Essential listening

Plastic Love

プラスティック・ラブ

Mariya Takeuchi · 1984 · from Variety

The revival’s anthem; arranged by Tatsuro Yamashita.

Mayonaka no Door (Stay with Me)

真夜中のドア〜stay with me

Miki Matsubara · 1979 · single

Topped global viral charts in 2020.

Sparkle

Tatsuro Yamashita · 1982 · from For You

The most famous guitar intro in the genre.

Down Town

Sugar Babe · 1975 · from Songs

Where many histories of city pop begin.

Flyday Chinatown

フライディ・チャイナタウン

Yasuha · 1981 · single

Self-penned piano disco debut.

Midnight Pretenders

Tomoko Aran · 1983 · from Fuyū Kūkan

Sampled by The Weeknd on “Out of Time”.

Ride on Time

Tatsuro Yamashita · 1980 · from Ride on Time

The Maxell commercial that made a star.

Town

Minako Yoshida · 1981 · from Monsters in Town

Brass-heavy funk; a DJ staple.

Purple Town

Junko Yagami · 1980 · single

Big-band disco with a stratospheric vocal.

Cat’s Eye

CAT’S EYE

Anri · 1983 · single

Anime theme and Oricon number one.

Tokai

都会

Taeko Onuki · 1977 · from Sunshower

Jazz-funk centrepiece of her second album.

Kimi wa Tennenshoku

君は天然色

Eiichi Ohtaki · 1981 · from A Long Vacation

Wall-of-sound summer in four minutes.

Mayonaka no Joke

真夜中のジョーク

Takako Mamiya · 1982 · from Love Trip

From the collector’s grail LP.

September

セプテンバー

Mariya Takeuchi · 1979 · single

Early-career hit; not the Earth, Wind & Fire song.