Dust & Grooves doing Japan – Part 1
Kon’nichiwa!
Greeting from Tokyo, Japan.
I have started a 2 month trip in order to collect more material for the upcoming Dust & Grooves book.
During the 4 years of working on Dust & Grooves, I kept hearing crazy things about the vinyl culture in Japan, so now it’s time to see it in my own eyes, and share it with all of you.
I rather see this visit as an introduction to Japan, first visit to be followed by additional ones in the future. There’s so much to see, and so little time.
Junich Miyaji – Chigasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
I got to know Junichi thru Sheila Burgel, a NY friend whom I photographed for D&G a few months ago. Thank you Sheila for this great introduction.
Junichi lives in a small beach town, about an hour train ride from Tokyo. His house is of course full of records. The first floor is converted into a bar where he stores all his LPs and uses it as a hanging spot for him and his vinyl loving friends.
In the second floor, lies the 7 inch room, which he uses as his office.
Tokyo’s Jazz vinyl cafes & bars
Thanks to our reader Lander Lenaerts, I’ve discovered www.tokyojazzsite.com , a website about vinyl cafes and bars in Tokyo, run by James Catchpole, a Brooklynite who’s been living in Tokyo for the past 15 years.
On my second day in Tokyo, we met in this terrific Jazz bar JBS ( Jazz, Blues, Soul). We had a few drinks, listened to a few records took some photos of the owner Kobayashi.
We then continued to his favorite bar Samurai, in Shinjuku. Once again, so much to see, so little time.
Stay tuned for some more updates. Tomorrow I’ll be heading to Kyoto to profile Shuya Okino of Kyoto Jazz Massive.
Wednesday, hopefully, I’ll be profiling DJ Muro and then hop on a plane straight to London.
Until then, keep digging,
Eilon
About Post Author
Wondering what´s in Junich shelves… Great pics as well.
Keep em coming.
I love the Japanese taste in audio and music as a rule. And they are friendly people once you get to know them. Nice photos. My kind of bars.
If you can, hit up Soulstream in Shinjuku. It’s definitely my favorite spot in Tokyo. The owner Ooki-san is awesome!
This is amazing and so interesting. I look foward to features! I’d love to hear how a vinly bar operates. Do you oder a drink with a side of Miles Davis?
Do they have happy hour? Two songs for the price of one? I’m very interested. Love your website by the way, I’ve been reading it for 6 months I guess. It’s one of my weekly reads, Great way to relax. Thanks and keep the articles coming.
“Agreed!”
j.j.
east orange, nj, usa.
Eilon, you live a charmed life! Thank you so much for sharing all these stories and photos for the rest of us. Keep on doin’ whatcha doin’ the way that you do it!
If your in Japan the Record Map book is essential see here http://blog.cdandlp.com/2011/02/record-map-japanese-record-stores-guide.html
Wow, you’re the best. So cool to get to see this!
I feel lucky to be doing this!
A vinyl bar in NYC is needed.
It should be run by someone from Japan as a Japanese one would be so you get the complete cultural experience and not a ‘version’ of same. There is somethng so powerful and wonderful about having your own culture fed back to you.
There is one, sort of:
http://www.monomononyc.com/
What is the turntable on the fifth photo: kenwood?
Denon
great post. my only request is that you have people make a mix, in fact anyone you do an article on should have to make a mix. I come to this website not just beacuase i enjoy it, i also come to dust and groove to learn more about music. please have someone make a mix from japan, would recommend getting a portable maudio recorder so that people can make a mix on the spot. otherwise, keep up the great work.
fantastic article and pics. i was unaware of the “vinyl bar”. thank you.
Wow amazing pics! Walls of records. I’m dying to see more!
Ahh..I was in Tokyo at the same time! I go there about 2 times a year to dig and see friends. Its by far the best city in the world for record diggin. Really looking forward to the book is finished. Have you seen this: http://www.juno.co.uk/products/groove-magazine-japan-djs-room-issue-japanese-text/467106-01/ its a groove magazine special with pictures of dj`s studios/record collection. Peace from Oslo, Norway!
Hey Eilon, great to see these pics up here. Hope you’ll be back soon, next month I’ll be spinning some records at Miyaji-san’s cafe, try and fly by! James
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