tokyorecordstyle

[tokyorecordstyle]

ctured here is Tokyo Record Style repeater, and encyclopedically knowledgeable music homie, Tatsuo Fukutomi, AKA “bemsha” who is one of the main impetuses of Tokyo Record Style Day. Bemsha and I got on like a house on fire when we first met a number of years back and found out that we are both big music heads. Initially, we traded jabs with Beatle or Stones trivia or excerpts from Bob Marley biographies or obscure Dylan references, but it quickly became evident that bemsha is far, faaar, more adept at retaining musical knowledge than me, on all genres and all manners of topics. And far more well-read than me too. I’d have to keep up with him by coloring the conversations with embellished tales of random brushings with rock-n-rollers, or half-remembered fragments of stories-of-stories from my sneak-in-the-back-door days of the Boulder Theatre. Anyway, as he began a now ~7-year stint as PechaKucha’s resident DJ, and from our many conversations in the DJ booth, not to mention our shared co-hosting of Top 5 Records, to Photohomie-dom, so began our regular record store runs, usually followed by burgers or coffees. And whenever we’d walk into a record shop, we’d pass that threshold, see the edge-to-edge panoramic horizon of crate-digging that awaited both of us, then look at each other, honorably salute, “Good Luck, May the Record Gods, shine upon you” and off we’d dig, passing and checking-in along the way, then to reconvene after some natural conclusion to see what the other had scored. Anybody who has had a record-shopping pal knows this routine. So I was at a record store a while back, digging alone, when a young cute couple, presumably both record collectors, walked in and surveyed the room then gave a cutie-version of the aforementioned salute, “itterasshai” (Bye, honey, see you when you get back) and off they went digging, and I chuckled to myself. The store clerk heard my chuckle, and said “Pretty cute, huh?” understanding exactly what I was thinking. I thought to myself at that moment “This would be more fun if bemsha and my other record-loving homies were digging in these 45s with me, hence Tokyo Record Style Day. Killer scores, bemsha. More TRS OTW! (at Shibuya, Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqQOL96vUmT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#Tokyo #record #style #tokyorecordstyle #records #music #recordcollector #recordstore #vinyl #vinylrecord #Glam #Rock #Japan #Reggae #ClassicRock #Jamaica #Japan #UK

[tokyorecordstyle]

This cool cat is Koyo who I met through my friend Paramitha (Hi Mitha chan!) who I met through Photohoku and the other photography community projects I host. Paramitha is an Indonesian fashion designer whose most recent collection I photographed a few weeks back, during which Koyo was one of the models (notice Koyo’s striking good looks!) During the shoot, Mitha, being the bubbly spirit that is, talked up Tokyo Record Style quite a lot, and mentioned TRS Day, so here we are! The circle of friends grows bigger! The community photo projects I organizing (outside of this particular one) are fun for sure, but they demand quite a bit of organization and corralling people and resources and take a lot of effort. I’m grateful to have the chance to do them, but for these Tokyo Record Style Days, I really want to just enjoy music with homies, and not really think about planning too much. So I’ve just taken a laissez-faire approach and just suggested we meet at a particular central starting spot among a cluster of record stores, all say hello, then each scatter to our favorite shops, then re-connect at another central ending spot, to see what we all scored. It’s worked out well so far. On this last TRS Day, during a moment after we has all already scattered, I was beelining to one shop when I saw Koyo beelining towards me to another shop (on an obvious mission for something…). We hi-fived and saluted some good luck to each other and then in an hour or so later, he appeared at the rendezvous point with the record he’s holding in the photo. Very little is written about P-Model’s Potpourri in English, which only intrigued me more to give it a listen., which I did this morning. What a truly interesting record. What *is* written about it (see the comments for some English Wiki details) reads a bit like angst-ridden teenage mystery fiction. Glad to have logged and listened to this one, and if/when I see it again out there in the wild, I will remember the person who turned me onto it. Thanks, Koyo! More Tokyo Record Style on its way!! #Tokyo #record #style #tokyorecordstyle #records #music #recordcollector #recordstore #vinyl #vinylrecord #Electronic #Rock #NewWave (at Shibuya, Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqNlikdv_cB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tokyorecordstyle]

I’m so thrilled that getting to commemorate moments like these is part of Tokyo Record Style. It’s capturing a rite of passage …but what makes the dive into the world of records a rite of passage? Well, it's kind of a personal declaration to one’s self, that music is more to us than just something you hear on the radio, more than just the background sound of a moment, more than something that just fills your ears with even song. It’s deciding that music is for listening, not just for hearing. It’s putting one’s self into the role of active, intentional, committed appreciator. Is it possible to reach these states of awareness by just streaming music? Yes, but it’s kind of like the difference between holding and reading a hand-written letter in your hands and scanning emails in your inbox, the difference between scrolling a kindle vs. turning dog-eared pages of a paperback, the difference between, as my pal Mijonju put it on last Tokyo Record Style Day, turning on the heater in your house vs. building and standing around a campfire. That’s such a great analogy, and that’s what it feels like I’m seeing in this scene, somebody holding in arms what will eventually help them create their first campfire …but maybe that’s just me and us few like-minded friends. Well, I’m happy to make some new friends with Yukina and Ren, both of whom are studying fashion design. Sidenote: I was told Yukina makes unique fashion styles from just single square fabrics, that come to life with folds and twists and turns, perhaps like Origami or Furoshiki. And I heard Ren designs men’s street fashion and also goes on 100km bicycle rides! WOW! Well, best of luck on all your journeys and rites of passage ahead, especially this music-loving one! It’s bound to bring you tons of joy! More Tokyo Record Style to come! #Tokyo #record #style #tokyorecordstyle #records #music #recordcollector #recordstore #vinyl #vinylrecord #turtable #ion #transport (at TOWER VINYL) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqLVeoBPeeK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tokyorecordstyle]

This is one of those individuals whose mere presence makes any and all molecules in her immediate vicinity, I suspect everywhere she goes, begin to vibrate with excitement, whose high-voltage smile on the street demands a double-take, whose coolness, if you’re lucky enough to be acquainted, makes YOU feel cool, who not only has aura, but who IS aura – the incredibly talented and supremely hep Jazz vocalist from Sapporo/Sydney/NewYork/Tokyo, Miho Jonishi. Beyond this firecrackin’ bang of character and charisma I mention, she is also a most soulful vocalist, with a deeply nuanced and signature voice that I highly recommend you check out, particularly her most recent record, September in the Rain (available for purchase and on all the streaming platforms from her bio.) Miho was a surprise show at Tokyo Record Day and I was so glad to see her and dig aide her in the crates at Tower Records. As a student of some very influential musicians, she will likely out-jazz you if you attempt to go head-to-head as I did. But don’t worry, she is as tender as she is steeped in the entire breadth of Jazz, all of which comes through her singing. She gave me a small heap of recommendations, mentioning interestingly, that they were all still living, recording, and performing, making me realize so much of the limited Jazz that I know is only dead legends …who Miho ALSO loves and respects and whose albums she studies like textbooks. But Miho is primarily, definitively focussed on contemporary artists who she still has chances to see perform. Interesting. By the way, Miho, I’ve lost your recommendations somewhere on my phone. If you recall a few that you mentioned (or even more you didn’t), please leave us all some essential contemporary Jazz artists rec’s in the comments, those who are inspiring you lately (and any upcoming performances, too!) Thanks, Miho! So cool you came! Enjoy the records and hope to see you next time. More Tokyo Record Style to come! #Tokyo #record #style #tokyorecordstyle #records #music #recordcollector #recordstore #vinyl #vinylrecord #Jazz #Bop #CoolJazz #LatinJazz (at TOWER VINYL) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqIUfRnPZs0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tokyorecordstyle]

Making a 2nd appearance (of I hope many more) DJ Takeshi Shimizu joined for another Tokyo Record Style Day. I was delighted that he managed to recruit a partner in crime for the occasion, 70’s UK Punk aficionado Kae san who somehow managed to evade my camera excepting the “grouphies” we took. Well, Shimizu san’s Smiths' The Queen is Dead score and Marlene’s Just a Woman album (a version I couldn’t find on Discogs) didn’t meet the same fate, nor did Shimizu’s beaming smile, which I have to say, it quite contagious. We all might have that one friend that is a diehard Smiths fan, or you might be that fan yourself, whose soul was spoken to by this music, whose heart was turned lovingly black for the emotional isolation, sexual longing, self-deprecating dark humor, and anti-establishment stances crooned from Morrisey’s baritone voice, those who essentially live their lives by the Smiths ethos …or pathos. Frankly speaking, they’ve never been my jam. HOWEVER (...and this is a somewhat debatable, even thorny topic, I’m finding), I was inspired to put this very record on today, not to force myself to like it per se, but to try to expand my musical horizons. It could be asked, “Why waste time listening to music that you decidedly don’t particularly love? Nobody has to like everything.” Well, I realized two things trying to answer that question to myself: 1.) I’m listening because it connects me to Shimizu san, more than it connects me to the Smiths. I want to know Shimizu san better, and it’s a sorta way to speak someone’s language, to know what interests, inspires, and turns them on. 2.) There are some absolutely ripping guitar sonics and gnarly soundscapes on this record, which inspired me to listen past Morrisey’s hypnotic voice and learn about guitarist Johnny Marr, and that he was also a member of the Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Modest Mouse, and the Cribs, and recorded with Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads, Bryan Ferry, and Hans Zimmer, all of whom I deeply respect. So something clicked that I never heard before in previous listenings and I own that to Shimizu san (DOMO SHIMIZU!) and music brings us all closer together yet again! (at TOWER VINYL) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqHEu_JvpHg/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tokyorecordstyle]

It’s indisputable! Record stores, record shopping, and general geeking out on music are more fun with friends! Thank you to all the homies who came out for a 2nd Volume of Tokyo Record Style Day, this time in Shibuya! 11 of us in total (NOICE!) joined up for some good ol’ crate-digging, treasure-hunting, wandering the back streets in style, and as Stevie puts it, “Livin’ just enough for the city…” Thank you for all the music camaraderie and record shop fellowship …and for all the great smiles you shared for my camera with your scores! Can’t wait for next time… More Tokyo Records Style to come… In the meantime, Happy Spring, Everybody! #MoreMusicMoreLife (…yes Michael, changed for you) (at TOWER VINYL) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp-LnUgPd3j/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tokyorecordstyle]

I spotted Nao and Ryu, two young buds and college classmates, coming out of HMV in Shibuya with their first records and a turntable in their hands! WOW! “How old are you guys?” “I’m 21 and he’s 22” I think I remember one of them saying. “When you can stream everything, why are you guys suddenly buying records?” I asked. “Well, I tend to listen to playlists on streaming platforms, and thats fine, but if I listen on a record, then I’ll be forced to listen to the whole album and in the sequence the artists intended. It will be a more intentional way to listen to music.” WOWWOW! I totally agree. Well, needless to say, I was as stoked to capture these smiling faces and photographically commemorate this memory, as Nao and Ryu were stoked to join the world of vinyl records! Welcome to the club, fellas! #Tokyo #record #style #tokyorecordstyle #records #music #recordcollector #recordstore #vinyl #vinylrecord #Funk #Soul #RhythmandBlues # Disco #Hiphop #RecordPlayer

at HMVrecordshop渋谷 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpz8vjCP9Zq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tokyorecordstyle]

Photographed here is Ed, who accompanied DJ Laura Lopez from the last post, on what seems to be another trip (of many) from D.C. to Tokyo, replete with lots of record shop exploring, and with whom I shared a lively conversation on all things music. Ed might be as big of a vinyl junkie as Laura is, having scored two records Japanese pressings by Taipei Jazz/Synth-Pop 5-piece, Sunset Rollercoaster, who, myself never having heard, is just a perfect example of new interesting music that I am discovering (and I hope you are too) by way of this project. I’ve mentioned before that I love scoring records that are playing in record shops while I’m browsing. I do it as a sorta validating nod to the storekeeper, as to say “Hey, nice taste, keep it up” or to succumb to their “I will now sell four copies of "The Three EPs" by The Beta Band” moment. I also do it to create a little rapport with the shop, so that the next time I come in, I get the, “That’s the guy who bought the record that I was playing” preferential treatment. These might sound like shallow moves, and I admit, they are in a way, but I wouldn’t buy the records if I didn’t actually like them, and more importantly that all these aforementioned reasons, I buy them because I know they will take me back those exact moments, to those exact people, to a space in time when I was enjoying a little moment, a favorite scene in the movie of my own life. Inasmuch, after giving a Sunset Rollercoster a first-time listen, and getting quite into something I’d never heard before, not to mention I’m now in-the-know about a hip Taiwanese band, and knowing that if and whenever I hear their name or music again, I will be taken back to THIS moment and THIS person in THIS picture and the delightful and authentic little interlude we shared in an otherwise mundane day amongst so many others, I can tell that I’ll be hard pressed to pass them by if they come across my eyes while crate-digging, “…Oh, this is the band that cool guy Ed visiting Tokyo who I photographed introduced me to. I wonder how he and Laura are …maybe I should pick this up and add to the collection. I think I will.” Thanks Ed! More Tokyo Record Style on the way… (at HMVrecordshop渋谷) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpoOcEcP-Ue/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I met globe-trotting, vinyl-raiding, sound-selector, DJ Laura Lopez outside of HMW in Shibuya, after she had just scored a smattering of City Pop 45s to add to what I might guess is a rather large collection of wax with which she regularly DJs sets of Soul, Funk, Boogie, and Disc (see her Instagram). Hailing from D.C. and having visited Tokyo (with her record-collecting partner-in-crime Ed - see next post) so many times that she’s lost count, she knew the Tokyo Wax Trax as well as anybody and had the vinyl to prove it. I loved her white jacket on all-black sense, her funky-chunky specs and hunky-punky boots, and her cool tote, with some sound advice, no pun intended, from Peanut’s favorite music aficionado, Schroeder. Laura’s spirit was bubbly, her character had character, and her affection for music and records was much like that beaming smile she so freely shared was certainly contagious. Can’t you tell from these photos? We had a super buzzing conversation about all things music, record stores, and DJ events, and we could have probably talked for hours more if we both didn’t have to dash off. She recommended I check out Club Heavy Sick, a well-known live house in Shibuya that I have yet to visit, run by Mr. Death who, despite the nickname, is meant to be super friendly and kind. Did I hear that she DJ’d there? Might have, DJ Laura Lopez will no doubt be back to Tokyo at some point, hopefully in the not-so-distant future, and I’m crossing my fingers that she and Ed will look me when they come - who knows, maybe we can do a Tokyo Record Style Day (see photos) or a DJ set! Yeah for new record-collecting homies! #Tokyo #record #style #tokyorecordstyle #records #music #recordcollector #recordstore #vinyl #vinylrecord #Funk #Soul #Pop #CityPop # Disco #Kayokyoku #Electronic #Latin #Japan (at HMVrecordshop渋谷) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpkgOeFvwc5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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If you don’t know Tokyo Camera Style, on which Tokyo Record Style is based, run by my pal Sypal, I highly recommend again that you check it out. It’s a celebration of old-school film photography love, where when John spots you on the streets of Tokyo, rawking your film camera, he snaps a shot and adds you to the stream. As I’ve said before, in one light, it could be considered quick to dismiss as material camera porn but it is really anything but. Culture is what it is, Street fashion is what it is, Individuality and expression is what it is. John may argue with me here, but it’s not just called Tokyo Camera STYLE for shits. In fact, I’d ALMOST argue, if it weren’t for a mountain of amazing photography that comes out of this film community, that it’s MORE fashion than photography. You know, come to think of it, it’s one of my favorite notions, style coupled with utility, like the finest engineering, which doesn’t necessarily mean the newest or shiniest, it’s hitting that perfect balance of… oh, I'm gonna stop myself before I really start to ramble on. So why am I talking about style? Oh just cuz Riku, who I photographed for Tokyo Record Style was looking pretty dang styley. With his grey tartan suit, casu’d out with Jordan 1 Lows, hoody, backwards cap, and gold wire frames and RDJ lenses, not to mention old school Hip Hop 12” remixes. Looking slick, Rick! More Tokyo Record Style on the way! …also mark you calendars for Tokyo Record Style Day Vol. 2 in Shibuya, March 19th from 2-5pm. #Tokyo #record #style #tokyorecordstyle #records #music #recordcollector #recordstore #vinyl #vinylrecord #HipHop (at Diskunion渋谷中古センター) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpfXc5avZD1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tokyorecordstyle]

A Tokyo Record Style FIRST! The album photographed here, Argentinian in origin, Las Grandes Creacions de Antonio Tormo, scored by this cute couple that I met outside Tower Records in Shibuya, has no Discogs listing and is nowhere to be streamed – a record that is officially off the grid, proving yet again, that if you want access (and knowledge of existence) to the full breadth of music available, record stores are still your best bet. And the fact that I can’t listen to this album, except directly from Akira and Noa’s copy pictured here, makes me want to listen to it all the more! What a find! So much young and vibrant energy was emanating off these two as we chatted about music and about their last live shows, and the music they love. They mentioned last seeing J-alt-rockers, One OK Rock, seeing past and looking forward to future Summer Sonic festivals, and a love for K-Pop. Akira mention that he’s part of a creative unit called “Bandit” (@bandit_maskedriders) who produce Hip Hop, dance, and electronic music – I gave them a listen - quite cool! When I heard this, I asked him if he happened to know of another similarly creative unit called “Killa” or the recording artist and member, KEPHA, both he and Noa lit up and said OF COURSE. I mentioned that I’m also a KEPHA fan, and that his father is a close personal friend of mine, and co-host of my PechaKucha Podcast, “Top 5 Records” …the supremely cool, one and only, “bemsha!” So bemsha, if you’re reading this, relay these friendly sentiments on to KEPHA and tell him I met some of his fans on the streets of Shibuya. Maybe we should connect these two at the upcoming Tokyo Record Style Day, ahem, on March 19th from 2pm to 5pm (come one come all) …or anytime! Well folks, another day, another record, another style! More TRS on the way! #Tokyo #record #style #tokyorecordstyle #records #music #recordcollector #recordstore #vinyl #vinylrecord #Latin #Folk #World #Country #Zamba #Chacarera #Chamame #Copla #Argentina (at TOWER VINYL) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpcv_JhPo9V/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tokyorecordstyle]

Tokyo Record Style Day - Vol. 2 - Shibuya Record collecting friends! Brian here, representing Tokyo Record Style!! Announcing "Tokyo Record Style Day - Volume 2 - Shibuya!!" Join us for another Sunday afternoon of crate-digging with homies in local Tokyo neighborhoods, where gems and grails await us in clusters of awesome record shops! Score LPs, EPs, 10”s or CDs! Tapes? Reel-to-reels? 8-Tracks? We don’t judge! Just come celebrate your love for physical media and good ‘ol record shop culture! Pose for a photograph in your styley-est digs and with your Record Store scores, and make your mark on Tokyo Record Style!! Shibuya has over dozen record stores and you’re invited to join up, and mix up, with homies new and old, and visit your favorites! We’ll meet at the music-blown Hachiko statue in front of Tower Records at 2, scatter to our favorite shops, and rendezvous again at Disk Union on Center-Gai for some down-and-dirty street-beers/can-coffee (with photos!) Still working on DJ Party Finale - will likely have to wait until Volume 3 (or perhaps special annual event!) See you all Sunday, March 19 in front of Tower Records at 2pm! Everyone is invited 🙂 (at TOWER VINYL) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpZ1IImv6cW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Needing a current photo of Hachiko (Japan’s famous faithful dog) for an upcoming project, I zipped down to Shibuya with my camera to snap the landmark statue. After I got the shot of the beloved pup, and with a little time to kill before an engagement at Mac Jacob’s “Bookmarc” where one of Tokyo’s most enigmatic street photographers and my dear photohomie, John Sypal (also of TokyoCameraStyle fame, read: this project’s inspiration) would be signing his sublime new book, Nebraska, I decided to stake out the intersection of… “Inokashira Street and Organ Slope.” Now, if the intersection of “Inokashira Street and Organ Slope” doesn’t sound familiar, here’s a few Tokyo tidbits for you. First know Inokashira Dori is the 20km street that starts near Inokashira Park in Kichijoji, runs parallel the length of the Inokashira Line (on which I live) and terminates near Shibuya station. Organ Zaka, or Slope, is in Shubuya’s Udagawacho backstreets, named so for the many music-related stores such as record shops, musical instrumental equipment stores, live houses, and nightclubs. The two streets intersect near Tokyu Hand’s B1 entrance, past the Police Box, en route to NHK. You know the one, right in front of the entrance of HMV, and closest traffic light to Manhattan Records, Face Records, Next Records, Nerds Records, RnR Music Garden, 2Tight Music, Ecostore Records, not to mention 3 giant Disk Unions: Rock in Tokyo, Jazz Rare Groove, and Shibuya Club Music, nor to mention about 4 or 5 other record stores that are literally a stone throw away from them, and then another 4 or 5 that are within a 5 or 10-minute walk. That little intersection, which I believe is officially called “Jinnan Shogako Kosaten” could prove to be a bottomless honey pot for Tokyo Record Store sitings. It only took standing on that corner for about 3 minutes before I spotted Erika coming dong the street caring a 12” viny l bag from Manhattan Records. Erika was cheerful and accommodating and had actually scored this record (Japanese singer-songwriter, SIRUP’s 2021 release “Cure”) as a birthday present for a friend. Nice job, Erika! Hot wax is the nicest gift to receive! Your friend is gonna be stoked! (at オルガン坂) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpZmAFLvpgF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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On my way home from work in Ebisu, depending on which way I take, all basically en route, I can pass 15 record stores in Shibuya, 4 in Harajuku, 18 in Shinjuku, another 15 in Shimokitazawa, and 3 or 4 more scattered along the way. These are just along my 30 min drive home, alone! The city is littered with dozens and dozens more, probably easily exceeding 100 shops, and maybe multiple hundreds if you add in all the Book Offs, and recycle shops that also sell records among their goods. It’s nuts, I know. So I only choose a path past one on my way in basically any direction and keep an eye out for a record store bag, and within just a couple of minutes, I’ll spot somebody. Such was the case last night when I met Tatsuya as I was cruising past the cluster of shops near Manhattan Records in Shibuya. And in the spirit of racking up numbers here, I can say that Tatsuya, in addition to being super friendly and warm talking about records, had also in his scored stash more records than anybody I’ve photographed so far. Not only that, but he also has in excess of 10,000 records at home, so many that he lives in more affordable neighboring Chiba to keep them all, and commutes every day to Nakano where he runs an apparel shop @nazonomise right outside the station (which looks highly interesting and packed to the brim with underground good off all kinds! Can’t wait to pay a visit!) Tatsuya told me that he’s been collecting records since he was 16, mostly Old School Hip Hop (notice the titles here) but also Soul, Jazz, and more. He mentioned he plays it on a vintage Onkyo (RIP) amp and some primo Sansui (RIP) speakers. Coooool. I reminisced with him about early Hip Hop, about De La Soul, Digitial Underground, Tribe, Beasties, and so on. Despite only having a knee-deep knowledge of Hip Hop, I knew many of the titles Tatsuya scored here, and I was inspired to level up my Hip Hop game in the collecting ahead. Tatsuya’s ¥100 Kurtis Blow score makes me what to not skip the 12” singles bin next time. Thanks, Tatsuya! Enjoy those records and the 10,000 more!! Looking forward to visiting @nazonomise! More Tokyo Records Style to come! (at Face Records) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpSl8BZvtg5/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Continued from comments. 5/5 After browsing around Waltz, and scoring one modest 7”, I headed off but not before spotting Kelsey and Joseph pictured here, walking out caring branded tote bags filled with some wax and/or tape treasure. I stopped and chatted them up about Tokyo Record Style and they were warm and willing to oblige me. From Kelsey’s bag, she produced some Japanese titles that she had totally gambled on, not knowing anything about any of them, but just selecting them because they looked interesting, a delightful act that I continue to see through this project …looks like her gamble may have paid off. Let us know Kelsey! Joseph hesitated to show his scores, mentioning that, as tapes, they might not qualify for Tokyo Record Style. (…an aside: I’m going to assign the “Record” in “Tokyo Record Style” to a more generic meaning of connected to recording that to specifically vinyl discs. A record, in the way I want to use it, can be an LP, EP, 12”, 10”, 7”, 3”, a whole album, a single song, a tape, a reel-to-reel, a studio or field recording (“We cut the record last week”), even a historical record…) ANYWAY, the point is, Joseph, Tapes 100% count, we don’t discriminate in our love for music in all its glorious formats. So let’s see what you got! WHOA!! A whole smorgasbord of excellent titles from Last of the Mohican’s OST, to Lee Scratch Perry! I just bought that Tear for Fears a couple of weeks ago! Now, I’m kinda wishing I’d held out for the cassette! Way to go, Joseph, for throwing down for serious tape. You got me all worked up! Need some tape back in my life! Thanks, Waltz, and thanks, Kelsey and Joseph! More Tokyo Record Style to come! #Tokyo #record #style #tokyorecordstyle #records #music #recordcollector #recordstore #vinyl #vinylrecord #Rock #PopRock# #Pop #Folk #World #Country #Psychedelic #Acoustic #Electronic #RockandRoll #Synthpop #Newwave #Dub #Roots #Reggae #Leftfield #AcidHouse #Techno #Japan (at Waltz) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpOJ4nxyLHM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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While killing some time to pick up my son from cram school, I spotted Hiro, pictured here, wearing a cool bandana-pattern jacked and carrying a Disk Union bag, that 12” size that is all too easily recognizable for holding recently scored records. With little time before needing to dash off on Dad-duty, I chatted up Hiro san who upon my explanation of Tokyo Record Style, shared with me a big friendly smile and the record he just scored - Todd Rundgren, T. Rex, and The Three Degrees. Like most who people I ask, Hiro was eager to have a chat about vinyl, concurring on how listening to records brings, as opposed to streaming, brings us vinyl junkies a great deal of musical appreciation. Hiro shared with me that his first record was Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall, which he got when he was around 18 years old. What a coincidence! My first record was Michael Jackson’s Thriller that I got maybe around 8 years old I guess, which I still have! We had a nice laugh about that and also talked about how, until only recently. Hiro’s record collection had been collecting dust in storage, and how with the recent resurgence and interest in vinyl, he was inspired to buy a new turntable, and only started back listening to and buying records again from about a year ago! COOL! Hiro san also mentioned that he’s an elementary and middle school teacher and teaches various subjects. When I told him that my daughter recently passed her big middle school entrance examination after an immense amount of work, Hiro offered a big congrats and some sympathy for all the stress she had endured. Thanks, Hiro san! I invited Hiro to the next “Tokyo Record Style Day” (which should get put on the calendar soon), so if you plan to join us, you might meet him! ...More Tokyo Record Style on the way! #Tokyo #record #style #tokyorecordstyle #records #music #recordcollector #recordstore #vinyl #vinylrecord #PopRock #Psychedelic #Rock #ProgRock #Ballad #RockandRoll #SoftRock #Soul #RhythmandBlues #ArtRock #Experimental #Disco #Glam (at disk union 吉祥寺店) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpICR3hvFqm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[tokyorecordstyle]

I spotted Kieron in the corner of my eye digging around the 90’s Alternative/Grunge/Shoegazer at Coconuts in Kichijoji. I noticed he had some interesting range-finder form-factor camera slung around his neck which should have been more than enough reason to chat him up, but I must have been too preoccupied with the concentration required to dig through 7” singles while looking for a perfect, within-budget ¥300 score. Regrettably, I didn’t say hello or approach him for a photo. But about half an hour later, he caught my eye when I spotted him AGAIN at Disk Union in Parco, packing a stack of recently scored records into his backpack. I thought to myself, “Do I wait to ask until he has everything packed up, or do I interrupt him to save them the trouble of unpacking it all in case he agrees?” It seemed appropriate to until he was situated, and then when he was, I did finally approach him and chatted him up about Tokyo Record Style, he, of course, said, “Sure, but why didn’t you ask 5 minutes ago before I just neatly pack up all these records?” Haha. Kieron and I got to talking and he was quite a friendly guy, visiting Tokyo from Bath, UK for the 9th time! We walked and talked on our way to HMV, about the differences in record shops and record-collecting culture between the UK and Japan. He confirmed that Tokyo record store culture seems to be as, or more, healthy and happening than anything happening in UK and Europe, adding that it seems to be easier to find many of those late 80's and 90’s titles that were somewhat limited worldwide in the CD age. Upon arriving at HMV, and digging into their 90’s section adjacent to the entrance, Kieron immediately pulled a good handful of records and seemed to be having some good luck finding titles on his wish list. Hope you scored some treasure, Kieron along with this “Here Comes Everybody” by The Wake. Lastly, I’d encourage the photography-appreciators among you to check out Kieron’s Instagram. Sublime work, with some interesting experimental compositions that might overlap somewhere with his work in AR design that he also mentioned. Check it out! #Tokyo #record #style #tokyorecordstyle #recordstore #vinyl #NewWave (at Kichijoji, Tokyo) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpHkIlrv1Yf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=