Japan

The defunct group led David Sylvian got the name first and the free trip later. Rising to prominence on the back of the New Romantics Japan were a mass of cultural conflicts. Bassist and classical musician Mick Karn wanted to pursue his sculpting, David Sylvian wanted to visit their namesake, and their copious use of make-up was not initially appreciated by their fans. Splitting in '82, Sylvian managed to make it to Japan (working with Riuchi Sakamoto), Karn ended up working with ex-Bauhaus Pete Murphy and they both still wear make-up. Probably too ahead of their time - the first ever New Age Romantics. (1)

Japan

Discography

Singles

Don't Rain On My Parade/Stateline
Adolescent Sex/Don't Rain On My Parade
The Unconventional/Adolescent Sex
Sometimes I Feel So Low/Love Is Infectious
Deviation/Suburban Berlin
Life In Tokyo/Life In Tokyo (part two)
Quiet Life/Halloween (#16 - 19/10/81)
I Second That Emotion/Quiet Life/European Son (#10 - 7/8/82)
European Son/Alien (#29 - 30/1/82)
All Tomorrows Parties/In-Vogue (Live) (#30 - 19/3/83)

Gentlemen Take Polaroids/The Experience Of Swimming
The Art Of Parties/Life Without Buildings (#23 - 30/5/81)
Visions Of China/Taking Islands In Africa (#26 - 21/11/81)
Ghosts/The Art Of Parties (#5 - 10-17/4/82)
Cantonese Boy/Burning Bridges (#19 - 5/6/82)
Nightporter/Ain't That Peculiar
Canton (Live)/Visions Of China (Live) (#23 - 58/5/83)

Japan

Albums

Adolescent Sex

Transmission
The Unconventional
Wish You Were Black
Performance
Lovers On Main Street
Don't Rain On My Parade
Suburban Love
Adolescent Sex
Communist China
Television

Obscure Alternatives

Automatic Gun
...Rhodesia
Love Is Infectious
Sometimes I Feel So Low
Obscure Alternatives
Deviation
Suburban Berlin
The Tenant

Quiet Life

Quiet Life
Fall In Love With Me
Despair
In-Vogue
Halloween
All Tomorrows Parties
Alien
The Other Side Of Life

Japan

Gentlemen Take Polaroids

Gentlemen Take Polaroids
Swing
Burning Bridges
My New Career
Methods Of Dance
Ain't That Peculiar
Nightporter
Taking Islands In Africa

Japan

Tin Drum

The Art Of Parties
Talking Drum
Ghosts
Canton
Still Life In Mobile Homes
Visions Of China
Sons Of Pioneers
Cantonese Boy

Japan

Oil on Canvas

Oil On Canvas
Sons Of Pioneers
Gentlemen Take Polaroids
Swing
Cantonese Boy
Visions Of China
Ghosts
Voices Raised In Welcome, Hands Held In Prayer
Nightporter
Still Life In Mobile Homes
Methods Of Dance
Quiet Life
The Art Of Parties
Canton
Temple Of Dawn

Could I ever explain
This feling of love that just lingers on
The fear in my heart that keeps telling me
Which way to turn

We'll wander again
Our clothes they are wet
We shy from the rain
Longing to touch all the palces we know we can hide
The width of a room
That could hold so much pleasure inside

Here am I alone again
A quiet town where life gives in
Here am I just wondering
Night Porters go
Night Porters just slip away

I'll watch for a sign
And if I should ever again cross your mind
I'll sit in my room and wait until night life begins
And catching my breath we'll both brave
The weather again