TOKYO JAZZ JOINTS

Episode 18: Tachibana, since reissued by the fantastic BBE records, has been one of the holy grail albums for Japanese jazz collectors for many years. This week we are in a couple of fine joints in Gunma, before Philip’s extended interview with Tohru Aizawa, the driving force behind the music on this album. As we work our way through a 10 course meal, hear about how he got started in music, his...

Episode 17: We took a break from recording this week, so instead we have a fascinating discussion for you with two members of jazz record collecting royalty,Tony Higgins and Mike Peden. This episode was recorded early in lockdown in April 2020, across 3 countries via Zoom, and as a result the sound is not of our usual quality and comes complete with cicadas, glitches and other bonus sound effects....

Episode 16: A longer episode this week as we consider the conspicuous absence of women in Japanese jazz kissa culture, and celebrate the small but dedicated number of pioneering female owners who are running their own joints through either choice, circumstance or a combination of both. We also touch on the issue of problematic names and racist tropes in Japanese jazz culture. Thanks as always to B...

Episode 15: All joints are created unique, but some are more unique than others. This week is the second episode of two in which we're skipping around the country. This time we discuss four more fabulously weird and wonderful joints; from the beautiful Bokunen to an odd little joint called Misty, and from the mysterious KissaSakaiki to an unforgettable encounter deep in suburban Saitama. Thanks as...

Episode 14: All joints are created unique, but some are more unique than others. This week we're skipping around the country to discuss five fabulously weird and wonderful joints; from antiques for sale to Zen enlightenment through coffee beans, and from student lunches to homemade liquor and Japanese cinema nerds. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic...

Episode 13: This week we return to the source, as we're back in Tokyo with some deeper cuts for the hardcore jazz joint aficionados. We head off the beaten track in the hipster 'hoods of Harajuku and Shibuya, as well hopping on the Yamanote line to the older drinking streets north of the Imperial Palace. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our th...

Episode 12: Saving some of the best for last we finish up our focus on the port cities this week by visiting one of the most iconic jazz kissa, and explore both its official story and the legend... We also visit the 2 Johns, and another gem near Chinatown that may sadly be in its twilight days. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.

Episode 11: We are back with a full episode this week, but we haven’t travelled too far as we continue to criss-cross a port city steeped in the history of cultural exchange and Occupation, exploring some of the deepest of Yokohama’s amazing selection of jazz joints. Find out also how you can donate to social justice causes with our T-shirt giveaway, or by getting your hands on an original photog...

We are taking a break from normal transmission this week. After a tumultuous 7 days worldwide, we believe that there are more important conversations to be had than ours. Jazz is often described as the 'true American art form', but jazz is black music. To help understand the racist oppression that persists in both America and around the world in various guises, it is as essential to understand the...

Episode 10: This week we're by the sea as we travel from the US Navy-flavoured port of Yokosuka up to the ancient capital of Kamakura, before stopping off at a classic joint in the port city of Yokohama, where we'll be for the next two weeks. Join us to find out where the best lunch in town is allegedly served, why you shouldn't pee in public, and the best place to get a big old glass of Bitches B...

Episode 9: In the spirit of looking for the light, we focus this week on newer joints with a (hopefully) rosier future ahead of them as they adopt more modern ways of doing things and pull in newer types of customers. These joints provide a rare beacon of hope in a landscape that is vanishing at an increasingly rapid rate. Find out about what a rhinoceros has to do with jazz and the most Japanese...

Episode 8: This week we are out in Chiba but not to take a flight from Narita. Starting in the other Brooklyn, we get some Candy before heading to Ancient Egypt, and finish up the evening peering through a Billie Holiday-inspired porthole. Not forgetting James’ majestic lime green shirt and our quick detour through the culinary delights of Palestine of course! Thanks as always to Brian of Grooves...

Episode 7: A slightly longer episode for you this week as Philip recounts nights of crawling around floors and cramming himself into dark corners to get the perfect angle. Once he remembers what the hell James is talking about, we have a brush with a potential Guinness world record holder, find out where Japanese Mad Men drink, why you should say no to a portrait if asked for one, and why Philip...

Episode 6: If you always wondered where Dean Martin, scuba diving, Japanese paratroopers and jazz intersect, it’s in this episode! Sadder stories this week as James gets speechless, and we celebrate two lost jazz joint gems. In our final instalment from Shinjuku we visit the indomitable Jazz Room Stick and recount our bittersweet discovery of Jazz Pepe, both of which sadly no longer exist. 'Otsuka...

Episode 5: We’re still in Shinjuku this week and have wandered around the corner to the iconic Old Blind Cat, followed by the confusing conundrum that is Samurai. Ever wondered what it’s like to have your firstborn blessed in a Japanese jazz bar overlooked by Coltrane and an army of cats? Then this is the episode you’ll want to hear! Thanks as always to Brian at Grooves Ahead for audio help and Lo...

Episode 4: In addition to some technical hitches, this week we visit the kaleidoscopic neighbourhood of Shinjuku, Tokyo's notorious, bustling red-light and entertainment district, and once Japan's capital of bohemian counter-culture in the 60s & 70s. We warm-up with Black Sun, move onto the Showa-chic of Narcissus, and finish up crammed elbow to elbow in the one and only Shiramuren in Golden Gai....

Episode 3: This week we celebrate significant project milestones by revisiting the 50th, 100th, 150th joints and the most recently photographed (160th): Bar Bird in Machida, Sendai's Kelly, the incredible Coltrane Coltrane in Kyushu & Rindo, deep in suburban Saitama. The awesome Rhinoceros in Berlin gets a shout too! Follow the link below for shortcuts to photos of the joints we discussed: http://...

Episode 2: This week as we start the podcast proper, we're talking about what jazz music means to Japan, how jazz kissa came about, what to expect and what not to expect inside, and how best to navigate the sometimes daunting and tricky prospect of heading into one for a drink!

Episode 1: Our first tentative foray into joint (pun intended) podcasting to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Tokyo Jazz Joints project, which began on March 27th 2015. Follow the link to hear us chat a little bit about how the project started, some of the highlights so far, and stories behind the photos. Check out YouTube too if you want a slideshow with some images from the project, and of...