Oct 3, 2003
Tofu Records
Tofu Records is a new label started by Sony to release J-pop music in North America. What they’re releasing is definitely not the type of stuff that I like to listen to, but I still think it’s nice to see this kind of distribution happen. It can be very expensive to buy Japanese music because of the high costs of imports (although Tokyo Recohan can help you if you don’t mind buying used), so just as Matador Records releasing Pizzicato Five albums made me happy when I was still living in Canada, I can imagine that a lot of North American J-pop fans are going to be very happy with this. Today’s DAILY YOMIURI featured an article on the label.
The same paper also had an article on LFO (Mark Bell), who’s in town to promote his new album, and who will be doing a few shows here in November. I mentioned the great LFO video for the song “Freak” a few weeks ago.
Jean Snow is a contributor to 
He will be contributing to the upcoming fifth editions of 
aren’t the high price of imports really just the regular price in japan? i’ve often heard people complain about the high price of imports with the idea that they are somehow cheaper in japan, but often times i don’t think it’s the case.
Indeed, the high prices are because of what they sell CDs for in Japan (3000 yen for major label stuff, usually a few hundred yen less for indie releases). But when you’re in North America and you’re used to paying the third of the price for a CD, buying Japanese music becomes a bigger investment. With Tofu, the CDs will be selling for the price of a regular North American CD.