Japan A Foreign Place The Biography (2015)
by Anthony Reynolds
The definitive book on Japan, written with the cooperation of band
members, producers, phoographers, business associates and many fans.
Initially published in hardback, also available in paperback.
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A
Tourist's Guide To Japan
A Tourist's
Guide To Japan by Arthur A Pitt.
36 pages.
1982
Proteus Publishing Ltd. ISBN0862761727.
A
straighforward history of the group, up to the
re-release of I Second That Emotion. Great pictures, mostly by Fin
Costello. Don't be put
off by the fact that this has only 36 pages, none are wasted as the
typeface is pretty small. The Japanese
version was entitled "History From Tokio To London" and has identical
content, with the exception of Japanese text.
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Sons Of Pioneers
By Fin
Costello.
96 pages of
photographs
taken during the final tour. A little text to explain locations and
some non-band members.
1983
Silverheath Trading Ltd ISBN00946662002.
An
essential purchase. The Japanese version has a few extra pages,
including some colour plates.
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| The
Last Romantic
By Martin
Power.
Includes a
lot of information about the group. Several Japan era photos. Still in
print from Omnibus Books.
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| Japan
Live In Japan 1980
Special publication from Rock Show
magazine (Shinku Music) in Japan.
Photo
book following Japan on their 1980 Japanese tour. Lots of candid
offstage photographs of the group out and about, along with some posed
studio pin-ups.
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| Japan
Photo Story
Published by Shinku Music 1983 in Japan.
Collects
together most of the Japan interviews and articles from Music Life
magazine between 1978 and 1982 with many archive photographs.
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JAPAN Best-Hit Piano
& Songs
This
unique book contains the music and words of most of the songs David
Sylvian composed during JAPAN's later years. The music is in
easy-to-read arrangements with piano scripts and guitar chord symbols
and full lyrics. Complete words to all the songs ae also given in a
separate lyric section. 64 pages, each 9"x12, with 18 black and white
pictures of the group and members (4 full-size Sylvian; 1 full-size
Karn). Printed in Japan in the early 80's.
Songlist:
- Gentlemen Take Polaroids
- Swing
- Nightporter
- The Art Of Parties
- Ghosts
- Canton
- Visions Of China
Information
taken from Ebay description from user rainondesert.
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Band Score Japan Best
Shinko Music Publishing
100 pages, includes the music and lyrics of "The Unconventional",
"Quiet Life", "Gentlemen Take Polaroids", "Swing", "Methods Of
Dance", "Nightporter", "Ghosts", "The Art Of Parties" and "Sons Of
Pioneers". |
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David Sylvian Japan Testi Con Traduizone A Fronte
Italian lyric book,188
pages, published 1988 - this book has the lyrics for 3 albums Quiet
Life, GTP, and Tim Drum in English and Italian, it also has David's
back catalogue up to Secrets of the beehive. |
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| 8 Beat Gag
Japanese comic and poster book 1983
This
collects together a series of Japan and YMO related comic stories which
were published by Viva Rock magazine between 1981 and 1983. Members of
other famous 80's groups such as Duran Duran, The Cure, The Jam, Queen
and Culture Club also appear. The main plotline concerns Sylvian being
besotted with Sakamoto, who is none too keen about the attention it
seems. Very melodramatic. Beautiful caricatures of the Japan members
that are extremely well done. There's a fold-out poster of Sylvian and
Sakamoto. Hard to find.
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Movement From Japan 2 - Japan, Duran Duran
This book, 300 pages, includes re-prints of magazine articles published in Japan. |
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| Black Vinyl White Powder
By Simon Napier-Bell
This
is a must-buy. Following on from Simon's first book, the compelling
"You Don't have To Say You Love Me", which told his story from teenage
years through to the mid 70's, this is part autobiography and part
commentary on the music scene from the 80's to 2000's. Japan are given
some significant chapters, revealing quite a lot about the early days
in particular. The section about David encouraging the other group
members to wear make-up is hilarious. Destroys several Japan myths and
makes the members seem a lot more human. Throughout, Simon's writing
style makes this a pleasure to read; you can imagine him talking to you
over a bottle of wine and a good meal.
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Starmakers and Svengalis
By Johnny Rogan
A book about
several famous rock managers. Includes a chapter dedicated to Simon
Napier-Bell in which he gives quite a lot of information about Japan.
Essential reading.
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| Mooie Mensen
by
Belinda Meuldijk.
This
is a fictional novel (the title translates as "Beautiful People") about
a girl who gets involved with the music scene and has various
adventures with rock stars. Japan do not appear in the novel but their
image is used on the cover (see right). However, the author
(her photo is below) did allegedly attempt a liaison with Mr Sylvian in
the early days of Japan, but he apparently turned her down. Belinda is
well known in the Netherlands these days as a writer and she is married
to musician Rob de Nijs. Published in the Netherlands, now out of
print. Thanks to Gerrit for the information and images.
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