Articles by Atzko Kohashi
Why Is Japan a Jazz Paradise? Part 2—From Sake to Soul: Jazz Musicians and Their Love for Japan
by Atzko Kohashi
Part 1 | Part 2 In May 2025 Japan welcomed an estimated 3.693 million visitors, marking a surge in global fascination with the country--up 125% (more than double!) compared to a decade ago. Many come for the exquisite Japanese cuisine, the tranquil atmosphere of temples and shrines, the ultra-modern buzz of Tokyo, or the soothing beauty of rural landscapes. But long before this boom, our proud jazz legends--the predecessors with finely tuned ears and sensitive souls--had ...
Continue ReadingWhy Is Japan a Jazz Paradise—or—Why the Japanese Feel at Home in Jazz?
by Atzko Kohashi
Part 1 | Part 2Why is Japan such a jazz-loving nation? No other country has reissued so many classic jazz albums as Japan. From Blue Note to Riverside to Prestige, masterpieces are constantly being revived--remastered with pristine sound, released in exclusive paper sleeves, or in ultra-high-quality formats like SHM-CD or SACD. Some albums long out of print even in the U.S. have been revived only in Japan. For instance, Bill Evans' Waltz for Debby and Sunday ...
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