Nostalgic yet fresh!? Classic masterpieces of Japanese rock from the 1970s and 1980s

I think it’s fair to say that up through the 1980s, Japan’s rock scene was, in a sense, the golden age of Japanese rock.

From the 1990s onward—after the Heisei-era “Ika-ten” band boom—rock became, for better or worse, a polished “product.” In contrast, up until the ’80s, it was truly an age of fierce rivalry, with uniquely individual rock bands and rock singers flourishing.

Here, I’ll introduce some “classic rock masterpieces” from the era before Japanese rock came to be labeled J-ROCK or J-POP.

For those who experienced that time in real time, I hope this brings back fond memories; for younger listeners who didn’t live through Showa in real time, I think you’ll find it fresh and exciting.

Please surrender yourself to the sounds of Japan’s good old rock and enjoy.