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NEXT.RECORDS: TOKYO DISKO !
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There’s nothing more exciting on a music lover’s perspective than being offered the opportunity to endly get a reputedly impossible to find ol’ classic. A fact which has been for much in the growing reputation of Shibuya based record shops, as explained by Next. Records honcho, Kouji Imamoto…
Words: YuuOz
Let’s start with a few words as an introduction to who you are...
My name is Kouji Imamoto. I’m the owner of next. records which opened 7 years ago in Shibuya, Tokyo.
Why such a name?
It's derived from two images. One is a desire that vinyl enthusiasts who come to mega store get to my shop "next" and the other is a reference to the "next" stage of my life.
What kind of records can we find at your shop?
We are the only specialized shop in Shibuya offering 100% pure original disco oriented 12 inch singles.
How did you get into this business?
I was following the trade of a mail order service at some friend's record shop and got fascinated with distribution of 2nd hand records. I also happened to be a graphic designer, which has been useful on many aspects on making a web site and promoting products of our shop. This said, the artwork of our site is very simple, especially on the top page where you can see many eye-catchers. Because almost all of those who want vinyls have a strong interest in pictures and design of the jacket itself.
How do you get your records?
As you may guess, mainly abroad, due to the geographical situation of our country. I go to the U.S. and Europe from 5 to 6 times in a year to buy and purchase through local dealers.
Do you happen to feel as you are Japanese when searching for music?
I often accept the compromise price cause I'm sheep and shy like most of the Japanese people, lol.
What are the delightful and, as a reverse, the difficult aspects of running a shop ?
Conversation with customers is a pleasure of course, from musical topics to advices. On top of it, this pushes me to look for more informations and gives me the opportunity to discover new stuff while searching for quality music. Seeking is definitely a pleasure, meanwhile this makes me feel some pressure.
One word about Shibuya...
Shibuya is the biggest battle filed in Japan as far as record shops are concerned. There are many hard fightings. Not only between the sale points themselves, but also the customers on their will to catch rare records. From a year to the following one, you would see many new record shops opening but, on the other hand, almost all of them have closed soon after. Recently, customers from abroad have increased via Internet, while being said that there are a lot of hard to find records to be found here in Shibuya.
I feel lile the bearing with vinyl has changed a lot over the last years, most notorioulsy as far as the consumers attitude is concerned, eventually geared towards the trends, with records they might have heard while being played by some famous DJ visiting these shores, when not trying to get the sampling source of some hip-hop tune. It’s a quite typical phenomenon here in Shibuya.
Your meeting with music...
In the 1980’s, I gave myself up to the electronic based sound, influenced by groups like Yellow Magic Orchestra and Krartwerk. Then I would jump into the new wave from UK before experiencing house for the very first time in the clubs with acts like Ten City and Innner City. I guess this is what has got me into dance music from soul, to disco and hip-hop. Black music to me evokes the perfect combination between the body and the soul.
Do you DJ yourself?
No I don't, although firmly interested by this as it gives extra sensations as compared to ssimply listening to a piece of music. Till now David Mancuso is my favorite. I guess both his selections and the way he plays really tell me about what dance music is.
How many records do you have?
About 4,000 units and it’s fair enough to me because of the lack of space. We use the ‘rabbit house’ term as far as the housing situation is concerned here in Tokyo.
What is the big attraction of vinyl?
The main point is to be in possession of the object itself, as it excites the sense because of the aroma and the hand feeling of both the vinyl and the texture of the jacket as opposed to CD.
Tell us about your top 5 records.
It’s nearly impossible to say as each piece of music I’ve come to listen has put shapes to my life.
About clubbing ?My first experience of disco has been at the age of 17. It has been the great shock of my life with many people dancing on loud sound. I guess it made me feel like entering the world of adults somehow… I used to go to the club QOO in Osaka where I have some very strong memories about the party "Harmony Tour with Larry Levan & Francois K". It would be the first time and the very last time to see both of them... Clubbing offers sometimes extraordinary experiences where you would get together with kindred spirit friends and dance to your favorite songs displayed by big sound systems. The only problem today being the fragmentation of the music. I wish one day the clubs would be the places to introduce people with good music whatever the genres are like back in the days.
How do you see the rise of mp3 and culture of download?
I'm perceiving unimaginable huge changes of mode of listening and selling music, far different from the periods which saw the arrivals of CD’s and walkmans. Of course, there are many good points in mp3 and download culture. But in the meantime, the importance of a piece of music looks like havin’ significantly decreased, lost in the middle of a countless bunch of new stuff comin’up at the same time.
What’s your view of the laptop DJ phenomenon?
I guess it will depend for a while on the style of DJ playing and listening to music. Laptop Djing is to become mainstream because of the greater diversity of expressions it allows but also because of its ultraportability enabling to stock a lot of songs in a light weight as opposed to vinyls. It's quite a funny thing for me to enthuse about laptop DJing while running a shop dedicated to dance music vinyls.
Vinyl will always be apart, although chances are great that the DJ’s of the next generation won’t be connected to this medium.
On the other hand, the market of second hand records will be fine for a while as long as the shops will be the link between the vinyl searchers and those who are selling. I don’t think CD and mp3 could ever be substitute articles for the vinyl lovers.
How do you see the countless bootleg edititons of those nearly impossible to find dance classic vinyls?
It seems like a method to keep on doin’ business nowadays, facing the poor sales of today’s releases. As nearly everyone around us makes money with bootlegs, our only way to stand apart is to sell 100% pure originals.
I’ve recently noticed how many customers do care about purchasing original pressings as opposed to fake. Last year for example, some records have gone at high prices on eBay because of that. I think 2nd hand records are to become collector's items like antique furniture or vintage wine...
Is there any advice for the people who’d like to manage a 2nd hand record shop?
There is always a possibility to start with willy-nilly thinking and
planning: "I love vinyl so I'll have a record shop." The opening is easy but the maintainence is a hard ask. Strictly plannning is necessary.
Future prospects of your record shop?
We definitely keep an eye abroad while developping the facilities of our website.
One final word?
Enjoying the convenience of CD and mp3, I would also like people to enjoy getting their favorite songs while searching for vinyls despite the cost of time and the efforts as an both an antithesis of the period we’re livin’, a support to their favorite producers/artists and a sign of strong commitment into music.
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