![]() ![]() Hundreds of aftershocks, tornados of fire, landslides, and multiple tsunamis would claim more than one-hundred-forty-thousand lives and typhoid fever and diseases from unsanitary conditions added to a toll that was unprecedented in the records of natural disasters in Japan. Just before noon an 8.3-magnitude earthquakethe Great Kwanto Earthquakeand the subsequent Great Tokyo Fire destroyed almost fifty-percent of the city. There would have been dance band performances scheduled in many of the city's music halls and theaters on the night of Saturday, September 1, 1923. Osaka Tokyo was the dominant city of the two major cultural centers in Japan at the beginning of the Jazz Age. From the time that jazz came to Japan, through the bebop era, the fundamental elements of the genre have run parallel to the U.S. in that the early era of music referred to as "jazz," would not technically qualify as the same jazz that later developed. Importantly, jazz in Japan followed the same identity strictures as in the U.S. When it came to jazz, curiosity was winning out as dancehalls dotted some cities and thrived in others. The dance music of the 1920s was emblematic of a largely mythological society that embraced individual freedom even one that had thrown caution to the wind it was a concept that simultaneously frightened and tempted. The internal clash of ideals was palpable: a government with growing resentment toward the West, and a populace of whom a significant segment saw the U.S. The result was not only trade barriers on Japanese products but also wide-spread anti-Asian immigration laws in the 1920s. Life in Japan, between the two World Wars, was in a state of flux as the country's attempt to assimilate its economy with the West coincided with weakening economies in Western Europe and the U.S. Sheet music and early recordings were enhanced by live performancesnot from American musiciansbut from Filipinos who learned from the occupying forces of the U.S. The influence of American dance music was indisputable but it came to Japan through second-hand means. It does not store any personal data.Part 1 | Part 2 In Part 1 of Big in Japan we looked at the early history of jazz music in that countrya history that dates back to the same time frame as the Jazz Age in the United States. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Either way it’s very surreal and worth a watch. Perhaps it’s all a metaphor for something? Or maybe they just really like watermelon. I really can’t explain what’s going on in the music video. It has a 60s feel in it’s joyous energy and the lofi fuzzy guitar. Tokyo-based N-Feni (previously known as Yoneko)’s new song comes from the freshly pressed SUMMER EP. Speaking about the song’s release the singer wrote on Instagram: “I put a moment of fragility and sadness on the piano, in words and song.” N-Feni – FUNNY TATTOO SEAL He reflects on the fleeting moments of happiness now lost to time. ![]() Last Scene is awash with Max Richter-esque rolling piano and paired with Yonezawa’s gentle voice. Ok after Perfume’s Polygon Wave, let’s slow down the pace. Polygon Wave will serve as the new theme song to Japan’s edition of The Masked Singer. It’s quickly followed by the high auto-tuned vocals typical of their music, which snaps neatly in tempo with the rest of the action. Polygon Wave hits the ground running in a flurry of skittering synths and funky basslines. Perfume are one of Japan’s most prolific girl groups and are currently celebrating the extraordinary achievement of it being their 20th anniversary as a group. Dark, sombre and brilliantly performed PERFUME – ポリゴンウェイヴ ( POLYGON WAVE)
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