Feb. 2, 2023 Ushimado, Okayama, Japan: as it goes, we learned about a record fair at a unique community creative art centre made in/from a former hospital in a coastal area of Ushimado – a project reclaiming and activating post-industrial land – promising a variety of records shops with items on offer *and* special guest, the venerable radio and TV host and legit world music cross-genre sensei and “old Asia hand” Peter Barakan sharing his vibes
Gist: The event was fantastic! I was a bit overwhelmed (as i get) as hadn’t ventured out of house much at that point (public health conundrum reasons) and with *as so much of my fave stuff* on offer (records, coffee, cool shoes, great space) and with Ichiro an active toddler in tow, we put on our funnest outfits and headed out and our friend Ayumi-san (who Ichi-Stan adores! and insisted on bringing her Valentine’s gift like a young charmer) we had a wonderful time, highlights included:
The folks (maybe volunteers?) who put on the event were kind and welcoming, we bought various merch and swag, and took copies of posters and whatnot to share their goodness on socials or scrapbooks – Also, the PA/sound system was set up well, which was a bit tricky in the cavernous space
Highlights:
- Meeting Peter Barakan who remarked when meeting me “I thought Dr John had returned from a minute!”
- Seeing so many record vendors with stashes super organized, well-cleaned and appropriately priced (mostly)
- Recognizing Michael from “Rice Field Records” i’d recently come across his YT (shared on this channel) and soon after, he came over to film at the kura barn, and we yapped away for hours
- Lounging in mix-match couches and chairs with coffee and snacks (booze on offer if desired)
- Connecting with many *hip* folks, many who’d traveled for the event, all there to enjoy music culture (in cool shoes and hats :))
- Turning onto many new genres (USSR orchestral psychedelia, Hokkaido free-form Ainu jazz)
- Swapping Jamaican stories with dude form Oka-local “Jamaican Taste” shop who only sells original JamRock pressings (and talks patois)
- Playing in the corner set-up with album covers featuring faces to take photo booth fun shots
- Exploring the reclaimed space with pop-up temp art exhibits, recording studio, nooks and crannies
- *and* seeing 2 fat piglets in a bike trailer carrier on the way out!
Legend Abides: During the event, Peter Barakan – super understated and thoughtful – took the stage and each record vendor had a chance to play something selected from their deep stash in order to gain his amusement, admiration, approval, and then, each case, Peter responded with a nuanced comments after careful listening / PS Peter hosts a weekly radio show, an annual music film festival, and NHK “Japanology” video program {i’ll maybe include some more info and samples later in this dispatch}
In retrospect, I should’ve bought fewer records for the same amount of money, and selected some things that are/were rare, limited runs of unique pressings and only available there, however, the blood rushed to my head, and baffled by such assortment, I bought some kind of “basic things” yet came home with a fat sack (some of which took to Canada for gifts) along with some unique gems, which I meant to document but you know, I had other things going on
However, back at the kura studio, i set up some collage of items acquired for general documentation and your enjoyment, good on me! :)
Evidence of all of the above follows with minor annotations:
Starting with: Variations of brochures, record store cards, ephemera and insta-snapshots from the recent vinyl record fair at Ushimado Tepemok -Such a great venue space and event!
Photo funtimes:
Snapshot Fun: here are all the albums set-up in the “DIY photo booth” to bring the album covers to life with your animated and curious pose
Such a great idea for a photo booth! Find all of their album covers featuring faces and let the DIY goodtimes take over. Am I not man? I am DAV(E)O
These weren’t for sale (needed for the interactive fun) otherwise there’s definitely a few I would’ve taken home with me.
I was also tempted to do photos with every single album cover but more important tasks at hand… buying records:
Purchases & Otherwise:
Of course I brought home a mighty satchel full. {Did i take snapshots of each? No but i did capture i bunch while tidying up in a video}
Regrets: Several snapshots of records that I didn’t buy for various reasons but wish I had (mostly because they were expensive and I was trying to be thrifty)
Peter’s Gentle Wisdom: Just a sloppy sample of Peter Barakan talking with one of several record vendors who eats chose a special record to share and chitchat about, of course doing their best so share something unique
Around the space
so many interesting bits of decoration, art, atmosphere and coffee shop (with their “use less plastic” policy) – memories of the Waldorf in Vnacouver when in its day as a community art center with interactive exhibits, especially during Halloween as i recall…
Meanwhile, outside: coffee and pigs!
Bonus Goodness:
Ushimado Minato ウシマド organizers coverage and photos (on FB)
Putting aways buncha the records from the event “Tidying Up Vinyl Records in the Kura (find the right neighbourhood to spark joy)“
Rice Field Records’ “We Drive To A Very Special 1-Day Record Fair Event in Ushimado” from the event
++ Don’t forget the 3-part series with Mr. Rice Field at the Kura yapping about records
Further Artifacts and Curiosities
Questions welcomed, within reason {+ please let me know of any omissions}
Peter Barakan is everywhere doing everything:
- home page
- books
- Radio Barakan Beat「バラカン・ビート」 InterFM/Sunday 6.00 – 8.00 pm JST
- Radio Weekend Sunshine「ウィークエンド・サンシャイン」 NHK-FM/Saturday 7.20 – 9.00 am JST
- Radio Lifestyle Museum 「ライフスタイル・ミュージアム」 Tokyo FM/Sunday 1.00 – 1.30 am (late Saturday night)
- Radio Going Back「Going Back ~ 音楽と世界」 Fukushima FM/Saturday 9.00-10.00 pm
- TV Japanology Plus「ジャパノロジー・プラス」 + my fave episode of “Vinyl Records” June 30 2022 “In Japan, vinyl records have made a comeback. Sales in 2021 were 10 times higher than they were in 2010. Japan’s second-hand records are well-regarded all over the world because they’re generally kept in great condition. Our guest, Honne Makoto, works for a record manufacturing company. He tells us about the history of vinyl in Japan, and its appeal in the modern era. We also see how world-class Japanese technology contributes to making vinyl records and the machines that play them.”
Family Funtimes
What a fun day out with the fam, Ichiro was a cheerful boy heading out and our friend Ayumi san arrived and Ichi was thrilled and presented her with chocolates / he was uninterested in the kids activities (cause he thinks he’s 14 already) and was a grumpy lil guy by the time we were heading out (tired, so much sensory, me too)
<3 we goofed around on a tippy boat and laughed along the seashore. “Yes i live here, it ain’t perfect but my gosh, wanna do this all the time!”
Parting Shot
a few interesting rides as we were heading out, k bai
