Togawa Jun
Encyclopedia
Jun Togawa is a Japanese
singer, musician and actress.
After gaining attention as an actress and as guest singer for the Halmens, she began her professional music career in the early 1980s as an idol
singer.
In a 2001 interview, influential alternative musician and producer Jim O'Rourke
(known for his work with Sonic Youth
, amongst others) picked a Togawa Jun cover song album 20th Jun Togawa as one of his "best albums of the year." Having at times covered his music there is a good degree of mutual respect between them.
Although her deeply un-commercial attitude kept her away from major "pop" success, she survived as an influential and respected underground music figure both solo and as the lead singer of Guernica
(1982-89) with former Halmens member Koji Ueno
and her most commercial project the Yapoos (1984-1995 and occasionally since). Over the years she has formed many temporary backing bands such as the Jun Togawa Unit to accompany her. Generally the differentiation between her self named bands and the Yapoos is a greater degree of collaboration in the latter.
Notable collaborators over the years have been Haruomi Hosono
who produced and wrote music for some of her earlier works. Her late sister Kyoko Togawa was an actress who at times ventured into the music world and cross collaborated at times. Around 1990 Jun shared management with Susumu Hirasawa
resulting in quite a number of collaborations. Since then she has worked with Yoshihide Otomo
and Hoppy Kamiyama
.
She has acted in a number of films, including Untamagiru
and The Family Game
.
Her most recent CD of completely original material to date, "Togawa Fiction" (2004), with the Jun Togawa Band, featured elements of progressive rock
, technopop and various other genres. More recently still, in 2008, she released a career-spanning 3 CD boxed set, Togawa Legend Self Select Best & Rare 1979-2008 which featured many of her most popular songs along with several scarcer tracks and hard to find collaborations.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
singer, musician and actress.
After gaining attention as an actress and as guest singer for the Halmens, she began her professional music career in the early 1980s as an idol
Japanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
singer.
In a 2001 interview, influential alternative musician and producer Jim O'Rourke
Jim O'Rourke (musician)
Jim O'Rourke is an Irish-American musician and record producer. He was long associated with the Chicago experimental and improv scene...
(known for his work with Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American alternative rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The current lineup consists of Thurston Moore , Kim Gordon , Lee Ranaldo , Steve Shelley , and Mark Ibold .In their early career, Sonic Youth was associated with the No Wave art and music scene in New York City...
, amongst others) picked a Togawa Jun cover song album 20th Jun Togawa as one of his "best albums of the year." Having at times covered his music there is a good degree of mutual respect between them.
Although her deeply un-commercial attitude kept her away from major "pop" success, she survived as an influential and respected underground music figure both solo and as the lead singer of Guernica
Guernica (band)
Presumably named after the famous painting Guernica by Pablo Picasso, this Japanese trio from the 1980s specializes in avant-garde music in a retro 1920's and 30's cabaret style...
(1982-89) with former Halmens member Koji Ueno
Koji Ueno
is an award-winning Japanese composer, musician, arranger and keyboardist. He is noted for his unique style of music.He graduated from Nihon University's department of music at its faculty of art, and in 1978, began his career in music with his first music ensemble, 8&1/2, after which he worked...
and her most commercial project the Yapoos (1984-1995 and occasionally since). Over the years she has formed many temporary backing bands such as the Jun Togawa Unit to accompany her. Generally the differentiation between her self named bands and the Yapoos is a greater degree of collaboration in the latter.
Notable collaborators over the years have been Haruomi Hosono
Haruomi Hosono
, also known as Harry Hosono, is a Japanese popular musician, best known internationally as a key member of the rock band Happy End and the pioneering electronic music band Yellow Magic Orchestra.-Biography:...
who produced and wrote music for some of her earlier works. Her late sister Kyoko Togawa was an actress who at times ventured into the music world and cross collaborated at times. Around 1990 Jun shared management with Susumu Hirasawa
Susumu Hirasawa
is a Japanese electropop artist and composer.In 1972, he enrolled at . From 1972 to 1978, he performed in his first band Mandrake, a progressive rock group influenced by King Crimson and Yes. In 1979 he formed a New Wave synth-rock & techno-pop band called P-Model, along with two former members of...
resulting in quite a number of collaborations. Since then she has worked with Yoshihide Otomo
Yoshihide Otomo
is a Japanese composer and multi-instrumentalist.He first came to international prominence in the 1990s as the leader of the noise rock group Ground Zero, and has since worked in a variety of contexts, ranging from free improvisation to noise, jazz, avant-garde and contemporary classical...
and Hoppy Kamiyama
Hoppy Kamiyama
Hoppy Kamiyama is a Japanese keyboardist and music producer who has worked with artists such as eX-Girl, Bradford Reed, Bill Laswell, Jan Linton, Marc Ribot, Hugh Hopper/Elton Dean and Damo Suzuki.- Biography :...
.
She has acted in a number of films, including Untamagiru
Untamagiru
is a 1989 Japanese film directed by Gō Takamine. It is magical realist story of the legendary Okinawan hero Untamagiru participating in efforts to form an independent Okinawa before the island was returned to Japan in 1972. Many of the characters speak in the Okinawan language and thus mainland...
and The Family Game
The Family Game
is a Japanese movie that was directed by Yoshimitsu Morita in 1983. The movie portrays the changing dynamics of Japanese family life around the time...
.
Her most recent CD of completely original material to date, "Togawa Fiction" (2004), with the Jun Togawa Band, featured elements of progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
, technopop and various other genres. More recently still, in 2008, she released a career-spanning 3 CD boxed set, Togawa Legend Self Select Best & Rare 1979-2008 which featured many of her most popular songs along with several scarcer tracks and hard to find collaborations.
Original Albums
- [1982.xx.xx] Kaizo Heno Yakudo (Guernica)
- [1984.01.24] Tamahime-sama (Jun Togawa)
- [1984.04.25] Ura-Tamahime (live) (Jun Togawa with Yapoos)
- [1985.03.25] Kyokuto Ian Shoka (Jun Togawa Unit)
- [1985.11.10] Suki Suki Daisuki (Jun Togawa)
- [1987.12.16] Yapoos Keikaku (Yapoos)
- [1988.xx.xx] Shinseiki E No Unga (Guernica)
- [1988.09.21] Daitenshi No Youni (Yapoos)
- [1989.03.05] Denri-sou Kara no Manazashi (Guernica)
- [1989.12.16] Showa Kyonen (Jun Togawa)
- [1991.06.07] Dial Y O Mawase (Yapoos)
- [1992.10.28] Dadada ism (Yapoos)
- [1995.01.31] Yapoos No Fushin Na Koudou (live 1993) (Yapoos)
- [1995.06.21] HYS (Yapoos)
- [2000.09.25] 20th Jun Togawa (Jun Togawa)
- [2004.09.02] Togawa Fiction (Jun Togawa Band)
Singles, EPs
- [1982.12.05] Ginrin wa Utau / Maronie Dokuhon (Guernica)
- [1984.05.25] Radar Man / Boshi Jusei (Jun Togawa)
- [1985.04.10] Poesy / Poesy instrumental (Jun Togawa)
- [1985.10.25] Osozaki Girl (Jun Togawa)
- [1986.02.10] Sayonara wo Oshiete (Jun Togawa)
- [1987.12.16] Barbara Sexaroid / Cecil Cut (Yapoos)
- [1990.10.21] Virgin Blues (Jun Togawa)
- [1991.xx.xx] Infinite Productions Remix (Jun Togawa in the '90s)
- [1991.05.02] Men's Junan (Yapoos)
- [1995.03.01] Honou no Shoujo (Yapoos)
- [2003.04.10] CD-Y (mini-album) (Yapoos)
Compilations
- [1987.xx.xx] Tokyo No Yaban (Tokyo Barbarism) (Jun Togawa) Remixed compilation
- [1991.05.21] Yapoos Best (Yapoos)
- [1996.09.26] Super Best of Togawa Jun
- [1997.08.27] Twins Super Best of Togawa Jun (2 CD set)
- [2001.12.19] Twin Very Best Collection (2 CD set) (Jun Togawa)
- [2002.12.04] In Memoria Futuri (three CD boxed set comprising Guernica's three original albums plus demos, live tracks, outtakes and live video footage of Guernica performing "Dokuro no enbukyoku" at Club Quattro, Shibuya, Tokyo on 27th July 1988) (Guernica)
- [2008.07.09] Togawa Legend Self Select Best & Rare 1979-2008 (3 CD boxed set) (Jun Togawa)
- [2009.07.22] Teichiku Works. Jun Togawa 30th Anniversary (6 CDs and 3 DVDs). The first 5 CDs are reissued albums with bonus tracks, the sixth CD features previously unreleased live and demo recordings of Guernica.
Notable Guest Appearances
- [1984.08.25] Chojiku Korodasutan Ryokoki (Apogee & Perigee) Jun Togawa provides vocals for 4 tracks.
- [1985.00.00] Shijin no Ie (House Of The Poet) (Joe Jackson & The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra) Jun Togawa provides all vocals
- [2002.03.26] Dreams (Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Ensemble) Jun Togawa provides vocals for 3 tracks.
External links
- Jun Togawa, Guernica, Yapoos, Koji Ueno, Yoichiro Yoshikawa, an annotated discography compiled by Nicholas D. Kent.
- [ Jun Togawa] at Allmusic.
- Jrawk review of "Tamahime Sama".
- Jrawk review of "20th Jun Togawa".
- Jrawk review of "Yapoos Keikaku".