Shopping for records in Japan
Printed From: Graham Slee Hifi System Components
Category: Music
Forum Name: Record Shops
Forum Description: Just where do we buy records? (Record shops welcome here!)
URL: https://www.hifisystemcomponents.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4860
Printed Date: 19 Apr 2024 at 10:31pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Shopping for records in Japan
Posted By: chapsjon
Subject: Shopping for records in Japan
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2020 at 11:26am
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I'm not sure how many forum members travel to Japan. I am currently stationed here. I just wanted to let everyone know that Japan is a great place to shop for records. Every major city I have been to has at least one used record store, with many of them having multiple shops. When I went to Kyoto, I went to 4-5 shops within a couple mile walking distance. One of the things that's great about vintage Japanese records is that they almost always used virgin vinyl that tends to be thicker, probably 120 on average. To my knowledge, vinyl remained popular in Japan even when is was not elsewhere, so they seem to have just about anything I have looked for.
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Replies:
Posted By: patientot
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2020 at 5:11pm
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I have only watched videos of record shopping in Japan. It appears to be an amazing place for music shopping in general. My Japanese purchases are limited to ordering the occasional CD from Japan or Japanese LP pressings that show up domestically. Japan also has several interesting music scenes of its own, depending on your tastes. ------------- SL-1200 MK7 (modified) + Reflex M + PSU-1 used with AT150-40ML, AT VM95ML, Stanton 680mkII + Ogura, and Shure M35X cartridges. |
Posted By: DT999
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2020 at 10:44pm
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I have not bought new from Japan but I have got a few Japanese records through Discogs, and the pressing quality has been excellent on all of them. They were all graded NM and in my experience the sellers all appear to grade their used records honestly. ------------- Rega Planar 3 > Accession MM / Thorens TD160 > Reflex M > Modwright LS100 tube preamp > Solo ULDE / Proprius > Monitor Audio Silver 500 / 2 x SVS SB1000 subwoofers |
Posted By: chapsjon
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2020 at 9:45am
| It is especially fun to find an older album that still has the obi. This was a label that wrapped the sleeve vertically (like a belt) providing the Japanese translation of the band name, album title, hits on record, and so forth. Because this was made of paper, they were sometimes thrown away or damaged over time, but I am amazed how often I find an older album with obi in excellent condition. I found the seat-titled Dire Straits album with obi and Japanese lyrics insert, all in VG+ condition (to include record of course) for 100 yen. This is about 90 cents USD. I was ecstatic. |
Posted By: chapsjon
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2020 at 12:35pm
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Just found a VG+ copy of Bill Evans- The Complete Riverside Recordings, 18 LPs. Definitely made my day! |
Posted By: kgilroy
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2020 at 2:03pm
Very Nice ! I'm a big Bill Evans fan. ------------- Keith Marantz TT-15S1, Maestro V2, Accession MM, Icon Audio Stereo 40 Mk lll, Wharfedale Jade 3. Mac Mini, BitPerfect, Dynaudio Xeo2 Marantz SA-15S1, Apple TV, Cambridge CXA60, B&W DM2000, REL Sub |
chapsjon wrote:Posted By: chapsjon
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2020 at 9:27am
| Me too! Had some Bill Evans digital, now have vinyl also. Listening to it right now. Very satisfying. |
Posted By: kgilroy
Date Posted: 02 Mar 2020 at 1:05pm
If you have not already discovered them I highly recommend the Yuko Mabuchi Trio based in Los Angeles. They have released two albums on a small label called Yarlung Records. The playing is superb and recording quality exceptional. https://www.yarlungartists.org/yuko-mabuchi/ - https://www.yarlungartists.org/yuko-mabuchi/ ------------- Keith Marantz TT-15S1, Maestro V2, Accession MM, Icon Audio Stereo 40 Mk lll, Wharfedale Jade 3. Mac Mini, BitPerfect, Dynaudio Xeo2 Marantz SA-15S1, Apple TV, Cambridge CXA60, B&W DM2000, REL Sub |
Posted By: chapsjon
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2020 at 8:36am
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Thank you very much for the suggestion as I haven't heard of them. I will definitely check them out! Thanks, Jon.
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