Japan logo Japan group picture nightporter logo

Biography
Discographies
Live History
Television
Polaroids
Articles
Carrier Bag
Links
Yahoo! Group
Site History - coming soon!
Contact

If you enjoy this site and would like to make a contribution to the running costs, please click the link below to make a donation by Paypal. Thankyou.

Quiet Life

Polaroids

Tin Drum

oil on canvas

exorcising

Notes and news

Steve Jansen update 29/6/08

From www.stevejansen.com: "Steve has recently been in Japan to oversee editing of his live DVD scheduled for release in November. Featuring films and stills by Shoko Ise the content will also include some exclusive extras. Apart from mixing the live recording, Steve has also recently mixed Richard Barbieri's upcoming solo release." Steve has also recently worked on new material by Yukihiro Takahashi. 

Jansen and Barbieri sighting at YMO concert 15/06/08

Steve and Rich attended the recent Yellow Magic Orchestra performance at London's Royal Festival Hall with their families.  Richard has a new album out later this year - more news to follow once I get it! Other people spotted at the gig were Paul Weller (who also ate at the same restaurant as some fans the day before, coincidentally), Kelly Osbourne, Paul Morley, Mark Moore and Tim Elsenburg. It was great to meet up with several site contributors over the weekend - watch this space there are plans afoot for another gathering later in the year.

Site Updates June 2008

More information has been added to the Discographies, more photos to the Polaroids gallery, plus the pages on collectable memarobilia ("Carrier Bag") and Japan advertising. Thankyou to ozboyz, Stefan, Michael, Chris, Simon and Toby for their contributions.

Japan, Rain Tree Crow and David Sylvian mini LP card sleeve re-issues coming soon!


On July 2nd the following albums are being re-released in Japan, in mini replicas of the original album covers:


Gentlemen Take Polaroids VJCP68872Card sleeve CDs
Tin Drum VJCP68873
Oil On Canvas VJCP68874

Rain Tree Crow VJCP68875

David Sylvian - Brilliant Trees VJCP68876
David Sylvian - Gone To Earth (2 CD)  VJCP68877-78
David Sylvian - Secrets of the Beehive VJCP68879

These are followed on July 23rd by the Hansa era albums:

Adolescent Sex: BVCM-35413
Obscure Alternatives: BVCM-35414
Quiet Life: BVCM-35415
Assemblage: BVCM-35416

The contents of all releases are the same as the remastered versions that came out in the UK in 2003/2004. There is a boxed version of the Virgin releases available for pre-order from Disk Union. However, to secure one you will need to ask a Japanese friend to get one for you, or use a buying service such as Japonica or Rinkya. This is because Disk Union will not sell to customers outside Japan.

Richard Barbieri answers fan questions - reveals new album coming soon - mixed by Steve Jansen.

Lots of interesting info from Mr Barbieri at the japansylvian forum.  

Site update - new various artists compilations page

This page includes information on over 180 various artists compilations featuring Japan. Some include material that you can not find anywhere else, so collectors should check it out. Currently I am cross-referencing this with the rest of the discography to make it easier to track down certain tracks that you can not buy on a Japan CD.


Mick Karn and Steve Jansen answer fan questions

Visit this thread at the japansylvian forum for Mick's Q&A - including an update on his autobiography - and this thread for Steve's.
 
David Sylvian update

David makes a contribution to the track "Honor Wishes" on the new Joan As Police Woman album "To Survive", due for release in June. Read more about this project and listen to a clip of "Honor Wishes" at davidsylvian.net. David is currently working on new material. Posts to the japan-pioneers Yahoo! Group have revealed that the new recordings feature guest appearances from Evan Parker, Christian Fennesz and John Tilbury.

Japan and foootball - an unlikely combination?

 
Correspondent Ray Farley wrote in: "At the start of the Barnsley v Cardiff cup semi final Sky Sports used "Nightporter" as the background music to a few poems about the two sides". Yet another example of how the profile of Japan's music is in the ascendent right now. Thanks to Dave Cowen for pointing out that this was a football game, not rugby as I had originally written!

Adolescent Sex

Japan "Adolescent Sex" album 30th Anniversary - April 2008

Yes folks, it's 30 years since "Adolescent Sex" was released to, er, not universal acclaim. However, it is now a firm favourite, especially with the newer Japan fans. In the past week I have been gathering your views - read them here.


Japan featured on TV commercial

A short clip from the "Quiet Life" video appears in the UK TV commercial for the compilation CD "The Edge Of The 80s". The CD features "Quiet Life", "Life In Tokyo" and "Red Guitar" by David Sylvian. Other artists featured include Propaganda, Ultravox, Simple Minds, Blancmange and ABC - all of who have links to Japan through the work of solo members. The commercial is available to view via YouTube.


BBC1 "Ashes To Ashes" and "Waking The Dead"

"Ghosts" by Japan was featured in episode six of the 1981 set "Life On Mars" spinoff series starring Philip Glenister and Keeley Hawes. More about the series here. "Ghosts" appears during a dream sequence at the end of the show and played over the end credits. Unfortunately an announcer talked over some of it, spoiling the atmosphere. However, the programme can be downloaded uncut from the UK iTunes store and is available on DVD from May 2008. Another prime time BBC1 drama series, "Waking The Dead" also used "Ghosts" in its promotional trailers, frequently shown on the channel from April to May 2008.


Don't rain on my parade: web design and content © 1996 -2008  Paul Rymer unless stated otherwise. All rights reserved. This is a fan appreciation site and is not affiliated to any of the record companies who have released material by Japan. It has not always been possible to establish who the copyright owner is for all of the material on this website. Please feel free to contact the webmaster with any questions.