{"title":"Label: SOUND FUJI \/ King Records","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"disco-hanagasa-ondo-soma-bon-uta-memphis-soul-meets-japanese-folk-songs","title":"Disco Hanagasa Ondo \/ Soma Bon Uta -MEMPHIS SOUL MEETS JAPANESE FOLK SONGS-","description":"[[Release Detail]][[Release Description]]\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe second album by Memphis funk\/soul group EBONEE-WEBB, originally released in 1979.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJapanese folk songs from across the country, including “So Run,” “Yashow Macashow,” and “Smoky Moon,” are boldly transformed into disco sounds through the arrangements of Chikara Ueda, an arranger and composer known for exploring a wide range of musical styles, including Brazilian music.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe album brings together powerful grooves and distinctive Japanese language vocals in an extraordinary and highly unusual set. An extraordinary cult masterpiece receives its first-ever vinyl reissue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eChinbantei Goraku Shisho (DJ):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe definitive folk-song disco album by Memphis-based group EBONEEWEBB, recorded during their time in Japan—perhaps to make some money?!—finally gets its first-ever vinyl reissue!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEBONEE-WEBB became widely known after their “Disco Otomisan,” a bold arrangement of Hachiro Kasuga’s hit song “Otomisan,” became a huge hit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing their first album, the group made this second album, giving Japanese folk songs full-fledged funk and disco arrangements. The person behind the arrangements was Chikara Ueda, one of Japan’s finest arrangers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe crying guitar, powerful bass, and dynamic rhythm section come together perfectly. “So Run,” and “Yashow Macashow,” have long been favorites among Wamono DJs, but the track to really pay attention to is “Smoky Moon.” Its rhythm and chord progression boldly pay homage⁈ to Stevie Wonder’s hit “Isn’t She Lovely?”—something Ueda himself has acknowledged.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis miraculous oddball record has finally caught up with its time. Don’t miss it!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n[[Selling Points]]\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOriginally released in 1979\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJapanese folk songs from across the country\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBrings together powerful grooves and distinctive Japanese language vocals\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n[[Catalog Number]]NAS-2185[[Artist]]EBONEE-WEBB","brand":"SOUND FUJI \/ King Records","offers":[{"title":"Disco Hanagasa Ondo \/ Soma Bon Uta -MEMPHIS SOUL MEETS JAPANESE FOLK SONGS- \/ Album \/ LP Black","offer_id":67841085571317,"sku":"NAS-2185","price":44.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0080\/6417\/2096\/files\/4988003387778.jpg?v=1793039123"},{"product_id":"three-cushion","title":"THREE CUSHION","description":"[[Release Detail]][[Release Description]]\n\n\u003cp\u003eA 1981 collaboration between legendary Japanese jazz bassist Isao Suzuki and tenor saxophonist Akira Miyazawa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLong cherished by jazz fans as a hidden gem of Japanese jazz, the album captures thrilling, groove-driven performances.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\n\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeaturing acclaimed musicians including Motohiko Hino on drums and Yoshiaki Miyanoue on guitar, the album is marked by intense exchanges of  improvisation. It is also known as Isao Suzuki’s first digital recording. Now receiving its long-awaited first-ever vinyl reissue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYusuke Ogawa (UNIVERSOUNDS):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIsao Suzuki was an incredibly compelling bassist. He had the individuality, skill, and conviction to turn anything he played into “Isao Suzuki music,” and that’s what made him so cool. That appeal remained unchanged from the time he began his professional career in the 1950s until his passing in 2022, captivating fans not only in Japan but around the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHe left behind numerous standout recordings, including BLOW UP (1973), あこの夢 (AKO's DREAM) (1976), and 自画像 (SELF-PORTRAIT) (1981), but the album I especially want people to hear now is this 1981 recording, Three Cushion. Here, Isao Suzuki, who could make anything sound cool, takes on hard bop—both his musical roots and his true forte. Wanting to record with Akira Miyazawa, one of Japan’s tenor saxophone titans, Suzuki invited him to join the session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOn “Perhaps,” they stay true to the classic tradition; on “Together Again,” they push the possibilities further; and on his own composition, “ThreeCushion,” Suzuki takes things on with boldness. Traditional yet innovative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNever flashy, but somehow incredibly stimulating. Before you know it, you find yourself completely drawn into its world. This is Isao Suzuki at his peak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n[[Selling Points]]\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirst-ever vinyl reissue\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLong cherished by jazz fans as a hidden gem of Japanese jazz\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1981 collaboration between legendary Japanese jazz bassist Isao Suzuki and tenor saxophonist Akira Miyazawa\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n[[Catalog Number]]NAS-2182[[Artist]]Isao Suzuki","brand":"SOUND FUJI \/ King Records","offers":[{"title":"THREE CUSHION \/ Album \/ LP Black","offer_id":67841085636853,"sku":"NAS-2182","price":44.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0080\/6417\/2096\/files\/261013_NAS-2182_jacket_obiLarge.jpg?v=1793039016"},{"product_id":"bgm","title":"BGM","description":"[[Release Detail]][[Release Description]]\n\n\u003cp\u003eLed by guitarist Fujimaru Yoshino, who has played guitar on numerous classic Japanese songs including “Momen no Handkerchief” and “Amagigoe,” Fujimaru Band released their sole album in 1977. Long regarded by music fans as a hidden gem and a masterpiece of Japanese rare groove, the album has gained renewed attention in recent years, particularly outside Japan, with more than 9 million streams to date. Long sought after for a reissue, the album is now being released for the first time on color vinyl, using uncolored virgin vinyl in a Pure Vinyl edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTatsuo Sunaga (DJ \/ Music Producer):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eI’ve been playing “Lonely Man,” best known as the ending theme of the TV drama “Tantei Monogatari”, starring Yusaku Matsuda, for many years. The roots of that sound can be found on this album, “BGM”. It’s a uniquely Japanese rare groove record that doesn’t simply fit into the catch-all category of CITY POP, with a rich blend of urban pop and mellow sounds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThat sophisticated, grown-up feel comes from taking the groove sensibilities of Western music from 1977 and reinterpreting them through a distinctly Japanese sensibility, combining exceptional grooves with stylish melodic lines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s an impressive record, with a vintage feel that still sounds fresh and undiminished today, in 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn recent years, especially since the pandemic, record bars and MUSIC BARs, where records are played on high-end audio systems, have been gaining popularity. They are also connected to the uniquely Japanese culture of jazz kissa, a listening-bar tradition known around the world. And, by coincidence, isn’t “BGM” the perfect title for an album to be played in a place like that?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n[[Selling Points]]\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePressed on pure vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLong sought after reissue\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHidden gem and a masterpiece of Japanese rare groove\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n[[Catalog Number]]NAS-2181[[Artist]]Fujimaru Band","brand":"SOUND FUJI \/ King Records","offers":[{"title":"BGM \/ Album \/ LP Pure","offer_id":67841104969973,"sku":"NAS-2181","price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0080\/6417\/2096\/files\/261013_NAS-2181_jacket_obiLarge.jpg?v=1793038983"},{"product_id":"okinawa","title":"OKINAWA","description":"[[Release Detail]][[Release Description]]\n\n\u003cp\u003eA 1976 album by acclaimed drummer AKIRA ISHIKAWA \u0026amp; COUNT BUFFALO, who pursued their distinctive musical style with jazz and rock as their twin foundations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eInspired by Okinawa, the album incorporates a diverse range of elements including funk, Afro, and disco, creating a genre-crossing sound. It features standards, Western pop covers, and Okinawan folk songs, brought to life through dynamic and experimental performances, including arrangements by Koichi Sugiyama.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe album also features memorable chorus performances by Kayoko Ishu and Time Five, making this a little-known and highly distinctive concept album.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe album is now being released for the first time on color vinyl.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKatsumi Tanaka (Minyo Crusaders):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e“AKIRA ISHIKAWA \u0026amp; COUNT BUFFALO’s OKINAWA is a record I’ve loved since the early days of Minyo Crusaders, and it’s something of a musical bible for me. The arrangements are by none other than Koichi Sugiyama.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBuilt around Akira Ishikawa’s incredibly tight drumming, the A-side draws heavily on Philly soul and jazz funk, creating a sense of tropical freedom, as if you’ve wandered into a disco in Koza in the 1970s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOn the B-side, Okinawan scales, sitar guitar, and dreamlike choruses come together to create an entirely exotic world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing Okinawa’s 1972 reversion to Japan, the rise of rock and soul in Koza, the flourishing Okinawan folk music scene, and the 1975 Okinawa International Ocean Expo, Okinawa was undergoing major changes. Perhaps it was no coincidence that a group constantly seeking out new beats from around the world turned their attention to OKINAWA.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA masterpiece that I highly recommend listening to alongside Makoto Kubota’s Hawaii Champroo and Haruomi Hosono’s Bon Voyage co..\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n[[Selling Points]]\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFirst time on color vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1976 album by acclaimed drummer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncorporates a diverse range of elements including funk, Afro, and disco\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n[[Catalog Number]]NAS-2184[[Artist]]AKIRA ISHIKAWA \u0026amp; COUNT BUFFALO","brand":"SOUND FUJI \/ King Records","offers":[{"title":"OKINAWA \/ Album \/ LP Clear","offer_id":67841105035509,"sku":"NAS-2184","price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0080\/6417\/2096\/files\/4988003387754.jpg?v=1793039105"},{"product_id":"soft-landing","title":"SOFT LANDING","description":"[[Release Detail]][[Release Description]]\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe second album by saxophonist Takeru Muraoka, a key figure in the New Jazz movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s, released in 1978. A standout work featuring a colorful sound that incorporates crossover and fusion, with cutting-edge grooves and an edgy ensemble. Accomplished musicians including Susumu Kazuhara on trumpet and Masanori Sasaji on keyboards join Muraoka, delivering a wide range of sounds, from funky tracks to fast-paced numbers. Now available on color vinyl for the first time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMitsutaka Nagira (Music Critic):\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eLast year I went to France, and this year I went to Sweden and Finland, drinking my way through the local spots. In every city, whenever I came across a restaurant or bar where records were being played, I would find some kind of Japanese jazz record, and I had just experienced firsthand how strong the scene has become. In Europe, many of these places feel closer to DJ bars than traditional jazz kissa, so naturally, records that work well for DJ play, while also functioning as background music in a seated setting, tend to be favored.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTakeru Muraoka’s Soft Landing is right at the center of that context. Some of the band members come from Akira Ishikawa’s musical circle, and many of them are accomplished musicians who supported artists such as Yoshitaka Minami, Tatsuro Yamashita, and Anri within the City Pop scene. Masanori Sasaji was also a member of Mariah. With a band like this, the album moves effortlessly through the many forms of “fusion” of the era. Jazz, funk, and disco intermingle, shifting from a light, refreshing feel to a deep, weighty groove from track to track. They have the versatility of studio musicians, yet as Muraoka’s band, with its ties to Terumasa Hino’s musical circle, the players become more self-assertive and aggressive when they take their solos. This distinctly Japanese duality is also part of what makes the album so compelling. I can easily picture a reissue of Soft Landing being played in bars all over the world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n[[Selling Points]]\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePressed on clear deep blue vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSecond album by saxophonist Takeru Muraoka\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStandout work featuring a colorful sound incorporating crossover and fusion\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n[[Catalog Number]]NAS-2183[[Artist]]TAKERU MURAOKA \u0026amp; HIS NEW GROUP","brand":"SOUND FUJI \/ King Records","offers":[{"title":"SOFT LANDING \/ Album \/ LP Clear Deep Blue","offer_id":67841105101045,"sku":"NAS-2183","price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0080\/6417\/2096\/files\/4988003387747.jpg?v=1793039087"},{"product_id":"sound-fuji-king-records-bundle","title":"Sound Fuji\/King Records Bundle","description":"[[Release Detail]][[Release Description]]\n\n\u003cp\u003e5xLP Bundle featuring 5 titles from SOUND FUJI and King Records.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIncludes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBGM on Pure Vinyl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTHREE CUSHION on Black Vinyl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSOFT LANDING on Clear Deep Blue Vinyl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOKINAWA on Clear Vinyl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDisco Hanagasa Ondo \/ Soma Bon Uta -MEMPHIS SOUL MEETS JAPANESE FOLK SONGS on Black Vinyl\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\n[[Selling Points]]\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeaturing 5 titles from SOUND FUJI \/ King Records\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePressed on black and color vinyl\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMusic by Fujimaru Band, Isao Suzuki, Takeru Muraoka \u0026amp; His New Group, Akira Ishikawa \u0026amp; Count Buffalo, and Ebonee-Webb\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n[[Catalog Number]]SOUNDFUJI-BUNDLE[[Artist]]Various Artists","brand":"SOUND FUJI \/ King Records","offers":[{"title":"Sound Fuji\/King Records Bundle \/ Album \/ 5LP Bundle","offer_id":67899523596533,"sku":"SOUNDFUJI-BUNDLE","price":190.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0080\/6417\/2096\/files\/SOUND_FUJI_x5_aaf64990-dc43-4118-99ad-2f48f27c0678.jpg?v=1793638412"}],"url":"https:\/\/lightintheattic.net\/collections\/sound-fuji-king-records.oembed","provider":"Light in the Attic","version":"1.0","type":"link"}