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Shawn Despres

Shawn Despres has been contributing to the Japan Times’ music page since 2005, and he has a passion for writing about the independent music scene in East Asia. He spent several years living in Yokohama and currently resides in Seoul.

For Shawn Despres's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jun 14, 2012

To Uhnellys, anything more than two is a crowd

Uhnellys' Naoki Kaneko (who goes by the stage name "Kim") says journalists often ask him the same question in interviews: "Do you ever plan on adding more members?"

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jun 7, 2012

Zoobombs "The Sweet Passion"

Although their 2009 "Nightfriend of Zoobombs" album featured a dozen of Zoobombs' "greatest hits" completely rearranged and rerecorded, "The Sweet Passion" is the quartet's first proper studio full-length since 2006's "B*B*B." The Tokyo rock stalwarts recorded "The Sweet Passion" in Oakland, California, with producer Greg Ashley (from the underground psych-rock band Gris Gris) and in Japan.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

May 17, 2012

Andymori "Hikari"

Tokyo rock trio Andymori formed in the fall of 2007. The following summer — before the group had released any music — it earned an invite to perform at the Fuji Rock Festival. In 2009, Andymori issued its eponymous debut and appeared at Summer Sonic. Continuing to build upon its initial successes, the band has since played numerous concerts across the country and has also gigged in Canada and South Korea.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

May 10, 2012

Tokyo-based duo group_inou are one of those acts that seems like a perfect fit for the Fuji Rock Festival, which is held annually in Naeba, Niigata Prefecture. This summer will mark the band's third time at the event.

CULTURE / Music

May 3, 2012

Avengers in Sci-Fi "Disc 4 The Seasons"

Avengers in Sci-Fi have graced the stages of large-scale local festivals such as Fuji Rock, Summer Sonic and Rock in Japan. The band have also performed at Texas' South by Southwest (SXSW) festival as part of the Japan Nite lineup, and earlier this year they toured Taiwan with fellow Japanese talents Sakanaction and Lite. Sticking true to name, the Tokyo three-piece have a fondness for turning out spacey musical concoctions. "Disc 4 the Seasons" is the group's fourth full-length.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Apr 12, 2012

The Cigavettes "We Rolled Again"

The Cigavettes have opened for the likes of British rock act 22-20s and Asian Kung-Fu Generation's Masafumi Goto and have appeared at Osaka's Minami Wheel festival. Originally from Fukuoka, two years ago the quintet decided to make Tokyo their home base. "We Rolled Again" is their sophomore offering.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Mar 8, 2012

Moja "Super Ultra Gold 79"

Since its 2006 formation, Tokyo two-piece Moja has strived to make its mark globally by showcasing a bass-and-drums-driven brand of rock 'n' roll at music festivals and club gigs in the United States, Canada, England, Italy and Hong Kong. The band's 2009 eponymous debut was recorded in Virginia, and its "Super Ultra Gold 79" sophomore effort was made in New York and Tokyo. The duo will tour overseas again in April for a series of U.K. concerts in support of the new album.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Feb 23, 2012

té "Oto no Naka no 'Keiren Teki' na Bi wa, Kannen wo Koe Nikutai ni Otozureru Yasei no Senritsu"

Since debuting with its 2005 full-length album, "Naraba, Imi kara Kaiho Sareta Hibiki wa 'Oto' Sekai no Shinen wo Kataru," Tokyo-based instrumental-rock group té has given its subsequent records (and track titles) similarly lengthy names. Former bassist Masahiro Watanabe was the man behind the gimmick, always making album titles 29 kanji characters long and song names 30 characters long. And while Watanabe parted ways with the group in 2010, té has kept his legacy alive with its latest effort, "Oto no Naka no 'Keiren Teki' na Bi wa, Kannen wo Koe Nikutai ni Otozureru Yasei no Senritsu" (which translates loosely as "The 'Convulsion'-like Beauty in the Sound Transcends the Immaterial and Visits Upon the Body like a Wild Shudder.")

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Feb 16, 2012

TsuShiMaMiRe "Shocking"

Now a dozen years into their career, female rockers TsuShiMaMiRe have established a considerable international cult following. Since 2004, the Tokyo trio have completed several American tours, playing in excess of 150 gigs there. One of their higher profile stateside stints was a string of opening slots for the Suicide Girls, a traveling burlesque show featuring titillating tattooed and pierced ladies from the softcore website of the same name. TsuShiMaMiRe have also released a collaborative EP, 2008's "Six Mix Girls," with popular cartoon characters The Powerpuff Girls adding even more variety to their global fanbase.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jan 5, 2012

Tenniscoats "Papa's Ear"

Tokyo's Tenniscoats have certainly kept busy over the last nine months. In April, the indie-pop duo of multi-instrumentalists Takashi Ueno and Saya (who goes by only her first name) released their "Tokinouta" disc and in October they issued "Enjoy Your Life," a collaborative effort with American lo-fi art-rocker Jad Fair.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Dec 29, 2011

Best of 2011: Vampillia "Rule the World/Deathtiny Land"

Wanting to attract attention at Texas' South by Southwest music Festival in March, Osaka's Vampillia bound vocalist Psychic Yamanashi in a plastic-wrap straitjacket, tied a chain around his neck, and led him through downtown Austin. To add to the spectacle, he periodically had fake seizures. Meanwhile, someone held a sign nearby promoting their festival gig.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Dec 1, 2011

EKD "Bon Voyage!"

Comprised of a guitarist, a DJ, and a percussionist, EKD have opened Japan dates for globe-trotting rabble rousers such as France's Manu Chao and Spain's Obrint Pas. This year, the Tokyo three-piece have showcased their infectious multicultural tunes in Europe and also performed at Fuji Rock. Praised by local critics for their spirited live shows, some scribes picked EKD's closing set on Fuji's tiny Naeba Shokudo stage as one of the fest's best performances.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Nov 24, 2011

Ruins Alone "Ruins Alone"

Widely recognized as one of the most innovative drummers in the Japanese underground music scene, Tatsuya Yoshida spent nearly two decades playing as part of the bass and drums duo, Ruins. During his time in the group, Yoshida worked with four different bassists. After his last bassist split in 2003, Yoshida decided to turn Ruins into a one-man band that he fittingly called Ruins Alone. With Yoshida playing drums and a sampler providing the bass lines and other instrumentation, Ruins Alone has toured throughout Japan, North America, Europe and Australia.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Nov 3, 2011

The flier for next week's Tokyo concert by recently reunited posthardcore pioneers Bitch Magnet boasts praise from Ian Williams, the guitarist for acclaimed rock act Battles: "Probably more than any other band, Bitch Magnet sent me in the direction I took with the music I have tried to make." It's a fitting quote considering it was an invitation to play this December's Battles-curated All Tomorrow's Parties festival in England that led to Bitch Magnet regrouping.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Oct 27, 2011

Fictional faces of Fact

Chiba posthardcore band Fact are currently holed up in an Orlando, Florida, studio recording their fourth full-length with producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Oct 20, 2011

BBQ Chickens "Crossover and Over"

Ken Yokoyama must be feeling rather nostalgic these days. One of Japan's more prominent punk figures, in September the guitarist reunited with his 1990s band, Hi-Standard, and this month he's put out new music with his early noughties project BBQ Chickens. Formed shortly after Hi-Standard's demise, BBQ Chickens issued two full-lengths of original numbers (2001's "Indie Rock Strikes Back" and 2002's "Good Bye to Your Punk Rock") and an album of covers (2003's "Fine Songs, Playing Sucks") before going on hiatus.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Sep 15, 2011

The Bawdies get ready for their Beatles moment

Dropping their fifth full-length album, "Live the Life I Love," at the beginning of June made The Bawdies prime candidates for Japan's continually expanding summer festival circuit. The Tokyo four-piece have spent the last two months showcasing their infectious brand of throwback 1950s- and '60s-styled rock 'n' roll at eight different festivals, including Rock in Japan and Summer Sonic.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Sep 1, 2011

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes cover Japan tunes

Punk cover band Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are touring Japan to promote their new EP "Sing in Japanese" this month. Comprised of players from famed punk and rock acts NOFX, Lagwagon, Swingin' Utters, and Foo Fighters, they will play Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka before performing at Yokohama's sold-out Air Jam 2011 festival on Sept. 18.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jul 28, 2011

No sign of a summer break for The Hiatus

As the guitarist and vocalist of Japanese pop-punk band Ellegarden, Takeshi Hosomi toured throughout the country, played in the United States and South Korea, and even opened for Foo Fighters.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jul 22, 2011

Orchestrating a ska paradise for the summer

It's a standard response for bands to say they are surprised by their longevity and accomplishments, but Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, Japan's best-known ska act, are unlikely to be overly humble.

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.

[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

When trying to trace your lineage in Japan, the "koseki" is the most important form of document you'll encounter.

Climbing the branches of a Japanese family tree

By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Prize winner Maki Imoto catches light with glass

Prize winner Maki Imoto catches light with glass

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