Thankyou for this video. The store I visited during my trip is called "Recofan" in Shinjuku. I regret not visiting more stores, particularly dub store (recordcityjp) and HMV but due to limited suitcase room (I Had just spent $1000 at Nakano Broadway), probably was for the best. I spent most of my time in bookoffs and hardoffs and just focusing on CDs. Would love to go back to Tokyo and dig through more records. Big lover of Japanese Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Citypop, Idol Pop, J-Rock, Metal etc. Have some rare Japanese Citypop records myself and some broadcast not for sale versions too. My favorite artist is Ms. Honda Minako-San whom I visited her grave in Saitama on Xmas day (Would not be here without her music so wanted to say thanks). Ended up picking up a bunch of Yoko Oginome and a City Hunter OST. I found in the popular section, I had already owned majority of the citypop albums there (importing them to Australia via HMV). As a 23 year old and in a western country, its hard to talk to anyone about Japanese music like this. I need to live in Japan aha
There is a bar in Golden Gai that plays old records from the 70s and 80s I accidentally found. Its upstairs next to a ramen shop. Huge collection of old 45s singles. Found myself at home talking to the owner and some of the old folk who were there. They were very intrigued how a young soul especially at 23 loved their generation of music, let alone me being Australian and not Japanese.
Thank you very much! I was originally intending just to scout out the area and go back home to do a storyboard. But the spontaneous experience of going on to Eurasia with the two collectors made things very fresh and compelling. My next video tour will be an area called Shimo Kitazawa that has 26 record stores; some newly opened. Thanks for watching. And likewise, I'm a fan of your channel!
I think vinyl peeps will go nuts when we get the videos containing some of the rarest Jazz, Beatles etc A whole world of record shop vids just opened in Japan, forrow ver rellow rick road my friend!! PS dont for get the Sushi lunch and you're a made man
Prepare to be Wowed. As for lunch.....7/11 Store bought egg salad white bread sandwiches with the crusts cut off and cold green tea is not going to cut mustard with you, is it? Is my audience expecting "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" plopped down on a sanded wood counter; or will maguro nigiri delivered to the table on a fast moving conveyor belt, by way of an iPad satiate you?
Interesting video Michael, you make me want to consider travelling to Japan. That Beatles store is amazing and as a prog freak and 70s music lover the Red Ring Records will certainly be my go-to place
There is so so so so much more to show you. I’ve barely scratched the surface. Almost ¥150 to $1USD currently. Japan is record tourist buyer friendly. If/when your schedule and budget allow, please let me know. I’m happy to show you around if I can or give you tips. Thank you for watching and subscribing.
I am loving this trip around all these amazing vinyl stores. In fact, I would luv to visit that Dub store and talk to the owner about all his favorite Dub/Regge/and African albums. And probably ask him to curate 20 albums for me. Hmmmm maybe that’s an idea for your next video Michael? On my coin ofcause.
I'll go back there. I have to see that sound system. My most popular video is the audiophile's home and that's way separated from anything else I've ever posted. Reggae is very big here. We'll figure something out.
Marvellous stuff Michael. It seems that Japan has quite a curated culture. Which I'm not a massive fan of, I love Kylie Minogue & Minor Threat equally..who's going to curate that? 😂...but those stores look incredible, particularly the soul specialist, I'd love that. Look forward to future episodes
A 12” Warehouse store just recently opened in an area called Shimo Kitazawa. That area has 26 record stores according to my research; all waking distance from the train station. I will make sure I do a focus on that 12” store and will include prices to give you a sense. Cheers!
Oh god don’t tell me that!! & if I know Japanese dealers (I’ve dealt with a few) those 12” singles will be fantastic. I know a few Japanese Northern Soul dealers..they are totally obsessive..knew everything! Definately looking forward to further content!@@ricefieldrecords
I will try to get back over there and make a video. After making that B-roll from their homepage, I was equally impressed with Eurasia. They have top billing on the building signage, so maybe they occupy an entire floor. Yes! The Baldry is in top condition. He's so good. They take such good care of their possessions here. It's so amazing. Thank you for the kudos. Made a lot of inroads on storyboarding and new editing techniques. And so have you! You're newest is your bestest.
Hi Ambie, Welcome back! It's been quite awhile. Yes, we're out of the countryside and our new setting is equally quiet. It's a green tea growing area. I re-subscribed to your channel.
@@ricefieldrecords very nice!!!! Green tea is yummy. And wow thank you! I took a super long break from videos but I’m feeling into it more so lately so planning some more.
More and more reasons why I truly hope to make it to Japan some day. I just love the attention to detail of the Japanese dealers and shops. Cool service you are providing here Michael
I really want to focus on the small independent stores. Those are the ones not seen as often, outside of Japan. Thanks for watching Dom and I truly appreciate the kudos.
would love to go to these shops but my goodness, Tokyo might as well be on a different planet from my (your former) normal workaday city. Especially Vinyl Japan as dig post/punk/wave/garage and huge fan of Televsion
Okayama really afforded me an opportunity to take my time and study the stores. When you're up to it, you have to visit Orab in Omotecho. Kuroda-san has incredible taste. I think it will be your favorite Okayama store. Plus he is a great organizer of store sale events with other stores and fairs. A truly selfless guy and very supportive of me. The vinyl scene in the large cities is incredible. I never sell Okayama short, though. The reasonable pricing and lack of buyer competition keeps it high on my list.
Hi great video, Ive just come back from japan yesterday and visited some of the stores mentioned in your video, I go every month work related trips(where can you find that book of all the stores)
What gets me perturbed about Japan is that for decades record companies have bent over backwards to give them each and every kind of bonus no matter what they buy. Posters, Photos, Lyrics, extra tracks, the whole ball of wax…that the rest of the world rarely if ever gets. And many, many hard to find titles here never go out of print in Japan. That’s just the start of things. It’s very, very unfair…straight across the board, classical to metal to today’s material.
Well now is the time to order records from online retailers like Record City or Disk Union. Currencies like the USD ($1 = ¥150) and Euro are powerful against the Japanese Yen. I’m seeing more and more Westerners shopping in Japanese record stores around Tokyo. If you visit Japan, pleas let me know. I’d be happy to take you around so you can purchase some of these gems.
That's the old adage about rents carried over from the go-go bubble years of the 90's. In the case of those small 1-room stores above ground, I don't think their rents increase very much, if at all. On the residence side of things, tenants are obligated to pay one month's rent when the rental contract period renews. In the case of commercial ground floor occupancy with above ground tenants; sometimes the ground floor tenants own the buildings. Interest rates are near zero, and Japanese are incredibly fiscally conservative across the board.
Japanese people have taste, not like Americans and their Bob Dylan and REO Speedwagon records. Shame records looks good, Vinyl Japan, hell they all look interesting. And bonus, no Maslof, Waxed or Ralph in there.
@@thesixthbeatle The American RU-vid VC often treat me as if I’m a foreigner. When there’s curiosity about Japan, it’s pronounced. At $1 USD to ¥150, now is the time to visit and shop for records Japan.
@@ricefieldrecords Yes, Maslof's constant tooting of his own SF horn was only made bearable recently, when I went to SF and went inside a few places he claims to be a hometown hero in, and not one inside has ever heard of him.🤣🤣🤣🤣
How can many small stores in Japan survive? Loyal neighborhood and town customers + augment brick and mortar sales by selling on the net. Lastly own the building they operate out of or renegotiate the lease.
