From: kolsson1@cc.swarthmore.edu (Kris Olsson)
Subject: Re: Shopping in Japan
Organization: Swarthmore College
Distribution: usa
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1992 21:46:49 GMT

In article <1992Dec10.060633.3847@csc.ti.com>, vishal@ra.csc.ti.com (Vishal
Markandey) writes:
> 
> Hello from Japan!!  I can TELNET from Tokyo to my machine in Dallas,
> by the wonders of modern technology.  Anyway, I am looking for 
> recommendations of places to shop for "alternative"/"industrial"
> type music in Tokyo, preferably in the Shibuya/Harajuku, Shinjuku, or
> Ginza areas.  I would also appreciate recommendations of places for
> live music.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> - Vishal
> 
Hey, I lived in Japan for 10 years- just moved back to the US to go to
college. Try these places:

Wave- Shibuya/Roppongi - You can find a lot of stuff there, relatively
cheap. The stores are pretty big and sell bootlegs and stuff (not many, but
some). Wave also has a radio station that broadcasts from Tokyo Tower
called J-Wave (81.3 FM). Wave Roppongi is a really huge building you can't
miss- just down the street from the Almond (standing in front of the Almond
(near the Square Building- check out Buzzz, a really good club sometime),
walk right until you hit it). Wave Shibuya is part of the Shibuya Loft
building- its smaller and more expensive than its Roppongi counterpart.

HMV- In Shibuya - Find lots of stuff- it's near Zen Mall. Sort of a
expensive- a little cheaper than a Sam Goody or other crap store here in
the US, but a much broader selection with lots of British music.

Tower Records- In Shibuya and Yokohama- Expensive, limited selection, you
can sometimes find what you want. Its across the street from Tokyu Hands
Shibuya and down a ways- you can't miss it, big sign and a little place
that sells weird T-Shirts and posters out front. 

Recofan- These are EVERYWHERE, from Shimokitazawa to Sangen-Jaya to
Shibuya. This store is awesome because you usually pay around only Y1700
for CDs, plus they sell good quality used CDs for about Y1000, they buy
used CDs (at rip-off prices, though). You can get a member's card if you
buy around Y10000 worth of stuff (you get stamps) and then get Y100 off
every CD/CD single you buy that isn't a brand new release- which adds up.
Oh, HMV also offers a member's card, but you have to buy something like
Y20000, and is a rip-off. The Recofan in Shibuya is right across from Tokyu
Hands in what looks like an apartment building. They usually have a cheap
display outside with a few CDs and prices on them. Rock is 3rd floor, Rap
and stuff 4th, and Videos, 5th floor. 

Frisco is to the right of Recofan and down a ways. There's this big
Japanese record store on the bottom floor which sells mostly Japanese
stuff, but there are stairs to the left. Take them to the second floor.
Frisco bites when it comes to US imports, etc., but they have thousands
upon thousands of bootlegs, UK CDs and singles, promos, etc. Expensive, but
great for finding weird CDs. I 
spent about Y30000 my last week there buying Cure bootlegs.

Virgin Shinjuku Megastore- Has EVERYTHING. Expensive, can't remember where
it is, but it is huge. Ask someone and you can get directions from Shinjuku
station.

There are a bunch of other stores around, but they're really hard to find.
One that comes to mind is Cult Paradox, which is in Shibuya and sells
bootleg tapes of obscure concerts, incense, and also does body piercing.
Very weird store. There are a bunch of stores in Shinjuku where you can
pick up Naked Raygun, Fugazi, Bad Religion, Dead Kennedys, i.e., punk and
thrash CDs- you just have to look around.

Good luck!

Oh, places for music...

Club Citta in Kawasaki books quite a few live acts- I saw Ned's Atomic, the
JAMC, and 808 State there. You can even go around the back and talk to the
artists afterwards- pretty cool. Went for a beer with the Neds after their
show with a friend of mine. The club is a small warehouse- standing only.

Club Quattro in Shibuya is small, but gets also gets good acts- only holds
about 150 people, though. Curve played there.

Yokohama stadium isn't bad, isn't huge like the Tokyo Dome, but nothing
like a small club.

Tokyo Dome sucks. Bad acoustics and it is huge. Also, Japanese companies
buy seats out for seasons, so even if you buy the first tickets for a
concert on the day they are announced, you probably will get really bad
seats. The wankers.

Shibuya-On-Air- never been there.

NHK Hall- Small, but there is seating. Saw Ride there, but had terrible
seats. Acoustics aren't bad.

There's also this thing called Rave East every year- a big organized Rave.
Its around Shibuya somewhere.

Clubs that are good include Buzzz... 5th floor, Square Building- packed
Friday-Saturday. Saw the Black Crowes there, Simon Le Bon (Duran Duran),
etc. I liked going during the week because you can request whatever music
you want. Very small place, it really looks like a shithole to be frank,
but fun.
Price: Y4,000 for non-members- Y3,000 for members or those with a discount
card. Get one fast.

Gold in Shibaura- 5 floors, each with different music. One plays techno,
another reggae, another sort of cheesy disco, and the other two were closed
the one time I went there. LA Style played there, as did T99 and one other
techno group whose name I forgot. Y5,000

O' Bar in Shibauru- Nice place, but often the music is crappy- lots of
disco cheese. It really depends on the DJ you get. The club is nice,
though.
Y4,000

Juliana's Tokyo- Set up by a British entrepeneur, Juliana's is very cool.
Lots of techno, some industrial. They have two CDs out of techno remixes.
The only drawback is the place closes at 12:00, so get there early.
Y4,000-Y5,000 (I can't remember)

There are a few other clubs- Lexington Queen (place where lots of famous
folk hang-out, like Axl, Bruce Willis, and other scum) really sucks. Small,
boring. Gas Panic isn't really a club- its across the street from the
Roppongi (not Akasaka Henry Africa's)  on the street to the Hard Rock cafe.
A bar with very good music. There are occasional knifings between angry
marines fighting over Japanese prostitutes, though, so be careful.

Shimokitazawa has lots of clubs, like The Shelter, etc. Small and nice-
nice area.

Hope this is
helpful!
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