Journalist / musician and long time Dylan fan, Koji Wakui, sings the songs of his hero- in Japanese. He is joined by various guests including Jon Auer (The Posies), folk singer John Wesley Harding, Morgan Fisher (ex-Mott the Hoople) and Japanese rock singer, Panta. 1. Blowin in the Wind 2. Stuck Inside of Mobile with Memphis Blues Again 3. The Man in Me 4. Hurricane 5. Jokerman 6. Lay Lady Lay 7. Mr Tambourine Man 8. Cold Irons Bound 9. When the Deal Goes Down 10. Blind Willie McTell 11. Under the Red Sky 12. Simple Twist of Fate.

Re-release from 1974 of the first album by Chuei Yoshikawa, a folk style singer/songwriter. Yoshikawa has gone to an acclaimed career as a solo artist and backing a host of other musicians. On this, his first album, he teamed up with Tin Pan Alley, the group featuring Haruomi Hosono (bass) plus Tateo Hayashi (drums), Masataka Matsutoya (piano), Shigeru Suzuki (guitar), Toru Okada (Hammond organ), Yuki Komazawa (steel guitar). 15 tracks including bonus tracks from his second album "Machikado" released in 1975. 1. Yume ga Sukoshizutsu 2. Norainu 3. Furui Tokei no 4. Futon no Nukumori 5. Imadake wa / Kokoro 6. Boku wa Kaerou 7. Ame-agari 8. Nichiyobi no Gogo 9. Futari no Heya de 10. Aoi Sora 11. Haru wa Kagerou 12. Machikado 13. Kimi eno Uta 14. Itsunomanika 15. Kanashii Uta wa Utawanai


Price:   £14.99

Produced by Makoto Kubota. Morio Agata has been making records since the early 70s. He became known as one of the 'gentle generation' of singer/songwriters, influenced by American folk but with more than a nod to post and pre-war Japanese pop. Since the 1980s he became influenced by world music and has been a long time collaborator of Makoto Kubota and in the early 90s formed the excellent group Raizo. Kubota, in case you don't know, is one of Japan's most innovative and brilliant producers, whose most recent project, Blue Asia has gained international acclaim. This album celebrates 35 years since Agata's first record, is a mix of old and new material, some inspired by the author Taruho Inagaki. Tracks include a version of Tokyo Bushi, with Japanese lyrics set to Marching Through Georgia, that has become a standard folk tune in Japan, complete with a Northeastern Brazilian rhythm session and guest vocals from Haruomi Hosono, an Arabic/dub version of Submarine, a Gypsy meets Bellydance mix on the song Sexi Sexi, and other world influences. Strong songs, great production, highly recommended. 12 tracks plus one bonus mix of Tokyo Bushi.

Album from 2004 by Morio Agato, this one of Caribbean / Latin influenced music. Guests includes Takuji Aoyagi (Little Creatures) as producer and guitarist and an array of guests from the Domincan Republic. Mostly laid-back lilting melodies, beautifully performed and produced. 10 tracks.


Price:   £17.99

Agata has been attracting a lot of attention recently for his unique style of singing tango and chanson, with production by the ever brilliant Makoto Kubota.

It's been three years since Hashiken released his last album. On his latest, this talented singer and songwriter injects latin and bossa nova influences into his folk pop songs. Includes his version of a song for the Okinawan roots idol Chitose Hajime.


Price:   £18.99

Isamu Shimoji is a folk style singer / songwriter from Miyako island in Okinawa. Strong voice, good songs accompanied by guitar. 13 tracks. 1. 3% 2. Hokori 3. Matsu no Ki Monogatari 4. Shinnen no Michi - Nishi e 5. Asuyaki Midun 6. Yapai Yapai 7. Ore wa Utatteiru 8. Shinpin Joto Densetsu 9. Seito-ya 10. Inutsu 11. The Nisha Takuitsu 12. Yadubasu 13. Mr.Kama no Kuro

First album by Japanese female singer/songwriter.


Price:   £18.99

Female singer/songwriter, mixing bossa nova, folk and pop in a unique style.

From 1969. Nobuyasu Okabayashi comes from the same stable as Happy End (Harumi Hosono, Eiichi Otaki, Shigeru Suzuki Takashi Matsumoto) and like them played a Japanese version of American folk (in Dylan, Little Feat vain) and is highly respected as a pioneering artist. Happy End were his backing group when, like Dylan, he later controversially went electric.


Price:   £17.99

1971. Happy End are noted for being one of the first Japanese groups to perform original songs sang entirely in Japanese while influenced by western rock and folk. They are considered pioneers and their members included bassist/vocalist Haruomi Hosono (later of Yellow Magic Orchestra), guitarist/vocalist Eiichi Otaki, guitarist/ vocalist Shigeru Suzuki and drummer Takashi Matsumoto. The band lasted only four years from 1969 recorded three albums but have certainly left their legacy.Kaze Machi Roman is considered the best of those albums and includes the song Kaze Wo Atsumete, used in the soundtrack to the film Lost in Translation.

From 1976 Japanese Girl was Akiko Yano's first album, produced by her first husband Makoto Yano.It was a big hit at the time but has stood the test of time as well. The LP came with an American side recorded with Lowell George and Little Feat in the US and a Japanese side, recorded in Japan featuring Haruomi Hosono. All songs were written by Akiko Yano. Akiko Yano has since gone onto a successful career playing her own unique music (sometimes compared to Kate Bush) somewhere in the jazz idiom and collaborating with many musicians from Japan and around the world, especially her home in New York.


Price:   £17.99

Released in 1975. This is the only album ever recorded by Sugar Babe, but it has long been considered a classic. It features Tatsuro Yamashita (vocals, guitar, keyboards later to have a successful solo career) Taeko Onuki (vocals) co- produced by Eiichi Otaki of Happy End. The album features some great tunes, influenced by American pop and 60s soul. It helped to spawn the Japanese pop scene in the 70s with its funky tunes such as "Down Town". The band broke up in 1976, although Yamashita and Onuki have gone on to successful solo careers.

RC Succession were influenced initially by groups such as Happy End and the rock of Sadistic Mika Band. They started off as an acoustic folk group before modeling themselves on the Rolling Stones. For over 25 years they have been one of the most durable and popular rock bands, fronted by singer Kiyoshiro Imawano. Rhapsody is their classic live album released in 1980. It was made when the guitarist Reiichi Nakaido joined the group and they had recreated themselves as an energetic live act.


Price:   £16.99

Compilation of another pioneering folk group featuring Kiyoshiro Imawano.

RC Succession's Kiyoshiro Imawano goes to Nashville to record his latest solo album.


Price:   £18.99

Eiichi Ohtaki is a singer, musician and producer who has been involved in a number of seminal projects. Together with Takashi Mastsumoto, Haruomi Hosono and Shigeru Suzuki Shigeru he was a member of Happy End. He also produced the Sugar Babe album featured elsewhere on this list. This release commemorates the 20th anniversary of the original release from 1981 album of 'A Long Vacation' with a bonus track 'Sing a Long Vacation'. Long considered one of Japan's greatest rock albums packed with catchy melodies.