City Pop / AOR

Circus Town is Tatsuro Yamashita’s vivid 1976 solo debut, split between sessions recorded in New York and Los Angeles. Across eight tracks, Yamashita brings together soul, funk, jazz, AOR, and meticulously arranged pop—the early blueprint for a sound that would become central to Japanese...

Days of Cat and Music, The traces eleven years of SUKISHA’s music through 17 tracks shaped by hip-hop, neo-soul, jazz, R&B, and city pop. Fully self-produced, the collection pairs polished grooves and intimate songwriting with memories of the artist’s life alongside his beloved cat,...

Moonglow captures Tatsuro Yamashita at a pivotal moment, blending nocturnal city pop with polished funk, soul, jazz, and disco. Originally released in 1979 as his fourth studio album and first LP for the AIR label, it became one of the longest-charting records of his...

Myself is Miki Matsubara’s fourth studio album, originally released in 1982. Polished city pop, AOR, funk, and fusion come together around Matsubara’s expressive vocals, with songs ranging from the sleek groove of “See-Saw Love” to the reflective title track and the candlelit album closer...

Himiko Kikuchi’s Woman turns scenes from everyday life into vivid, keyboard-led Japanese jazz fusion. Originally released in 1983, the album blends jazz-funk, city pop, and polished grooves with Kikuchi’s melodic playing and imaginative arrangements. Each composition has its own cinematic personality, from the relaxed...

Himiko Kikuchi made an immediate mark on Japan’s jazz-fusion scene with Don’t Be Stupid, her groove-driven 1980 debut. Kikuchi’s expressive electric piano and keyboards move easily between sleek jazz, funk, disco, and Latin-inflected rhythms, balancing melodic sophistication with an energetic ensemble sound. World-renowned saxophonist...

Tokyo 1980s Victor Edition Vol. 2 (The Vinyl Collection) continues DJ NOTOYA’s exploration of the Victor Records archives with eight carefully selected Japanese boogie, AOR, fusion, and mellow dance tracks. The collection moves from polished pop and thick bass-driven grooves to smooth, late-night arrangements,...

Tokyo 1980s Victor Edition (The Vinyl Collection) brings DJ NOTOYA’s celebrated deep dive into Japanese boogie, funk, disco, and modern soul to clear purple vinyl. Drawn from the Victor Records catalog, this eight-track selection highlights the polished grooves and dance-floor energy that defined Japan’s...

Emerald Shower is Sumiko Yamagata’s eighth album and her final original release for Nippon Columbia. Originally issued in 1978, this Japanese city-pop cornerstone pairs Yamagata’s crystalline vocals with Yasunori Sorimachi’s sophisticated arrangements and an inviting blend of light-mellow grooves, samba rhythms, and polished pop....

Free Drink is JADOES’ acclaimed second album, delivering a polished blend of Japanese city pop, electro-funk, boogie, and soulful balladry. Produced by Toshiki Kadomatsu, the record moves effortlessly from weighty electronic grooves to sleek, neon-lit arrangements and heartfelt slow jams. JADOES are joined by...

Style is the 1988 debut album from Japanese singer-songwriter Keiko Kimura, pairing her fresh, expressive vocals with an urbane city-pop sound shaped by accomplished studio musicians. Produced by Shigeru Suzuki and featuring lyrics by Takashi Matsumoto and others, the album blends polished late-1980s pop,...

FLYING is Sumiko Yamagata’s landmark 1977 album, pairing her clear, expressive vocals with the polished playing of musicians from the Tin Pan Alley circle. Produced by Takashi Matsumoto and directed by Shigeru Suzuki, the record moves through breezy city pop, folk-pop, jazz, bossa nova,...

Pocket Park is Miki Matsubara’s 1980 debut album and one of the defining releases of Japanese city pop. Best known for the album version of “Mayonaka no Door / Stay With Me,” the record pairs Matsubara’s expressive vocals with polished AOR arrangements, funk-driven rhythm...

CITY MUSIC TOKYO Second Definition continues the acclaimed Japanese compilation series with a sophisticated journey through jazz-funk, crossover, rare groove, and cinematic soundtrack music. Selected, supervised, and annotated by Cunimondo Takiguchi of RYUSENKEI, the collection draws from the Nippon Columbia catalog to create the...

Seychelles is Masayoshi Takanaka’s 1976 solo debut and a cornerstone of Japanese jazz fusion. Across eight tracks, Takanaka’s melodic electric guitar is paired with tropical percussion, bright keyboards, elastic basslines, and breezy island-inspired arrangements. This Japanese edition presents the album on 180-gram clear sky...

ALFA/YEN Records 1980-1987: Techno Pop and Other Electronic Adventures in Tokyo ALFA/YEN Records 1980-1987 is a definitive survey of the futuristic Japanese techno-pop, electronic, and experimental sounds that emerged from Tokyo during the 1980s. Across 21 tracks, this Japanese-import compilation brings together landmark recordings...

Yasuha - Transit on Yellow Vinyl Transit is the 1981 debut album from Yasuha, released two months after her debut single “Friday Chinatown.” A defining city pop album, it pairs Yasuha’s own compositions with lyrics by Toyohisa Araki and Junko Yamao, plus arrangements by...

Hiroshi Sato - Super Market on Clear Yellow Vinyl Super Market is Hiroshi Sato’s landmark solo debut album, originally released in 1976 on Wave Concept through Nippon Columbia. Recorded at Electra Studios in California with local musicians including Amos Garrett and Joe Carrello, the...

Hiroshi Sato - Time on Clear Deep Blue Vinyl Time, Hiroshi Sato’s second album, is a 1977 Japanese city pop and AOR favorite that blends mellow soul, jazz-funk, soft rock and fusion around Sato’s expressive keyboard work. This limited-edition Japan import presents the album...

Masayoshi Takanaka - Finger Dancin' on Clear Purple Vinyl Finger Dancin' captures Japanese guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka in a compact burst of colorful jazz fusion, funk, disco, and melodic guitar work. Originally released in 1980, the four-track mini-album returns as a limited-edition Japanese pressing on...

Masayoshi Takanaka - All Of Me Green Vinyl 2LP All Of Me is one of the most beloved releases in the discography of Japanese jazz fusion legend Masayoshi Takanaka. Originally released in 1979, this compilation gathers standout material from Takanaka’s early classic albums including...

Masayoshi Takanaka - Brasilian Skies Blue Vinyl LP Brasilian Skies is a sun-soaked jazz fusion classic from Japanese guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka, originally released in 1978, the album blends Takanaka’s bright electric guitar tone with Brazilian-inspired samba, bossa nova, funk, disco, and smooth jazz textures....

Fishmans - 空中 (Kuchu) The Best of Fishmans (Vinyl) 空中 (Kuchu) – The Best of Fishmans is one half of the acclaimed twin compilation releases issued in 2005, alongside Uchu (Universe). Curated by drummer Kin-ichi Motegi, these collections were designed to span Fishmans’ catalog...

Masayoshi Takanaka - Saudade (Vinyl) Masayoshi Takanaka’s Saudade is one of the defining releases in his catalog and a cornerstone of early ’80s Japanese jazz fusion. Originally released on September 10, 1982, the album showcases Takanaka at a creative peak, blending smooth guitar-driven compositions...

Masayoshi Takanaka - Ocean Breeze (Vinyl) Masayoshi Takanaka’s Ocean Breeze is a vibrant live album originally released in 1982, capturing the energy and musicianship of one of Japan’s most celebrated guitarists at the height of his popularity. Recorded during his “Power Play ’80–’81” tour,...