Few other conductors had or have a relationship with the Berliner Philharmoniker to match Seiji Ozawa’s. His musical abilities earned him the orchestra’s respect from the very outset. He knew his scores down to the smallest detail and knew precisely what he wanted. However — and this is what made working with him so wonderful — he never imposed his views on us but rather integrated them into a partnership on equal terms. That led not only to personally rewarding encounters: it also made possible the kind of music making in which freedom and spontaneity always had a place.

A1 for electronic sounds and voices, 1969. A2 music for multi-piano, orchestra and electronic sounds, 1968. B1 for electronic sounds and Japanese traditional instruments, 1968. B2 for electronic sounds, 1968.

Sandy Lam, also known as Lam Yik Lin (林憶蓮), is a Chinese singer who sings in Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and Japanese.

Japanese musician Hakushi Hasegawa/長谷川白紙 proudly announces their new album Mahōgakkō/魔法学校 for LA-based Brainfeeder Records, out July 24th. As part of the announcement, Hasegawa shares a new single and video – “Boy’s Texture” – serving as the album’s second single after last year’s “Mouth Flash (Kuchinohanabi)”. The news arrives alongside Hasegawa’s grand gesture of revealing their face to fans for the very first time, unveiling a new side of the elusive and compelling artist.

The legendary BORIS celebrate a 30 year career as one of experimental music's most forward-thinking, heavy, and innovative bands with the new album Heavy Rocks (2022). Continuing their series of Heavy Rocks records, BORIS once again channels the classic proto-metal sounds of the 70s into something all new.

The trailblazing force behind the emergence of the Japanese techno-pop sound of the late '70s, Yellow Magic Orchestra remains a seminal influence on contemporary electronic music – hugely popular both at home and abroad, their pioneering use of synthesizers, sequencers and drum machines places them second only to Kraftwerk as innovators of today's electronic culture.

Momoe Yamaguchi (山口 百恵) is a Japanese former singer, actress, and idol whose career lasted from 1972 to 1980. Often simply referred to by her given name "Momoe", Yamaguchi is one of the most successful singers in Japanese music, releasing 32 singles, including three number one hits, and 21 studio albums. Complete Momoe Kaiki is a complilation album of an old songs, some tracks were remastered in the new arrangements.

With "Fantôme", J-pop megastar Hikaru Utada releases her first album in six years. The best-selling Japanese artist of all time, Utada spent her hiatus travelling and prioritizing her personal life, which included dealing with her mother's suicide, getting married and having a baby. The title Fantôme is a reference to her mother's presence and influence on these songs, sung by Utada in Japanese.

Timeless idol Kaoru Yumi made her debut as an actress in the 1966 film 'Erase the Night Rose'. From 1986, she appeared regularly as 'Kagero Ogin' in Mito Komon, where she became a household name for the bathing scenes she performed in every episode. On 9 October this year, she performed a stunning dedication dance in front of the five-storey pagoda in the precincts of To-ji Temple in Kyoto at the '1200th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Rikkyo sect of Shingon Buddhism', impressing the audience with her beauty. The album contains a variety of Showa rare groove favourites, including her own hit singles 'Flame Woman' and 'Put Out the Cigarette', as well as a cover of her 'Les Girls' colleague Katsuko Kanai's hit song 'Strangers' and the overseas song 'Taboo'.

First collaborative album for 13 years from veteran female singer/songwriter Taeko Onuki and Ryuchi Sakamoto. In the early 1970s Onuki was a member of Sugar Babe along with Tatsuro Yamashita, during which time she first met and performed with Sakamoto. Simple album of Onuki's voice accompanied by Sakamoto's piano. Most compositions written by Sakamoto. Undertook a Japan tour in November/December 2010.

Carnival, alternatively titled Hōjōya (放生会, lit. "life's release") is the seventh solo studio album by Japanese singer Ringo Sheena, released on May 29, 2024, via EMI Records.

The Kaiju Project is a Japanese inspired jazz group formed by the half Japanese-Austrian pianist Aseo Friesacher. Their initial idea was to bring old folk songs into a new modern context, but in addition to their compositions, this group has found their very own musical direction: a perfect blend of traditional Japanese music and meditative-creative jazz.

Matsuda Seiko (松田聖子) is a Japanese pop singer-songwriter and is one of Japan's most influential female artists. "Snow Garden" is her 11th compilation release. It was released as a special Christmas album containing a different kind of tracklist for each side of the LP.

Momoe Yamaguchi (山口 百恵) is a Japanese former singer, actress, and idol whose career lasted from 1972 to 1980. Often simply referred to by her given name "Momoe", Yamaguchi is one of the most successful singers in Japanese music, releasing 32 singles, including three number one hits, and 21 studio albums. "L.A. Blue" is her 18th album, recorded in Los Angeles using local musicians and production staff. It features mostly Japanese-language songs in light disco-funk arrangements and couple AOR-ballads as well.

A new joint project, the Nagai Series, will begin with musicologist Keiko Takii, the social welfare corporation Asahikawaso, and Nagai City, Yamagata Prefecture. This first album features the work "Neun Lieder" by Raphael von Koeber, an important figure in the history of Japanese Western music. Makiko Yamashita, one of Japan's leading mezzo-soprano singers, sings a collection of dramatic and spiritual pieces by Koeber, who nurtured young musicians such as Rentaro Taki during the Meiji period and helped root Western music in Japan. Please enjoy the sparkling artistry of Koebel and Rentaro Taki at the dawn of Japanese Western music history.