Just thought I'd update on this one as I was provided quite a bit of useful information from list members...
I ended up only having half day to record shop in Tokyo so I decided on most of the information I had received to hit Shibuya. A good guide to finding the way to where record stores there is http://jpatokal.iki.fi/text/j2j/05trecord.html Rather annoyingly record shops don't seem to open until 11am or later - so I ended up first in the large HMV there which has pretty much the same stuff as any branch of HMV anywhere in the world, except it did seem to have a few of the newer Japan-only releases - for example I picked up a 7" with a Tosh and Kudo mix on it, and a 12" with some James Brown housey remixes which turned out to be quite nice... I intended to go to Disk Union next as that had came up in numerous recommendations as the best, but it did not appear to be open - I later discovered it was, but they put a sign near the bottom of the stairs that makes it seem like it is closed off (advertising their forthcoming 100yen sale!). Instead I ended up in Recofan practically across the road, and one that had not been recommended much to me - actually turned out to be very good and I picked up a whole bunch of Major Force 12"s... I tried Technique - up some stairs in an alley - several times but it was still closed after 12pm so I figure it must only open certain days or from late... Lastly I ended up in Disk Union which is in a building with a different branch of the shop on each level so I went first to the techno/house floor - plenty of bargain secondhand semi-rarities a lot cheaper than London/Manchester - most 12"s are 200-800yen(1-4 quid). Excellent selection of new and back catalogue techno, way better than any store I have seen in the UK... No crappy trance too, whereas most UK shops seem to be 50% crappy trance and 50% other stuff (perhaps because 50% of UK record buyers are trance muppets?) One thing I did notice is that rather bizarrely UK releases are cheaper in Tokyo, despite having travelled 6000 or so miles - perhaps some UK record company types can explain why this is so? Upstairs was the hip hop/drum and bass/downtempo (oh, and r&b - it seems very popular in Tokyo; lots and lots of waaaaack records!). Didn't find much stuff up there, just a few Mo Wax-type things, but if I had a bit more time I would probably have turned up quite a few cool things! Lot of cheap jungle classics that you tend to find expensive and beat-up in the UK. Most of the stuff seemed to be filed in the wrong section though! Supposedly there are 100s of record stores in Tokyo so a few more days is probably justified. Its also worth checking out the area of Akihabara where you can pick up cheap electronic goods - if you're thinking of buying a new MD, digital camera or computer components, for example, you can knock 50%+ off UK prices - kind of helps justify a new toy and the trip :) One thing to note is that very few people outside of hotel staff speak English so you end up blagging your way around a little - my elementary Japanese didn't work too well, though I did try :) Cheers David
