JAPAN

Japan's androgynous glamour image fell into favour with the New Romantic movement after
several years of hostile reviews and appearing unfashionable in the punk era of the late Seventies. The group were originally formed in 1974 at a school in Lewisham, South London by Mick Karn (saxophone) and brothers David Sylvian (vocals) and Steve Janson (drums). They were later joined by Richard Barbieri (keyboards) and then guitarist Rob Dean who had won a talent contest run by their German record label Ariola Hansa.

Influenced initially by Roxy Music, Japan altered between disco and melancholy atmospheric alternative rock. After three albums, the first commercial success was, ironically, when they toured Japan in 1979 and had a hit with the Giorgio Moroder produced single "Life In Tokyo".
After signing to Virgin in 1980, the band had their first in a string of nine UK Top 40 hits
when "Quiet Life" reached number 19 the following year.

"Ghosts" became their highest chart entry (reaching number 5) in March 1982 and Japan's other Top 10 followed with Sylvian's smoothly crooning cover of Smokey Robinson's "I Second That Emotion". Despite this success, the band broke up to pursue individual projects in 1983. Japan briefly reformed under the assumed name Rain Tree Crow in 1991 releasing an album and a single before once again disbanding. Sylvian more l recorded and released a solo album at the end of the nineties.


Recommended listening: Life in Tokyo, Japan ?