Playlists

New Playlist: Tokyo Dreams – Japanese City Pop, Funk and Rare Grooves

It all started with an internet phenomenon: “Plastic Love” by Mariya Takeuchi became a viral hit in the 2010s. The 1984 single, written by Takeuchi and her husband Tatsuro Yamashita, sounded nostalgically familiar and at the same time exotic to Western ears, and opened up a musical cultural space previously known only to insiders: the world of City Pop. A genre that provided the soundtrack for Japanese economic prosperity in the 80s.

By Thomas Splett / April 17, 2022

Inspired by LA Sound, American funk and AOR, artists like Yamashita, Anri, Ryuichi Sakamoto and Haruomi Hosono realised their own visions of popular music, which celebrated great success in Japan and in recent years has also found more and more fans in Europe and America. Music that convinces with great arrangements, musicianship and quality and makes you dream of cruising through the neon-lit Tokyo of the 80s.

“Tokyo Dreams – Japanese City Pop, Funk and Rare Grooves” invites you to take this imaginary journey. Our playlist features artists such as Tatsuro Yamashita, Momoko Kikuchi, Anri, Makoto Matsushita, School Band, Taeko Onuki, Kingo Hamada, Char, Yasuko Agawa and many more.

Listen now!

Photo: Aleksandar Pasaric