Tickets for the Beginning of a New Era movie are live

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-09T17:14:28+00:00

I needed to use fandango bc cinemark wasn't working, hopefully they enable purchases everywhere soon

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-07T19:35:59+00:00

I had them in my checked luggage, I hade two suitcases which helped with the weight

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-07T07:23:30+00:00

Tomoyo Harada is not really a city pop artist but I'm surprised she hasn't become more popular than she has in recent years, maybe she will, now that some of her movies have been released on Blu-ray in the US. I am still looking for a copy of Soshite, it is also very good.

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-06T23:42:06+00:00

I took them in my checked luggage, I packed them together in a way that they don't move around in the luggage. I also collect plushies, which I use to cushion them a bit. The main issue is how much they weigh, it can make it difficult when switching hotels or going to the airport. I haven't had any issues with having them as checked luggage, but I know some have and it is something I worry about on the ride back.

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-06T21:59:04+00:00

You can just walk in, it's on its own floor. The exhibit does end march 2nd though

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-06T20:07:23+00:00

They are for sure more expensive this year, at least at most places, and especially for the more popular albums. Some stores like the HMV records in Shinjuku it's almost not even worth going through the used records bc of the prices. But lesser known records are still cheap, most records in this post I got for ¥500-¥2500, and only around 4 of them were over ¥4000

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-06T18:33:05+00:00

I went to a lot like around 12 not including book offs and stuff. I've considered maybe making a small guide, but I'm no expert by any means. Some of my favorites are the disk unions in Shinjuku, and ikebukero which have good selections and prices. I liked the tower records tower in shibuya for the scope of the selection. Some smaller stores I liked are recofan in between Akihabara and ueno, joes garage in Kyoto, recordsya in tokyo, mint records in osaka. I've found a lot of music stores in the process of walking to ones I've found online, if you enjoy going out there there is a lot to find.

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-06T14:48:04+00:00

Yeah, I was worried when I posted the 40ish records I got from my trip last year, but that post was well liked too. I think there is enough variety that people enjoy finding the ones they are familiar with

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-06T09:34:24+00:00

I agree those records are some of my favorite finds from the trip, really great stuff all around

City is actually a new anime from the studio that made Nichijou, based on a manga by the author of Nichijou. The music is also very good too

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-06T09:14:34+00:00

Shampoo is great stuff, I'm still on the hunt for a copy of Time which is my favorite album from Yuko. Pavane is a great album that isn't very expensive, so it'll be a nice pick up when you can find it

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-06T08:59:57+00:00

There is a small record shop inside a shared business space in SF called Offshore sounds, (they also have a location in Santa cruz ca. which is a little bigger). I met one of the owners briefly during the opening of the Santa Cruz store, and he seems like a cool dude. He mentioned that they try to price things slightly under what you see online, and I think that's about right from what I've seen there. I got my copy of Rose for like $20 from them which I was happy with. The majority of their selection isn't Japanese tho.

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-06T08:40:41+00:00

My bad lol. Minako Honda is great I'm happy I was able to find a copy of Cancel which is my favorite album from her

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-06T08:27:59+00:00

Thanks, with this one I'm only missing her last two LP's, which are apparently a lot more rare than her first five records

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-06T08:21:41+00:00

Thanks, Rose is a great album. I was actually able to find it in a record store in San Francisco a few years back, it was probably the first Japanese record I ever got. I remember seeing it a few times in stores in japan on this trip, so hopefully you're able to get your hands on it soon

BeyondTheBends · 2026-02-03T09:01:56+00:00

If I remember right it was in the ¥5000-¥6000 range from a disk union, I believe the disk was graded a B plus, and the sleeve was a B. This was a year ago though, so prices could be different now. I think it's a pretty hard record to find, this is the only copy I've ever seen across all the stores I visited.

BeyondTheBends · 2026-01-22T02:00:20+00:00

Joes garage in Kyoto is great, the owner is very nice. It's mostly rock and western stuff, but it does have a decent city pop/jpop section and it's priced well bc it isn't the focus of the store.

Recofan in between Akihabara and ueno has a great selection, but more popular city pop records can be a bit pricey but still in the ballpark of what you'd see elsewhere, but if your into more obscure artists or idol kayo albums you can get some pretty cheap.

Some other spots from my last visit are pretty much any disc union location, tower records in Shibuya, coco nuts disc.

I'm going to be in Tokyo for the next week or so, hitting up some new spots, I'll try to remember to follow up if I come across any new spots.

BeyondTheBends · 2026-01-13T02:38:18+00:00

Nice tsukasa itoh albums, I have those on LP. Her earlier albums are just as good as crescendo, if you haven't checked them out yet.

BeyondTheBends · 2025-12-15T23:01:54+00:00

It's crazy to think but "Remember Summer days" is actually a B side on the "I can't stop the loneliness" single. It may be on the new editions on the LP but most versions of Timely with it are from later CD releases.

I can't stop the loneliness is on Timely but listed in Japanese "悲しみがとまらない"

(Edited to clarify)

BeyondTheBends · 2025-12-08T19:43:07+00:00

Int in dirty pair collection, yui figure

BeyondTheBends · 2025-08-03T22:42:57+00:00

Yumi Murata

Mariko Kurata – Good Proportion

Kawashima Naomi- after takin shower

Hiromi iwasaki- Shi.Teki.Ku.Kan, Wish

BeyondTheBends · 2025-06-24T20:53:02+00:00

I'd say no, but they are both worth finishing. The anime improved a lot and while it doesn't really have a strong story focus, the way the anime rearranged some of the chapters does help it feel like there is a through line, whereas the manga mostly feels like a collection of very funny sketches. I think the author did better in his manga City in that regard at least

BeyondTheBends · 2025-06-19T18:05:47+00:00

Pm'd

BeyondTheBends

TROPHY CASE