Taeko Onuki came to prominence in the early 70s as a singer/songwriter and member of the group Sugar Babe. She is a long time collaborator of Ryuichi Sakamoto, whose label Commmons release this album.

Tango album from the always inventive veteran folk/world musician Morio Agata. Both original and covers with his own unique twist on tango.

Second album of humerous songs played by manga artist and musician Masayuki Qusumi. Ukulele, guitar, pianica, percussion, and other instruments, combine in a kind of light retro-pop, folk blues sound full of Japanese flavours and tastes.

Tsunekichi Suzuki joined the group Cement Mixers as singer/guitarist in the 1980s who went on to record for a major label in 1990, and the following year joined Tsurereko Shachu as singer/accordion player. This is his first solo album originally released in 2006. His song 'Omoide' was used as the opening song of the TV drama 'Shinya Shokudo' which brought him to the attention of a wider public. On this album, Tsunekichi Suzuki (vocals, guitar, accordion) sings melancholic folk/blues accompanied by two musicians Kanji Nakao (clarinet, saxophone) and Takero Sekijima (tuba, recorder). Originally released on the wonderful Off-Note label.

Second solo album from Tsunekichi Suzuki on which he sings, plays guitar and accordion, all produced by the talented Yoshiki Sakurai of Lonesome Strings,Srada and many other bands. Superb cast of support musicians;Yoshiki Sakurai (acoustic & electric guitar, banjo, mandolin), Takero Sekijima (tuba, trumpet, recorder, bass recorder), Kanji Nakao (sax, clarinet, trombone, drums), Genichi Tamura (pedal steel, steel pan), Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi (harmonica, boran), Takayoshi Matsunaga (bass), Kunihiro Izumi (sax).

Best of album selected by the band members from their Crown Tokuma Music label years, to mark their 35 year anniversary. Includes rare live recordings.

Album to celebrate 40 years since the debut of the highly influential band Happy End. City- Happy End Best Album was released in 1973, and this is a cover version of that album by artists who are fans of the group.

Tribute album to the group Happy End, originally released in 1993, that at the time commemorated 20 years after they finished.

Two female veterans of the Japanese 'folk' scene get together to form a new duo. Ryoko Moriyama has been called the Japanese Joan Baez, and has been singing in her own style, having some major hits and a few minor ones too, for about forty years. Akiko Yano probably needs less introduction, singing folk, pop and other styles and collaborating with Little Feat, YMO, Pat Metheny, Chieftains and many more.

Fifth album by talented folk/blues singer/songwriter/guitarist. Recorded in New York produced by Jesse Harris and Richard Julian. Strong songs, smoky vocals.

Eichi Otaki is a veteran Japanese musician who was a member of the seminal band Happy End, together with Haruomi Hosono, Shigeru Suzuki and Takashi Matsumoto. He was also producer of the legendary group Sugar Babe. As a solo artist, he has released albums regarded as classics, and has been a succesful songwriter for other artists. This album is a collection of those original songs sung by a variety of different artists including a few sung by Otaki himself.

Covers of Otaki songs by various artists, including some quite rare tracks.

Cover of Eichi Otaki's first album by various artists, newly recorded.

Originally released in 1975, Horo, was Chu Kosaka's breakthrough album. This is a new edition with some new vocals using the original master tapes. Backing musicians include Haruomi Hosono, Masataka Matsutoya. Shigeru Suzuki, Tatsuo Hayashi, Tatsuro Yamashita, Minako Yoshida and Akiko Yano. A classic of Japanese music, kind of folk and soul mixture.

First album for 34 years from the backing band of the legendary Shigeru Izumiya, folk singer and co-founder of For Life Records. Features guitarist Hirofumi Tokutake - aka Dr.K and guests including female singer Rina of Indigo Blue.

On the face it, you wouldn't expect this album to work, but in fact, it's quite brilliant. Pure voiced, angelic, female vocalist and actress, who has sung with Kuricoder Quartet and was in the film 'Linda, Linda, Linda' covers songs by Oasis, Radiohead, Pretenders and others, and manages to make them her own. Recorded in London. and contrary to the name of the Radiohead song she covers, quite a surprise. Gentle, folky style, feel good music.

Mariko is a pianist and singer who has released a string of solo albums and collaborated with Otomo Yoshihide among others. High quality songs, piano and vocals. 13 tracks.

Digitally remastered re-release with cardboard sleeve of classic album by folk singer/songwriter Kenji Endo aka Enken. Enken was one of the original artists on the URC record label that pioneered Japanese folk and rock in the late 60s and 70s. His stablemates included Happy End and Kan Mikami. Om-Rice was originally released in 1983, was produced by Haruomi Hosono and features Miharu Koshi. The music has been described as 'dream ambient techno'.

Back in the 1970s, Garo were the Japanese Crosby, Stills and Nash, although they were actually Horiuchi, Hidaka and Ohno. They were hugely popular in the mid 70s until they broke up in 1975 after a short but successful career. This 2 CD set includes all their most popular songs. 36 tracks.

The term 'folk' is quite seperate to 'minyo' - the Japanese term for local folk songs. Instead this was the term given to new songs influenced by US 60s folk groups, such as Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul and Mary and the Brothers Four, then a bit later Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger. The first stars of the folk movement were The Folk Crusaders.

Ever since the initial folk movement of the mid 1960s, the guitar became the instrument of choice for self expression. The folk boom lay the foundations of 'new music' and to some extent, the rock music movement of the 1970s.

New release on Haruomi Hosono's Daisyworld. Humming Kitchen are a duo who appeared on the Hosono tribute album and the recent soundtrack, Goo Goo Date Neko de Aru. Mainly influenced by American roots music and 'Good Time' music of the late 60s and early 70s. Guest drummer is Tateo Hayashi of Tin Pan Alley.

First album from 1970 from the folk rock band featuring Haruomi Hosono (bass and vocals), Takashi Matsumoto (drums) Eichi Ohtaki (guitar, vocals) and Shigeru Suzuki (guitar, vocals). The group were heavily influenced by US West coast folk rock bands, especially Buffalo Springfield, and Happy End were one of the first groups to successfully put Japanese lyrics to Western folk / rock music. 12 tracks.

Early live album now released in a limited edition paper jacket edition. 11 tracks

Originally released in 1974, tracks from the group's three albums plus some solo material. The combination of Hosono's compositions and Matsumoto's profound lyrics describing everyday life had a long lasting influence on Japanese rock music.

Another live album, this one with 11 tracks featuring some of their best known songs such as Natsu Nandesu, Coconut Holiday and Jun-ni Gatsu no Ame no Hi. Originally released in 1974.

Best of album from 1973. 12 tracks including Kaze Wo Atsumete (used on the soundtrack to Lost in Translation). Happy End became one of Japan's most influential groups, their legacy being heard on groups from Cornelius to Pizzicato Five.

Third and final studio album originally released in 1973. Nine tracks.

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.

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.

Humbert Humbert is the male/female duo of Ryosei Sato and Yuho Sato. Their music, mostly original compositions, is largely influenced by American and Irish folk. This is their latest album.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Cover of Eichi Otaki's first album by various artists, newly recorded.

Originally released in 1975, Horo, was Chu Kosaka's breakthrough album. This is a new edition with some new vocals using the original master tapes. Backing musicians include Haruomi Hosono, Masataka Matsutoya. Shigeru Suzuki, Tatsuo Hayashi, Tatsuro Yamashita, Minako Yoshida and Akiko Yano. A classic of Japanese music, kind of folk and soul mixture.

Mariko is a pianist and singer who has released a string of solo albums and collaborated with Otomo Yoshihide among others. High quality songs, piano and vocals. 13 tracks.

New release on Haruomi Hosono's Daisyworld. Humming Kitchen are a duo who appeared on the Hosono tribute album and the recent soundtrack, Goo Goo Date Neko de Aru. Mainly influenced by American roots music and 'Good Time' music of the late 60s and early 70s. Guest drummer is Tateo Hayashi of Tin Pan Alley.