Shawn Despres - The Japan Times

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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

Oct 9, 2009

Limited Express (has gone?): "LTD"

Formed in Kyoto in 1998, Tokyo-based trio Limited Express (has gone?) issued two full-length discs (the first of which surfaced on American avant-garde composer John Zorn's well-respected Tzadik Records) and gigged overseas in Australia, Europe and North America before breaking up on New Year's Eve in 2006. A short seven months later, guitarist Jinichiro Iida and bassist Yukari resurrected the act. "LTD" is their third proper studio album.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Oct 2, 2009

Sure it is always an honor to be nominated, but at this point Metric have got to be jonesing for a win. One of Canada's top alt-rock acts, the quartet's fourth full-length, "Fantasies," was shortlisted for this year's Polaris Music Prize (Canada's version of the U.K.'s Mercury Prize), but the band left its late September gala ceremony empty handed. "Live It Out" (2005) received a Polaris nod too, and that plus 2003's "Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?" were both up for the Juno Award (Canada's Grammy Awards) for Alternative Album of the Year, but alas they lost those as well. And while a trophy or two would be nice, the fact that all three records have gone gold in their homeland is likely somewhat of a consolation.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Sep 25, 2009

The last major outdoor music festival of the year, Asagiri Jam has been dubbed "the real Fuji Rock Festival" due to its very scenic location at the foot of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka. The two-day concert was established in 2001 and inspired by the spirit of the late 1960s and the communal atmosphere at early editions of pioneering events such as The Isle of Wight Festival, Glastonbury, and The Cambridge Folk Festival. Only 5,000 tickets were issued to the inaugural bash, but that number has since risen to 12,000. Asagiri Jam always sells out in advance so if you're considering attending, it is highly recommended that you purchase a weekend wristband very soon. All the available on-site parking passes have already been snapped up. With no hotels in the immediate vicinity of the grounds, everyone camps. And it gets chilly at night so be prepared for that.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Sep 18, 2009

Pastels / Tenniscoats "Two Sunsets"

"Two Sunsets" is a collaboration between Tokyo's Tenniscoats and seminal Scottish guitar-pop act Pastels. Recorded over a few years in Glasgow during time off from Tenniscoats' European tours, the album joins the growing list of joint projects by the Japanese avant-pop duo. They teamed up with Swedish ambient folk band Tape for 2007's "Tan-Tan Therapy," Tokyo electronic act Secai on 2008's "Tenniscoats & Secai," and vocalist Saya paired with Satomi Matsuzaki from American art rockers Deerhoof under the moniker OneOne for July's "AoooO."

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Sep 11, 2009

Issued domestically by Tokyo record imprint Yacca at the beginning of September, "Everything Goes Wrong" is the sophomore effort from Vivian Girls.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Sep 4, 2009

Dälek and DJ Baku

To promote their "DJ Baku Vs Dälek" CD, Tokyo turntablist DJ Baku and American hip-hop group Dälek (pronounced Die-a-leck) are teaming up for some shows.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Aug 28, 2009

the telephones get their disco on

Saitama quartet the telephones are unabashed disco aficionados.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Aug 14, 2009

Eastern Youth "Hohaba to Taiyou"

Formed in Sapporo in 1988, last year marked Tokyo trio Eastern Youth's 20th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion they issued two retrospective discs and performed for the first time on Fuji Rock's Green Stage, the renowned festival's largest performance area. The newly released "Hohaba to Taiyou" ushers in the next era of their career on a definite high note.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jul 10, 2009

Bleach "Bleach Stone"

Citing the old standby, "artistic differences," on June 10, all-girl Okinawa hard-rock trio Bleach (who used the modified moniker Bleach03 overseas) announced they had disbanded. Formed in 1998, they gigged extensively throughout Japan and toured the United States 11 times, establishing a small cult following that helped 2005's eponymous effort and 2007's "The Head That Controls Both Right and Left Sides Eats Meats and Slobbers Even Today" chart on American campus radio. "Bleach Stone" is their sixth and final full-length.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jun 26, 2009

Acid Mothers Temple vs. Kinski Japan Tour 2009

A pub debate between a few rummies and a bartender over analog and digital recording techniques ended with the involved parties forming a band together called Kinski in 1998.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jun 19, 2009

Here's some unsolicited advice for De De Mouse — whatever you've done to capture the ears of promoters, keep on doing it.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jun 19, 2009

South Korean festivals suffer a setback

In 2006, South Korean promoters I-Yescom Entertainment and Yellow9 launched the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival to coincide with the Fuji Rock Festival in the hope of capitalizing on the amount of foreign acts touring Japan every July.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Jun 12, 2009

Kool Keith & 54-71 "Idea of a Master Piece"

There's no harm in asking, right? Tokyo indie rock quartet 54-71 can attest to this. Big fans of seminal New York MC Kool Keith, they e-mailed him to inquire about collaborating. Receiving a somewhat surprising "yes" reply, 54-71 flew to the U.S. in April and the two parties banged out 10 well-rounded cuts for "Idea of a Master Piece."

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

May 22, 2009

A Flood of Circle "Buffalo Soul"

The strength of A Flood of Circle's 2007 debut eponymous EP helped the Tokyo quartet secure a coveted spot on the rookie stage at that summer's Fuji Rock Festival. A clear sign of bigger things to come, with the release of their first full-length recording, "Buffalo Soul," the act have again scored an invite to the famed event, but this time they'll appear on one of Fuji's main stages.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

May 15, 2009

Bradford Cox, frontman for Atlanta, Georgia's, self-styled "ambient punks" Deerhunter, tends to attract attention.

CULTURE / Music

May 15, 2009

Qomolangma Tomato "Camouflage"

Qomolangma Tomato came together in Yokohama in 2003 while all four of its members were in their early 20s. Influenced by posthardcore, math rock and punk, their early material earned the band invites to perform on Summer Sonic's Tokyo stages in 2006 and 2007.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

May 8, 2009

More than 25 years ago, ZZ Top sang, "They come running just as fast as they can, because every girl's crazy about a sharp-dressed man." Looking quite dapper in matching suits and ties, The Bawdies will see if this still holds true as the Tokyo outfit attempts to pack clubs with hordes of screaming ladies and gents during their upcoming two-month Japan tour.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Apr 17, 2009

80kidz "This is my Sh-t"

During their two-year existence, Tokyo-based DJ trio 80kidz have shared stages with famed electronic acts Justice and Boys Noize, and have also remixed American underground rockers Black Kids, Brazilian dance punks CSS and J-pop star Ayumi Hamasaki. The unit's rapidly rising status was recently boosted with their addition to this summer's Fuji Rock Festival lineup.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Apr 3, 2009

Flogging Molly and Civet

On March 17 every year, millions toast Ireland and its patron saint at St. Patrick's Day festivities around the globe — but few do it with the same ardor as Celtic punk band Flogging Molly.

Japan Times

CULTURE / Music

Apr 3, 2009

Cocobat "Searching for Change"

Compared early in their career by U.K. rock rag Kerrang! with U.S. metal heavyweights Pantera, Tokyo quartet Cocobat attempt to once again ascend the ranks of the local aggressive-music scene with the release of "Searching For Change," their first album in five years.

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

Leading Japan’s sustainability from Tokyo

Leading Japan’s sustainability from Tokyo

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