It's Saturday night, and the basement rock 'n' roll club Penguin House in Koenji is packed to bursting. As late-coming guests crowd down the stairs, the performer, Dai Yamamoto, takes the stage and tunes up his instrument.
"I'm not much for talking," Yamamoto says. "I'm just going to play on through here. Hope you like it."
Ja jan . . . ja jan jan jan . . .