellow Label: Invitation • VIH-28003 (original LP press) Format: LP (original) / rare reissues only Structural Notes: Studio pop album with city-pop grooves, mellow arrangements, and late-’70s/early-’80s soft pop sensibilities
Silhouette is a 1980 city-pop/light mellow album by Yooko Takahashi (distinct from the anime singer of the same romanized name), featuring mellow, groove-oriented tracks like “雨模様,” “プラス20才,” and “ほれぼれ女.” With contributions from players such as 後藤次利 (Tsugutoshi Goto) and 井上鑑 (Akira Inoue), the record blends 1980s pop melodies with soft AOR and funk-inflected arrangements, placing it alongside domestic city-pop and “light mellow” productions of the turn-of-the-decade Japanese pop scene.
Artist: 阿川泰子 (Yasuko Agawa) Album: SUNGLOW / Yasuko, Love-Bird Release: Jun 21, 1981 (Japan) Genre: Jazz / Latin-fusion / Vocal jazz / Bossa-inflected jazz Label: Invitation • VIH-28043 (original Japanese issue) Format: LP / later CD reissues (e.g., Victor Entertainment UHQCD) Structural Notes: Studio jazz fusion with Latin, samba, and vocal jazz arrangements
SUNGLOW (credited on early pressings as Yasuko, Love-Bird / Sunglow) is Yasuko Agawa’s 1981 album — her first full original fusion project outside straight jazz standards — built around arrangements by Naoya Matsuoka & We-Sing and featuring prominent percussion, horns, and rhythm section that blend bossa-friendly jazz with danceable grooves. The record includes “Skindo-Le-Le,” “Cinema,” and rhythm-oriented tracks that helped the album cross over into wider jazz-fusion and Latin-influenced pop contexts in Japan, marking one of Agawa’s best-known works of the early-’80s fusion scene.
Artist: 益田幹夫 (Mikio Masuda) Album: Chi Chi Release: 1982 (Japan) Genre: Jazz / Jazz-fusion / Jazz-funk Label: Invitation (original Japanese press) Format: LP / later CD reissues (including a remastered UHQCD) Structural Notes: Ensemble jazz-fusion with funk rhythms and melodic compositions
Chi Chi is a 1982 jazz-fusion album by pianist and keyboardist Mikio Masuda, featuring ten ensemble pieces that combine melodic improvisation with groove-oriented funk and jazz-fusion textures. Across tracks such as “Song Of Fantasy,” “Mozambique,” and “Walkin’ In The City,” the record reflects the early-’80s Japanese fusion scene’s mix of complex arrangement and rhythmic accessibility, showcasing Masuda’s dual roles as composer and bandleader in a period where domestic jazz was increasingly blending global fusion influences.
Artist: 石黒ケイ (Kay Ishiguro) Album: Yokohama Ragtime Release: Apr 21, 1982 (Japan) Genre: Japanese pop / City pop / AOR / funk-leaning pop Label: Invitation • VIH-28078 (original) Format: LP / later CD reissues Structural Notes: Studio pop-fusion album with rhythmic grooves and melodic, Yokohama-themed tracks
Yokohama Ragtime is Kay Ishiguro’s 1982 album built around a concept of Yokohama’s urban vibe, combining city-pop rhythms, funk and soul-inflected grooves, and melodic pop songwriting over a set of tracks like “雨,” “Driving Crazy～第3京浜,” and “横浜ホンキートンク・ブルース.” The record’s sequencing ties together uptempo numbers and mellow interludes that reflect early-’80s Japanese pop production aesthetics and the crossover appeal of AOR/funk elements within a city pop framework.