Japan’s music scene has a unique and sophisticated dynamic, where wildly experimental sounds are heard alongside cynically commercial plastic pop, in an ever-changing and trend-setting creative environment. The climate in which many of Tokyo’s promo directors operate is often incredibly competitive, with tight budgets and harsh deadlines. The degree to which record company and production agency executives exert unhealthy levels of creative control is bewildering. Yet despite such stifling and anachronistic conditions, Japan has a truly vibrant promo industry with some world-class directors, many of whom are presented within +81 b.p.m., a showcase of the varied contemporary talents working in Tokyo’s neon-drenched metropolis.The most celebrated and multi-talented creatives generally work on their own terms, sometimes within but mainly outside the Japanese mainstream music industry, where format-driven, production line-style, quantity over quality standards prevail. Their influences are both international as well as rooted in the homegrown values and techniques from the more traditional areas of Japanese culture. It’s the versatility of the leading directors – who usually have the freedom to work between promos, commercials, films, motion graphics, CG animation and art projects – and their collaborative and pragmatic collective sense that distinguishes Japanese directors from their more renowned international peers. (Andrew Thomas) credits: director: artist, song (supplied by) Tycoon Graphics & Nakamura Takeshi: Champagne Design (Tycoon Graphics) Shimogiri Nozomu & Narita Takahiro: Morioka Ken, Air (Gooddy/D’s Garage) Muto Masashi: Mondo Grosso, Don’t Let Go (To Max Inc) Asahina Manabu: FLR Ken Ishii, Easy Filter-X (Rhizome) Tange Kouki: Misia, Rhythm Reflection (Yellow Brain) Ikunishi Yasunori, Kakegawa Yasunori & Bunko: Original Love, R&R (Ikunishi Yasunori) Hishikawa Sei: Sonic Temple, YRK (Drawing & Manual Inc) Tanida Ichiro, Ito Keji & Aoki Katsunori: Utadu Hikaru, Fly Me To the Moon (UFG) Nakamura Takeshi: Fantastic Plastic Machine, Take Me To the Disco (Caviar) Muto Masashi: Theatre Brook, Zenmai no kishimu oto (To Max Inc) Ito Keiji: Nomiya Maki, Baby (UFG) Tange Kouki: Revolver Flavour, Revolver Flavour (Yellow Brain) Takeuchi Suguru: Makoto, The Voice (SEP) Takeuchi Tetsuro: Ichino Takkyu, Last Scene (SEP)
