Category Archives: Music

Videos of punk, indie, glitch, electronic and other kinds of Japanese music that aren’t J-Pop.

On Law (and Order) in Japan

Posted on June 27, 2012 by owwls

When I look at the Japanese justice system, I see it through the eyes of Law and Order. I imagine a Law and Order: Kabukicho edition, with one episode focusing on a university student who downloads an AKB48 album.

Posted in Music, Uncategorized, Weird | Tagged japan, law, mp3 | 8 Comments

On Getting Arrested for Dancing in Japan

Posted on March 14, 2012 by owwls

There’s a fever sweeping Japan, inspiring city officials and police to crack down on the shady black market for a highly regulated industry linked to the sex industry, gambling, and even human trafficking. You see, since about 1948, it’s been … Continue reading →

Posted in Fukuoka, Fun, Music | Tagged clubs, dancing, japan, laws | 9 Comments

On Record Shopping in Hong Kong

Posted on January 3, 2012 by owwls

The streets are covered in computer parts and curious Chinese lozenges.

Posted in Music, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged hong kong, music, record stores, records | 2 Comments

On Being a Teenage Punk in Japan

Posted on November 2, 2011 by owwls

I never really had a normal idea of what punk was. Neither does Japan.

Posted in Fun, Homesickness, Music, Uncategorized | Tagged adolescence, japan, punk, teen | 19 Comments

Ongakuyōbi: Guitar Wolf

Posted on October 15, 2011 by owwls

This video is terrible sound quality, but it really doesn’t matter with Guitar Wolf.

Posted in Music, Uncategorized | Tagged garage rock, guitar wolf, japan, jon spencer blues explosion, music, wild zero | 1 Comment

Elvis in Nakasu

Posted on October 9, 2011 by owwls

So this year I went back to catch a night of the Nakasu Festival. The festival is held in Fukuoka’s red-light district, full of host and hostess clubs and worse. During the festival, women from the community get together and … Continue reading →