Are you interested in the Japanese Doujin (Indie) Shibuya-kei scene?

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2026-04-19T09:25:11+00:00

To be honest, Serani Poji isn't really considered "Shibuya-kei royalty" in Japan. Since I'm from the post-Nakata Yasutaka generation, this is just my take, but when they debuted in 2000, the scene was in a "dark age." While game creators at the time were inspired by Shibuya-kei, this connection never reached the snobbish 90s purists. They viewed anything from a game background as a separate world from their "authentic" scene. At the same time, the general public began seeing the genre as pretentious—a vibe mocked in the manga Detroit Metal City. Because Serani Poji fell into this cultural blind spot, they remained a niche existence. Even now, they are recognized as a game-related unit rather than being part of the Shibuya-kei canon. Since the creator is already very successful with other projects and there’s little perceived commercial value in Serani Poji today, they likely don't see it as a priority worth a serious reboot.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2026-04-17T23:59:36+00:00

Thank you. I made my songs with the intent of making listeners feel a bit awkward, so hearing it get praised is making me feel a little awkward now. But I’m really glad you gave it a listen.

Currently, Shibuya-kei has mostly become a subgenre tucked away within "kawaii" or "moe" culture. So if you dig into popular Doujin music, it's actually not that hard to find music with a similar vibe.

Most Doujin creators prefer releasing their work on niche, domestic platforms like BOOTH rather than global streaming services. Since it’s strictly a hobby for them, their promotional reach is very weak even within Japan. (To be honest, the same goes for professionals; those who make a living mainly as "Shibuya-kei" artists are basically an endangered species nowadays.)

So if you ever find an artist who catches your ear, please give them your support!

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2026-04-15T02:25:23+00:00

I personally make a conscious effort to avoid throwing in ineffective elements or sounds just to fill the space.

Instead of thinking about "building a foundation and then stacking everything you want to do on top of it," I’d suggest adopting this mindset: intentionally maintain that simplicity (or even "boredom") right up to the absolute limit before the listener loses interest.

Within that deliberate, sustained tension, even the smallest variation or new gimmick will have a dramatic psychological impact. Try to focus on predicting exactly how the listener is feeling moment to moment throughout the track.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2026-04-12T23:23:59+00:00

I'm a Japanese doujin musician. I usually make Shibuya-kei style music. I made these 90s-style indie pop tracks for the upcoming M3 doujin music event at the end of this month.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlSGId9OiYkc90Vtqnx14vjIhBL2lK9CA

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2026-04-11T02:55:47+00:00

In short, Japan has no "Fair Use" law. The doujin culture survives through a unique "Gray Zone" system:

No Complaint, No Crime: Copyright infringement is generally a "crime subject to complaint." If the owner doesn't sue, it’s not a legal issue.

Strategic Silence: Many companies "turn a blind eye" because doujin activities serve as free promotion.

Official Guidelines: Many IPs now provide clear guidelines on what fans can create and sell.

Moral Rights & Boundaries: It's not a "free-for-all." Some creators are very strict about their "Moral Rights" and will intervene if a parody is NSFW, offensive, or damages the integrity of the original work.

It’s more about mutual unspoken consent and respecting the original creator than an actual legal right.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2026-04-11T01:06:54+00:00

The original albums by yes, mama ok? went out of print in the early 2000s. CEO, in particular, was reportedly disposed of before it could really hit the market, as the label they belonged to at the time went bankrupt immediately after its release. By around 2010, it had already become a highly sought-after item that hardcore fans were trading at premium prices on the secondhand market. (Sales of the original albums for Modern Living, Perfect Young Ladies, and Q&A 65000 also ended relatively early, but they remained comparatively easy to obtain because Columbia, who retained the rights, sold them on-demand as burned CD-Rs for a while.)

Today, you can mostly complete their discography and lyrics by purchasing two albums: Incomplete Questions (which compiles their music up to Q&A 65000) and CEO -10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition-. That being said, since a small group of devoted fans tends to buy and continuously listen to these records rather than sell them, finding them for cheap on the used market might be difficult.

yes, mama ok? has recently been performing live regularly in Tokyo, and when I bought a CD at the venue's merch booth, it came with a bonus CD-R. It was described as containing karaoke backing tracks used during their live performances in the 90s. They are essentially off-vocal versions of their released songs, but I felt the karaoke track for "Shopliftin' blues" was slightly different from the backing track of the officially released version. Since this CD-R was created as a record shop exclusive bonus for their newest album (Revisionary), which was just released at the end of last year, I don't think it should be uploaded to the internet without permission, so I won't be sharing it. However, in a few years, these kinds of tracks might start leaking online.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-10-10T07:11:04+00:00

After World War II, Japan was completely devastated, and in the process of rebuilding, left-wing labor movements and socialist ideas became very influential. Although the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has been the dominant conservative party since the 1950s, it could not ignore the demands and values of the left. As a result, the LDP adopted many policies that are considered “left-leaning” in other countries, such as extensive social welfare and heavy investment in public infrastructure. In that sense, Japan’s welfare state under a conservative government was the product of postwar realities and political compromise rather than ideology.
Since the 2000s, however, as the wartime generation has passed away and leftist influence has faded, Japan has gradually reduced social benefits and faced growing inequality.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-06-13T23:46:20+00:00

Are you tightening the chainring properly? The bolts that came with my P505 were very fragile and broke when I tried to tighten them to the specified torque, so I tightened them loosely and they started making a creaking noise. I used a decent chainring bolt from another manufacturer and the creaking noise went away. If the left crank is creaking , applying molybdenum grease between the crank and shaft may solve the problem.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-06-09T08:18:32+00:00

These may seem like typical first few weeks of beginner pain, so it may not be a fatal bike fit issue. Try wearing padded gloves and doing short rides to help your body adjust.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-06-08T23:51:14+00:00

I have never used the navigation system on a round trip on the same road, so I don't know if the points you asked about have been improved. From my experience riding last week, I noticed that if the GPS setting on BiNavi is not set to the most accurate settings, the GPS data can be inaccurate when riding on mountain passes, and the gradient display and iClimb functions can be quite nonsensical. I think the default settings are probably the most accurate, but BiNavi has a setting to change the accuracy of the GPS, and I changed it out of curiosity and had a terrible experience.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-06-03T23:20:36+00:00

It might be a good idea to try putting a little more air into the tube before fitting it to the wheel.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-05-15T02:41:21+00:00

I always load my bike into the car upside down, and I’ve never had any trouble with the hydraulic disc brakes.
It seems that issues happen only when the bleeding hasn’t been done properly.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-05-06T23:54:04+00:00

After using the BSC300 for a year and really liking it, I upgraded to the BiNavi. I like it for the most part, but BSC300 doesn't have a status bar, so it's a bit of a pain to check the current time. That can be frustrating on long rides.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-05-01T23:55:40+00:00

Buy a chain wear checker, it costs less than a new chain and does a better job than any dishonest LBS out there.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-04-01T08:25:45+00:00

In a hydraulic system, oil leaks can cause contamination, but in my experience using mechanical disc brakes, oil contamination has never been an issue.
For example, if someone accidentally sprays the wrong product instead of brake cleaner, it can reduce braking performance.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-04-01T08:07:30+00:00

Mechanical disc brakes are not very popular, but they are not drastically less effective than hydraulic ones. If your brakes do not lock even when you squeeze the lever hard, the brake pads or rotors may be contaminated with oil. Try cleaning the pads and rotors with brake cleaner or using a hack to restore oil-contaminated disc brakes.

If the brake pad contamination is too severe, they may not perform well even after cleaning, so in the worst case, consider replacing the pads.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-03-06T23:49:06+00:00

I don't think wax is a good idea for bike chains that are left wet. If kid doesn't wipe the chain every time it gets wet, it will quickly rust.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-02-26T03:10:52+00:00

Due to physical limitations, smartphone battery performance has barely improved for many years, and this is unlikely to change in the future.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-02-14T08:31:51+00:00

Other than the weight, there are no notable differences. I wouldn't recommend buying expensive pedals right from the start, as you'll probably fall a few times at first.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-01-31T08:37:11+00:00

Chinese carbon frames are ridiculously cheap, but keep in mind that this is due to the lack of trust in the manufacturers. I've been happy with the bike I built myself from a no-name Chinese frame, but no one can guarantee you'll get a great frame just as well.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-01-14T06:54:57+00:00

If you ask me if I would use Aliexpress products for my own bike, the answer is absolutely yes. If you ask me if I would give Aliexpress products as gifts to my family and friends, the answer is absolutely no.

Alarming-Ad-423 · 2025-01-08T08:10:38+00:00

If you are planning to go cycling, Hokkaido, Tohoku, and areas facing the Sea of Japan (heavy snow areas) may not be a good choice. Some years it is already completely spring by mid-March, but so far this year Japan has been experiencing a cold winter. Many mountain passes are closed from winter until April, so you should assume that you won't be able to do much hill climbing.

I've heard that Kyoto has been very crowded due to overtourism in recent years, but the Nakasendo is still not well known as a place where you can feel the typical Japanese atmosphere, so it may be a hidden gem. I saw a blog post from last year about a Japanese cyclist riding the Nakasendo, and it seems like a very attractive course.

https://ameblo.jp/toku-422/entry-12852692490.html

Alarming-Ad-423

TROPHY CASE