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Local Culture: The Birthplace of Japanese Punk Rock

Last time we visited Japan we made it a point to tour as many record shops as possible. With their thriving music scene we came across loads of undiscovered music while visiting various boutique shops. Recently the NY Times published a great piece focused on Tokyo’s Koenji neighborhood. Known as Tokyo’s lab for musicians, this district is credited as the birthplace of Japanese punk rock.

As the Times reports: “In recent years, this low-rise area of traditional izakaya bars and narrow alleys has spawned a new music scene that knits together every musical style imaginable — American roots, Showa Era jazz and even enka, the sentimental pop music of postwarJapan — in a way that is distinctly Japanese.” Click Read More for additional information and photos.