New Wave Outpost Forum

Were there any Japanese New Wave?
I am sure there were, but they escape me right now....But what were some of the Japanese New Wave acts? I would like to track some down.

I am a fan of Shibuya-Kei (Jpop) music and would like to see some of the corrilations between the two genres. Maybe how some acts in the 80s influence the Shibuya-Kei acts in the 90's.

Well...for your consideration...

YMO
The Plastics
IppuDo

Thanks.. I vaguely remember the Plastics, but the other two are new to me. I will have to dig some up to have a listen.

'YMO' or 'Yellow Magic Orchestra' were huge in Japan. It is said that they were the first western sounding Japanese band and were often compared to the mighty 'Kraftwerk' in their music style. The main keyboard player was a man by the name of 'Ryuichi Sakamoto' who some may recall worked with 'David Sylvian' on the soundtrack to the film 'Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence' plus many other projects since. 'YMO' released over a dozens albums between 1978 and 1985 and another when they reformed briefly in 1993. The best album is 'Characters : The Best Of ...' and 'Naughty Boys'.

'The Plastics' were a Tokyo based mixed gender Quintet formed in 1979 and split in 1985 and sounded not unlike 'Devo' so i've read. 1 album was pressed in America and England in the form of a best of but more were available in Japan it seems.

That's all I have on Japan new wave at the moment. If you want any other information then ask or email me.

Yellow Magic Orchestra was a great band. If you like New Wave, they're an essentail addition. In many ways they were way ahead of their time.

I have seen Ryuichi Sakamoto turn up in a few compilation ablums ranging from Jazz to Brazillian.
I should definately check out that YMO...

I shall head over to my used cd shop and seen if they have anything... they have a huge vinyl dedicated basement.

oh god yes.There were Yellow Magic Orechestra the most well known of them all of the New Wave out of Japan.Also Riuchi Sakamoto was pretty popular as well.And don't forget The Plastics who were a Japanese version of The B- 52's.Then there was "Sheena And The Rockkets"

Even though they weren't Japanese, the band Japan was awesome!

Yes,but were Half Japanese, Japanese at all? I know that The Vapors weren't.Only kidding.It was supposed to be a bad joke,and it really was.

The Plastics recorded at the same studio (Island) in the Bahamas as the B52's ,in fact I have a few promo pictures of them together.They did a cool remake of the Monkees the "last train to Clarksville" They had 3 releases altogether.Ryuichi Sakamoto ,Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi were the Original YMO Bill Nelson ,David Sylvian were both frequent guests on numerous of there releases as solo act independantly as well as on main group releases.Ryuichi "Left Handed Dream had Robin Scott,Brigit Nowack of "M" fame and Adrian Belew.Masami Tsuchiya was the Guitarist for Ippu du and had alot of Japan members gueat apear on his "Rice Music" album Excellent!!While Ryuichi did have Thomas Dolby and Bootsy Collins appear on "Musical Encyclopoedia" His main focus lately has been soundtrack which he has won alot of critical acclaim for. Haruomi is more into atmospheric but melodic instrumentation but is really Diverse.Bill Nelson actually Married Yukihiro Takahashi's ex wife and has worked with the Sadistic Huma Band.All three have appeared with Sylvian one way or another over the years Starting with Japans "Tin Drum"The Pizzicato 5 and Towa Tei are a couple more recently that's picked up where the others left off,however Pizzicato 5 are now broke up.and Towa was originaly with Dee-lite a kind of new wave of the early ninetees.

Consider the dafodil, and while you're doing that. I'll be over her going through your stuff.
Jack Handy

Even though they weren't Japanese, the band Japan was awesome! It doesn't matter if they were 0, 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 Japanese. They were still a great band!!!!



Edited by - chubbyluv on 05/10/2003 17:02:14

I spoke with some Japanese people who were around during the 80s.. they said that a bunch of their music in the 80s was like Americas in the 80s.

Only they dont really have popular music like we do... They dont have pop charts, which makes finding music kinda difficult.

Oh yeah.. Japan is a freaking AWESOME band.
Visions of China is one killer song

The Frank Chickens..."We Are Ninja(Not Geisha)", "Yellow Toast", "Mothra", "Do The Karaoke", etc...

http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=frank_chickens

j0hn.......

Does anyone know the Japanese 80s-synthpop band "HIKASHU"?
I like it a lot. They've been and still are quite popular.
They made a cover version of KRAFTWERK's "das Model".

Gary Numan certainly borrowed a lot from the Japanese whilst recording his Telekon album.