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Welcome to episode 70 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the virtually unknown 1988 City Pop compilation, “Christmas Lovers” from BBM Records.

This is one of those albums that gave me goosebumps the first time I heard it. I’d spent hours listening to City Pop Christmas songs and playlists on YouTube, and I was familiar with all the really popular songs and most of the more obscure ones as well. Everything here was entirely new to me, and each of the songs was fantastic. How it’s flown under the radar for so long escapes me. It was the same feeling I had the first time I listened to ZE Records’ “A Christmas Record” in the late 90s.

While the artists here are all extremely obscure and don’t seem to have done anything beyond this one album, I hope I help to shed a little light on their work. This has become one of my favorite Japanese Christmas albums, and I feel it holds its own against the other better-known 1980s compilations.

Be sure to join me back here next week for my special New Year’s Eve episode. This time, I’ll be covering the Blue Diamonds, who were known as the Indonesian Everly Brothers. It’s a short, wonderful album on par with the Christmas music from their American contemporaries. If you like early American Rock, you’re sure to enjoy it.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

 

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title: Episode 70: Christmas Lovers
Holly Jolly Xmasu

Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 69 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the phenomenal 1987 compilation, “Mint Sound’s X’mas Album.”

When it comes to Japanese Christmas compilations from the 1980s, Yen Records’ “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” seems to get most of the attention. It’s a great, groundbreaking album, but I don’t think it holds a candle to Mint Sound’s. I actually prefer “Winter Lounge” to “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” but I think this one outshines them both. It has a great mix of songs and you never forget that you’re listening to a Christmas album. A few of the songs from Yen Records are a bit on the esoteric side.

One thing I think about when listening to my Japanese albums is how much return value they have. In other words, is this something I’d listen to repeatedly, or only when I’m dusting it off for the podcast? On the original vinyl, there’s not a single song I’d skip over. I’ve listened to the entire album dozens and dozens of times, and it holds up well to repeated listens. This is one of a dozen or so albums that I’d recommend to anyone wanting to start a collection of Japanese Christmas music.

That said, be sure to listen in on Christmas Day for an even bigger treat. As I started collecting Japanese Christmas music, I developed an appreciation for City Pop. I kept hoping to find a previously unknown City Pop Christmas collection. One of the guys in Japan uncovered just that about a year ago, and I finally managed to get a copy. It’s a spectacular collection you can’t hear anywhere else, and you’re sure to enjoy it!

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

 

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Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
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Episode 69: Mint Sound’s X’mas Album

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Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 68 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the King Orchestra’s 1978 album, “Jingle Bell – Christmas Karaoke Collection.”

Despite some disappointment, I was glad to finally add this album to my collection. When I first started buying these records, I built a fairly substantial wishlist, and any time I finally get one of the albums that’s been on it from the beginning, I get a feeling of satisfaction. That might change when I listen to it, but at least I can enjoy the achievement for a little while.

As I mentioned in the episode, these first two of the month were done while battling COVID. It wore me out more than I thought it would. I didn’t realize how much it impacted my recording until I was editing this episode and had to cut out tons of lengthy pauses and deep breaths. I’m hoping to be fully back on track in the next week or so.

I hope you enjoyed some of the music here, and the background about King Records. Join me next week for one of my absolute favorite Japanese albums, “Mint Sound’s X’mas Album.” It’s a spectacular compilation from 1987, loaded with a fantastic array of mostly original songs. It’s one of the first albums I bought, and one that really got me hooked on collecting Japanese Christmas music. This is one episode you don’t want to miss!

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

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Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title:

Episode 68 –King Orchestra’s “Jingle Bell – Christmas Karaoke Collection”

Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 67 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the Hibari Children’s Chorus’s 1965 album, “Good Child’s Christmas Party.”

How can you not love that album cover?

Although not what I planned, this episode will go down in infamy as my (hopefully only) COVID episode. I tested positive last week and it really kicked my butt. You might be able to hear it in my voice a bit throughout the episode. I’m still on the mend, but I’m hoping to be back to at least 90% in the next day or two, and that I won’t have any delays throughout the month.

This episode and the next might be a little light on biographical content, although that’s partially by design. My next two will be more involved and with everything going on in my life, I needed to pick a couple easier albums for my first two episodes this month. I definitely didn’t need COVID getting in the way.

I hope you enjoyed this episode, COVID notwithstanding. Be sure to listen in next week as I cover the King Orchestra’s “Jingle Bell – Christmas Karaoke Collection.” Then join me later in the month as I cover a pair of phenomenal 1980s compilations. Up first is “Mint Sound’s X’mas Album,” which for my money is the best major label Japanese Christmas compilation of the decade. Then join me on Christmas Day for a virtually unknown minor label compilation. It’s loaded with City Pop and has a fantastic 80s sound that you’re sure to love!

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title:

Episode 67 –The Hibari Children’s Chorus’s “Good Child’s Christmas Party”

Holly Jolly Xmasu

Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 66 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be wrapping up my “Big In Japan” month with a selection of records from a variety of artists who found their biggest or initial success in Japan.

This is easily one of the episodes I’ve been most excited to record. While the nostalgia invoked by Bob McGrath, and the relative notoriety of Jennifer Connelly’s record were big deals, those paled in comparison to everything I was able to uncover about Paul Anka’s “Christmas In Japan.” I’ve mentioned before that I’m not in the best position to uncover facts about Japanese Christmas music that my friends in Japan don’t already know, so when I do, it’s a huge accomplishment for me. I’ve always liked Paul Anka, so the fact that his record was involved made it even more meaningful.

As promised in the episode, here are the English lyrics to “Vive Le Vent”:

Long live the wind, long live the wind Long live the winter wind Which goes whistling, blowing Through the tall green Christmas trees, oh!

Long live the weather, long live the weather, Long live the winter weather Snowballs and new year’s day and happy new year Grandma!

Along the long road All white from the white snow Walks an old man With his cane in his hand And all above the wind Which whistles in the branches Blows on him the romantic tune That he sang as a young child, oh!

Merry, Merry Christmas To the thousand candles Which delight toward heaven The night’s bells. Long live the wind, long live the wind Long live the winter wind Which brings to old kids Their memories of yesterday, oh!

And the old man Goes down toward the village It’s the time when everyone is good And the shadow dances near the fire But in each house There floats a festive air Everywhere the table is set And you hear the same song, oh!

I ran a little long in spots this episode, so I had to edit out a few bits. One thing I regretted cutting was the fact that “Christmas In Japan” was released on both 45 and 78. I’ve seen one copy of the 78 for sale. Unfortunately, I didn’t bid on it. I’ll keep looking, though.

Jimmy Osmond’s record was a fun one to pick up. It was also surprisingly hard to find. I had a copy sitting in my wish list on one of the record sites for a couple months, but when I went to buy it, their copy had sold. It took over a year for another copy to show up. Since then, I’ve seen dozens of them, but there was a long stretch where I’d started to worry that I’d never see another.

From a pure nostalgia standpoint, Bob McGrath’s EP was one of the biggest highlights of my collecting career. Of the human characters on “Sesame Street,” Bob was always my favorite. Hearing his “Jingle Bells” the first time took me back to my childhood. When a copy of his “White Christmas” single showed up a month or two ago, I couldn’t pass on it.

I resisted getting “Jennifer’s X’mas” for quite some time. Now that I have it, I don’t regret it, although I’m glad I didn’t pay as much as some others have.

Jennifer Connelly on “The Graham Norton Show”

I hope you’ve had as much fun listening to and learning about these artists who were “Big In Japan” as I did collecting and researching their music. Join me back here next month as I celebrate Christmas with four weekly episodes. Up first is the Hibari Children’s Chorus and their 1965 album, “Good Child’s Christmas Party.” After that, I’ll be covering the King Orchestra’s 1978 album, “Jingle Bells – Christmas Karaoke Collection.” Then join me later in the month as I talk about one of the greatest Japanese Christmas compilations to come out of the 1980s, “Mint Sound’s X’mas Album.” Finally, on Christmas Day, listen in as I cover a virtually unknown City Pop Christmas compilation. It’s one of the coolest records in my collection and one you don’t want to miss.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

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Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title:

Episode 66: A Very “Big In Japan” Christmas

Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 65 of Holly Jolly X’masu! For my second “Big In Japan” episode, I’ll be talking about the Ventures and their 1965 album, “The Ventures’ Christmas Album.”

I was on the fence about covering this album since it was originally a US release, but considering how big the Ventures have been in Japan for nearly six full decades, I wanted to make sure I included them in my “Big In Japan” month. I’ve taken some liberties with my editing this episode, but I hope you’re still able to enjoy the album, and that it encourages you to seek out more from the Ventures.

Be sure to listen in on the 25th as I wrap up my “Big In Japan” month with a selection of records from a variety of artists, including a couple of the more sought-after Japanese Christmas records. This is one episode you don’t want to miss!

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title: Episode 65 –Big In Japan, Pt. 2: “The Ventures’ Christmas Album”
Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 64 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In the first of my “Big In Japan” episodes, I’ll be discussing American figure skater Janet Lynn’s 1973 album, “A Joyful Christmas With Janet.”

I’ve always been intrigued by the “Big In Japan” phenomenon. It wasn’t something I gave a lot of thought to when I first started collecting Japanese Christmas music, though. However, not long after I started checking the various Japanese sites for other albums I could get, I started seeing Janet Lynn’s album show up. I had no idea who she was at the time, but I was curious when I saw her album because it seemed a bit out of place. The album’s cover, with Janet’s face smiling out from the middle of a wreath, didn’t fit in with most of the Japanese albums I was seeing.

After a small bit of research, I was able to uncover the basics of Janet’s life and her “Big In Japan” status. I decided to get her album and that I would eventually cover it as part of a series of “Big In Japan” episodes. It took me nearly two more years, but I finally got the other records I was hoping to cover.

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about Janet Lynn and my “Big In Japan” overview. Join me back here next week as I talk about the Ventures and their 1965 Christmas album. Then join me on the 25th for the real highlight of the month, when I’ll be discussing several other artists who were “Big In Japan.” I have a few really rare and enjoyable records lined up and I’m sure you’ll enjoy them.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title: Episode 64 – Big In Japan, Pt. 1: Janet Lynn’s “A Joyful Christmas With Janet”
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Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 63 of Holly Jolly X’masu! For Christmas Podcast Day, I’ve remastered one of my earliest episodes, where I discussed Jackey Yoshikawa’s 1966 album, “Christmas With Blue Comets.”

November 1st is Christmas Podcast Day. It kicks off the peak season for Christmas podcasters, and a lot of us try to do something special to mark the day. This year, I’m revisiting my fifth episode. I’ve added a new introduction, replaced the original music with the re-recorded songs at the correct speed, and replaced the intro and exit music with a few songs from Jackey’s 1967 EP, “Roseate Christmas.”

Listening to the original episode, I cringed a bit, but I also enjoyed hearing how much I’ve improved over the past two years. I’ve also gotten a lot better at editing so, even though this one was a chore, it wasn’t nearly as bad as if I’d re-edited it a couple years ago.

Since the original episode came out, I’ve added to my Jackey Yoshikawa collection as well. I managed to get the LP with the “lounge” cover, and the “Jingle Bells” EP, which contains four tracks from the album. There was a third variant of the LP, and a single with the same cover as the EP, but I haven’t bothered with those.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this revamped look at Jackey Yoshikawa. I hope you’re also able to find the time to check out some of the other great Christmas podcasts out there. As I said, this is the start of the busiest time of the year for Christmas podcasters. I have a bunch of episodes lined up for the next two months. Tune in the rest of the month as I talk about artists who were “Big In Japan.” Then join me in December as I look at some really spectacular albums, including an unknown gem of a compilation.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title:

Episode 63 – Jackey Yoshikawa’s “Christmas With Blue Comets” – Remastered

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Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 62 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the 2010 compilation, “We Wish You A Happy.”

A lot of my collecting requires leaps of faith. So many of the albums I buy aren’t available online, so I can’t sample them in advance. This is especially true of the older ones, but even a lot of the music from the 1990s and later still can’t be streamed. I learned early on that the bloggers I rely on for recommendations have vastly different tastes than I do, so while a recommendation from them may be a start, I try to look for something else in their comments or the album’s content to convince me that I might like a particular album.

“We Wish You A Happy” was one where I had nothing to go on other than recommendations a clip of Riddim Saunter’s “Guest Of A Christmas.” I was glad I put my doubts aside and got it, though, because it turned out to be an enjoyable album.

I hope that at least a couple of the songs here suited your tastes. I felt there was enough variety that nearly anyone could find something to enjoy. I have some great and unique albums lined up, so be sure to tune in in November. Up first, for Christmas Podcast Day on November 1st, I’ll be revisiting one of my earliest episodes. I’ve remastered Episode 5, where I talked about Jackey Yoshikawa’s “Christmas With Blue Comets.” You’ll get to hear more of the albums plus a few songs from Jackey’s later Christmas EP. Then listen in the rest of the month as I talk about artists who were “Big In Japan.” I’ll be talking about everyone from figure skater Janet Lynn, to the Ventures, Jimmy Osmond and others, including a couple of hard to find records that I’m sure you’ll enjoy.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title: Episode 62 – We Wish You A Happy
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Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 61 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing Kaoru Akimoto’s 1968 album, “Tenor Sax Mood White Christmas.”

I’ve collected a variety of things throughout my life. No matter what I’ve been collecting at the time, I’ve always had a handful of items that seemed just beyond my reach. In each case, I’ve managed to get at least a couple of those things I never thought I’d own. Sometimes, they turn out to be a huge disappointment. Luckily with my record collecting, each of the albums I’ve gotten that I never thought I’d own have lived up to or exceeded my expectations. Whether it’s been Kaoru Akimoto, Jun Fukamachi, Chiemi Eri, or any of the others that either seemed to rare or expensive for me to get, or that one collector or another had told me to not even bother looking for because, they assured me, I’d never be able to get—they’ve all turned out to be at least as good as I was hoping.

I hope you’ve found Kaoru Akimoto to be as satisfying an album as I did. It’s a wonderful album and one I’ve listened to more than a lot of the others, mainly because of how early I got it in my collecting. As I said in the episode, though, there are a lot of even more spectacular albums out there. I’ve only covered a handful of the best ones so far, and the best ones truly are yet to come. Join me back here next week when I discuss Niw! Records’ 2010 compilation, “We Wish You A Happy.” It’s a fun, more contemporary album and one you’re sure to enjoy.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title:

Episode 61 – Kaoru Akimoto’s “Tenor Sax Mood White Christmas”

Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 60 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the 1990 compilation, “White Album ‘90.”

This is a fun album overall and I enjoyed listening to it again while preparing for this episode. Some of the tracks are real standouts, and if I were to do a “best of” playlist, I’d include at least three of the songs from this album. I’m still not sure why it took as long as it did to find a copy, but it was definitely a worthy addition to my collection.

It’s been hectic lately. I won’t say I’m back on track, but I’m glad I was able to hit my deadline for this episode. While not every song on here will appeal to everyone, I hope everyone found at least a couple they enjoyed. Be sure to listen in next month as I cover a pair of wildly different albums. Up first, I get back to the sort of music that really drew me into Japanese Christmas music with Kaoru Akimoto’s “Tenor Sax Mood White Christmas” from 1968. It’s a wonderful Mood Kayo album, and one that, when I started collecting, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to get. Then join me on the 25th for NiW! Records’ 2010 compilation, “We Wish You A Happy.” It’s a great collection from a wide array of more recent Indie bands. You won’t want to miss them.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title:

Episode 60 – “White Album ’90”

Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 59 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing Mika Kanai’s 1997 album, “Clam Chowder.”

I’m sometimes surprised by how hard it is to find various albums. Some seem to never show up for sale, while others are readily available from sellers on Amazon and other sites, but for exorbitant, unrealistic prices. “Clam Chowder” was in the former category. No matter how much I searched, there just weren’t any copies to be had.

More frustrating, though, are the albums I’ve passed on in the past and not seen since. Seven of my top ten most-wanted albums fall into that category. I’ve seen copies of each of them at some point and either didn’t attempt to buy them, or gave up on an auction, figuring another copy would show up for a more affordable price at some point. Based on what they’ve sold for, most of those seven aren’t particularly rare or sought-after, but I still kick myself for missing out on the copies I had a chance to buy.

Listen in again later this month when I talk about the 1990 compilation, “White Album ‘90.” It’s another album that took well over a year to find. It has an interesting blend of songs and styles, and you’re sure to enjoy it.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title:

Episode 59: Mika Kanai’s “Clam Chowder”

Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 58 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be talking about the 1988 compilation, “The Night Before Christmas.”

My lack of free time really hit a critical point this month, which is why this episode is a few days late. I’ve been looking forward to covering this album because it’s really one of the best 80s compilations. It’s also the only place you can find most of the songs on the album. Only Kazuo Zaitsu and Hidemi Yamamoto’s songs were released elsewhere.

I hope you’ve enjoyed at least a few of the songs on “The Night Before Christmas.” It really does have something for everyone. Join me back here in September as I talk about a couple albums from the 1990s. First up is Mika Kanai’s “Clam Chowder” from 1997. It’s more of a winter-themed album, but it includes a couple Christmas songs, and I couldn’t resist getting it due to the title. Then join me on the 25th as I cover another compilation, “White Album ’90,” from 1990. It features an eclectic selection of songs and was one of those albums that took me over two years to track down. You don’t want to miss them.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title:

Episode 58 – “The Night Before Christmas”

Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 57 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing Ken-Ichi Sonoda’s 1981 album, “White Christmas – Happy Christmas Party.”

As much as I like this album, I was really hoping to find more background on Ken-Ichi Sonoda. Between the sparse amount I could find online, and a complete lack of free time, this episode is a little light on content. I’m hoping this turns out to be a rare exception.

I have most of my schedule for the rest of the year planned out and I might be working in a few surprises. Next month I’ll be covering a pair of 1990s albums, while October will feature a classic Mood Kayo album and a compilation from 2010. In November, I’ll be focusing on artists who were Big In Japan, while December will feature two of the coolest 1980s compilations ever produced.

Be sure to listen in later this month when I talk about a fantastic compilation from 1988, “The Night Before Christmas.” It includes some great, rarely-heard songs, including one from Hitomi “Penny” Tohyama, who I mentioned way back in 2020. It’s an overlooked classic that I’m sure you’ll enjoy.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title: Episode 57 –Ken-Ichi Sonoda’s “White Christmas – Happy Christmas Party”
Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 56 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this special Christmas In July episode, I’ll be discussing a variety of summery Christmas songs from a diverse group of artists. This year’s episodes was fun to put together, although I ran into a lot of speed bumps along the way. The order containing several of the songs was delayed by more than a week, then work and family life pushed me back even further. Lastly, a staff shortage at the grocery store took away several hours of editing time on the 25th, so I had no way to get this out on time. Better late than never, though.

Arisa Mizuki – The Windiest Afternoon Of The Year – 1993

Yukio Aoshima – Christmas Under A Coconut Tree – 2000

Mikiko Noda – Christmas On The Beach – 1989

Shoko Sawada – Sea, Coral And Christmas – 1993

Yu Hayami – Christmas On The Beach – 2004

Onyanko Club – Summer Christmas – 1985

Masato Honda – Santa Claus In Summer – 1998

Kiyotaka Sugiyama – Summer In Christmas – 2001

Kiyotaka Sugiyama – Southern Hemisphere December – 1989

Before Christ Butterfly – Surfing Christmas – 2007

Naomi & Goro – Santa On Surfboard – 2003

CoConut Boys – Gold Coast No Christmas – 1983

Hi-Fi Set – Off-Season Santa Claus – 1983

I hope you’ve enjoyed this year’s Christmas In July. This year’s selection featured some great songs, and a few have become real favorites of mine. August is 80s month around here, so join me in a few weeks for a pair of fun albums from Japan’s Bubble Era. First up is Ken-Ichi Sonoda’s Dixieland Christmas album, “White Christmas – Happy Christmas Party,” from 1981. Then join me on the 25th for a fantastic compilation from 1988, “The Night Before Christmas.” It includes some great, rarely-heard songs, including one from Hitomi “Penny” Tohyama, who I mentioned way back in 2020. They’re both top-notch albums and you don’t want to miss them.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title: Episode 56 – Christmas In July – 2022
Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 55 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be Yumi Matsutoya’s Christmas songs.

When it comes to Japanese Christmas music, there are a handful of really key artists. Over the past forty years, one of the most influential is Yumi Matsutoya. She’s certainly not the most prolific when it comes to Christmas music, but she helped to revive public interest, and she furthered the success of Japanese Christmas pop songs. While original Christmas pop songs were being written in Japan as early as the 1950s, until the late 1970s they were more the exception than the rule. From 1978 to 1983, a string of Christmas hits written by young Japanese pop and rock artists helped convince the public and the music industry that there was more to Christmas than “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph,” and Bing Crosby. Yuming was one of the most successful of the bunch.

From 1974 to 2002, Yuming regularly produced Christmas, or Christmassy songs. “MISSLIM,” “Streamline ‘80” and “Surf and Snow” were albums I bought or knew about early on. I found out about the others as I researched her more. I’ve bought copies of most of the albums featuring her Christmas songs, but the rest came from her “Seasons Colours Song Collection” 4-CD set.

I was eager to talk about her music and the impact it has had. One of the things I enjoyed most about researching her was finding videos of some of her old performances. She’s always had a great stage presence, but it’s the older videos, particularly from the 70s and 80s, that I enjoy the most. One I regret not being able to find was a video of her performing “Christmas Waiting At The Lodge” while riding a ski lift. It’s from a late-70s or early-80s television special, and it reminded me of one of John Denver’s specials from the same period.

Christmas Waiting At The Lodge

Let’s Move In Together

Before The Diamond Dust Fades

Angel Cryin’ X’mas

Wings Of Winter

Snow, Moon And Flowers

December Rain

I hope you’ve enjoyed Yumi Matsutoya’s music. If you’d like to hear more from her, there’s plenty to be found online. A lot of unauthorized videos have been taken down lately, but she has her own YouTube channel and more music is being added there regularly. Her Christmas music is just the tip of the iceberg.

Join me back here on the 25th for my third Christmas In July episode. I don’t expect it to be late, but I’ve run into a lot of snags, including delays to my latest order of records, so there’s a chance it won’t hit until the 26th. I have a great selection of summery Christmas songs lined up and you’re sure to enjoy them.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title:

Episode 55 – Yumi Matsutoya’s Christmas Songs

Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 54 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing Yumi Matsutoya’s classic 1980 album, “Surf & Snow – Volume One.”

For as big as Yuming is, and considering how easy it is to find reviews, critiques and opinions about her online, I was surprised by the sparse amount of biographical information about her. The highlights are covered, but not nearly to the granular degree of other artists, even ones far less popular or accomplished. I still managed to learn a decent amount about her, which always makes my research more enjoyable. One thing that’s always amused me about “Surf & Snow” is that she never released a Volume Two. Mel Brooks is finally getting around to “History Of The World Part 2,” so I guess there’s always hope.

While researching this episode, I was pleased to find some live videos of Yuming performing some of the songs that I’d never seen before. I wanted to share those and the fantastic video of “Koibito ga Santa Claus” from that 1986 special with you here in the show notes.

I Want To Be A Mermaid

Dazzling Grass Baseball – At A Small Ballpark

Koibito ga Santa Claus / My Lover Is Santa Claus

I hope you’ve enjoyed my introduction to Yumi Matsutoya and her music. She’s a true icon in Japan, and considering the wealth of music she’s produced, and the breadth of styles she’s covered, you’re bound to find something of hers to enjoy. Join me back here later this month as I cover the rest of her Christmas music. Then join me on the 25th (or thereabouts) for my Christmas in July episode. I’ve run into several delays so it might be a day late, but I’ll be doing what I can to get it out on time. I’ve compiled a great collection of summer-themed Christmas songs and you want to miss it.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title:

Episode 54 – Yumi Matsutoya’s “Surf & Snow – Volume One”

Holly Jolly Xmasu

Welcome to episode 53 of Holly Jolly X’masu! In this episode, I’ll be discussing Naomi Sagara’s 1975 album, “White Christmas.”

I’ve mentioned before how collecting Japanese Christmas albums can sometimes be a real crap shoot. So many of them, especially older ones, have no presence online, so I often have no idea how they’ll sound once I finally get them. This was another of those cases where I pleasantly surprised with the results. While some of the songs are dated, I truly enjoy the entire album and it’s one that I’ve returned to multiple times since getting it.

As I said in this episode, I was really taken by Naomi Sagara’s voice. There’s a pleasing quality to it I really enjoy. I looked up several of her songs on YouTube and was also impressed by her stage presence in her live performances. Despite the difficulties she faced, her reputation as a performer appears to have rebounded and her songs maintain a following to this day.

The World Is For Two People

Why Not, As Long As You’re Happy

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about Naomi Sagara and listening to “White Christmas.” Join me next month for Christmas in July. I’ll be starting things off with something a little different. Instead of a Christmas album, I’ll be covering Yumi Matsutoya’s City Pop classic, “Surf & Snow – Volume One.” It’s a fantastic album with a mix of summer and winter-themed songs, including one of the biggest and most popular Japanese Christmas songs, “Koibito ga Santa Claus.” Then join me on the 25th for my third annual Christmas In July episode. I have some really fun songs lined up for it. If I can find a little extra free time, I might even throw out an extra episode or two.

As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.

Remember, I’ve added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you’d like to support me one cup of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened a Redbubble store. I only have a couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!

Listen to this episode of the Holly Jolly Xmasu Podcast
Author: Holly Jolly X’masu
Title: Episode 53 – Naomi Sagara’s “White Christmas”
Holly Jolly Xmasu