For crate-diggers, it doesn’t really get better than Tokyo. With areas like Shibuya once known as the ‘Mecca of record shops’, the plethora of places to buy music stands as proof alone of the vinyl’s resurgence. And while vinyl sales still aren’t at their pre-90s levels, I had no problem whatsoever sourcing locations to uncover for this piece. What struck me as I wandered around the city’s narrow streets, however, wasn’t just the number of shops, but how specialised they were. Each visit felt like I was discovering the owner’s personal collection, with some shops dedicated to just one genre, or just one era from that genre – something so at odds with the largely generalised nature of stores in London. With that in mind, I wanted to capitalise on the wealth of expertise around me and ask each owner what the most obscure record in their collection was. What ensued involved much Google Translate, but nevertheless yielded pretty special results

1. F.L.E.X.

Reggae French Fry

(Unknown)

The recommendation from Flash Disc Ranch owner Masao Tsubaki is seemingly impossible to find online, but I have listened to it courtesy of an audio file he sent over. It’s a wild, upbeat track with breakout horns, punctuated by a woman screaming about euphemistically making reggae French fries. “It was so good I recorded it onto my hard disc so I can listen to it while I’m in the store,” Masao tells me. The physical record seems lost, however, and he thinks he must have sold it to a regular, explaining, “nobody would have purchased something like this unless I explained to them how weird it was.” Chosen by Flash Disc Ranch

2. Loop Diary

Music for Joshua Tree

(Personal Affair, 2024)

Down a quieter alleyway in the bustling Shibuya district is Glocal Records. Run by Genta Minowa, they have a collection of music from around the globe. Loop Diary is the solo project of DJ and producer Marihibo Ayabe, who also plays with trumpeter Takuya Kuroda in the duo Koo Voo. Genta tells me: “The album is a sonic representation of a day in the life of Joshua Tree National Park, inspired by the beauty of nature, the magical afterimages of plants, and the work of photographer Hiroyuki Seo, who seems to have captured the experience during a visit to Joshua Tree National Park in February 2022.” Chosen by Glocal Records

3. Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett & The Wailers Band

Soul Constitution: Instrumentals & Dubs 1971–1982 (Dub Store Records, 2018)

A compilation of the contributions of The Wailers’ bass player and musical director, chosen by Dub Store Records. Named after the Studio One catalogue, the business grew from a mail order shipping service for rare reggae in 1993, to a premium dub retailer. Of this record, he states: “By isolating the rhythms and melodies, [this collection allows] listeners to hear the raw musical elements that form the backbone of the band’s sound.” Chosen by Dub Store Records

4. Yasuaki Shimizu & Saxophonettes

Cello Suites 4.5.6

(Victor, 1999)

ELLA Records have been selling vinyl in Tokyo for over ten years. Ken Ogura, who works there, recommended this album from saxophonist Shimizu, who formed the band Mariah in 1980. In this, he reinterprets Bach’s unaccompanied Cello Suites. Ken says: “By employing expansive sites like the Kamaishi mines and Villa Contarini as acoustic ‘instruments’, he produces vivid sonorities… Shimizu’s approach transforms each recording space into a vital component, weaving natural reverberations into Bach’s timeless melodies. The result is a soundscape that captivates.” Chosen by ELLA Records

5. Orchestre Yoka-Choc du Japon

Bana Kinshasa / Bana Japon

(Africa N°1 / Yeba Production, 1998)

Hide Morimoto runs OKRA, a label specialising in “tropical music from Tokyo.” He chooses a record from a Japanese rumba band who fully embraced the Congolese culture and even sing in the Lingala language. “There are only a few Japanese music lovers who know this band,” Hide tells me, “but they were pretty popular in the Congo immigrant community in Paris at the time.” An album which embodies all the infectious rhythms you’d expect from a rumba record, Hide is working on a reissue on his own label by the end of this year. Chosen by OKRA

6. The Robert F. Pozar Ensemble

Good Golly Miss Nancy

(Savoy Records, 1967)

More like one of Tokyo’s most popular listening bars than an actual record store, Silencio Kissa is run by Noi Arayama, or Ara. When I ask Ara why there’s such a proliferation of listening bars in Tokyo, the reply is laughter: “Probably because we [the Japanese] can’t dance!” Choosing from an extensive collection of mostly jazz, Ara recommends a “very strange” album. It’s an eclectic free jazz record released on Savoy, which seamlessly blends tracks, allowing percussion or horns to take centre stage in turn. Ara has a tattoo of the album cover spread across their back. Chosen by Silencio Kissa

7. Handgjort

Handgjort

(Silence, 1970)

The second record that Ara chooses is by four musicians – one of them an American anti-war deserter Greg Fitzpatrick – who decided to get together and make an album in Sweden in 1973 that would be heavily influenced by the time they had spent in India. Ara describes it as “a psychedelic rock record,” and as we listen, you can really hear the Eastern influence through the use of sitar and tabla. Ara is particularly proud of this acquisition, stating: “It’s a really special record, we only have one copy. It came to us recently by chance.” Chosen by Silencio Kissa

8. Various Artists

Philopsis

(Freesound, 1975)

With multiple branches across the country, as well as one in New York, Face Records has been catering to Japan’s vinylphiles since 1994. In the Miyashita Park iteration, I met Takayuki Ai, who took me through his current favourite obscure records. At the heart of this project is Jacky Giordano, a French studio musician who produced music for film, television and radio. “It was originally intended as background or lounge music and was not officially released to the public, resulting in many obscure titles with varying quality,” says Takayuki. “Its unpredictable development becomes addictive the more you listen.” Chosen by Face Records

9. Jarbas Mariz

Transas do Futuro

(erla - Estúdio Rauland, 1977)

Takayuki’s second choice is a rare solo release by Brazilian guitarist Jarbas Mariz, whose CV is like a who’s who of Brazil’s underground music scene of the 1970s, having worked with the likes of Tom Zé, Lula Côrtes, Cátia de França and Zé Ramalho. “It starts off mellow, then suddenly plunges into a psychedelic soundscape,” explains Takayuki about the four-track release, which initially came out on the incredibly obscure erla label from Belém in the north of Brazil. “The unexpected transition is captivating, making it a fascinating and rewarding listen.” Chosen by Face Records

10. Incognito Five

Invitation from Incognito Five

(Golden Ring Records, 1976)

Takayuki’s final selection is a full-length from Germany featuring various ‘incognito’ artists lending their chops to lots of what could be described as mellow ‘library music.’ Takayuki says of the album, which has gone without a reissue since its original pressing: “One track in particular features a moody guitar reminiscent of Kenny Burrell layered with dreamy electric piano, evoking feelings both of nostalgia and freshness. It’s the kind of record I enjoy recalling during walks or listening to at home on rainy days.” Chosen by Face Records