Recommendation of Wa-Jazz: A Masterpiece of Japanese Jazz—One Must-Listen Album
If you’re not particularly interested in jazz as a genre, you might just think of it as music from abroad.
In fact, here in Japan, we’ve produced many world-class players, and countless remarkable classic albums have been released.
This time, we’re presenting a selection of essential “Wa-Jazz” masterpieces by Japanese musicians.
While focusing on timeless classics from the ’60s and ’70s, the lineup also turns its attention to works released in the ’90s and 2000s.
Please enjoy jazz music with a distinctly Japanese flavor—something a little different from overseas jazz!
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Recommendation of Wa-Jazz: One Outstanding Japanese Jazz Album (Numbers 11–20)
Toshiko’s BluesAkiyoshi Toshiko
Toshiko Akiyoshi, who continues to be active while based in New York, is a jazz pianist Japan is proud to share with the world and a renowned big band leader.
With 14 Grammy nominations, the Medal with Purple Ribbon, and the distinction of being the first Japanese inductee into the Jazz Hall of Fame, her achievements are immeasurable.
Released in 1954, Toshiko’s Piano is Akiyoshi’s landmark debut.
Produced by Norman Granz and recorded with Oscar Peterson’s rhythm section, the album is highly regarded as a masterpiece that brilliantly fuses elements of hard bop and cool jazz.
From interpretations of standards to her own original compositions, this work showcases her exceptional piano technique and distinctive musical voice.
It’s a gem recommended not only for jazz fans but for anyone who loves music.
WataraseItabashi Fumio
Fumio Itabashi is a highly accomplished pianist who has pursued a unique musical identity, gaining prominence with the bands of Sadao Watanabe and Terumasa Hino.
Hailing from Ashikaga City in Tochigi Prefecture, he went on to Kunitachi College of Music, where, influenced by Takehiro Honda, he was drawn into the world of jazz.
Watarase, released by DENON Records in 1982, is a gem of a solo album inspired by the Watarase River that runs through his hometown.
With this album in hand, he embarked on an energetic “Watarase Solo Journey” tour, visiting 101 venues nationwide, captivating many fans along the way.
His performances, weaving together powerful keystrokes and a delicate melodic sensibility, vividly evoke Japanese scenery and culture, earning high praise as a landmark of Wa-jazz.
As a work themed around nature and nostalgia, it is a highly recommended album for those who wish to be moved by richly expressive melodies.
ElectrumIshikawa Akira to Kaunto Baffarōzu
Count Buffaloes, the big band led by Akira Ishikawa—an essential figure in Japan’s jazz scene.
Released by Victor in 1970, their album Electrum blended jazz with rock and funk in an innovative sound that brought a fresh breeze to the music world of the time.
Top-tier musicians representing Japanese jazz—Ken Muraoka, Masahiko Sato, Hiroshi Suzuki, Kiyoshi Sugimoto, and Masaoki Terakawa—assembled to deliver a stunning ensemble performance.
The four tracks, where electric tones and traditional jazz elements fuse in exquisite balance, are all deeply compelling listens.
In 2024, a limited clear-orange vinyl edition was released, drawing attention from a new generation.
A must-hear masterpiece for fans of jazz-rock and funk, and for anyone who wants to experience the golden era of Japanese jazz.
SceneryFukui Ryo
Ryo Fukui, from Biratori, Hokkaido, was a great jazz pianist who began teaching himself piano at 22 and was active for roughly 40 years.
His performances, marked by a powerful bebop style and delicate melodies, captivated many fans.
His debut album Scenery, released by Trio Records in December 1976, is a masterpiece recorded when he was 28—just six years after he started playing piano on his own.
This piano trio work, which incorporates a range of jazz elements from bebop to modal, is a classic that fully showcases Fukui’s exceptional technique and expressive depth.
Since his passing in 2016, he has been rediscovered worldwide through platforms like YouTube, and the album’s brilliance continues to shine—evidenced by its reissue as a domestic LP in June 2024.
For anyone who wants to be moved by beautiful melodies and deeply stirring performances, this is an album you must hear.
Dancing MistKikuchi Masabumi
Masanori Kikuchi, the genius pianist affectionately known as “Poo-san,” left a major mark on Japanese jazz history with his innovative 1970 album POO-SUN.
Recorded at Victor Studio, the session brought together top-tier players who represent Japan’s jazz scene, including Kosuke Mine and Hideo Ichikawa.
At the time, Kikuchi was strongly influenced by Miles Davis, and his musical curiosity crystallized into a fresh sound that fused fusion and the avant-garde.
All six tracks were newly composed by Kikuchi, and the experimental approach—incorporating elements of free improvisation—still shines with undimmed brilliance today.
This landmark album is highly recommended for those who want to push beyond the conventional boundaries of jazz or are seeking a new musical experience.
Wild Goose ChaseOzone Makoto
Breakout is an ambitious work released in 2021 by Makoto Ozone, a jazz pianist Japan proudly presents to the world.
Ozone, who continues to demonstrate exceptional talent in both jazz and classical music, took on this project as a bold attempt to evolve even further.
In collaboration with top-tier musicians, he unfolds an innovative sound that is rooted in jazz while incorporating diverse elements such as fusion and Latin music.
His piano performance—both delicate and powerful—is nothing short of overwhelming, irresistibly captivating listeners.
You can sense the meticulous attention to detail from recording to mixing and mastering, resulting in exceptionally high sound quality.
This is a must-listen for anyone seeking new possibilities in jazz or wishing to experience Ozone’s musical adventure.
The Appeal of Wa-Jazz: Masterpieces of Japanese Jazz — Recommended Albums (21–30)
Circle/LineKikuchi Masabumi
Masabumi “Poo” Kikuchi, the jazz pianist–keyboardist known by his nickname “Poo,” was active not only in Japan but on the world stage.
A central figure in Japanese jazz and indispensable to any history of Wa-Jazz, Kikuchi released Susto in 1981—a truly global album recorded at a New York studio in November 1980 and mixed at a Tokyo studio the following January.
A few years earlier, around 1978, Kikuchi had been repeatedly rehearsing and recording with Miles Davis’s electric-period group, so it’s beyond doubt that this experience is deeply reflected here.
With his close ally Terumasa Hino joined by heavyweight international players like Steve Grossman, Billy “Spaceman” Patterson, and Aïyb Dieng, the album unleashes a ferocious storm of exotic grooves that remains, in a word, electrifying even in the 2020s.
Its sound, embracing and crossing multiple genres, has earned support from the club generation as well, and its cutting-edge quality seems less to fade with time than to reveal its true worth.
And with accessible tracks like Gumbo—a relaxed reggae-funk favorite also used in commercials—there’s no need to overthink it: just throw your whole body into the overwhelming vortex of groove this album delivers!
