Reggae from Japan
April 16, 2008 by myndstate
It’s remarkable that this music that came from a small impoverished island in the Carribean has made it’s way throughout the world. Italy, Germany, Finland and the United States are among the many countries throughout the globe with vibrant Reggae scenes. While Japan is probably the most unlikely country to adopt the music of Jamaica, there is a commercialized rasta culture here that probably rivals any country outside the Carribean. Not only is Reggae music popular but Japanese enthusiasts have also adopted symbols such as the Jamaican flag, Red Stripe beer and the ganja plant to decorate everything from steering wheel covers to school accessories. A Japanese woman (Junko) even won the international Dancehall Queen competition in 2002.
While there have been many original Reggae artists from Japan since the 1980’s, my opinion is that most of them are less inspired and original than artists from other parts of the world. Pop music is dominant on the radio here and most of the Japanese Reggae artists have a pop inspired sound. Dancehall is the most popular style now and unlike the rough and streetwise sound of many Jamaican dancehall artists, the Japanese sound often includes corny Pop choruses and friendly melodies. Also, (again, this is just my opinion) the majority of artists here do not have the experience of oppression, , poverty and hardship which makes Reggae from Jamaica so powerful. (It is possible that the language barrier is keeping me from enjoying J-Reggae, but there is an undeniable cheesiness about most of the popular artists).
The best J-Reggae artist I have heard so far is Dry and Heavy. This band has produced several extremely heavy and moody roots and Dub albums, some featuring the likes of King Tubby at the controls. They are no longer together but Likkle Mai, the singer from Dry and Heavy has a recent album that is not terrible (but her debut album is).
For Reggae (or any vinyl) reissues on Lp or CD, Japan is where it’s at. For Rasta inspired merchandise, Japan probably carries anything that could be found on a trip to Jamaica. But for true Reggae fans, Dry and Heavy is the only Japanese band that comes close to producing authentic Reggae music.
