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November 22, 2024
 

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Shawn Despres

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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.
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,...
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,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 10, 2012
group_inou
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Nov 3, 2011
Bitch Magnet
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...
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...
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...
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...
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.
Two of America’s biggest debt holders are dumping Treasurys
The U.S. Treasury building in Washington. Investors in Japan and China sold a pile of U.S. debt in the last quarter, just before the U.S. presidential election.
Ishiba aggravates his own political failures with diplomatic faux pas
Prime Minster Shigeru Ishiba is greeted at the APEC summit in Lima by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday. The Japanese leader was criticized for remaining seated while meeting several world leaders at the event.
Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
Japan ranks last in romance satisfaction for second straight year
In a survey of 31 countries, Japan ranked last in terms of those who felt loved, with just 51% of respondents saying so.
Ruling coalition and DPP strike last-minute deal over economic policy
DPP policy chief Makoto Mahaguchi speaks at the party's policy gathering in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Japan, U.K. and Italy discuss inviting more countries to joint fighter project
A new concept model of a next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is on display in Farnborough, Hampshire, in July.
Haruki Murakami's 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls' gives deep deja vu
For “The City and Its Uncertain Walls,” translated into English by Philip Gabriel, Haruki Murakami confronts the ghosts who won't leave him alone.
Japanese expats in Asia find community through rugby
The Taiwan Fivewoods celebrate their victory at the 2023 Asian Japanese Rugby Cup in December of last year.
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
Aomori-based writer JJ Carter presented on tabletop gaming as creative inspiration for building characters and narratives.
For Dr. Nakamats, aging is just experience in action
Though he didn't win the recent gubernatorial election in Tokyo, the 96-year-old Dr. Nakamats' run was seen as inspirational in Japan's aging society.

Podcast

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