Pianola Records

[@TERRYHROVAT]

Such a cool little record shop!

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Pretty cool, right? Thanks for dropping by the channel, checking out this video, and leaving a comment! Appreciate it!

[@CheecoWrld]

Such a awesome channel man Love the videos. Record shops looks so dope. I love the fact everyone in records store are always a vibe

[@tokyorecordstyle]

@CheecoWrld! Awe shucks. Thanks for those very encouraging words! Really appreciate it. Yes, it's it so cool how every record shop is like a reflection of the shop owner and how each one is so unique! I just love it too! Thanks so much for dropping by the channel! Just made sure I subbed to you too :-) Stay in touch!

[@Visions_in_Toyko]

I love Bonus track, I loved on the adjacent street for the last 6 years and do watched it all get built and coke together. It really was an awesome place to live with a nice community feel, although I finally moved out to Koenji a few months ago. I would go to Pianola regularly and the selections on offer were always incredible, a real diggers paradise. Bonus track actually opened right at the beginning of the pandemic, it was really sad to see how everyone was super excited about its opening, then having a full year of really tough times. Thankfully most places survive. I always tell people to check this place out.

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Hey there! This is Brian in Tokyo and I'm not sure if we've met before but I think you were recommended to as a potential presenter for an event I run (...for my job, which I've mainly kept separate from my YT Channel) and I see your work before. I also run a Photography project called Photohoku that has connected many photographers over the years and if we haven't met through it, I'm sure we have many mutual friends. Nice to make your acquaintance! And yes, Bonus Track is way better than what was there before and I kinda like to see Shimokita expanding its tentacles out into the neighborhoods. I've been living around here for 20 years and I've seen it change SO much and there has been a lot of lamenting of what it was once like, and how some of the best gems are gone, but I have to say I think they city keeps getting better and better. I love Bonus Track, I don't mind the new Reload complex, Mikan next to the station is pretty cool, and station itself, is way better that the charming old dump once was. It's cool to its evolution and to see it hang on to it's character with all it's might. Looking forward to meeting in person. Thanks for finding the channel and leaving a nice comment! See ya around!

[@seekingathread]

I love the hyper curated stores and niche offerings of stores like Pianola. Liking some of what I see in the bins here too. Great spotlight!

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Thanks so much, Dom. I think you would really like this shop! Please put Pianola on your radar, and if you see anything in his stock, please be encouraged to reach out to him. And if there is ever anything I can help you know about or score in Japan, don't hesitate to reach out! I'm still working my way towards your Japan Vinyl Tag. I know the momentum is a bit gone, but I'm committed to listen to each person selection and I will get to yours in time! Best for now from Tokyo!

[@seekingathread]

@@tokyorecordstyle Thanks Brian. Pianola I could see having my biggest and most-long running grail, yes I'll call it that. Brenda Ray's "Walatta" which I've spoken about a bunch. It was released on Japan's Em Records imprint in 2012 and the last time I saw it was 2012. For some reason it never shows up. Once a it sold on Instagram, a couple of times on Discogs over the years. Never on ebay. My guess is they only made 300-500 the most. It's a dub reggae record and a beauty at that. Check it out! I do know some sellers in Japan have sold it but through other sources. Any help would be hugely appreciated!

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Hey Dom, I asked around looking for that record. Pianola has it only on CD (it can be found fairly easily on CD) and he mentioned it the LP was super rare and in high demand. Also reached out to Chee Shimizu at Organic Music (who would be another kind of shop who might have it) and he didn't have it either. I poked around for it fairly deeply for it when you wrote this comment and didn't come up with it, but now when I just looked again I see a copy of it sold on Yahoo Auctions in a bidding war that ended at ¥24800, which is like $17500. There is a 12" Brenda Ray - Starlight single on Mercari now for ¥10,000.

[@dbugatto]

Really loved walking around Shimokitazawa when I was there this summer , cool neighbourhood .

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Thanks for the comment @dbugatto! Yes, Shimokita is a pretty cool neighborhood! It's actually the very local that intrigued me to live in Japan when I visited for the first time 20 years ago. If your curious about my connection to Shimokitazawa and Japan, you scroll a little ways back and watch a video about my origin story in Japan. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXaadnyFm8h8f9U Best from Tokyo (and look me up on your next visit! We can stroll around Shimokita together. Maybe his Pianola or another record store ...or two ...or three)

[@dbugatto]

@@tokyorecordstyle Certainly , though no idea when I'll be back , hopefully sooner than later . I was travelling with my two sons & they loved it too . I'm a working illustrator & photographer , so I was def in my element ;)

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Wonderful to here! Would love to see your illustration and/or photography work! Drop a link if you like :-)

[@ourcatlovesjazz]

That's awesome! Love quirky areas like this. Thanks for the tour 🇨🇦

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Thanks for coming along with me on this little escapade @ourcatlovesjazz, and for leaving a comment. Indeed it is a lovably quirky area! Appreciate the comment :-) Best from Tokyo 🇯🇵

[@Vintage_ArtWorks]

Man, love that track in the beginning! Home sick this week and so eager to catch up to Tokyo Record Style. Miss ya big time TRS!

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Hey Lovely! Hope you're well. Where are you homesick from? Hope you (and me both) can be homeward bound again soon! Best from Tokyo

[@robbie_eee]

Spotted an MB release on the shelf, looks like there’s probably a ton of other good experimental stuff there. Thanks for showcasing this spot.

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Glad you could join me on this little trip and that I could point you in the right direction maybe for a future trip to Tokyo! If you see a record you really want, you can follow the link to Pianola records in the video description and reach out to them directly! Good Luck and Best from Tokyo!

[@7BobbyGaylor7]

That record store is so cool. 😎

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Right? I mean a little funky and not for everybody in terms of music tastes, but there is no denying it's a really cool little record shop! ...and thanks for dropping my the channel, Bobby, watching and leaving a comment. Hope all is well! Best from Tokyo!

[@EclecticRecordCollector]

Really my kind of shop! Saw a lp on the wall that has been on my want list for a while! Also checked out the web site and the lp of 7FO. really nifty eclectic trip hop! And yes i gave up pop music for 20 years to explore the others musics. Then abbey road took me back in and i find i can listen to a bit of everything now.

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Right?!?! So cool that you saw something on the wall that caught your attention! Please be encouraged to reach out to Yohei san if if something you're really keen to have. And that's great insight Steve, about how you dedicated yourself to digging deeper, and then also found a way back to popular music and now can appreciate both. I can hear this resonating already and in my musical appreciating mind. Thanks for dropping by the channel!

[@EclecticRecordCollector]

@@tokyorecordstyle sent him a email inquirery

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Amazing! I heard and he was very happy and thanked me, so thanks for reaching out to him. I heard the record you were curious already sold out! Too bad! Please be encouraged to reach out to him again if/when you see something else he has in stock. Best from Tokyo!

[@EclecticRecordCollector]

@@tokyorecordstyle ah well . Next time. I found his reply it had sold just now in my spam folder. Didn't think a reply to a sent email would go there. Thanks for leting me know. Will take a look at his store again.

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Fingers crossed for the next one!

[@ricefieldrecords]

Your son's Sunday dance competition wasn't HipHop by any chance, was it? That's what took place near me in Saitama on Sunday; an all day outdoor student dance competition of 15 and younger and 15 and over. It was wonderful. Good interview with Pianola BTW. You had him very comfortable. Really amazing how many stores have their own labels and are releasing records.

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Thanks for the comment Michael and sorry I never got back to you about the food truck record shop video. When you asked me about it, it had me wondering how I really felt about that, and I know I have marked all my videos as re-mixable by others but I really gave it much consideration and it's set up that way by default. The more I thought about it, the more I realized it really opens me up to a world I think I'd best avoid. It seems a lot of people in these parts abuse that function and permission, and though I know your intentions are not only pure but also supportive, which I appreciate, I think it's a genie I'd rather just keep in the bottle. I'm sure you can understand. The photographer in me also has some questions about the fair-use-ness of it all. Thanks for understanding. And to answer your questions, Yes, my son's Sunday dance competition was indeed HipHop, and yes, he is under 15 years old (not for much longer!) but our dance festival was in Suginami near our home! Glad to hear you got to enjoy some dance too! It was a perfect day for it! Thanks also for the encouraging words about the Pianola video. I'm just winging in, as the say, but glad to hear he seemed to appear relaxed. And yes, isn't it amazing and cool and how many record stores have their own labels and release music! So cool! Thanks for the comment! See you around :-)

[@ricefieldrecords]

@@tokyorecordstyle I understand

[@robertmitchell6015]

Hi love your channel, how did you end up living in Japan? Did you marry a Japanese Girl or was it work that took you there originally, love listening to you talk the Japanese language, how long have you lived there, cheers from Australia

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Thanks so much for the encouraging words. I actually came here kind of on a whim on my way to somewhere else. I immediately fell in love with the place and within a few short months and I was back living here, that was back in 2004, and basically have just made it work any way I could and have been here since. Yes, now I am married, have two kids, mortgage, car payment, life insurance, the works. I guess I immigrated but that was never the intention. I've talked about me coming to Japan in several videos on my channel but I think this one is the most comprehensive. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXaadnyFm8h8f9Usi=gQHFWxLrhm3PjMrZ If you make it to Japan, please look me up! Thanks for dropping by @robertmicthell6015

[@rajeestudios5105]

Really enjoyed your video Brian. At 25.47 you go past an album you might like, as you're into Tom Waits. Mayo Thompson "Corky's Debt To His Father" - if that was the original pressing, it's probably worth a small fortune, or it might be a the Drag City reissue, which is good. Here's a link to the album (I think you'd like it): kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5TTlKyNqtKagbc Also, that Farfisa Combo Organ looked cool, was it working?

[@tokyorecordstyle]

Thanks so much for that encouraging comment, @Rajeestudios5105! Really appreciate it! Thank you also for that album recommendation. I listened to it and found it quite good and interesting. I would love have never discovered that record if you hadn't recommended it. That shop is hosting a record fair today and I am going to head over there soon. If it's still available, I might pick it up! And right about that Farfisa Organ! Yes it was not only working but it played through a vintage Yamaha leslie cabinet speaker which I had never seen before. very very cool. Thanks again and see you on the RGTV show :-)