Various Artists
Nihon No Wave Vol. 1

Japan’s electronic music scene has always stood out as uniquely distinctive. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a wave of underground projects, bands, and independent labels—primarily based in Tokyo and Osaka—began crafting their own sound. Inspired by the post-punk, new wave, and experimental movements emerging from Europe and North America, these artists embraced a DIY ethic, using whatever technology they had access to in order to forge something entirely their own.
This movement, often referred to as the ''Nippon-wave'' scene, remained largely hidden from the outside world. Many of its releases—on cassette tapes, flexi-discs, and privately pressed vinyl—were never distributed beyond Japan’s borders, making them rare treasures for the few who managed to discover them. “Nihon No Wave” presents a selection of these long-overlooked recordings, making them accessible to listeners beyond Japan for the first time.
This re-issue is limited to 500 copies and comes on a double vinyl set, accompanied by a bonus 7” featuring four additional tracks. It also includes printed inner sleeves and an insert with photos and credits, all housed in a deluxe silk-screened and sewn synthetic paper jacket.
- 01 Ricochet - Ningyo Touge
- 02 Ricochet - Blue Melody
- 03 C. Memi - Ishin-Denshin
- 04 C. Memi - Hitojichi
- 05 C. Memi + Neo Matisse - Dream's Dream
- 06 Harumi Shimada - Yako Shonen
- 07 Harumi Shimada - Midnight Boy
- 08 D.R.Y. Project - Digital Wave
- 09 D.R.Y. Project - Requiem For
- 10 Neo Museum - Area
- 11 Neo Museum - Ethno-Music
- 12 Dendo Marionette - Alchemist
- 13 Dendo Marionette - Dendo Marionette
- 14 Anima - Grey City
- 15 Anima - Not Only One
- 16 Mikan Mukku - Kan
- 17 Mikan Mukku - Chin Dan
- 18 Shinobu - Earth
- 19 Shinobu - Ceramic Love
- 20 ricochet - dream world
- 21 neo museum - sen-ya ichiya (live)
- 22 d.r.y. project - sat ist fayler
- 23 anima - melt into the city
- 24 dendo marionette - sentinel
2x12inch + 7inch | Mecanica: MEC030 | upcoming |