cazzesman Posted April 27, 2024 Posted April 27, 2024 I ended up picking up 2 CD’s from Joes Garage in Kyoto. Most of the record stores were 90% vinyl, so no good for me. They do love Rolling Stones and Beatles in Japan. Wall to wall of both, plus the solo albums from each. Back in Ueno now and sometime this week I will get to Union Disk in Shibuya. current google reviews suggest the Shibuya Rock CD store has more stock than the Shinjuku store, so I will go with the local knowledge. Regards Cazzesman 4
2Brix Posted April 28, 2024 Posted April 28, 2024 On 24/04/2024 at 2:57 PM, Gieseler Audio said: @pete_mac did you you up the sky tree tower to get that photo? View must have been amazing! kinda looks like the Matrix
2Brix Posted April 28, 2024 Posted April 28, 2024 @Gieseler Audio and @pete_mac no doubt you'll both be bringing back at least a suitcase full of beer snacks: wasabi peas, rice. crackers and the like. Just pick them up at a normal supermarket, cant go too far wrong 1
cazzesman Posted April 29, 2024 Posted April 29, 2024 (edited) Another big day yesterday. Abit of everything. Started off with a big stroll around Ueno Park. At 10.30 the queue to get into the zoo was Looooonnnnnnnnggggggg. lovely and idyllic setting. Jumped a train from Ueno to Nippori. Into Yanaka, the old worldy area. We were last there in 2010. guess what? It hasn’t changed A train to Tokyo Station. We were after Ramen in Basement 1 along Ramen Alley, but alas it was bedlam with holiday crowds. queues were miles long at every Restaurant. Settled for beer and gyoza. What’s not to love about that combo. Walked to Ginza Dori (Street) in Ginza. Fashion capital of Tokyo. Ginza Dori was closed for the day to traffic and crowds filled the streets. A big party atmosphere for the start of Golden Week. (National Holiday week of sorts). Many workers take the week off. Some purchases at Swatch and Uniqlo as per normal, and then jumped on the north bound Ginza line back to Ueno. About 7 hours walking and goodness knows how many steps. The step app is turned off to save battery life. About 80 metres from our Hotel is a Restaurant called Claire. I have a sister Clare, so it was most certainly an omen. Walked in and it was just my wife and I for the duration. Chef spoke no English and no English menu. Google’s writing translation is beyond a godsend. It soon had the menu sorted for us. selection of Chicken, Lamb and Pork. The food was all French inspired and it was to die for. Great beer, wine and the freshest prosciutto salad, potato salad and the most succulent roast chicken breast. OMG! delicious! $88. Bargain. Another perfect day in Tokyo. I you haven’t yet been………to coin a phrase….. What are you waiting for!! The exchange rate is near parity and the prices are very, very good. Regards Cazzesman Edited April 29, 2024 by cazzesman 8 1
cazzesman Posted April 29, 2024 Posted April 29, 2024 I think I will need my feet re-soled by the time I get home Today I was up at 7.00 for the local Laundry Mart run. I left the wife in bed, so got browny points. Train to the old fish market at Tsukiji Market. It still has the outside food market going and we went to see the new multi storey food area we had seen on YouTube. Sadly it was closed today. The rest was pretty busy of course, but we managed to jag a seat at a small Sushi Restaurant. Sushi and beer brunch for $45. Mmmmmmm yum. Snappy train ride to Geek Heaven. Akihabara and the Yodobashi-Akiba store. 8 floors of ‘everything’. It is a Techno freak out. The 9th floor has a Golf driving range. $22 for 15 mins of ball hitting was abit pricey. We spent 3 hours in Yodo. 9 Floors is a lot to cover. I gave some Focal headphones a good run. They were about $175 dearer than Australian RR prices. From Yodo to Asakusa. Over the bridge and up to the 22nd floor of the Asahi Brewery Cpy building. A tasty Asahi SuperDry was had as we took in the pretty special views. Now back to the Hotel to plan dinner. Life is good I tells ya. Regards Cazzesman. 3 1 1
SPR08Y Posted April 30, 2024 Posted April 30, 2024 Tom, my son, and I had three days in Tokyo on the way home from Europe in January. We did the Tokyo Toilets tour. 17 architecturally designed toilet blocks. Tadao Ando, Sou Fujimoto, Marc Newson, etc… Would be good on bikes, but hiring them was above our pay scale… So we walked! Awesome, 20km per day, lots of back streets and cool stuff. Sou Fujimoto He spent ages in Ella Records buying more than his old man… For the beer drinkers, highly recommend this beer bar near Ebisu Station, 48 taps! Nuts! (Can’t remember the name, downstairs on a corner opposite the ‘Tokyo Toilet’ near the station.) Kind regards, Michael 3 2 1 1
cazzesman Posted May 2, 2024 Posted May 2, 2024 I won’t continue to bore you lot with my holiday update, but I just wanted to mention 2 brilliant places to visit. Certainly for the kids, but as a 65 yr old, I found them both brilliant. https://www.teamlab.art/e/tokyo/ TeamLabs Borderless is a visual feast. Also the building and general area it is housed in, is worth the visit, just on its own. https://www.wbstudiotour.jp/en/ The Harry Potter studio tour is simply amazing. $65 for 3 - 4 hours of entertainment. When I suggest it is Massive, OMG it is MASSIVE. I am not a huge Harry fan, but my wife is. I walked away wanting to tell everyone I met…..just go, you will love it. So well done, so professionally displayed and so awe inspiring in terms of showing what it takes to make Hollywood block busters. Brilliant…….just go, you will love it. And you can buy your own personalised Wand at the end the tour. The gift shop matches the Tour, pound for pound. Massive. 1.5 more days. Hopefully I will land in Melbourne at 5.30am on Saturday to learn my beloved Blues have beaten the old energy. Fingers crossed. Regards Cazzesman 6
cazzesman Posted May 2, 2024 Posted May 2, 2024 (edited) After building up the browny points with my wife the past 10 days I managed to visit a number of the Disk Union stores in Shibuya, Shinjuku and Shimokitazawa. All up, 9 secondhand CD’s purchased. 1/2 Japanese pressings. the joy is that I never paid more than $8 for any of them and most were $5. Now as for you poor vinyl junkies, OMG! Buying the black disk requires a 2nd mortgage. Plenty were $80-100. A Pink Floyd - DSOTM said to be a UK Original - $1800. yes $1800. Fagans - Nightfly $98. LZep II. $180. the Who’s - My Generation (a single only) $180. Dead set they are having a lend of you lot. Thank goodness I went digital all those years ago. Happy 2nd Mortgages. Regards Cazzesman Edited May 2, 2024 by cazzesman 1 5 1
YCC Posted May 4, 2024 Posted May 4, 2024 On 18/04/2024 at 9:21 AM, YCC said: I'm hoping to get there to see Tower of Power concert in August, thanks for the info! Very interesting indeed. Just booked Tix for T.O.P. show at the Billboard Live venue in Minato. Looking forward!
cazzesman Posted May 4, 2024 Posted May 4, 2024 Landed back in a dark Melbourne town this morning at 5.30am. Tired and emotional, I was soon missing the serenity of a packed Yamanote Line train, at peak hour. People who have visited Japan will know that serenity. Where no matter the crush, everyone is quiet and no-one is talking on their phone or using their ‘outside’ voice. The whispered etiquette of giving people their own space and virtual cone of silence. Standing in a long queue, waiting to get through Customs, I had to put up with a 60 something ‘person’ on a mobile, telling the world about their assorted ailments and upcoming operation. I was biting my tongue so hard I almost drew blood. My beloved wife was muttering soothing comments. I almost put on my noise cancelling headphones just to block out the drivel. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Japan, missing you already. Just a small vent……….sorry folks Regards Cazzesman 7 4 1
Bisguittin Posted May 4, 2024 Posted May 4, 2024 As a regular visitor to Japan, I could not agree more. 3 1
2Brix Posted May 4, 2024 Posted May 4, 2024 On 02/05/2024 at 7:30 PM, cazzesman said: After building up the browny points with my wife the past 10 days I managed to visit a number of the Disk Union stores in Shibuya, Shinjuku and Shimokitazawa. All up, 9 secondhand CD’s purchased. 1/2 Japanese pressings. the joy is that I never paid more than $8 for any of them and most were $5. Now as for you poor vinyl junkies, OMG! Buying the black disk requires a 2nd mortgage. Plenty were $80-100. A Pink Floyd - DSOTM said to be a UK Original - $1800. yes $1800. Fagans - Nightfly $98. LZep II. $180. the Who’s - My Generation (a single only) $180. Dead set they are having a lend of you lot. Thank goodness I went digital all those years ago. Happy 2nd Mortgages. Regards Cazzesman i agree that rare/collectable vinyls are super exxy there (well, and here).....but for more regular good quality pressings when i last visited April 2023 across a couple of part days i picked up 12 LPs of 70/80s funk, soul, rock for a total of 9000 yen (about AUD100) at the time)...even cheaper at current FEX...and 6 CDs ZZtop, Beck, Fred Wesley etc for total 4500 yen (about AUD50). I was a very happy nerd. 2 1
Ian McP Posted May 6, 2024 Posted May 6, 2024 On 04/05/2024 at 6:34 PM, cazzesman said: Landed back in a dark Melbourne town this morning at 5.30am. Tired and emotional, I was soon missing the serenity of a packed Yamanote Line train, at peak hour. People who have visited Japan will know that serenity. Where no matter the crush, everyone is quiet and no-one is talking on their phone or using their ‘outside’ voice. The whispered etiquette of giving people their own space and virtual cone of silence. Standing in a long queue, waiting to get through Customs, I had to put up with a 60 something ‘person’ on a mobile, telling the world about their assorted ailments and upcoming operation. I was biting my tongue so hard I almost drew blood. My beloved wife was muttering soothing comments. I almost put on my noise cancelling headphones just to block out the drivel. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Japan, missing you already. Just a small vent……….sorry folks Regards Cazzesman Neighbours of ours had a term they'd invented after returning from a trip to Japan. We agreed! NIJ = Not In Japan 2 3
Ian McP Posted May 8, 2024 Posted May 8, 2024 f you're a fan of Jake Adelstein the author of the book that Tokyo Vice is based on you're in luck! Hes' going to be in town. https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1186166 < We are beside ourselves to have Adelstein speaking about his darkly comic sequel to Tokyo Vice that is equal parts history lesson, true-crime exposé, and memoir, Tokyo Noir. Tuesday 28 May 2024 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM (UTC+10) Location Cinema NOVA Lygon Street Court, Carlton Australia 3053 > https://www.readings.com.au/events/jake-adelstein-in-conversation# < Tue 28 May 2024 at 6:30pm Cinema Nova, 380 Lygon St, Carlton VIC 3053 Join us to hear Jake Adelstein in conversation with Big Ideas Radio National host Natasha Mitchell. The darkly comic sequel to Tokyo Vice that is equal parts history lesson, true-crime exposé, and memoir, Tokyo Noir is here. The global economy is in shambles, Jake is off the police beat but still chain-smoking clove cigarettes, and Tadamasa Goto, the most powerful boss in the Japanese organised-crime world, has been banished from the yakuza, giving Adelstein one less enemy to worry about — for the time being. Tickets are $10 per person, redeemable off the RRP of Tokyo Noir on the night. The event will be recorded by Radio National. > https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/saturdayextra/jake-adelstein/103803994 1 2
Ian McP Posted May 8, 2024 Posted May 8, 2024 (edited) On 27/04/2024 at 12:24 PM, cazzesman said: I have 50 mins until our taxi arrives so I will use it to tell a story that still has me laughing 3 days later. We always stay at the fabulous boutique Hotel Mume in Kyoto. It is our 4th time here. The owner Hisako is just the most generous host. She puts on a happy hour for quests each arvo b/t 5-7pm. 3 nights back the rest were gone and my wife, myself and Hisako were having a quiet wine. Hisako or her staff recommends where to eat each night. The choice is Cheap, Medium, Not Cheap. We went the Cheap as we had the Not Cheap booked for the next night. It was about 8pm and she made a call to a Food on a Stick venue she said was good fun. Hisako walked us the few blocks to the Restaurant and it turns out they had stayed open just for us. The Owner/Chef was about 40 and his waitress/girlfriend was about the same. Her English was pretty good but his not so much, so we were using the Google Translate. Sake and Food on Stick was ordered and the chat was flowing. Just the 4 of us. she was playing some music that was pretty cool so my wife Caz, asked her about it. She said the Chef was a mad Computer Gamer and this was Gamer music. she said she love Anime and the music with it, so she put on some Anime music. also pretty cool and Jazzy. This is where it got interesting. I am a fan of some Japanese Metal bands and I typed the names of some into translator and asked if he knew any. she read them out aloud and he said no no, no, and then she got to the band Baby Metal. Baby Metal consists of 3 young girls with great voices and all the dance moves. They are backed by a Heavy Metal group of top class muso’s who can keep up with the best metal in the world. It is great fun and hypnotic to watch on video. The Chef’s face lit up in the biggest grin and he immediately started singing one of their songs at the top of his voice. It was hilarious and his girlfriend was on the floor almost in tears laughing. He didn’t stop at 1 song, he went right into the next one. Instant karaoke. He then got Baby Metal pumping through the sound system. He came out from behind the counter and was laughing, singing and the Metal Devil horns were flying. We were all crying by then. Just the 4 of us were like 5 year olds with to much sugar. I showed him my favourite Baby Metal song on YouTube, that is a Duet with the metal band Send Me the Horizon. The song is Kingslayer. amazing video on YT. The song and the Crowd go OFF!!! The Chef was beside himself with joy. It was one of those moments in Japan where a local really let their hair down and showed what was behind the mask of composure. We left with big hugs and vigorous hand shakes. Instantaneous Joy is had to find in this world so that was a real hoot. I love Japan. Time to return to Ueno, Tokyo for another 5 days of fun and hopefully more joyful surprises. Happy travels you lot. Regards Cazzesman I see what you mean! Pretty amazing! Edited May 8, 2024 by Ian McP 1
BLAH BLAH Posted May 8, 2024 Posted May 8, 2024 20 minutes ago, Ian McP said: I see what you mean! Pretty amazing! Oh yeah man...so crazy! Reminds me off... 1
cazzesman Posted May 8, 2024 Posted May 8, 2024 1 hour ago, Ian McP said: I see what you mean! Pretty amazing! check out this very heavy one Regards Cazzesman
Ian McP Posted May 14, 2024 Posted May 14, 2024 I have to hand it to the Japanese bands when they take on different genres. They get it right! Been lucky to catch these at Womadelaide and in Melbourne. Want funk? Try Mountain Mocha Kilimanjaro https://www.discogs.com/artist/1491808-Mountain-Mocha-Kilimanjaro funk with a James Brown flavour Osaka Monaurail https://www.discogs.com/artist/621904-Osaka-Monaurail jazz with some funk, The band call it "death jazz" Soil and "Pimp" Sessions https://www.discogs.com/artist/417518-Soil-Pimp-Sessions alt rock? self described as "punk monk" Buddhadatta https://www.buddhadatta.com/ 1 1
muon* Posted May 14, 2024 Posted May 14, 2024 On 08/05/2024 at 1:30 PM, BLAH BLAH said: Oh yeah man...so crazy! Reminds me off... Love it! 1
Ian McP Posted June 21, 2024 Posted June 21, 2024 Not quite Japan but plenty of Japanese pressings! great photo essay on one of my local vinyl stores, Joel Shortman / Rathdowne Records He does a regular jazz kissa night too https://www.facebook.com/joel.shortman 2ndh vinyl and a nice array of 2ndh audio gear as well https://www.reasonforbeing.com.au/home/joelshortman < Nestled amongst bustling High Street in Northcote, a trendy inner-city suburb of Melbourne, recently hailed as the "coolest street in the world" by Time Out Magazine, you'll find Rathdowne Records - a renowned destination for vinyl record enthusiasts. Joel Shortman, former owner of Small Screens, a video rental store, rebranded his business as Rathdowne Records a decade ago. With movie rentals declining, he transformed his store into a physical haven for vinyl record enthusiasts. His shop boasts a collection of over 20,000 pre-owned vinyl records, appealing to new and seasoned enthusiasts. > read more at https://www.reasonforbeing.com.au/home/joelshortman regards Ian
Ian McP Posted July 12, 2024 Posted July 12, 2024 A Century In Sound screening at MIFF https://miff.com.au/ https://miff.com.au/program/film/a-century-in-sound < Slip into the serene surrounds of Japanese ‘listening cafés’, where music lovers, audiophiles and locals come together to hear records. Kissa are some of Japan’s greatest cultural hubs; within these settings, people from differing walks of life congregate to relax, indulge and take in music in a collective setting. They are often institutions, like the Meikyoku Kissa Lion, a 100-year-old classical music café in Shibuya. As its title suggests, the limited series A Century in Sound chronicles the history of music in the country through the prism of these spaces, from their social importance as gathering places in postwar times to how they heralded the arrival and influence of Western culture during the second half of the 20th century. Much like MIFF 2021 favourite Come Back Anytime, this loving, endearing portrait from New Zealand filmmakers Tu Neill and Nick Dwyer – who previously made Diggin’ in the Carts, a 2014 documentary series about Japanese videogame music – transports audiences to the world of a uniquely Japanese phenomenon. Fresh off its premiere at CPH:DOX, MIFF will screen three instalments of A Century in Sound as a single program; the trio of episodes will profile cafés spinning classical, jazz and J-rock records, respectively. > Screens 18 Aug 1:15pm The Capitol Swanston St 20 Aug 6:15pm Kino regards Ian 2 1
Ian McP Posted August 19, 2024 Posted August 19, 2024 Highly recommend A Century In Sound! Great Q & A from the directors yesterday too! First three instalments are featured in the doco, three more to come! This time it’ll be kissatens around the globe. https://miff.com.au/program/film/a-century-in-sound#top < Slip into the serene surrounds of Japanese ‘listening cafés’, where music lovers, audiophiles and locals come together to hear records. Kissa are some of Japan’s greatest cultural hubs; within these settings, people from differing walks of life congregate to relax, indulge and take in music in a collective setting. They are often institutions, like the Meikyoku Kissa Lion, a 100-year-old classical music café in Shibuya. As its title suggests, the limited series A Century in Sound chronicles the history of music in the country through the prism of these spaces, from their social importance as gathering places in postwar times to how they heralded the arrival and influence of Western culture during the second half of the 20th century. Much like MIFF 2021 favourite Come Back Anytime, this loving, endearing portrait from New Zealand filmmakers Tu Neill and Nick Dwyer – who previously made Diggin’ in the Carts, a 2014 documentary series about Japanese videogame music – transports audiences to the world of a uniquely Japanese phenomenon. Fresh off its premiere at CPH:DOX, MIFF will screen three instalments of A Century in Sound as a single program; the trio of episodes will profile cafés spinning classical, jazz and J-rock records, respectively. > They also did an interview at High Note (Northcote Theatre) last night. Two more screenings at MIFF. Reckon it’ll surface somewhere sometime soon. Must check out director Nick Dwyer's other interviews on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teTu7NQlZvU < In "Nick Dwyer Speaks Volumes," Derrick dives into the rich history of jazz kissa - also known as listening cafes - Japanese hi-fi culture, and ponders the good and bad of trendy, Japanese-inspired record bars in the west. Notable Kissa mentioned in this episode: Cafe Lion, Eigakan, Basie, Milonga Nueva, Posy, Rhinoçéros (Berlin), Hosoi (Stockholm), ESP Hi Fi (Denver, USA) > regards Ian 1
Demondes Posted August 20, 2024 Posted August 20, 2024 19 hours ago, Ian McP said: Highly recommend A Century In Sound! Great Q & A from the directors yesterday too! First three instalments are featured in the doco, three more to come! This time it’ll be kissatens around the globe. https://miff.com.au/program/film/a-century-in-sound#top Hopefully this gets on to a streaming service or is available online. I couldn’t make the dates in Melbourne.
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