New World Cafe® “Sense of Place” series brings listeners along on its musical journey of Japan

Born in Kyoto and now based in Tokyo, luvis brings together jazz, soul, and pop influences to craft heartfelt, personal songs. Hear some of those songs recorded live at Moon Romantic in Tokyo, and an interview where luvis shares what it has been like building his career in Japan. Tune in for that and a visit to Little Soul Cafe, one of Tokyo’s many vinyl bars.

Shonen Knife celebrated their 40th anniversary last year and released a new album, Our Best Place. Band leader Naoko Yamano talks about the band’s history – being inspired by the Ramones and Buzzcocks, the group’s first trip to the USA, and touring with Nirvana – as well as what keeps her writing after four decades. We’ll also hear a live Shonen Knife performance from UrBANGUILD in Kyoto.

Orange-haired Chi is the dynamic leader of the hip-hop inspired group Chameleon Lime Whoopiepie. In this episode, Chi looks back on her early days performing on the streets of Tokyo, and how she came together with her two costumed collaborators. Don’t miss the group’s live performance from WALL & WALL in Tokyo that will make you want to get up and dance.

Soyo Oka wrote the music for Super Mario Kart, part of Nintendo’s enduring Super Mario world of video games. She talks about reluctantly transitioning from her university’s composition school to writing video game music, and how the impact of her music around the world came as a surprise to her. And Chiaki Horan, presenter of Songs of Tokyo on Japanese public broadcaster NHK, gives us an overview spanning the vastness of current J-pop.

The Bawdies draw on the sound of ‘50s and ‘60s American and UK rock. In this edition of “Sense of Place: Japan,” they talk about why they were so drawn to that sound when they started writing music two decades ago. Plus, a live performance from Tokyo’s Top Beat Club that includes music from their latest album, Popcorn.

Davina Robinson was born and raised in the U.S. near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and then launched a career as a blues musician after moving to Osaka, Japan. She looks back on why she came to Japan and what it was like for her to relocate there, and gives a live performance from UrBANGUILD in Kyoto that includes her song that won “Best Blues Song” in the 2020 UK Songwriting Contest.

ATARASHII GAKKO! are a four-woman J-pop band that have given jaw-dropping performances this year at festivals including Coachella and Primavera. In this edition, they give us a performance recorded here in the U.S. in Philadelphia, and an intimate interview in which the band talks about playing with people’s expectations of what a J-pop group can do.