Consideration from the intersection of 70s disco and Japanese culture to the present

Text: mmr｜Theme: Japan’s unique reception and development of disco, which developed mainly in the United States in the 1970s

Disco was born in the United States in the 1970s and exploded along with urban culture, a sense of liberation among black and Latinx communities, and advances in technology.Around the same time, “New York craze” was imported to Japan and spread to nightlife centers such as Roppongi, Akasaka, and Ginza.In this article, we will trace the relationship between disco and Japanese culture by decade, and organize the most famous records, equipment, club history, and recommended tracks.

1970s — Birth of disco and its introduction in Japan

• Background Established in the United States as a crossroads of gay, Latin, and Afro-American cultures.After the Osaka Expo (1970), discotique'' spread with the rapid introduction of Western culture, with RoppongiChianti’’ and Akasaka ``Mugen’’ becoming symbolic.

• Representative masterpieces (overseas)
• Donna Summer — Love to Love You Baby (1975)
• Bee Gees — Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (1977)

• Giorgio Moroder — From Here to Eternity (1977)

• Representative masterpiece (Japan)
• Pink Lady — UFO (1977)
• Akiko Wada — Old Diary (Disco Arranged Version) (1974)

• Jun Inoue — Thank you for your help (disco style arrangement)

• Relationship with Japanese culture It is associated with youth fashion (bell bottoms, psychedelic patterns) and the nightlife culture of Ginza and Roppongi.The movie “Saturday Night Fever” (1977) became a social phenomenon in Japan as well.

• Main equipment
• Technics SL-1200 (turntable/released in 1972)
• Urei 1620 (club mixer)

• JBL 4350 Speaker

• Japan’s representative club/disco
• Roppongi “Chianti”
• Akasaka “Mugen”
• Ginza “Now”

10 Recommended Tracks (1970s)

1980s — Bubble period and popularization of disco

• Background Japan entered a bubble economy period, and large discotheques such as Maharaja'' andJuliana Tokyo’’ were born.The “Juri fan” culture is expanding in Nishi-Shinjuku and Roppongi.

• Representative masterpieces (overseas)
• Michael Jackson — Thriller (1982)
• Madonna — Like a Virgin (1984)

• Chaka Khan — I Feel for You (1984)

• Representative masterpiece (Japan)
• Yoko Oginome — Dancing Hero (1985)
• Akina Nakamori — DESIRE -Passion- (1986)

• Motoharu Sano — Young Bloods (1985)

• Relationship with Japanese culture Formation of the foundation of the “fan dance culture” that continued with Bodycon and Juliana Tokyo.Disco remixes of Western and Japanese music became popular on radio and television.

• Main equipment
• Roland TR-808 (released in 1980)
• LinnDrum

• Fairlight CMI (Sampler)

• Japan’s representative club/disco
• Roppongi “Maharaja”
• Roppongi “King & Queen”
• Osaka “Exotic Maharaja”

10 Recommended Tracks (1980s)

1990s — Club culture and revival

• Background Even after Japan’s bubble burst, disco turned into a “club” culture.Eurobeat and parapara culture emerged mainly in Shibuya.

• Representative masterpieces (overseas)
• Daft Punk — Homework (1997)
• Deee-Lite — World Clique (1990)

• C+C Music Factory — Gonna Make You Sweat (1990)

• Representative masterpiece (Japan)
• TRF — EZ DO DANCE (1993)
• Namie Amuro — Body Feels EXIT (1995)

• globe — DEPARTURES (1996)

• Relationship with Japanese culture Moved from “Juliana Tokyo” to Shibuya Club Culture.The disco generation evolved into the club generation.

• Main equipment
• Akai MPC series

• Pioneer CDJ-500 (1992) -Roland JP-8000

• Japan’s representative club/disco
• Shibuya “Club Camelot”
• Shibuya “HARLEM”
• Osaka “Juliana Osaka”

10 Recommended Tracks (1990s)

2000s — The rise of Nu-Disco and club restructuring

• Background “Nu-Disco” and electroclash are popular worldwide.The disco revival is progressing in Japan as well, and the band is once again in the spotlight in the club scene.

• Representative masterpieces (overseas)
• Daft Punk — Discovery (2001)
• Metro Area — Metro Area (2002)

• LCD Soundsystem — Sound of Silver (2007)

• Representative masterpiece (Japan)
• Perfume — GAME (2008)
• Fantastic Plastic Machine — beautiful. (2001)

• CAPSULE — L.D.K Lounge Designers Killer (2005)

• Relationship with Japanese culture Reinterpretations of Nu-Disco and house are popular in Shibuya and Daikanyama.There is also a noticeable revival of 70’s fashion in fashion.

• Main equipment
• Ableton Live (released in 2001)
• Native Instruments Maschine

• Pioneer CDJ-2000

• Japan’s representative club/disco
• Roppongi: Velfarre (~2007), AgeHa (Shinkiba)
• Shibuya: WOMB, Club Asia
• Osaka Minami: Underlounge, MOTHER HALL

10 Recommended Tracks (2000s)

2010s — Revival and City Pop Reappraisal

• Background Nu-Disco expanded worldwide, and artists such as Caribou and Todd Terje gained popularity.In Japan, city pop was reevaluated worldwide, and Gen Hoshino and CAPSULE inherited the disco context.

• Representative masterpieces (overseas)
• Todd Terje — It’s Album Time (2014)
• Daft Punk — Random Access Memories (2013)

• Hercules & Love Affair — Blue Songs (2011)

• Representative masterpiece (Japan)
• Gen Hoshino — YELLOW DANCER (2015)
• CAPSULE — CAPS LOCK (2013)

• tofubeats — Positive (2015)

• Relationship with Japanese culture Tatsuro Yamashita, Taeko Onuki, Mariya Takeuchi and others were rediscovered, and the genealogy of disco and city pop spread to a new generation.

• Equipment
• Mainly DAW (Ableton, Logic Pro X)
• Prophet-6, Moog Sub 37

• Digital controller for DJ

• Japan’s representative club/disco
• Roppongi: Jumanji 55, ESPRIT TOKYO
• Shibuya: Contact, Sound Museum Vision
• Osaka Minami: Club Joule, Circus Osaka

10 Recommended Tracks (2010s)

2020s — Post-pandemic and house/disco reinterpretation

• Background Since the coronavirus pandemic, the value of streaming culture and real parties has been redefined, and the warmth of house and disco has gained renewed attention.In Japan, with the ``city pop export boom,’’ music with disco grooves spread to the world.

• Representative masterpieces (overseas)
• Dua Lipa — Future Nostalgia (2020)
• Jessie Ware — What’s Your Pleasure? (2020)

• Kylie Minogue — Disco (2020)

• Representative masterpiece (Japan)
• Night Tempo — Ladies In The City (2021)
• Nulbarich — New Gravity (2021)

• iri — Sparkle (2020)

• Relationship with Japanese culture City pop/disco is spreading on TikTok and YouTube.Analog disco events are once again on the rise at clubs in Shibuya and Shinjuku.

• Equipment
• Eurorack modular synth
• Elektron Digitakt / Octatrack

• AI-based mix tool

• Japan’s representative club/disco
• Roppongi: 1 OAK Tokyo, SEL OCTAGON
• Shibuya: Vent, DJ Bar Bridge
• Osaka Minami: Compufunk, Club Ammona

10 recommended tracks (2020s)

Disco is not a “legacy of the past” but a living rhythm that supports the foundations of modern club and pop culture.

Disco began as a subculture in the United States in the 1970s, and evolved independently in Japan by merging with nightlife culture.In the 1980s, it gave birth to Juliana Tokyo'' andMaharaja’’ along with the bubble, and in the 90s it became integrated into club culture, and since the 2000s it has been reinterpreted in the context of Nu-Disco and city pop.Today, it continues to live on in Japan’s club/disco culture and continues to thrill dance floors across generations.