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Congratulations to David Sylvian on his 60th Birthday today, 23rd February 2018. May these be the years of laughter and forgetting.

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Mostly Steve.

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It's a Steve kinda day!

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Ok this is not about Japan at all, I just wanted to share my Simon Gallup story with his fans here as they love him so much and I really respect that. It's not a huge story but one time I went to see the Cure, I think it was the Wish tour, Simon collapsed on stage. It turned out he had pneumonia and was playing his heart out despite feeling like death as he didn't want to let the fans down. Robert kept looking over at him knowing something was wrong and the whole band were clearly anxious about him. It was awful seeing him collapse, he was helped off stage and the band carried on without him which was a bit weird but what could they do? Anyway it was close to the end of the gig and Simon came back with them for encores and The Forest. It was amazing. I think he was taken to hospital afterwards but it's so long ago I can't be sure. I just remember feeling really sorry for him. Of course he managed to stay looking totally cool and utterly beautiful throughout because he is and ever will be Simon Gallup.

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Someone tell Steve his roots are...showing. Adorable photo of a very young Japan.

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🇯🇵Happy Friday Japan Fans - Have a FAB Weekend!🇯🇵

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To Alunia

Tragedy took me from Tumblr, now it has brought me back. I just heard from the lovely Steve at TMK that one of our most dedicated and well-loved members, Alunia, had died tragically young. If you are a fan of Japan, of David Sylvian, Mick Karn or Duran Duran then you will have shared her photos, many of them rare, always shared with generosity and love. New photos of Mick are hard to come by but I’ve seen more thanks to Alunia than all but our Admin, Keiko and the band themselves. Alunia was a quiet, gentle and loyal person. She adored her family and was close to other fans, esp. Yuko who I’m sure is in all our prayers tonight. Her wisdom and measured reasoning always astounded me and I had a deep, abiding respect for her as I’m sure too do those lucky enough to know her. Alunia you are a beautiful spirit. Thank you for your friendship, your generous soul, your kindness and the dedication and love you showed in safeguarding Mick’s music and art. I’m sure Rob and Richard, Mick’s family & friends and each & every member of TMK & fan of Japan and DD here on Tumblr and wherever they are in the world, will join me in sending you our love and prayers. May Mick be the first to meet you, his arm outstretched to greet you with the warmest hug. We will miss you terribly. Our love always, Penelope Angie Keiko Steve and Japan & DD fans everywhere

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Japfan Pop Quiz!

We all know that Japan are the best band ever but who are the best fans?! Do you love all the albums or are you the Japan equivalent of a Manics ‘fan’ who keeps a copy of Everything Must Go in their mondeo? Are you Tin Drum Lite or Alternatively Obscure? Complete this fun quiz to find out if you are an überjapfan!

Communist China is: A) A country; B) Chairman Mao’s dinner plate; C) A song about, ‘shagging a Chinese girl’; D) A place in Asia where lots of people live together.

Halloween is about: A) Mick making pumpkin soup; B) Bobblet Apple; C) Kristallnacht, or Night of Broken Glass;* D) Dave & Steve’s annual Trick or Treat competition.

Jane Shorter is: A) A very small person who believes in reincarnation. B) A code word used for needing the loo whilst in the studio, as in, 'I’ve got to nip to the little boys’ room.’ 'Going to be long?’ 'Nah, I just need a Jane’; C) A sax player who was hired for a tour; D) A form of identification used when Dave and Steve both went out with girls called Jane;

She carries love in a: A) messenger bag; B) nasty old bag; C) carrier bag; D) packet of fags.

All you ever wanted is: A) A date with Dave; B) To be hiding in Steve’s bathroom while he takes a shower; C) Television; D) Mick to stand still on stage.

Ain’t What Peculiar? A) People who don’t like 'Blemish’; B) Richard’s Tennis serve; C) Peculiarity; D) Steve’s uncanny resemblance to Elvis Presley.

The Width of a Room is: A) About 12ft by 9; B) Just a lyric to Nightporter and NOTHING ELSE; C) A Japan track penned by Sir Bobblet of Dean, D) Unimportant- size doesn’t matter, does it Dave?

Ann O'Dell: A) Came about the laptop; B) Is a fairy who lives in wooded glens; C) Is the person who composed the orchestration on Quiet Life; D) Is a slow-acting painkiller.

The line, 'en desespoir agréable,’ literally means: A) 'A tasty fruit’; B) 'Mick’s hovercraft is full of eels’; C) 'In pleasant/enjoyable despair’; D) 'Where’s the little boys’ room? I need a Jane Shorter.’

The Experience of Swimming is: A) Very nice if the water’s not too cold, B) Mr Swimming’s acquired skill set; C) Richard B dipping his toe into composition; D) Much tougher than the experience of men.

Your Score:

Mostly Cs: Congrats, we can’t rain on your parade! You are a fan of all the albums, even the ones Dave makes night time raids on record shops to burn. You love Rob Dean and feel he brought a warmth to the sound which was lost in the overproduced Tin Drum, although Visions of China is one of the best pop songs EVER! Play it Forward: Do us a favour? Play the first four albums to anyone who will listen, you little shiny star, you. Favourite Japan song: Alien, the quintessential Japan

Mostly Bs: You are becoming a true Japfan; you love GTP but are yet to delve deeper. Once you hear Dave screaming Obscure Alternatives you’ll be hooked. Play it Forward: BuyacopyofQuietLiferightnowtoday! Favourite Japan song: Nightporter

Mostly Ds: Mostly DS, more like! You are defo a fan but mainly into post-Tin Drum-DS solo work and think taking Ryuichi into the studio during the making of GTP was a really good idea. You enjoyed the RTC album and never said, 'Who mixed Mick? The bass sounds well odd!’ Play it Forward: Buy Assemblage and see how you feel. Favourite Japan song: You think having heard 'Some Kind of Fool’ makes you cool!

Mostly As Rob who? Play it Forward - Maybe stick to, 'Now that’s what I call 80s!’ Favourite song: The Chauffeur by Duran Duran!

*according to UK Lyric Analyst, Hal Kennedy

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It's a David kinda day!

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It's a Rich kind of a day! 🎾🎹🎛️🎧♥

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Before Rich there was no Emo.

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The Original Emo is not fooled by imposter in Sylv mask.

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this is conceptually the worst photo study

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Beautiful.

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