【コラム】レゲエミュージックとカセット文化──ジャマイカから世界へ広がる音と物質メディアの関係

Column en Cassette Dub Reggae

13 Sep 2025

【コラム】レゲエミュージックとカセット文化──ジャマイカから世界へ広がる音と物質メディアの関係

The connection between reggae and cassette culture

Text: mmr｜Theme: Relationship between reggae and cassette culture based on the historical background

Reggae music is a musical style that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s, and its rhythms and lyrics have been imbued with social and political messages.Its unique music distribution and enjoyment system centered on sound systems set it apart from the commercial record industry.The media called ``cassette tape’’ played an important role in this.Cassettes were cheap and easy to copy, and strongly connected local everyday life with reggae culture.Here, we will examine the relationship between reggae and cassette culture, taking into account the historical background.

Late 1960s to 1970s — Birth of reggae and sound system culture

Establishment of Reggae Reggae was established around 1968 after ska and rock steady.Lyrics with heavier rhythms, an emphasis on the bass, and messages became popular.It was also during this period that artists such as Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Burning Spear became internationally known.
Role of sound system In Jamaica, it was difficult to own expensive record players and stereos, so huge speakers (sound systems) installed on street corners became the center of the musical experience.Producers and DJs independently played the latest 7-inch singles to appeal to the audience.
The advent of cassettes Compact cassettes, introduced in the early 1970s under the Philips standard, soon found their way into Jamaica.Although it was still in its early stages of popularity, local reggae fans and DJs began to pay attention to the potential of this small media.

1980s — Golden age of cassette culture and spread of reggae

Popularization of cassettes In the 1980s, cassettes became the most popular music medium worldwide.Cheap and easy to carry, with the advent of playback devices such as radio-cassette players and Walkmans, it has become far more familiar than records.
Cassette recording in Jamaica At sound system events and dance halls, a culture was born in which live recordings were recorded on cassettes and immediately distributed.Although this had some bootleg aspects, it became an important mechanism for packaging and disseminating the enthusiasm of the field. For example, recordings of specific sound system confrontations (sound clashes) and later distributing them on cassette were a valuable means of sharing experiences for fans.
Diaspora and Cassette For Caribbean immigrant communities in Britain and the United States, the cassettes sent from Jamaica were a real-time medium that conveyed the ``current state of their homeland.’‘Through the mail and informal networks, Jamaica’s latest reggae and dancehall music quickly spread overseas.

1990s — Dancehall, digitization, and the persistence of cassettes

Rise of digital reggae After the debut of Sleng Teng in 1985, digital sound became mainstream and dancehall reggae spread around the world.With the mass production of riddims, the rise of MC culture, and the need for speedy distribution, cassettes continued to play an important role.
Cassettes and Local Economy While official CD releases were in place, unofficial cassette sales flourished on the streets of Jamaica.Mixtapes, sold at markets and food stalls, were a way for ordinary people to obtain the latest sound sources at low prices, and a means of self-promotion for DJs.
Relationship with Japan Japanese reggae fans and DJs also visited Jamaica in the 1990s and collected local cassettes.These recordings were distributed at club events and record shops, and were directly linked to the development of reggae culture in Japan.Imported cassettes played an important role, especially in the Shibuya and Osaka scenes.

After the 2000s — Memories of the digital age and cassette culture

Rise of CD and MP3 In the 2000s, CD-R and MP3 file sharing became mainstream, and cassettes gradually disappeared from the market.Music distribution via computers and the Internet has become established in Jamaica, and the role of the cassette as a physical medium has come to an end.
Reverberations of cassette culture However, the characteristics of cassettes, such as immediacy, on-site enthusiasm, and informal distribution networks, have been inherited by the digital mixtape culture and live recording archives on YouTube.Additionally, amidst the global trend toward a return to analog, there is also a movement to reevaluate cassettes.
Rethinking cultural significance More than just a recording medium, the cassette symbolized reggae’s community-oriented nature, grassroots information distribution, and outlaw independence.Through cassettes, reggae took root as ``their music’’ for the masses.

Recommended cassette recording collection list

A list of famous recordings that symbolize reggae cassette culture.These are not official records, but records that capture the excitement of the scene, and convey the atmosphere of the time most realistically.

Title (recording name)	Year	Features
Stone Love Sound System Live @ Kingston	1982	A representative recording from the early days of Sound Clash.The cheers from the audience were also lively.
Killamanjaro vs. Black Scorpio Clash	1985	The tension of the sound showdown and the exchange of impromptu MCs.
Silverhawk Sound System 90’s Dancehall Set	1992	The craze of dancehall in the heyday of digital riddim is condensed.
Bass Odyssey Live in Clarendon	1994	Contains the vivid excitement of local events.
Stone Love Anniversary Party Tapes	1997	A commemorative cassette summarizing the highlights of the scene.

Representative reggae artists by era

The sounds of representative artists closely related to cassette culture are organized by decade.

Era	Representative artists/sounds	Characteristics
1970s	Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Augustus Pablo	Mainly records, but spread in the early days of cassettes.Roots reggae spirituality.
1980s	Yellowman, Barrington Levy, Stone Love, Killamanjaro	The golden age of cassettes.A key figure in Sound Clash recording.
1990s	Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Silverhawk	The golden age of dancehall.Cassette recordings spread to Japan and the UK.
2000s	Sizzla, Capleton, Bass Odyssey	The night before digital distribution.The last enthusiasm of the cassette.
After 2010s	Chronixx, Protoje, Jah9	Transition from cassette to digital.Reappraisal as cultural memory.

History of cassette distribution in the Japanese reggae scene

The cassette culture that originated in Jamaica has had a major influence on the Japanese reggae scene since the 1980s.Alongside imported records, locally recorded cassettes became an extremely important source of information for Japanese fans and DJs.

1980s: Dawn At record stores in Shibuya, Tokyo, and Minami, Osaka, sound system recording cassettes brought back from Jamaica were being traded on an underground basis.These were not genuine products, but copies of ``live recordings’’ made locally in Jamaica, and supported the earliest dancehall experiences in the Japanese club scene.
1990s: The heyday of imported cassettes In the 1990s, when the number of Japanese reggae fans rapidly increased, local cassettes were indispensable as a way to learn about the latest riddim.It was brought home by travelers to Jamaica and sold at corners of record stores and event venues.Around CLUB JAH JAH in Osaka and CLUB Citta’ in Shibuya, cassettes functioned as the “front line of information.”
Introducing an independent mixtape As Japanese sound systems (Mighty Crown, Fire Ball, etc.) grew, they started releasing their own mixes on cassette.This led to the fusion of Japan’s unique reggae culture and styles imported directly from Jamaica.
After 2000s: CD-R and digitalization wave In the 2000s, CD-R and MP3 became mainstream, and cassettes gradually disappeared.However, some collectors and DJs still preserve their cassettes and digitize them to give back to the scene.These continue to have value as a vivid archive of reggae’s reception in Japan.
Cultural Significance The distribution of cassettes in the Japanese reggae scene was not just an “imported sound source” but a circuit for directly importing street music.Through cassettes, the Jamaican scene and Japanese clubs were connected, supporting the maturation of the local scene.

Chronology (parallel timelines of Jamaica and Japan)

The spread of reggae and cassette culture will be organized in parallel as movements within Jamaica and Japan.

Age	Movements in Jamaica	Movements in Japan
1968	The birth of reggae.It changed from ska to rock steady, and a bass-based rhythm was established.	The existence of reggae has been introduced to a limited extent, and there is still almost no general recognition.
1970s	Sound system culture expands.Compact cassettes begin to flow in.	Bob Marley is introduced through some music magazines and imported record stores.
1980-82	Cassette recording rapidly increased in the field of sound systems.Distributed on the street.	Some record stores in Tokyo and Osaka begin unofficially distributing cassettes brought back from Jamaica.
1985	The “Sleng Teng” riddim is introduced, and the digital age begins.Accelerates cassette recording.	The import of local recording cassettes by overseas travelers and DJs is increasing, and they are used in the club scene.
1990-92	The golden age of dancehall.Stone Love, Killamanjaro and others are popular.Cassettes have become an essential medium.	Mighty Crown formed (1991).Researched local cassettes and started working on a sound system unique to Japan.
1994-96	Sound Clash recordings are distributed worldwide.	Reggae events are popular mainly in Shibuya and Osaka Minami.Imported cassettes are a source of information on the latest riddims.
1997-99	The peak period of cassette culture.A large amount of on-site recordings are in circulation.	Japanese Sound System sells independently produced mix cassettes.Expanding the fan base.
2000-05	With the rise of CD-R and MP3, the decline of cassettes begins.	CD-Rs become mainstream in clubs and shops.However, in some areas, efforts to preserve cassette culture continue.
2010s	Digital distribution is mainstream.Cassettes are being reevaluated as cultural memory.	Collectors and researchers digitize cassettes from the 90s.Re-evaluation continues.
2020s	Cassette players and reprint releases appear in the context of analog return.	In Japan, research and reissue projects are being conducted to delve into “reggae cassette culture.”

Representative events/club names (chronological table format)

Age	Jamaica	Japan
1970s	Reggae Sunsplash (1978~)	Grassroots event at a small club in Shinjuku
1980s	Sting (1984~)	Shibuya club “Harlem” initial event
1990s	Fully Loaded	Shibuya Citta’, Yokohama Bay Hall
2000s	Rebel Salute	Yokohama Reggae Festival
2010s~	Reggae Sumfest	Shibuya Club Asia, Daikanyama Unit

Page name	Format/tag	Announcement date/characteristics	Link
Bob Marley – Soul Almighty - The Formative Years Vol. 1	Cassette, 90s / Reggae / Roots / Rocksteady	Remastered work including unreleased songs.Released as a cassette in the 90’s.:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}	Bob Marley – Soul Almighty Vol.1
Yellowman & General Trees – A Reggae Calypso Encounter	Cassette, Dancehall / Reggae	Yellowman + General Trees co-star.Strong aspects of dancehall reggae, including calypso elements.:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}	Yellowman & General Trees – A Reggae Calypso Encounter
Yellowman – Rambo	Cassette, Dancehall / Reggae	Recorded in 1982.Yellowman’s signature toast style song.Comes with cassette.	Yellowman – Rambo

Conclusion — The legacy of reggae and cassettes

The connection between reggae music and cassette culture is not just a technological historical event.There are

Connecting music and society Grassroots network
Diasporic communication that extends beyond nations and industries
Immediacy and vividness as a “record of the scene”
Development and maturation of local scenes in various regions including Japan

There are important aspects such as:Even in today’s digital age, the relationship between reggae and cassettes remains an essential reference point for understanding street-level music distribution and mixtape culture.

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Column en Cassette Dub Reggae