The United States may be the birthplace of jazz — with roots in New Orleans and refined on the stages of New York City — but Tokyo now boasts over 100 live jazz clubs, more than the Big Apple, and ...

There aren’t many musicians who have had a career quite as peculiar as Masayoshi Takanaka, the Japanese jazz-rock legend who ...

In May 2025 Japan welcomed an estimated 3.693 million visitors, marking a surge in global fascination with the country—up 125% (more than double!) compared to a decade ago. Many come for the exquisite ...

My friend Rhonda Laurie is a swinging jazz singer (Sidewalk Café and more), music business instructor and underground promoter. Right now she's trying to put together a fundraising event to support ...

“Japanese-influenced listening bars” may be the latest, greatest trend in US bar culture, but their high-end sound systems and even more highfalutin aesthetic draw from a much more humble practice: ...

Through their Tokyo Jazz Joints podcast and book, Philip Arneill and James Catchpole aim to spotlight, honor and preserve Japan’s storied jazz kissa culture. Now, Catchpole is undertaking his most ...

In part 1 of 2 episodes exploring Japan’s audio scene, vintage audio columnist, Eric Pye discusses Jazz Kissa and Japanese vinyl pressings. In September 2023, vintage columnist Eric Pye (@audioloveyyc ...

CAMP ZAMA, Japan – For his whole life, Jay Clemons and music have been inseparable. Clemons, a chief warrant officer assigned to U.S. Army Japan, was a self-described “band geek” in middle and high ...