Hey there Kyong Sung! Thanks for taking the time to say hello!
Kyong Sung and his friend had just paid a visit to Tower Records when I caught up with them on the streets of Shibuya. I don’t know if I’d call Kyong Sung’s visit to Tokyo from his native Seoul part of a growing trend per se, as Koreans have statistically far out-visited Japan than any other nationality, averaging a million per year for the last several, compared to just ~300k of it’s next two rivals, Taiwan and USA, BUT I do keep meeting Koreans on the streets of Tokyo who have just bought records, looking at you: Ji Eun (@9rown), Homin (zi22ing), Chaz (@escape_chaz), Nana, Icksun, Bora (@borabora1204), Johnny (@hoo_hoo_s) Euna (@kichu_24)! That’s the trend – my circle of Korean homies is growing! Time for a looong overdue visit!
Another trend is that the late great LOFI chillpop pioneer, Jun Seba, AKA Nujabes has definitively become the most-photographed record on Tokyo Record Style. If you don’t already know this record with Fat Jon, give it a listen – Nujabes’ work is hugely influential and he’s been favorably compared to J Dilla, who interestingly, was born on the same day as he was. This record, along with a few other random cheap City Pop, Jazz Fusion, and Kayokyoku guilty pleasures were among Kyong Sung’s scores from Tower that day.
Lastly, Kyong Sung and his pal (whose name escapes me) are architects at a prestigious Korean firm who build airports, stadiums, skyscrapers, and more. Sharing an office with architects myself at my day job, we talked quite a bit about architecture and they were familiar with a few big projects that I’ve watched being designed by my colleagues. It was great to find more common ground and riff a bit more. It’ll make it easier to message them in a few months’ time (maybe) on their time zone to say, “Hey, Seoul Record Style? Anyone? Anyone?”
Well, for now, more TOKYO Record Style on the way, LOTS of it! Stay tuned! 안녕!
Nujabes / Fat Jon – Samurai Champloo Music Record – Departure
Label: Victor – VTJL-7～8
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Limited Edition
Country: Japan
Released: Apr 27, 2022
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop, Stage & Screen
Style: Soundtrack, Jazzy Hip-Hop, Downtempo, Trip Hop, Instrumental, Anison
https://www.discogs.com/release/23027066-Nujabes-Fat-Jon-Samurai-Champloo-Music-Record-Departure
新田恵利 [Eri Nitta] – E-Area
Label: Canyon – C28A0512
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Japan
Released: Sep 5, 1986
Genre: Electronic, Pop
Style: Synth-pop, Kayōkyoku
https://www.discogs.com/release/6200764-%E6%96%B0%E7%94%B0%E6%81%B5%E5%88%A9-E-Area
Orquesta Conexion Latina – Un Poco Loco
Label: Enja Records – 5023
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Germany
Released: 1986
Genre: Jazz, Latin
Style: Afro-Cuban Jazz, Salsa
https://www.discogs.com/release/2203488-Orquesta-Conexion-Latina-Un-Poco-Loco
ダ・カーポ – 僕らは歌追い人 II
Label: Blow Up (3) – LX-7068-A
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Japan
Released: Jun 24, 1979
Genre: Pop, Folk, World, & Country
https://www.discogs.com/release/18302479-%E3%83%80%E3%82%AB%E3%83%BC%E3%83%9D-%E5%83%95%E3%82%89%E3%81%AF%E6%AD%8C%E8%BF%BD%E3%81%84%E4%BA%BA-II
Try Best Offer Score
On Instagram