Hiromi Uehara
From the 1930s on (except during World War II, when it was repressed as music of the enemy) jazz maintained a strong presence in Japan. The country is an important market for the music, and it is common that recordings unavailable in the United States or Europe are available there. Musicians such as June (born in Japan) and Dan (third generation American born, of Hiroshima fame), and Sadao Watanabe have a large fan base outside their native country, and Japanese new jazz artists such as H Zettrio, Chihiro Yamanaka, and Hiromi Uehara released jazz albums. Brothers Okino Shuya and Okino Yoshihiro of Kyoto Jazz Massive, Toshio Matsuura (former member of the United Future Organization) and DJ Shundai Matsuo creator of the popular monthly DJ event, Creole in Beppu, Japan as well as nu-jazz artists, Sleepwalker, GrooveLine, and Soil &amp; "Pimp" Sessions brought change to traditional jazz in Japan. Other bands include Ego-Wrappin' along with more experimental musicians such as Otomo Yoshihide and Keiji Haino.