Dropping the needle…
Index
106 full articles, with more being written. Each article links to every album by that artist in the catalogue.
Where every listener starts.
Singer-songwriter, arranger, producer · 1973–present
Tatsuro Yamashita is a Japanese singer-songwriter, arranger and producer, widely described as the architect of city pop. A meticulous multi-instrumentalist and studio craftsman, he built a sound out of American soul, doo-wop harmony and West Coast production, and has released more than 50 singles across a career of five decades.
Circus Town 1976Spacy 1977Ride on Time 1980
Singer-songwriter · 1978–present
Mariya Takeuchi is a Japanese singer-songwriter whose “Plastic Love”, first released on Variety (1984), became decades later the most widely heard recording of the city pop revival. She has sold an estimated 16 million records.
Beginning 1978University Street 1979Miss M 1980
Singer, composer · 1979–2000
Miki Matsubara was a Japanese singer and composer whose debut single, “Mayonaka no Door (Stay with Me)”, released when she was nineteen, topped global viral charts more than four decades later.
Pocket Park 1980Cupid 1981Myself 1982
Singer-songwriter · 1978–present
Anri (born Eiko Kawashima) is a Japanese singer-songwriter whose bright, beach-bound records of the early 1980s made her the face of what Japanese listeners called “resort pop”.
Heaven Beach 1982Bi・Ki・Ni 1983Timely!! 1983
Singer-songwriter, producer, label owner · 1969–2013
Eiichi Ohtaki was a Japanese songwriter, producer and founder of the Niagara label whose A Long Vacation (1981) is one of the most celebrated albums in Japanese pop history.
Niagara Moon 1975A Long Vacation 1981Each Time 1984
Band · 1973–1976
Sugar Babe was a Tokyo band led by Tatsuro Yamashita and Taeko Onuki whose only album, Songs (1975), is often cited as the first city pop record.
Songs 1975
Singer-songwriter · 1972–present
Yumi Matsutoya (née Arai), known as Yuming, is a Japanese singer-songwriter who has sold more than 42 million records and is one of the most commercially successful artists in Japanese history. Her early albums, recorded with the Tin Pan Alley musicians, helped define the sophisticated “new music” from which city pop grew.
Hikō-ki Gumo 1973Misslim 1974Cobalt Hour 1975
Guitarist, composer · 1971–present
Masayoshi Takanaka is a Japanese guitarist and composer whose sun-bleached instrumental fusion for Kitty Records made him one of the most popular musicians of the city pop era, and in the 2020s one of its most successful international revivals.
Seychelles 1976Brasilian Skies 1978The Rainbow Goblins 1981
The records that define the sound.
Singer-songwriter · 1971–present
Taeko Onuki is a Japanese singer-songwriter and founding member of Sugar Babe whose solo work moved from urban soul toward a cool, European-influenced art pop.
Grey Skies 1976Sunshower 1977Mignonne 1978
Singer-songwriter, lyricist · 1973–present
Minako Yoshida is a Japanese singer-songwriter and lyricist whose gospel-inflected voice and dense funk arrangements made her the great soul singer of the city pop era — and who wrote lyrics for roughly half of Tatsuro Yamashita’s catalogue.
Flapper 1976Monsters in Town 1981Light’n Up 1982
Singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer · 1981–present
Toshiki Kadomatsu is a Japanese guitarist, singer and producer, described as one of the pioneers of city pop, whose dance-floor-minded records brought New York boogie into 1980s Japanese pop.
Sea Breeze 1981On the City Shore 1983After 5 Clash 1984
Singer, lyricist · 1977–present
Tomoko Aran is a Japanese singer and prolific lyricist whose third album, Fuyū Kūkan (1983), became one of the most sampled city pop records of the internet era.
Shinkei Suijaku 1981Fuyū Kūkan 1983More Relax 1984
Bassist, songwriter, producer · 1969–present
Haruomi Hosono is a Japanese bassist, songwriter and producer whose work with Happy End, Tin Pan Alley and Yellow Magic Orchestra laid much of the groundwork on which city pop was built.
Hosono House 1973Tropical Dandy 1975Paraiso 1978
Keyboardist, singer-songwriter, arranger · 1970s–2012
Hiroshi Sato was a Japanese keyboardist, singer-songwriter and session player whose album Awakening (1982) — built largely on an early Linn LM-1 drum machine — is regarded by collectors as one of the most adventurous records of the city pop era.
Orient 1979Awakening 1982Sailing Blaster 1984
Singer-songwriter · 1981–1988; 2008–present
Yasuha (Yasuha Ebina) is a Japanese singer-songwriter whose 1981 debut single, “Flyday Chinatown”, became a revival-era hit four decades after a modest first release.
Transit 1981
Singer-songwriter, pianist · 1974–present
Junko Yagami is a Japanese singer-songwriter and pianist known for her soaring range and two No. 2 hits at the turn of the 1980s, “Mizuiro no Ame” and “Purple Town”.
Mr. Metropolis 1980Full Moon 1983
Band · 1983–1991
Omega Tribe was a Japanese band project led by producer Koichi Fujita whose summery, synth-polished records — first with singer Kiyotaka Sugiyama, then with Carlos Toshiki — are among the definitive sounds of mid-1980s city pop.
Aqua City 1983River’s Island 1984Never Ending Summer 1984
Singer-songwriter, pianist · 1976–present
Akiko Yano is a Japanese singer-songwriter and pianist whose playful, jazz-trained records and long association with Yellow Magic Orchestra made her one of the most distinctive voices of Japanese pop.
Japanese Girl 1976Iroha ni Konpeitō 1977To Ki Me Ki 1978
Singer · 1981–1990s
Hitomi “Penny” Tohyama is a Japanese singer from Okinawa whose bilingual, American-styled records for Nippon Columbia have become favourites of the city pop revival.
Just Call Me Penny 1981Heart Full of L.A. Mind 1982Next Door 1983
Singer · 1983–2000s
Yurie Kokubu is a Japanese singer whose debut album, Relief 72 Hours (1983), produced by Tetsuji Hayashi, is regarded as a cornerstone of 1980s city pop.
Relief 72 Hours 1983
Singer · 1974–2023
Junko Ohashi was a Japanese singer whose powerful, soul-inflected voice carried hits such as “Tasogare My Love” (1978) and “Silhouette Romance” (1981), and whose late-1970s albums are now collected as city pop.
Crystal City 1977Full House 1979
Singer-songwriter · 1982–1992
Meiko Nakahara is a Japanese singer-songwriter of the 1980s whose tropical, dance-floor city pop — and her anime themes for Dirty Pair and Kimagure Orange Road — made her a cult favourite of the revival.
Coconuts House 1982Lotos no Kajitsu 1984
Singer-songwriter · 1980–present
EPO (Eiko Sato) is a Japanese singer-songwriter who debuted in 1980 with a cover of Sugar Babe’s “Down Town” and became, with Taeko Ohnuki and Mariya Takeuchi, one of RCA’s three leading women singers of the early 1980s.
Guitarist, singer-songwriter, arranger · 1974–present
Makoto Matsushita is a Japanese session guitarist, arranger and singer-songwriter whose AOR album First Light (1981) is one of the most sought-after records of the city pop revival.
First Light 1981
Singer-songwriter · 1974–present
Kingo Hamada is a Japanese singer-songwriter whose 1982 song “Machi no Dolphin” became internationally known after it was sampled in Engelwood’s 2017 future-funk track “Crystal Dolphin”.
Midnight Cruisin’ 1982
Singer, actor · 1966–present
Akira Terao is a Japanese actor and singer whose 1981 album Reflections, containing the hit “Ruby no Yubiwa”, sold 1.6 million copies and is one of the best-selling records of the city pop era.
Reflections 1981
Singer-songwriter · 1979–present
Kiyotaka Sugiyama is a Japanese singer-songwriter, the voice of S. Kiyotaka & Omega Tribe (1983–1985), and afterwards a solo artist whose first three albums all reached the top two of the Oricon chart.
Beyond… 1986
Band · 1974–1994
Hi-Fi Set was a Japanese vocal trio, formed in 1974 from the folk group Red Bird, whose polished harmonies on songs written by Yumi Arai made them one of the bridges from folk to city pop. Their “Sky Restaurant” has since been sampled by J. Cole and Chris Brown.
Fashionable Lover 1976Pasadena Park 1984
Band · 1976–present
Casiopea is a Japanese jazz-fusion band founded by guitarist Issei Noro; its 1980s Alfa recordings, especially the live album Mint Jams (1982), are pillars of the instrumental side of city pop.
Mint Jams 1982Cross Point 1981
Singer, drummer · 1982–present
Junichi Inagaki is a Japanese singer and drummer from Sendai whose rain-soaked, late-night ballads — beginning with 246:3AM (1982) — made him one of the defining male voices of 1980s city pop.
246:3AM 1982
Guitarist, songwriter, producer · 1965–present
Shigeru Suzuki is a Japanese guitarist, a member of Happy End and Tin Pan Alley, whose slide and lead guitar can be heard on many of the records that founded city pop, from Yumi Arai’s Cobalt Hour to Taeko Ohnuki’s Sunshower.
Band Wagon 1975
Singer-songwriter, composer, producer · 1973–present
Yoshitaka Minami is a Tokyo-born singer-songwriter, composer and producer whose run of late-1970s and early-1980s albums and hits such as “Monroe Walk” and “Slow na Boogie ni Shite Kure (I Want You)” made him a defining urban-pop stylist.
Speak Low 1979Seventh Avenue South 1982
Drummer, singer, producer · 1972–2023
Yukihiro Takahashi was a Tokyo-born drummer, singer and producer who played in the Sadistic Mika Band, co-founded Yellow Magic Orchestra and released a long series of solo albums beginning with Saravah! in 1978.
Saravah! 1978Murdered by the Music 1980
Singer, actress · 1961–2025
Ayumi Ishida was a singer and actress whose 1968 single “Blue Light Yokohama” topped the Oricon chart, and whose 1977 album Our Connection with Tin Pan Alley is an early landmark of urban pop.
Our Connection 1977
Singer-songwriter · 1987–1999, 2012–present
Chisato Moritaka is a Japanese singer-songwriter who debuted on Warner Pioneer in 1987 and became one of the most distinctive pop stars of the late Shōwa and early Heisei years, selling over 6.4 million singles and 5.2 million albums by 1999.
Kokon Tozai 1990
Singer, actress · 1985–2024
Miho Nakayama was a Japanese singer and actress, one of the most popular idols of the late-1980s “golden age”, whose Toshiki Kadomatsu-produced recordings brought city pop production into the idol mainstream.
Catch the Nite 1988
Singer, actress · 1984–present
Yoko Minamino is a Japanese singer and actress who rose to fame in Sukeban Deka II and became one of the late-1980s idol “Four Divas”, with nine Oricon No. 1 singles on CBS/Sony.
Garland 1987Gauche 1989
Band · 1976–present
T-Square, originally The Square, is a Japanese jazz fusion band formed in 1976 at Meiji University by guitarist and principal composer Masahiro Andoh.
Adventures 1984Truth 1987
Composer, arranger, singer-songwriter · 1973–present
Tetsuji Hayashi is a Japanese composer and arranger who wrote many of city pop’s defining songs, including Miki Matsubara’s “Mayonaka no Door (Stay With Me)” and Mariya Takeuchi’s “September”.
Bruges 1973
Singer-songwriter · 1969–present
Kazumasa Oda is a Japanese singer-songwriter, leader of the band Off Course and, as a solo artist, the voice of the million-selling “Love Story wa Totsuzen ni”.
K.Oda 1986
Singer-songwriter · 1976–present
Amii Ozaki (born Misuzu Ohara, 19 March 1957) is a Kyoto-born singer-songwriter who debuted on Toshiba EMI in 1976 and became one of the most in-demand pop composers of the 1980s, writing Anri’s “Olivia wo Kikinagara” and Seiko Matsuda’s “Tenshi no Wink”.
Shady 1976Meridian-Melon 1980
Singer, composer · 1972–present
Masaki Ueda is a Kyoto-born R&B and soul singer whose 1982 ballad “悲しい色やね”, composed by Tetsuji Hayashi, became his biggest hit.
Push & Pull 1978Husky 1983
Singer-songwriter · 1975–present
Miyuki Nakajima is a Sapporo-born singer-songwriter who has recorded since 1975 and became one of Japan’s most successful songwriters, both under her own name and for other singers.
Aishiteiru to Ittekure 1978Kansuigyo 1982
Singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer · 1972–present
Ginji Ito is a Japanese guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer who passed through Sugar Babe, recorded Niagara Triangle Vol. 1 with Tatsuro Yamashita and Eiichi Ohtaki, and produced Motoharu Sano’s early work.
Deadly Drive 1977Baby Blue 1982
Singer-songwriter · 1980–present
Motoharu Sano is a Japanese singer-songwriter and producer, active since 1980, whose early Epic/Sony albums were produced with guitarist Ginji Ito.
Someday 1982Visitors 1984
Singer · 1979–present
Seiko Matsuda is a Japanese singer whose early-1980s CBS/Sony records, with songs by Eiichi Ohtaki, Yumi Matsutoya and Haruomi Hosono, produced an unbroken run of Oricon No. 1 singles.
Kaze Tachinu 1981Pineapple 1982
Singer · 1980–1996
Naoko Kawai is a Japanese singer who recorded for Nippon Columbia from 1980 to 1996, releasing a long run of top-ten albums and topping the Oricon singles chart with “Debut/Manhattan Joke” in 1985.
Daydream Coast 1984Sky Park 1983
Keyboardist, arranger, composer · 1970s–2023
Ryuichi Sakamoto was a Japanese composer and keyboardist who, before co-founding Yellow Magic Orchestra in 1978, worked as a session player and arranger, notably on Taeko Onuki’s city pop album Sunshower.
Thousand Knives 1978
Singer-songwriter, producer · 1960s–2009
Kazuhiko Kato was a Japanese musician and producer who led The Folk Crusaders and Sadistic Mika Band and produced work for artists including Mariya Takeuchi.
Papa Hemingway 1979Belle Excentrique 1981
For the diggers.
Singer · 1980s
Takako Mamiya is a Japanese singer of the 1980s known for a single album, Love Trip (1982), which became one of the most sought-after city pop LPs among collectors.
Love Trip 1982
Singer, actress · 1984–present
Momoko Kikuchi is a Japanese singer and actress whose 1980s idol albums leaned unusually far into sophisticated studio pop, and who scored seven consecutive Oricon No. 1 singles between 1985 and 1987.
Ocean Side 1984Tropic of Capricorn 1985Adventure 1986
Singer, actress · 1975–present
Hiromi Iwasaki is a Japanese singer and actress, one of the defining pop vocalists of the 1970s and 1980s, with two million-selling singles: “Romance” (1975) and “Madonna-tachi no Lullaby” (1982).
Wish 1980Love Letter 1982I Won’t Break Your Heart 1984
Singer-songwriter · 1980–present
Hiroaki Igarashi is a Japanese singer-songwriter from Hokkaido whose 1980 hit “Pegasus no Asa” sold more than half a million copies.
Northern Scene 1980
Jazz singer · 1978–present
Yasuko Agawa is a Japanese jazz singer, nicknamed “Sugar Voice”, whose early-1980s Victor albums brought jazz vocals unusual commercial success and crossed into city pop and AOR.
Sunglow 1981
Singer · 1979–present
Mai Yamane is a Japanese singer best known internationally for her 1980 album Tasogare, rediscovered in the city pop revival, and for singing on Yoko Kanno’s soundtracks for Cowboy Bebop.
Tasogare 1980
Singer-songwriter · 1976–present
Mayo Shono is a Japanese singer-songwriter from Osaka whose 1978 hit “Tonde Istanbul” took her to NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen, and whose late-1970s and early-1980s records sit on the boundary of new music and city pop.
Tropical Winter 1982
Singer-songwriter · 1979–present
Miharu Koshi is a Japanese singer-songwriter who began in late-1970s pop, turned to electronic music in the 1980s with Haruomi Hosono as producer, and later to French chanson and European jazz.
Tutu 1983Parallelisme 1984
Singer-songwriter, composer · 1984–1994 (singer); composer since
Reimy is a Japanese singer-songwriter from Okinawa whose debut in 1984 was backed by Yumi and Masataka Matsutoya; her first three albums all reached the Oricon top 20.
Pansy 1985
Singer, actress · 1967–present
Ryoko Moriyama is a Japanese folk singer and actress, dubbed the “Japanese Joan Baez” and the “queen of college folk”, whose 1969 recording “Kinjirareta Koi” sold over a million copies.
Singer-songwriter, guitarist · 1950s–2017
Hiroshi “Monsieur” Kamayatsu was a Tokyo-born singer, guitarist and composer who wrote songs for the group-sounds band the Spiders before a solo career that spanned more than five decades.
Monsieur / Kamayatsu Hiroshi no Sekai 1970Gauloise 1994
Singer-songwriter, lyricist, composer · 1971–2023
Kei Ogura is a Japanese singer-songwriter who built a major recording and songwriting career while working as a bank clerk, writing hits for Akira Fuse, Masatoshi Nakamura and Hibari Misora.
Hōkō 1972Nokosareta Shōkei 1974
Singer, actress · 1974–present
Yuko Asano is a Kobe-born singer and actress who debuted as a teenage idol in 1974 and scored her biggest hit with the 1976 disco single “Sexy Bus Stop”.
Singer · 1971–present
Seri Ishikawa is a singer from Sagamihara who rose to notice with the 1971 film theme “Hachigatsu no Nureta Suna” and recorded a string of albums for Philips from 1974 to 1985.
Kimagure 1977Möbius 1982
Singer · 1986–1990 (as singer)
Nami Shimada is a former Japanese idol singer who recorded for Nippon Columbia from 1986 to 1990 and later reinvented herself as music writer, radio personality and club DJ Naoko Shimada.
Singer-songwriter, composer · 1984–present
Akiko Kobayashi is a Japanese singer-songwriter and composer best known for the 1985 drama theme “恋におちて -Fall in love-”, which won a songwriting award at the 27th Japan Record Awards.
City of Angels 1988
Singer · 1982–1990
Hidemi Ishikawa is a former Japanese idol singer of the celebrated 1982 debut class who recorded 30 singles for RVC between 1982 and 1990.
16・祭 1983
Singer · 1981–present
Miki Asakura is a Japanese singer known in the 1980s as the “queen of Western cover songs”, best remembered for “ヒーロー”, her version of Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding Out for a Hero”.
Singer · 1985–present
Kahoru Kohiruimaki is a Japanese singer who debuted on Epic/Sony in 1985 and is known internationally for the City Hunter opening theme “City Hunter ～愛よ消えないで～”.
Hearts on Parade 1987
Singer-songwriter · 1977–present
Shinji Harada is a Japanese singer-songwriter whose 1977 debut produced three simultaneous chart singles and whose first album, Feel Happy, entered the Oricon chart at No. 1.
Feel Happy 1978
Singer-songwriter, photographer · 1977–1980, 1993–present
Nanako Sato is a Japanese singer-songwriter and photographer who debuted on Nippon Columbia in 1977 with Funny Walkin’, an album co-written with Motoharu Sano.
Funny Walkin’ 1977Pillow Talk 1978
Singer, actor · 1986–present
Masanori Ikeda is a Japanese singer and actor best known for “Night of Summer Side”, the first opening theme of the anime Kimagure Orange Road.
Singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer · 1986–present
Hiroshi Takano is a Japanese singer-songwriter and guitarist discovered by Yukihiro Takahashi, whose Todd Rundgren–produced records of 1990 gave him the hits “Niji no Miyako e” and “Bestendank”.
Cue 1990Awakening 1991
Band · 1985–present
Sing Like Talking is a Japanese AOR-influenced pop band fronted by Chikuzen Sato, which debuted in 1988 and topped the Oricon album chart with Encounter and Togetherness.
Encounter 1993Togetherness 1994
Singer · 1980–present
Kumiko Yamashita (born 26 January 1959) is a singer from Beppu, Ōita, who debuted on Nippon Columbia in 1980 and scored a hit with “Sekidō Komachi Dokki” in 1982.
Bathroom kara Ai wo Komete 1980
Singer, actress · 1958–present
Yukari Ito (born Nobuko Ito, 6 April 1947) is a Tokyo singer and actress who debuted as a child in 1958 and became one of the leading Japanese pops singers of the 1960s, later reinventing herself as an adult singer with albums such as the Tetsuji Hayashi-produced Misty Hour (1982).
Misty Hour 1982
Duo · 1969–present
Bread & Butter is a duo of brothers from Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Satsuya and Fuyumi Iwasawa, who debuted in 1969 and are counted among the pioneers of the “Shonan sound” alongside Yuzo Kayama and Southern All Stars.
Guitarist, singer, composer · 1970–present
Fujimaru Yoshino (born 21 April 1951) is a Hakodate-born guitarist and singer who led the band Shōgun, co-founded the AOR group AB’S with Makoto Matsushita, and played on sessions for artists from Momoe Yamaguchi to Akina Nakamori.
Yoshino Fujimal 1982Romantic Guys 1983
Singer-songwriter · 1987–present
Yuko Imai (born 21 October 1967) is a Tokyo singer-songwriter who debuted on King Records in 1987 and is best known for the Toshiki Kadomatsu-produced album Do Away (1990).
Do Away 1990
Singer-songwriter · 1982–2016
Kazuhito Murata (2 January 1954 – 22 February 2016) was a Tokyo singer-songwriter closely associated with Tatsuro Yamashita, who helped launch his 1982 debut and produced his breakthrough album Hitokakera no Natsu (1983).
Hitokakera no Natsu 1983My Crew 1984
Singer · 2000s–present
Hitomitoi is a Japanese singer whose 2012 album City Dive, produced by Kunimondo Takiguchi of Ryusenkei, tied her to the 2010s city pop revival.
City Dive 2012Telepa Telepa 2025
Band · 2013–2026 (hiatus)
Awesome City Club is a Japanese band that began playing live in 2013, widely labelled in early coverage as a leading “neo city pop” act; their 2021 hit “Wasurena” took them to NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
Awesome City Tracks 2015Grower 2021
Band · 2019–present
Yona Yona Weekenders is a Japanese four-piece formed in 2019 whose mellow, night-driving sound has seen the press ask whether they are a new “city pop” band; they bill their music as “good music to go with drinks”.
Yoru to Album 2019Shikōsei 2022
Singer · 1997–present
Asako Toki is a Japanese singer, formerly of Cymbals, who has been dubbed the “Queen of City Pop” by outlets including Natalie and is credited with helping revive the genre in the 2010s.
Pink 2017Passion Blue 2019
Singer-songwriter · 2005–present
Junk Fujiyama (born Naofumi Fujiki) is a Tokyo singer-songwriter whose city pop sound recalls Tatsuro Yamashita and Toshiki Kadomatsu, mixed with rock, soul and AOR.
Junk Scape 2013Dreamin’ 2023
Band · 2001–present
Ryusenkei is a Japanese city pop group led by guitarist and songwriter Kunimondo Takiguchi, whose 2003 album City Music became an early touchstone of the modern city pop revival.
City Music 2003Tokyo Sniper 2006
Producer, multi-instrumentalist · 2003–present
Tomita Lab is the recording project of producer Keiichi Tomita, whose meticulous, Steely Dan-influenced studio craft made him a key figure linking the AOR tradition of city pop to 2000s and 2010s Japanese pop.
Shipbuilding 2003Superfine 2016
Singer · 1984–2000s
Etsuko Sai is a Japanese singer from Tokyo who debuted in 1984 on Teichiku’s Continental imprint and recorded a run of West Coast–flavoured city pop albums through the late 1980s.
All I Need 1985Passio 1986
Singer · 1979–1987, 2011–
Atsuko Nina is a singer from Osaka who first recorded as Eri Hayakawa before re-debuting in 1983 and becoming known for summery, resort-themed city pop on the Invitation label.
Loco Island 1984Windy Island 1985
Singer, idol · 1988–1991, 2023–
Yuri Kunizane is a former Japanese idol singer who recorded for Nippon Columbia from 1988 to 1991 and returned to singing in 2023.
Summer in Blue 1988Tears Tiara 1990
Singer-songwriter, composer · 1982–present
Yasuhiro Abe is a Japanese singer-songwriter who debuted on Toshiba EMI in 1982 and, with Junichi Inagaki and Yudai Suzuki, was billed as one of the label’s “new wave four”.
Hold Me Tight 1983
Singer-songwriter · 1981–present
Takako Shirai is a singer-songwriter from Fujisawa who debuted on CBS/Sony in 1981 and became one of the leading female rock performers of the mid-1980s.
Heart Attacker 1984Raspberry Kick 1986
Singer-songwriter, composer · 1980–present
Yudai Suzuki is a Japanese singer-songwriter who debuted in earnest on Toshiba EMI in 1982 and was grouped with Junichi Inagaki and Yasuhiro Abe as one of the label’s “new wave four”.
Friday Night 1982La Shissa 1985
Singer-songwriter, actor · 1971–present
Shigeru Izumiya is a folk singer, poet and actor, raised in Meguro, Tokyo, who has recorded since 1971 and in 1975 co-founded the label For Life Records.
Shun.Ka.Shuu.Tou 1972Hikari to Kage 1973
Singer, actress, politician · 1979–present
Junko Mihara is a Tokyo-born former idol singer and actress who debuted on record in 1980 with “Sexy Night” and later became a racing driver and a member of the House of Councillors.
Windy City 風都市 1983
Singer, actor · 1980s–1994
Katsuhiko Nakagawa was a Tokyo-born singer, actor and radio personality who recorded for Warner-Pioneer and Alfa Records before his death from leukemia at 32; he was the father of Shoko Nakagawa.
CRACK SICK 1991
Singer-songwriter · 1978–present
Ryuun Nagai is a singer-songwriter from Fukuoka Prefecture who debuted in 1978 on Canyon Records’ F-LABEL and scored a hit with “Glico” in 1979.
Singer-songwriter · 1971–present
Takao Horiuchi is an Osaka-born singer-songwriter who co-founded the folk group Alice in 1971 and later found solo success with “Kimi no Hitomi wa 10000 Volt” and adult-oriented kayōkyoku.
Singer-songwriter · 1982–present
Kyoichi Usamoto is a Fukuoka-born singer-songwriter who debuted on London Records in 1982 and is best known for his 2006 setting of Kenji Miyazawa’s “Ame ni mo Makezu”.
Singer-songwriter · 1970–2023
PANTA (Haruo Nakamura) was the frontman of the radical rock band Zunō Keisatsu (Brain Police), who also built a solo career and wrote the city-pop-styled “Moonlight Surfer” for Seri Ishikawa.
唇にスパーク 1982マラッカ 1979
Singer-songwriter · 1978–present
Tatsuhiko Yamamoto is a Tokyo-born singer-songwriter who debuted in 1978 and became one of the leading figures of 1980s city pop, with a run of top-ten albums on Toshiba EMI’s East World label.
MARTINI HOUR 1983MEDITERRANEE 1985
Bassist · 1977–present
Koki Ito is a Tokyo session bassist best known for playing on most of Tatsuro Yamashita’s recordings and concerts from 1979 onward.
Arranger, keyboardist, composer · 1977–present
Nobuyuki Shimizu is a multi-instrumentalist arranger and composer, best known for shaping the sound of EPO’s early records and for long partnerships with Chiemi Oe and Airi Hiramatsu.
Corner Top 1980ANYTHING GOES 1982
Trumpeter, arranger, producer · 1970s–present
Ichiro Nitta is a trumpeter, arranger and producer who led the brass-driven band Spectrum and arranged horns and strings for Southern All Stars.
Bassist, arranger, composer, producer · 1970s–present
Tsugutoshi Goto is a Japanese bassist, arranger and producer whose slap bass playing and 1980s songwriting for idols made him one of the busiest figures in Japanese pop; he played bass on Miki Matsubara’s “Mayonaka no Door”.
Singer · 1985–c. 2000, 2023
Kaoru Akimoto is a Japanese singer whose 1986 album Cologne, featuring “Dress Down”, became a sought-after city pop record and has been repeatedly reissued.
Cologne 1986
Band · 1980s
Piper was a Japanese band from Hamamatsu, led by guitarist and vocalist Keisuke Yamamoto, whose mid-1980s albums on Yupiteru Records blended city pop with funk and soft fusion.
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