Trio featuring fue/shinobue (flute) player Yukihiro Isso with guitarist Natsuki Kido and tabla player Masaki Yoshimi. Mixture of sounds and styles from traditional to modern from three fantastic musicians.

The 'friends' of the Japanese guitarist, who has played with Okinawa's Takashi Hirayasu among others, are Taiwanese musicians, including Lin Sheng Xiang playing pipa (lute), yue qin (moon guitar), Finish musician Pekko Kappu on jouhikko (bowed instrument from Finland) plus accordion and bass. Really nice mix of Chinese and other styles, mostly laid back.

Second album from the wonderful Tokyo based band, mixing homegrown roots music, with styles from around the world. Lead singer Kiwi Ohashi usually sings and plays shamisen at exclusive Japanese-style restaurants called 'Ryotei'. Their music takes its inspiration from Japanese minyo, pop, ching-dong, Ainu music, and extraneous sounds such as Brazilian foro, dub and reggae. Fresh and exciting. Band consists of Kiwi Ohashi (shamisen, vo), Koharu (accordion), Yuko Furuoya (percussion), Go Arani (violin, sitar), Takuto Hirose (bass), Seiya Omori (guitar) and Masaki Nagata (drums).

More cool, hypnotic grooves from the limba playing Sakaki Mango and his band. Mango studied limba (thumb piano) under the late, great Tanzanian player Hukwe Ubi Zawose. He also plays mbira and the Congolese electric likimbe. This latest album was inspired by his roots in Kagoshima, in the deep south of Japan, including the distinctive local dialect. With this album, Sakaki seems to have cemented his own original sound, mixing African with Japanese influences on a contemporary, varied and highly listenable album.

Back in the 90s, Piranhans gained a cult following for their brilliant musicianship and genre crossing. After 13 years, they're back with their fourth album. Swing, Carribean, funk, Irish, ska and African are some of the styles incorporated into Super Volcano. The formidable musicians are Pianica Maeda (pianica, vocal, prepared piano), Isamu Tsukamoto (guitar) and Yuji Nagayama. also a member of Mayumi Kojima Band and Manabu Sakata (drums, percussion) famous saxophonist Akira Sakata's son. Sakata joined the group in 1997 but soon after they ceased playing, starting again in 2006. They spent four years gradually getting the band back into shape, performing live concerts, and culminating in the release of this album.

Volume three of the kawachi ondo king Kikusuimaru Kawachiya's rare track collection with one bonus track. Taken from throughout Kikusuimaru's varied career.

Kaoru Tanaka is a jazz guitarist who likes to perform with Japanese traditional instruments. Tanaka is an accomplished musician, playing jazz fusion style on electric and synth guitar. The music is more fusion than Japanese traditional with shakuhachi and koto following the guitar parts, but it's all done with great skill and integrity. Musicians are Kaoru Tanaka [guitar, guitar synthesizer], Bruce Huebner <Actinic:Variable Name = 'shakuahchi'/>, Kayoko Nakagawa <Actinic:Variable Name = 'koto'/>, Takeshi Obayashi <Actinic:Variable Name = 'piano'/>, Evan Marien <Actinic:Variable Name = 'bass'/>.

Japanese version of SBU's first album, with two extra bonus tracks. Traditional Japanese folk and bon odori dances combined with contemporary rhythms, electronic sounds, tuba and more in a delicious compelling mixture. The UK / Japan band features the Farmyard Animals Trio of Gideon Juckes on tuba who also plays wth Bellowhead, Shibusashirazu and Cicala Mvta, drumer Pete Flood also of Bellowhead and reed player Bendan Kelly. Recorded live at the Spitz London.

Soothe are a five piece band on Japanese traditional instruments- tsugaru shamisen and wadaiko, plus guitar, bass and drums. They play all kinds of styles with elements of Latin, jazz and bossa nova. They regularly perform at fashion shows, business events, temples and produce music for TV commercials, web sites and art exhibitions. They have performed overseas, including China in 2008.

First album from the Japanese traditional / Western five piece band. This album has more electronic sounds and sounds more experimental than their later material.

Second album from Soothe. Tsugaru shamisen combined with Japanese drums (wadaiko) plus drums, bass and guitar. Rock, jazz and other styles mixed with Japanese traditional sounds and Chinese erhu.

Sun Sanzui are three young musicians, Naosaburo Bihou playing narimono (various percussion), Akihisa Kominato (shakuhachi) and Kazuhiro Fukui on Tsugaru shamisen. Each is an accomplished musician in their own right, and on this album they have written 10 new tunes that draw on jazz, rock, country and other influences.

Wacky Japanese band who play a frantic blend of rock 'n' roll with rockabilly, swing, dixieland, jugband, chindon and other styles on banjo, accordion, washboard, trumpets and clarinets. Mini album, 7 tracks.

Tokyo Ethmusica were formed in Tokyo in 2003 by Daichi Hayakawa. He comes from an academic background, studying at one of Japan's most prestigious universities, and has a deep interest in music from around the world. Their music is inspired by roots sounds from all corners of the globe, which is combined with pop and dance rhythms and melodies. Originally featuring vocalists from Korea and Okinawa, their first records became radio airplay hits in Japan and their second album was released in Asia and some countries in Europe. Now they are back with a new album, but without the previous vocalists. Instead are guests singers: Miu Sakamoto, daughter of Ryuichi Sakamoto, Meguri Azumino, daughter of minyo singer Takio Ito, Yuyun, a singer from Indonesia and Ashid, a khoomii singer from Mongolia. A big production that fits most easily into the global dance scene, from an east Asian perspective.

First album for three years, and first studio album from Yukihiro Isso, the amazing nohkan flute player and his group Shirase, performing a mix of traditional Japanese music and jazz. 8 tracks.

A very welcome mini album with some of Kikusuimaru's best yet rarest tracks that have been unavailable for a few years. 1. Kanei Gozen Jiai - Naoto Ii (recorded when he was 45) 2. Bob Marley Story '97 (34) 3. Kakin Ondo Freeter Ichidai Otoko - Sieshun Jokyo Version (28) 4. Happy (28) 5. Tatsumono Dukushi (19) 6. Kawachi no Rekishi (9)

Kikusuimaru is a bit of a legend. He's had a colourful career, singing Kawachi ondo music from Kansai, updated with reggae, bhangra and other styles, all delivered with panache and humour. He's hasn't shied away from the axis of evil, having performed in Iraq where he met Saddam Hussein, and North Korea. Trouble is, nearly all of his recordings are unavailable. So, here then, is a very welcome second volume of some of his rare tracks.

Guitarist Tatsuya Koumazaki is joined by percussion, shibobue flute, koto, waidaiko drums, sho (pipe organ) on an album that mixes traditional and contemporary Japanese sounds with elements of gagaku, shomyo (buddhist chants) and even some Balinese gamelan. 1. Furusato / Former Home 2. The Beat of the Steppe 3. The Moon at Bago 4. Totorasu 5. Funaya (Song for Mother) 6. Nostalgia for Home 7. At a Period of Autumnal Cold 8. Stranger

Fantastic new album from two young musicians of popular songs from the Taisho period (1912-1927) originally performed by Azenbo Soeda and his son Tomomichi Soeda (aka Satsuki Soeda). Oka plays Kankara Sanshin (Okinawan sanshin made from a tin can) while Kobayashi plays 'rappa nikko' a two stringed fiddle and goros drum, with some accompaniment on tuba (Takero Sekijima), clarinet (Kanji Nakao) trumpet and accordion. This album conveys the atmosphere of a bygone era, and wonderful to hear such young performers doing the songs so well. 1. Tokyo Bushi 2. Rappa Bushi 3. Omoidashita 4. Murasaki Bushi 5. Shin Dondon Bushi 6. Minatouya 7. Akirame Bushi 8. Strike Bushi 9.Fukko Bushi 10. Asakusa Uta 11. Makkuro Bushi 12. Omaeto naraba Dokomademo 13. Nonki Bushi 14. Satsuki no Uta 15. Horohoro Bushi \n

Hiromitsu Kineya was born into a famous family of Nagauta shamisen players. His great-grandfather probably turned in his grave as Hiromitsu donned an outfit straight out of Star Trek and started playing shamisen with rock and rap. Well, he seems to have calmed down a bit and on his latest album is playing a jazz funk traditional fusion. Kineya wrote all the tunes and got on board well known J-pop arranger Takao Konishi to help out with arrangements, keyboards and programming. They then employed the talents of some great traditional musicians including National Treasures such as Hozan Yamamoto (shakuhachi), Bokusei Mochizuki (kozutsumi), Kisaku Katada (taiko), Wakasa Tsuruga (shinnuchi) and Tetsuo Miyata Tohon (nagauta). The J-pop/trad mix is an interesting concept and this albums brings together some of Japan's finest traditional musicians with one of the leading arrangers working behind the scenes in the J-pop world.

Momonashi are singer Mihoco Kamimura (also a current member of Soul Flower Union) and bassist Jigen. This album celebrates their 10 year anniversary in 2008. Their music has strong Japanese roots elements, similar in some ways to Shang Shang Typhoon in their mixture of Japanese melodies with contemporary instruments. This is a best of live album with various guest musicians such as Masaya Okuno (keyboards) and Hiroshi Kawamura (guitar) from Soul Flower Union, Wataru Okuma (clarinet) and Miwazo Kogure (chindon) from Cicala-Mvta and ex-Kodo member Tetsuro Naito (taiko) The group have performed and had albums released in France. 10 tracks.

Momonashi are young female singer and lyricist Mihoco Kamimura and bassist and songwriter Jigen. Most of their songs have strong Japanese flavours, with a quirky twist. Think Shang Shang Typhoon meets Shisars; sort of minyo (folk) mixed with kayokyoku (pop) and avant-garde weirdness. Guests include Wataru Ohkuma (Cicala Mvta) on clarinet, Hiroshi Kawamura (Soul Flower Union) on various effects and keyboards, and Coba (accordion). 15 tracks.

Bonten are a taiko group who are always pushing the limits, searching for new possibilities and collaborating with various artists and dj's. They combine the taiko drums with shakuhachi and other traditional instruments with keyboards in a kind of new age setting.

Hinoki-ya describe themselves as the 'happiest taiko in the world'. From Hakodate in Hokkaido, the taiko drums are augmented by shinobue flute, acoustic guitar and vocals into a Japanese roots mixture with western influences. Also call themselves 'the travelling band' having played in the US, Croatia, Brazil, France and Greece.

Hidehide are the two Hideki's, Ishigaki on shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and Onoe on shamisen. They have all the right credentials. Ishigaki studied under the great shakuhachi master Hozan Yamamoto while Onoe comes froa long line of shamisen players. Pop, rock and jazzy sounds played on Japanese instruments on a mixture of original tunes and covers including a version of YMO's Rydeen and the classic minyo Soran Bushi.

Yukihiro Isso is probably Japan's leading player of noh-kan and shinobue flutes. He is a superb traditional noh flutist performing in noh plays from an early age. However, it's his willingness to experiment, innovate and develop the noh-kan and shinobue flutes that really sets him apart. On this album he plays in a trio with the excellent Natusuki Kido (guitars) and Masaki Yoshimi (tabla, matoka) also playing a variety of western recorders.Brilliantly played by three outstanding musicians, this album is at times quite light in sound, other times with echoes of flamenco or India.

Live recording from 2005 of the amazing noh-kan and shinobue flute player together with a band consisting of violin, guitar, tabla and taiko. Mostly jazz based with Japanese traditional elements. High quality performance. 8 tracks.

Takeharu is a wonderful shamisen player and rokyoku (storytelling) singer. He developed a highly musical and entertaining style of rock 'n' roll shamisen and in 2003 went to East Tennessee State University for a year to study American traditional culture especially bluegrass. Aged 14 Takeharu had first heard bluegrass and the following year met Bill Monroe in Japan. In Tennessee he started playing his shamisen with a bluegrass band, which led to the formation of the group The Last Frontier. They toured in Japan and the US and recorded this album together. Appalachian Shamisen feels like an entirely natural combination, the result of years of absorbing bluegrass into rokyoku and shamisen. Brilliantly played, with loads of humour. Fantastic stuff.

First solo album from Satoko Nishikawa, one of the wonderful female singers of Shang Shang Typhoon. High quality, Asian/Japanese roots pop. Collaborators include Aki Ozawa (guitar, produce) plus an excellent band featuirng tuba, sax, violin, trumpet, accordion, percussion and Korean changoo. 12 tracks, mostly originals.

Eishiba is a singer of the hauta and kouta traditions, regional and short songs for shamisen, popular in early Edo period Japan in the restaurants and brothels of the cities, in the type of music the geishas would sing. She is accompanied by shamisen and Toshinori Kondo on electric trumpet, programming and synthesizers, on a CD that succesfully blends ancient and modern Japan. Not just a CD of programmed beats with sampled decoration, this is a genuine collaboration to create something new and musically challenging. Slightly weird, rather wonderful and highly recommended.

Tarbagan are the excellent Japanese duo of Masahiko Todoriki (hoomii- throat singing) and Haruhiko Saga (morin huur- horse head fiddle). They have spent many years studying and playing Tuvan and Mongolian music, performing with Huun-Huur Tur, and many Japanese musicians including Okinawans Misako Koja, Tetsuhiro Daiku and Ainu musician OKI with his Far East Band. OKI makes a guest appearance on this album of 10 tracks of Tuvan and Mongolian folk songs.

After 15 years or so, Shang Shang Typhoon are still one of Japan's best roots bands. Their music is a mix of Japanese style pop, Okinawan, and other Asian and world sounds. The two female singers, Emi and Satoko are on fine form, as is their leader, composer and banjo player Koryu. This is their 11th album with a good mix of songs from ballads to funky numbers.

Cicala Mvta have gained a considerable reputation around the world for their dynamic live performances. Their music takes in many influences, including punk, avant-garde jazz, progressive rock and Japanese chindon (street performance) music. This live album, recorded during their Spring tour 2006 shows why. Led by clarinetist Wataru Ohkuma, plus some of Japan's most innovative musicians including Yoshiyuki Kawaguchi (sax) Yoshiki Sakurai (guitar) Tatsuya Yoshida of Ruins (drums) and Miwazo on chindon and gorus drums.

Amazing solo album from the eccentric, eclectic cello player, who won many fans when touring in 2000 in Europe with Cicala Mvta, especially for his cello electric saw routine. Avant-garde, unclassifiable, constantly challenging and recommended. Hiromichi uses various electronic effects and voices to create some stunning music.

Perhaps this is the album we've all been waiting for Sizzle Ohtaka to record, ever since her haunting version of Shokichi Kina's 'Hana' in the early 90s. It's a pretty simple concept; her glorious, pure voice singing traditional Okinawan songs, such as Tinsagu nu Hana, Tsuki nu Kaisha, Shimajima Kaisha, Asadoya Yunta and a few new songs too, with mostly sanshin, guitar, minimal percussion, the distant chink of a Buddhist rin, and a few nature sounds in stripped down arrangements.Her voice matches her choice of fashion; contemporary kimono-based, unmistakably rooted in Japan with a modern cool chic. She has long held a fascination with the music of Okinawa and this latest album was recorded at the southernmost restaurant in Japan, in Hateruma Island, Okinawa. Eleven tracks.

Classic 70s album including mixture of New Orleans / Okinawan plus other Asian music. Highly recommended.

Remixes of classic material from Makoto and the Sunset Gang, includes Haisai Ojisan.

Re-issue onto mid-price of classic 1989 album featuring guests including the Okinawa Chans (inc.Misako Koja,ex-Nenes), Youssou N'Dour, Arto Lindsay and many others.

Stunning double CD and one of the releases of the year 2000. One CD is of traditional gagaku, ancient court music, somewhat eerie in quality. The other is Eno's interesting take on the music. Originally to accompany a book, the CD has become a runaway success in Japan. Elaborate, mirror image artwork, makes it difficult to decipher the text including English notes notes written by Eno.

Percussionist Tsuchitori recreates the musical sound of the earliest period of Japanese cultural history, by playing unusual earthenware clay drums thought to be from the Jomon period, between twelve and thirteen thousand years ago, together with reconstructed versions of earthenware flutes and bell, as well as South American and Indian flutes. The music is a kind of tribal drumming, with different flutes playing short refrains and occasional melodies, all done in an accessible and interesting way.

Twelve years after it's release, Isso's influential album finally gets re-released and re-packaged after being deleted for a few years. Spectacular nohkan and shinobue (Japanese flute) playing accompanied by guitar, percussion and Japanese taiko drums, and various luminaries from the Japanese jazz and improvised scene including Yosuke Yamashita on piano, sax player Akira Sakata, guitarist Kazumi Watanabe and Kiyohiko Semba on percussion. This album was released at the time of the World Music boom in Japan, when Japanese musicians first explored what they could do with their own musical roots. Some experimentations now sound dated, but this has stood the test of time, as Japanese traditions are combined with flamenco, Indian and other traditions and jazz, and performed with stunning technique.

Tatsuya Koumazaki plays an acoustic guitar, made from paulownia wood so it sounds similar to a koto (Japanese zither). He is backed up by his group Pangea playing a mixture of Japanese (shinobu, noukan flutes, koto) and Western instruments (percussion and bass). This album was recorded in a sake brewery and has a meditative, spiritual feeling. It features a poem reading and even the Chief sake brewer on the album's final track. Booklet is in Japanese washi paper, adding to the effect on a wonderful album.

Gevil mix Japanese taiko drums with punk rock, backed by 'hayashi' festival chants and even elements of enka. The group have been causing a bit of a stir in Japan and the US. Led by the charismatic and powerful taiko drummer and vocalist (and well known tattoo artist) Waka, the group dress in 'happy coats' worn at Japanese festivals, the audience at their explosive gigs join in the moves, matsuri or Japanese festival style. This is their first major single, released November 2006, 4 tracks including a pretty incredible taiko meets hard rock version of Mission Impossible.

Released 2005, Matsuri Tengoku features seven tracks of taiko/punk mayhem. From Tokyo, Waka's (aka Hirozumi Jadoh) taiko drums and vocals are augmented by guitar, bass and drums. The group spent some time in New York where they played at S.O.B's and CBGB's among other live venues in the city. The tracks include a version of the Japanese minyo classic Soran Bushi, (titled Haikei Zipang Soran Bushi) and Gevil Samba.

Taiko meets punk rock in the hands of this explosive band from Tokyo. Their material is a mixture of original tunes and outrageous arrangements of traditional folk tunes. This album is of 10 tracks, including Kokoro Bushi, Love Lotion, Dream Catcher and Koko ni Saku Hana.

Excellent electronic dance, trance and grooves from Japan. World flavours from China, (guzheng) Japan (shakuhachi) Hawaiian chants, Gypsy violin, Mongolian urtiin duu and hoomi, India and Senegal. Mostly laid back lounge style with Oriental flavours.

Sax player Kazutoki Umezu is one of Japan's most inventive musicians, performing solo, with a wide variety of guests or on albums by Tetsuhiro Daiku, Oki and many others. Klezmer has for a long time been one of his major loves (previously Betsuni nanno Klezmer) and is here joined by violin, accordion, tuba and drums on a kind of chindon/klezmer mix. If you like Cicala Mvta or Strada this should be to your taste.

Instrumental group fronted by Kosuke Shimizu on bass and Yuko Ikoma on accordion. Similar to the type of folk songs before the second world war, and approach of groups such as Ego Wrappin' and Cicala Mvta.

Third album by the fantastic duo of Kosuke Shimizu (contrabass) & Yuko Ikoma (accordion & piano). Unusual and inventive, CD comes with video clip.

Latest album from the superb Japanese klezmer band featuring the wonderful Kazutoki Umezu on clarinet. Original, compelling music with some Japanese elements.

Chindon music, a kind of brass and percussion street music, updated with raw power and energy.

Asa-Chang is an extraordinary percussionist and tabla player. He used to play with Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, before turning solo and creating Junray. His music is difficult to define, but usually is experimental, often has a certain Asian quality and is always fascinating. His music has been lauded in especially the UK where his records have been released on the Leaf label. This is the new Japanese album, up to the indefinable quality.

First album in the series by wonderful shamisen player and singer. Japanese traditional sounding shamisen and melodies are accompanied by jazzy piano, sax, drums, bass and chindon. Ueno's clear vocals have a slightly comic feel to them, very endearing. 15 tracks.

Moto Ueno plays shamisen and sings and on this unusual album accompanied by jazz musicians playing sax, bass and drums. Ueno is also a member of the excellent Tsurureko Sachu. Absolutely wonderful.

On second album, guitar, violin, piano, mandolin, sax and drums join Moto Ueno's shamisen and voice. More pop, less jazz than first album, wonderful, weird, unique stuff.

Accordions, percussions, bouzouki, tubas combine in Japanese trad CD. Thrilling.

Three piece Okinawa based female band, playing own style of Indian music. Intriguing.

Emme is the latest singer to be dubbed as a Japanese world music artist. She has a certain Japanese way of singing, although is still fairly western pop sounding at times. She is accompanied by a range of instruments including Japanese shakuhachi, koto and shamisen, plus Javanese gamelan and other east Asian instuments, African percussion, sitars, s well as guitars, bass, trombones, flutes and western percussion. A big production, brimming with ideas and enthusiasm, but could perhaps have benefited from a more simple approach at times. Nevertheless, this is a creative and imaginative work, deserving of the praise it has been receiving.

Produced by Makoto Kubota, Japanese/Asian pop, includes Sabah Habas' 'Denpasar Moon'.

Guitarist Kaoru Fujiwara and his band mix bossa nova and samba with Japanese minyo, or folk music, with great success.

Choro Club are three talented musicians; Oh Akioka on bandolim, Shigeharu Sasago on guitar and double bassist Jyoji Sawada. Their music is rooted in, but not limited to, the music of Brazil, taking in other world and jazz elements. They have performed extensively in Japan not only in concert halls and clubs, but shrines, museums and gardens. 12 orginal tracks featuring guest musicians on accordion, percussion, flute and cello.

Choro Club are three Japanese musicians, Jyoji Sawada, Shigeharu Sasago and Oh Akioka who play choro and other Brazilian influenced instrumental music. In demand as session musicians as well (including Okinawan Yasukatsu Oshima) they are outstanding players of guitars, bandolin, and double bass, and are joined by various guests on saxophone, percussion, flute and other instruments.

Three piece acoustic group in laid back kind of style. The most interesting moments are with guests, vocalist Epo, and Okinawan Yasukatsu Oshima.

Unusual combination of the Japanese koto and shakuhachi, with Turkish saz, plus percussion and keyboards. The female vocals are in western style despite being Japanese folk songs. Has leanings towards 'Healing' music, but has it's more interesting moments.

Rock 'n roll shamisen, plus slow numbers with synthesizer accomapaniment, but all with Kunimoto's distinctive voice., Short (37mins) on running time, 3 tracks.

Enoken (1904-1970) is known as the comedy king of showa, very popular in Japan before and after the second world war, appearing in films, operettas, theater, radio and TV. This 2 CD set is a collaboration with the great composer Toriroh Miki. Disc 1 features music performed by Enoken from his film career, written by Toriroh. Disc 2 is of Enoken's legendary radio programmes including comedy and drama. Listening to this, gives a real taste of 1940s and 50s Japan.

Great 2 CDcollection that includes Enoken's last recordings and rare tracks.

Tracks not included on other compilations, including some rare tracks.

34 track compilation of Enoken's most famous film songs.