Isao Tomita, often known simply as Tomita, was a Japanese composer, regarded as one of the pioneers of electronic music and space music, and as one of the most famous producers of analog synthesizer arrangements. In addition to creating note-by-note realizations, Tomita made extensive use of the sound-design capabilities of his instrument, using synthesizers to create new sounds to accompany and enhance his electronic realizations of acoustic instruments. He also made effective use of analog music sequencers and the Mellotron, and featured futuristic science-fiction themes, while laying the foundations for synth-pop music and trance-like rhythms. Many of his albums are electronic versions and adaptations of familiar classical music pieces. He received four Grammy Award nominations for his 1974 album based on music by Claude Debussy, Snowflakes Are Dancing.
Malice Mizer was a Japanese visual kei rock band active from August 1992 to December 2001. Formed by guitarists Mana and Közi, their earlier music and themes were characterized by their strong French and classical influences, later moving away from deliberate French romanticism and incorporating Gothic aspects after several difficulties befell the band. Their official fan club is named "Ma chérie".
Made in Japan is a double live album by English rock band Deep Purple, recorded during their first tour of Japan in August 1972. It was originally released in December 1972, with a US release in April 1973, and became a commercial and critical success.
Zard were a Japanese pop rock group, originally with five members, with lead vocalist Izumi Sakai as its only constant member. Zard's work was sold under the record label B-Gram Records, Inc. Their most popular and successful songs are "Makenaide" (1993) (負けないで), "Yureru Omoi" (1993) (揺れる想い), and "My Friend" (1996). As of 2014, Zard had sold over 38 million records, making them one of the best-selling music artists in Japan.
Sneaker was a West Coast American rock band, active from 1973 to 1983. The band is best known for its Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hit single, "More Than Just the Two of Us", from its first album, Sneaker (1981). They also had a minor hit with "Don't Let Me In", a song written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker from Steely Dan.
Cluster were a German musical duo consisting of Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius, formed in 1971 and associated with West Germany's krautrock and kosmische music scenes. Born from the earlier Berlin-based group Kluster, they relocated in 1971 into the countryside village of Forst, Lower Saxony, where they built a studio and collaborated with musicians such as Conny Plank, Brian Eno, and Michael Rother; with the latter, they formed the influential side-project Harmonia. After first disbanding in 1981, Cluster reunited several times: from 1989 to 1997, and from 2007 to 2010.
Kitarō (喜多郎), born Masanori Takahashi, is a Japanese recording artist, composer, record producer, and arranger noted for his electronic-instrumental music, and is often associated with and regarded as one of the most prominent musical acts of new-age music. He won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for Thinking of You (1999), with a record 16 nominations in the same category. He received a Golden Globe Award for the original score to Heaven & Earth (1993).
Harmonia was a West German musical "supergroup" formed in 1973 as a collaboration between members of two prominent krautrock bands: Cluster's Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Moebius joined by Neu! guitarist Michael Rother. Living and recording in the rural village of Forst, the trio released two albums—Musik von Harmonia (1974) and Deluxe (1975)—to limited sales before dissolving in 1976.
Mono is a Japanese instrumental band, formed in 1999 in Tokyo. The band consists of Takaakira "Taka" Goto, Hideki "Yoda" Suematsu, Dahm Majuri Cipolla (drums), and Tamaki Kunishi.
Kimeru is a Japanese pop musician, singer, and stage actor. He is most famous for his work with The Prince of Tennis. He adopted the stage name Kimeru, which means "to decide" in Japanese, before debuting. Kimeru's birth name has never been announced publicly. Starting from 2018 onward, with the release of his 16th single "go forward", the singer's name is now stylized as KIMERU.
Mani Neumeier is a German rock musician, free-jazz drummer, artist, and frontman of the German Krautrock-band Guru Guru.
"All Tomorrow's Parties" is a song by the Velvet Underground and Nico, written by Lou Reed and released on the group's 1967 debut studio album, The Velvet Underground & Nico.
Live in Japan, subtitled "The Guitars on the Table Approach", is a 1982 double live album by English guitarist, composer and improvisor Fred Frith. It was recorded during an improvised solo performance tour of Japan in July 1981. The double album was a limited edition release of 1,000 by Recommended Records Japan on two LP records in a black corrugated box containing posters, artwork and booklets in English and Japanese. It was also released as two single LPs, entitled Live in Japan, Vol. 1 and Live in Japan, Vol. 2. The single LP cover art was taken from the inner double LP gatefold cover.
Step Across the Border is a soundtrack double album by English guitarist, composer and improvisor Fred Frith, of the 1990 avant-garde documentary film on Frith, Step Across the Border. The album features music from the film performed by Frith and other musicians, and covers ten years of Frith's musical career from 1979 to 1989.
First Encounter Tour 1996 is the thirteenth full-length album by German electronic music outfit Cluster. It is also the third live album released, and the only double album released by Cluster.
Sakanaction, stylised as sakanaction, are a Japanese rock band from Sapporo, Hokkaido. Their music is a fusion of alternative rock, electronic, pop, and new wave styles. The band consists of five members: Ichiro Yamaguchi, Motoharu Iwadera, Ami Kusakari, Emi Okazaki, and Keiichi Ejima.
Cha Cha 2000 - Live in Tokyo 1996 Vol. 1 is a 1998 live album by the German group La! Neu?, recorded at a 1996 concert in Tokyo during the band's Japanese tour. The album consists of the second half of the 3½ hour concert, during which time the band played an extended 1¾ hour version of La Düsseldorf's 1978 song Cha Cha 2000. The album is regarded as the pinnacle of La! Neu?'s and Dinger's artistic achievements by many, and continues to be the best selling album released by Captain Trip Records.
Live in Tokyo 1996 Vol. 2 is a 1999 live album by German band La! Neu?, recorded during their 1996 Japanese tour at a concert in Tokyo. Despite its title, the album actually consists of the first half of the concert, the second half having been released in 1998 as Cha Cha 2000 - Live in Tokyo 1996 Vol. 1. The album consists of a mixture of live improvisation and set songs, including some sampled material from English musician Mick Lount.
Live in Japan is a 1982 live album by English post-punk rock group the Work. It is their second album and was recorded in Osaka, Japan on 29 June 1982. It was released on LP later in 1982 by Recommended Records in Japan, and follows on from their debut album, Slow Crimes, released earlier in 1982 by Woof Records in the United Kingdom. Live in Japan was reissued in 2006 on CD by Ad Hoc Records in the United States with one extra track: "I Hate America", taken from the band's first single in 1981.
Let's Goal!: Barairo no Jinsei is the twelfth studio album by Japanese singer and songwriter Mai Kuraki. The album was released on August 14, 2019, by Northern Music. It is the follow-up to her 2018 album Kimi Omou: Shunkashūtō. The album was released on standard edition, fan club edition, and five limited editions, each of which includes lyric book of different designs. Let's Goal!: Barairo no Jinsei is a J-pop album, incorporating elements of R&B, rock, electropop and many other genres.
