Excellent album of popular songs or kayokyoku until 1948. Kayokyoku are generally the middle ground between pop, with western characteristics and Japanese enka with strong Japanese characteristics. They originated from the time of the first major foreign affiliated record companies. 18 tracks, original recordings by artists including Michiya Mihashi, Hachiro Kasuga, Rintaro Shoji, Utako Matsushima, Akihiro Miwa, Goro Kagami, Miyako Otsuki, Minoru Obata and Haruo Oka.
18 pop hits in the enka kayo category from 1948-1955. Artists include Haruo Oka, Ken Tsumura, Minoru Obata, Machiko Sanjo, Isao Hayashi, Chieko Baisho, Chiemi Eri, Taeko Yoshioka and Ichiro Wakahara. Price: £17.99
18 tracks of popular kayokyoku hits from 1955-1959 by artists including Hachiro Kasuga, Isao Hayashi, Yoshiko Ozu, Yutaka Shimazu, Hiroshi Mifune, Yuriko Futaba, Peggy Hayama and Goro Kagami.
18 tracks of popular war time hits. Enka Kayokyoku classics from artists including Hachiro Konoe, Masaru Shio, Hiroshi Mifune, Isao Hayashi, Bonnie Jacks, Yoshiko Mari, Ichiro Fujiyama and Dark Ducks. Price: £17.99
Japan's second city, Osaka in Western Japan, has featured in many enka songs down the years, and this album compiles 18 of them. Artists include Goro Kagami, Yuko Mikasa, Akari Nishi, Mika Jinno, Yutaka Shimazu, Yuri Harada, Mari Natsuki, Miho Aoki and Etsuko Shimazu.
Enka songs that have been featured in ninkyo eiga, or chivalry films, the first genre of yakuza movies, that were particularly popular during the 60s. In these films, the poor gangster would be torn between obligation and loyalty to the gang and his own personal feeling and situation. Those feelings were transmitted through some great enka tunes such as those featured on this album. Singers include Kazuo Chiba, Rintaro Shoji, Michiya Mihashi, Shin Seigawa, Ichiro Mizuki, Yumiko Inoue, Mika Jinno, Yuko Nagai, Ken Takakura and Jiro Shinkawa. Price: £17.99
Mood kayo emerged in the early sixties, songs composed by Tadashi Yoshida. They were slow to medium ballads about romance in the big city. This fantastic CD features the great singers of the genre, also known as 'blues enka'. 20 tracks that include Hiroshi Kadokawa, Toshio Mishima, Yutaka Shimazu, Toshi Ito and Happy and Blue, Hiroshi Wada, Hiroshi Mifune and Hiroshi Sawa.
Gunka is a term for 'war music'. This fascinating CD includes some of the best known gunka from the Meiji period until the Japanese surrender in 1945. Songs used to inspire patriotism and hatred of Japan's enemies. 24 tracks, performed by singers of the day including Hachiro Kasuga, Bonnie Jacks, Masanori Tomotake and Kazuo Kitani. Price: £17.99
45 of the most popular and famous Japanese children's songs including Inu no Omawari san, Zo san, Donguri Korokoro, Tonbo no Megane, Takibi and Ai Ai.
31 timeless children's songs. These include Nanatsu no Ko, Osaru no Kagoya, Kamome no Suiheisa, Sunayama, Tsuki no Sabaku, Haru yo Koi. Price: £17.99
Excellent compilation of minyo (folk) songs for celebration. Artists include Fumio Otsuka, Kiyoko Iwai, Mitsue Hayasaka, Michiya Mihashi and Hanako Ono. And tracks Tawaratsumi Uta, Nagasaki Nonnoko Bushi, Iwai Medetai, Nagamochi Uta, Ushibuka Haiyabushi, Ise Ondo and Hanagasa Ondo.
Many of the great players of Tsugaru shamisen, the fast plucking style from northern Japan, performing the most famous pieces. Artists include Chikuzan Takahashi, Katsuaki Sawada, Gunhachiro Shirakawa, Yujiro Takahashi and Michiya Mihashi, while the pieces include Tsugaru Jonkara Bushi, Tsugaru Yosare Bushi, Tsugaru Ondo, Jusan no Sunayama, Tsugaru Mikudari and Tsugaru Aya Bushi. 22 tracks. Price: £17.99
Minyo songs played on the shakuhachi, the bamboo flute. The 22 tracks include Nagamochi Uta, Soma Magouta, Yoshi no Kokiriuta, Nanbu Ushiouta, Natsu no Yama uta and Mogamigawa Funauta.
Wonderful album that gives a taste of the many local taiko styles, as well as some performed in kabuki. Groups include Osura Daiko Hozonkai, Ogura Gion Taiko Hozonkai, Minami Nikko Schachu, Oyama Bayashi Hozonkai, Sahara Hayashi Hozonaki and Kanda Hayashi Hozonkai. Price: £17.99
Live recordings of some of Japan's most famous festivals. 17 tracks. Festivals include Orochon no Hi Matsuri, Aomori no Nebuta, Yokote no Kamakura, Kanda Matsuri, Chichibu no Yomatsuri.
20 tracks of koto classics, beautifully performed and recorded. These include Dokokade Haru Ga, Akatonbo, Kojo no Tsuki, Hamachidori and Konomichi. Price: £17.99
Five tracks of classic shakuhachi material, mostly jiuta pieces in the hauta style from Ikuta Ryu school, performed by the brillant Hozan Yamamoto, and others. 1. Wakana 2. Oyama Jishi 3. Hagi no Tsuyu 4. Hachidan no Shirabe 5. Tsuru no Koe.
Noh- the medeival Japanese theatre, that thrived during the Muromachi period, 1333-1568. Solemn, dignified, magnificent in its simplicity. This CD features 27 pieces of musical accompaniment from the Kanze Ryu school. The music is peformed in some of noh's most famous plays including Takasago, Tsure Kame, Hagoromon, Yoshino Tenjin, Eguchi, Funa Benkei, Sumiyoshi Moude, Hashi benkei, Kosode Soga and Kumano. Price: £17.99
Compilation of all the major Japanese instruments and masterpieces. Artists include Toshiko Yonekawa, (koto), Kinsho Yoshioka (koto) Kunaicho Gakubu (gagaku) Masakazu Terai (nohkan) Katsuya Yokoyama (shakuhachi).
Compilation of some of Okinawa's best known songs, performed by some local stars. Artists include Omote Tsubaki, Sadao China, Mine Ohama, Yasuko Miyazato, Yoichi Nago, Kyoko Gushiken, Choichi Tenkina. Tracks include Asadoya Yunta, Koi na Yunta, Takoyama, Tsuki nu Kaisha and Tinsagu nu Hana. 20 tracks. Price: £17.99
20 tracks of Okinawan traditional tunes, performed by many of the island's best musicians. Omote Tsubaki, Yukino Hiyane (ex-Nenes) Sadao China, Yasuhara Higa, Haruko Hamakawa, Yasumasa Miyara perform classics including Hana, Akata Sundunchi, Irabu Togani, Tarama Shonkane, Kagiyade Kajibushi and Bashofu.
25 tracks from Dick Kamoku and his Islanders, Kelima Hawaiians, Mel Peterson and others singing Hawaiian classics and standards. Price: £15.99
