'RYUKOKA RECORDINGS 1921-39' - Emerging during the early stages of the recording industry in Japan, the ryukoka style adopted western classical, blues and jazz elements into traditional and classical Japanese music. This collection of 1920s and 30s ryukoka recordings captures the hauntingly unique sound of a cultural merging that was starting to reflect itself through popular songs, ahead of the widespread influence of western pop music during post-war US occupation. TRACKS: 01. Seki Taneko - Akemi's Poems 02. Kusunoki Shigeo - Longing For The Shadow 03. Yayoi Tanaka - Sad Gull 04. Akasaka Koume - Please Forgive Me 05. Ichimaru - If You Go Down The Tenryu 06. Mitsuko Nemoto - Cosmos Elegy 07. Ichiro Fujiyama - Tokyo Daughter 08. Chiyako Sato - Skyscraper 09. Yayoi Tanaka - The Dream Is Short Lived 10. Ichiro Fujiyama & Masao Koga - Is Sake Tears Or Sighs? 11. Otomaru - Yoneyama Sanri 12. Hamako Watanabe - I Don't Forget 13. Akasaka Koume - Asama Smoke 14. Yoshio Tabata - Farewell Ship 15. Ichiro Fujiyama - Farewell Youth 16. Kouta Katsutaro - Stand Up Tomorrow