Only the Japanese still appreciate owning physical copies of their favorite artists, others in European and North American markets have forgotten how golden it really is to have CDs. But I have a feeling that physical sales are going to come back everywhere in the developed world. The strong sales of vinyls nowadays indicate that people are going to go back to buying physical copies.
Even cassettes are making a mini comeback. Let's hope the strength of that format and vinyl become stronger, though the prices could come down for vinyl.
Sadly most people who collect vinyls and CDs nowdays are all because of or FOR social media, like "hey look at me im retro too" but hey maybe some will stay playing vinyls instead of just on mobile
I used to spend so much time in record shops in London, even making special trips just for trawling them. Happy days! But now I can (and indeed recently, have) just walk past the Record and Tape Exchange / Rough Trade shops etc and barely feel the tug to actually cross their threshold. This store looks great but honestly if I lived nearby I'd probably feel the same way about it.
Wow thanks a lot for this video, went there in 2015 and been missing it a lot since then, thanks for this new October 2021 video of the place, awesome, looking forward to your next videos, keep it up. cheers.
Man look, i love your video. My kid and I sat down 11:00 PM and watch it all. I am planning to go to Tokyo by Autumn, and I need to go to that store. I am a CD fan and for sure I will be there. Thanks a lot. Subscribed and thumbs up.
The Shinjuku Tower record is literally heaven for me, I have spent countless hours in that store. Can’t wait to be back in Tokyo to check this location.
@@LostTurntable thank you for the reply. How are the wonderful Disk unions around town doing? Have they been affected too? I look at the news every week looking for travel updates about Tokyo
I need to go there tower records is awesome physical copies of music artists nice👍👍Japan has such an appreciation for physical media and I love the country for it😎😎🆒🆒
Finally made it to Japan this year. It was a blast just being able to walk into a Tower Records again. I did my best to clear out their Hikaru Utada section.
Wow, that's a very impressive record store. In fact, I've never seen one so large and all encompassing. In a future video I'd be interested to see to see a walk-through of a Japanese audio retailer. I'm sure there are some really impressive stores in this area as well. Thanks !
After watching this video, I really miss going to Tower Records. I use to go to the stores in New York City on 66th Street and Broadway, 4th Street and Broadway, and 87th street and Third Avenue.
4:42 Donna Summer!!! Great to see the Queen in a Japanese record store 6:36 adds Lovebeat to my music list! Nice to see Bicep too 9:07 Here we go! No Tatsuro Yamashita is a bummer. And yes, Yukihiro Takahashi is great. Shame his 70’s debut wasn’t in that rack. Nice album with two banging Disco tracks. 21:18 That game selection looks like heaven, though I would like to see Dragon Quest or Kingdom Hearts have a similar display to Final Fantasy’s. Thank you sooo much for this tour! It was so awesome.
I saw this store featured in the Japanese Romance-Drama TV show, "Silent" (2022), and I wondered if it was a set or real. I see that it is the real thing.;)
I remember when I was there in 2010. Maybe Tower Records at train station in Shinjuku was even bigger? But my primal for digging records was the shops in Ikebukuro..
Well maintained details of inventories, actual stores as well as the logistics of placing an order any of the brand(s) are always as REVIVED and continuous. It can always surprise many consumers as well as developers in each genre, since it is a renown brand worldwide. PLDT SME Nation, Patents, Trademarks,Copyrights, LLCs, Registrations are owned by its respective brand owners, and can always inspect and maintain each brand, according to its purpose. Thank you. PLDT SME Generalist/manage Care../././G.M Industries Congratulations. DON'T DELETE. This is IMPORTANT.
Wow! There's been some big changes since I was there in 2018. I spent a long time looking at noise and drone with a likeminded friend and also dragged him reluctantly to the idol floor, which revealed him to be maybe not quite so likeminded. He got a King Crimson CD (I was new to the fuss about why people want the Japanese versions of their CDs) and I got a BiSKaidan CD. Speaking of, it's crazy to see a huge WACK section now at 21:52! That group with the display at the front are Anal Sex Penis, an industrial and hardcore influenced group who are a lot of fun even if you don't like idol. That BiS/ZOC split EP being promoted to the left is thoroughly underwhelming, but I'd highly recommend Seiko Oomori's solo stuff; she's really more of a Bjork-style art-rocker than an idol. Anyways, when I'm back in Japan, where would you recommend for a specialty shop that's like the more "far out" stuff on floor 7? Modern classical, sound art, maybe like Tzadik Records kind of stuff?
I have a lot of Japanese mini LP's of Progressive Rock. I have never been to Japan and I am clueless if certain bands have a cult following there. For example...ARSNOVA was a Progressive Rock band from Japan that played a few shows in America. They are my favorite band and I own most of their back catalog on CD. I wonder if they were well known in Japan? I wonder if people remember them? They are outstanding musicians! Something that doesn't seem to matter to people in New Jersey and its a shame that I live here. Another Progressive Rock band from Japan that i always loved is FAR EAST FAMILY BAND. I have all of their cds. I sometimes wonder if they are remembered? I also like DA DA which was an Electronic Music duo from Japan. I have 2 of their cds. I am missing a cd by them titled Castle Wall. I hope to find it someday. Another Electronic band from Japan that I liked was INTERIOR. They were on Windham Hill label in the U.S. I would like to find their second release on CD. Also STOMU YAMASHTA I have many of his cds. The Iroha Ka series has never been released on cd in America. I have wanted it for decades along with Tempest. I wonder if they were manufactured on cd in Japan?
What is the best place to find metal records in Japan? I am now living in Okinawa and am planning to visit the main island soon to buy some records and a turntable. Do you have a favorite record player brand?
Every time I see these videos, all I can think is "holy crap... I'd go way over my budget in a place like this!" Japanese records are often a little pricier, but a lot of them tend to have some otherwise unavailable tracks, too. In particular, though, I was curious about the price on that copy of Variety -- 8500 yen seemed over-the-top -- but I had a look at all the available vinyl copies on Discogs, and the cheapest one landed at 10k yen (Plus shipping, obviously). I forgot what the point I wanted to make was with this, but seeing as how I already looked it up...
That's odd, you "W" your r's and also your L's, is that a side effect of living in Japan? Or completely unrelated? Not trying to bully you, honestly wondering. Hope you have a good day, and a great year! I subbed anyways.
It's pathetic that NYC has sunk so low and doesn't even have a decent Megastore record store anymore like this. This store already looks 10x better even, than the old W. 4th St. Tower and that's not good for America. This country really has a lot to answer for for killing culture and regressing to pure stupidity. It makes me sick. We have Rough Trade Records in Brooklyn but that place sucks compared to this. Then we have a few shitty local record shops on Long Island NY where I am, that seem to specialize in A. having NOTHING progressive whatsoever and B. can be counted on to hawk the most expensive vinyl that nobody can afford and mostly non-music ephemera and gifts instead of stocking better actual CDs and albums. It's quite sad. Then you have Barnes and Noble books, which has some music but it's overpriced and limited in selection by far.
If you're talking about new vinyl, no. Importing vinyl is expensive and that's why there's a markup. As for used vinyl, I don't know, I think those prices are pretty fair considering the quality of the records. The average record costs a bit more in Japan, but you're usually getting something that's in great shape.
Ah, well in Japan you can rent CDs! So there's a mark-up on domestic prices for CDs. That's why so many retailers import foreign ones, which in turn is why so many Japanese CDs have bonus tracks, to entice people to spend more money for the domestic copy! You're not going to find cheaper CDs anywhere, the prices on literally on the product itself, they don't change them.
What gets my panties in a bunch about Japan and the UK in terms of music is that they consistently get the privilege of having access to things that the US either gets in modified form or simply, not at all. The unfairness is sickening.
Or we never get them at all, these days, which is mostly the norm by now, given how the US music biz has degenerated and the culture as well. And of course, just sheer economics. I think it's not even unfairness, it's sheer business modeling, all by deliberate design. A good example is, last year I'd heard of a new box set of Richard and Linda Thompson, only had heard of it via Amazon, and of course, a UK or Europe-only release, it was out for all of a week, then disappeared, seemingly, and you'll never find such a thing in America I venture to guess, in any actual record store, and that's if you can find one. Then, two years later, it'll show up for $2000 on eBay because that's the stupid fucking shit that we have to put up with now in terms of music marketing. Especially here in America. And, I'll give up listening to and buying music before I pay prices like that for anything. My point is, also, that you cannot sell a product that people cannot find easily. Half of this stuff they aren't even making available as a download/digital version, so that's not even an option.
@@thiscorrosion900 And certain pockets of the industry still have the gall to moan about counterfeits, bootlegs, home taping & file-sharing. They’re just never going to learn.
@@monaural2.988 Haha!!! That was so spot-on. I can't even FIND bootlegs or counterfeits here in NY anymore, anyway! I can't find F.A., that's the whole problem! Har. It really is a farce.
LIke, even in NYC these days, if you go into the average indie record store, Brooklyn, whatever, and ask for the Richard Thompson new box set, they'll stare at you and go "oh dude....heard of him but we don't have it." We can special order it after 9 months and $250, though. Ok, great!
Now, if a vinyl collector was a billionaire and had 50 years to actually hear and enjoy all the records he could buy from Tower it'd be worth it. **wink**
(Incorrect:）Tower Records in Shibuya Tokyo Japan - The Biggest Record Store in Tokyo! (Correct) Tower Records in Shibuya Tokyo Japan- The Biggest Record Store in the world! Now a day
Congratulations! I've been doing UA-cam videos for several months now and you're the first person to make a disparaging comment about my speech impairment. You must be very proud of yourself, mocking a person's disability. I worked for over 20 years to get my speech to where it is now. How long will you have to work in order to be a better person?
Only the Japanese still appreciate owning physical copies of their favorite artists, others in European and North American markets have forgotten how golden it really is to have CDs. But I have a feeling that physical sales are going to come back everywhere in the developed world. The strong sales of vinyls nowadays indicate that people are going to go back to buying physical copies.
Even cassettes are making a mini comeback. Let's hope the strength of that format and vinyl become stronger, though the prices could come down for vinyl.
I think it’s small fraction which big companies are not interested in
I am from the UK and I love collecting physical media but I know what you mean I got looked at weird and laughed at when I buy cds
Poland (Europe) has the best vinyl sales after Japan though.
Sadly most people who collect vinyls and CDs nowdays are all because of or FOR social media, like "hey look at me im retro too" but hey maybe some will stay playing vinyls instead of just on mobile
Whenever I go to Tokyo, I always visit this store. God i miss Tokyo...
Heaven on earth. Thank u 4 this ..
Great video! A record shop we can only dream of here in the UK!
I used to spend so much time in record shops in London, even making special trips just for trawling them. Happy days! But now I can (and indeed recently, have) just walk past the Record and Tape Exchange / Rough Trade shops etc and barely feel the tug to actually cross their threshold.
This store looks great but honestly if I lived nearby I'd probably feel the same way about it.
It's probably an age thing, lol.
But the UK used to have this magnitude back in the 90s. I was almost hysteria when I saw a dedicated sprawling shelf for Madonna cd singles.
Truly a Tower of Records.
Wow thanks a lot for this video, went there in 2015 and been missing it a lot since then, thanks for this new October 2021 video of the place, awesome, looking forward to your next videos, keep it up. cheers.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I would leave with $15,000 worth of records if I went there. Amazing.
Loved the video!! Just discovered your channel!! Please keep doing these walks in cool stores around Tokyo
I visited it in 2019, fantastic store! I think it is not just the biggest record store in Tokyo, it is currently the biggest one in the world.
I've been here many years ago, it was such a life affirming experience for a music fan :) great video!
Man look, i love your video. My kid and I sat down 11:00 PM and watch it all. I am planning to go to Tokyo by Autumn, and I need to go to that store. I am a CD fan and for sure I will be there. Thanks a lot. Subscribed and thumbs up.
Reminds me of the big HMV that was in Birmingham. Many of Saturday spent there and money. Good times
The Shinjuku Tower record is literally heaven for me, I have spent countless hours in that store. Can’t wait to be back in Tokyo to check this location.
The Shinjuku Tower took a big hit this year, and is down to just two floors. This is the place to be for sure.
@@LostTurntable thank you for the reply. How are the wonderful Disk unions around town doing? Have they been affected too? I look at the news every week looking for travel updates about Tokyo
Great video. I would love to see more of the classical sacds, avant garde, contemporary Japanese music section.
I was there back in 2018, truly amazing and it's huge! Love Tower Records :)
I need to go there tower records is awesome physical copies of music artists nice👍👍Japan has such an appreciation for physical media and I love the country for it😎😎🆒🆒
Finally made it to Japan this year. It was a blast just being able to walk into a Tower Records again. I did my best to clear out their Hikaru Utada section.
Wow, that's a very impressive record store. In fact, I've never seen one so large and all encompassing.
In a future video I'd be interested to see to see a walk-through of a Japanese audio retailer. I'm sure there are some really impressive stores in this area as well. Thanks !
This is an incredible series. ua-cam.com/video/6fR3H7_F2Ok/v-deo.html
Great vid as usual. Fun to watch. I would like to see the Face Records store in Myashita Park. Peace.
Oh man I remember those elevators from 20 years ago! Got to see my album on display in the listening station :)
After watching this video, I really miss going to Tower Records. I use to go to the stores in New York City on 66th Street and Broadway, 4th Street and Broadway, and 87th street and Third Avenue.
4:42 Donna Summer!!! Great to see the Queen in a Japanese record store
6:36 adds Lovebeat to my music list! Nice to see Bicep too
9:07 Here we go! No Tatsuro Yamashita is a bummer. And yes, Yukihiro Takahashi is great. Shame his 70’s debut wasn’t in that rack. Nice album with two banging Disco tracks.
21:18 That game selection looks like heaven, though I would like to see Dragon Quest or Kingdom Hearts have a similar display to Final Fantasy’s.
Thank you sooo much for this tour! It was so awesome.
Awesome tour!
Thank you!
oh god, i will definitely spend more time on city pop section
They now have an updated used vinyl section. Found some rarities I've been looking for
Absolutely fascinating. Really appreciate your hard work.
Many thanks!
Love it. If i go to Japan its my first stop
such a heavenly place
Thank you for showing city pop stuff
Know Music, Know Life
No Music, No Life
❤️TowerRecords💜
Great video, thank you!
LOVED THIS!
I saw this store featured in the Japanese Romance-Drama TV show, "Silent" (2022), and I wondered if it was a set or real. I see that it is the real thing.;)
Need to bring a few Tower Records to eastern U.S.A. 🇺🇸
7:55 Yes I did. Don't assume. LOL.
Thanks for the video
Absolutely Love This!
I remember when I was there in 2010. Maybe Tower Records at train station in Shinjuku was even bigger?
But my primal for digging records was the shops in Ikebukuro..
The Tower in Shinjuku used to be four stories, now it is sadly only two.
Loved this! Looking forward to visit this store myself, someday.
You seem to have a great taste in music as well :P
FYI- It sounds like when pronouncing -
Pat Ma “THEE” knee
Rock 'n' Roll /NOSTALGIA where would you go there /CONNIE FRANCIS ETC from Greece. make a visit for us dudes for nostalgia/rock n roll etc
Wow, would love to browse the SACD section
Bring it back home!!! Graffiti magazine and cds in the 90s!!
I miss Japan.
OMG...This reminds of Virgin Record store in Tokyo back in the day!
Well maintained details of inventories, actual stores as well as the logistics of placing an order any of the brand(s) are always as REVIVED and continuous. It can always surprise many consumers as well as developers in each genre, since it is a renown brand worldwide. PLDT SME Nation, Patents, Trademarks,Copyrights, LLCs, Registrations are owned by its respective brand owners, and can always inspect and maintain each brand, according to its purpose. Thank you. PLDT SME Generalist/manage Care../././G.M Industries Congratulations. DON'T DELETE. This is IMPORTANT.
Oh man it shits over anything in Australia
Look at all that vinyl wicked
Its so true and prices for vinyl in Australia are a joke there all sharks it almost makes u want to stop collecting
There is a beautiful ambient sound played by tower records does. Anyone here know the title? It's like an echoing voice.
There are 2 different MrBig bands one from the 1970s and 90s
Do you collect SACD's or High fidelity pure audio Blu ray's. Thank you for making these videos.
I primarily listen to music on my media player with mid-range headphones, CDs that I rip are fine with me. I never hear the difference.
Absolutely fantastic isn't it.
Did i actually saw pop smoke's album on tower records, am shocked to see his album.
Wow! There's been some big changes since I was there in 2018. I spent a long time looking at noise and drone with a likeminded friend and also dragged him reluctantly to the idol floor, which revealed him to be maybe not quite so likeminded. He got a King Crimson CD (I was new to the fuss about why people want the Japanese versions of their CDs) and I got a BiSKaidan CD. Speaking of, it's crazy to see a huge WACK section now at 21:52! That group with the display at the front are Anal Sex Penis, an industrial and hardcore influenced group who are a lot of fun even if you don't like idol. That BiS/ZOC split EP being promoted to the left is thoroughly underwhelming, but I'd highly recommend Seiko Oomori's solo stuff; she's really more of a Bjork-style art-rocker than an idol.
Anyways, when I'm back in Japan, where would you recommend for a specialty shop that's like the more "far out" stuff on floor 7? Modern classical, sound art, maybe like Tzadik Records kind of stuff?
14:50 Chase the dragon by Magnum great album
The nujabes cd are really good and worth checking out
I have a lot of Japanese mini LP's of Progressive Rock. I have never been to Japan and I am clueless if certain bands have a cult following there. For example...ARSNOVA was a Progressive Rock band from Japan that played a few shows in America. They are my favorite band and I own most of their back catalog on CD. I wonder if they were well known in Japan? I wonder if people remember them? They are outstanding musicians! Something that doesn't seem to matter to people in New Jersey and its a shame that I live here.
Another Progressive Rock band from Japan that i always loved is FAR EAST FAMILY BAND. I have all of their cds. I sometimes wonder if they are remembered?
I also like DA DA which was an Electronic Music duo from Japan. I have 2 of their cds. I am missing a cd by them titled Castle Wall. I hope to find it someday.
Another Electronic band from Japan that I liked was INTERIOR. They were on Windham Hill label in the U.S. I would like to find their second release on CD.
Also STOMU YAMASHTA I have many of his cds. The Iroha Ka series has never been released on cd in America. I have wanted it for decades along with Tempest. I wonder if they were manufactured on cd in Japan?
What is the best place to find metal records in Japan? I am now living in Okinawa and am planning to visit the main island soon to buy some records and a turntable. Do you have a favorite record player brand?
this is my wet dreams about having a store... and I mean owned it !! xD
I love it!!
great video
Thanks!
Every time I see these videos, all I can think is "holy crap... I'd go way over my budget in a place like this!"
Japanese records are often a little pricier, but a lot of them tend to have some otherwise unavailable tracks, too. In particular, though, I was curious about the price on that copy of Variety -- 8500 yen seemed over-the-top -- but I had a look at all the available vinyl copies on Discogs, and the cheapest one landed at 10k yen (Plus shipping, obviously). I forgot what the point I wanted to make was with this, but seeing as how I already looked it up...
Yes, it is dangerous for my wallet that's for sure!
The building looks like taken from Cyberpunk 2077
Wow I wish tower records was still here in new orleans
How's the Metal selection?
Why is the mastering aka the cd 💿 is in English?
That's odd, you "W" your r's and also your L's, is that a side effect of living in Japan? Or completely unrelated? Not trying to bully you, honestly wondering. Hope you have a good day, and a great year! I subbed anyways.
No, that's just a birth defect speech disorder, but thanks for watching!
Where is the Rap/Hip-Hop section😭😭
It's pathetic that NYC has sunk so low and doesn't even have a decent Megastore record store anymore like this. This store already looks 10x better even, than the old W. 4th St.
Tower and that's not good for America. This country really has a lot to answer for for killing culture and regressing to pure stupidity. It makes me sick. We have Rough Trade
Records in Brooklyn but that place sucks compared to this. Then we have a few shitty local record shops on Long Island NY where I am, that seem to specialize in A. having NOTHING
progressive whatsoever and B. can be counted on to hawk the most expensive vinyl that nobody can afford and mostly non-music ephemera and gifts instead of stocking better
actual CDs and albums. It's quite sad. Then you have Barnes and Noble books, which has some music but it's overpriced and limited in selection by far.
The golden age for record stores is long since gone. London is the same
Is their cheaper record stores in Tokyo? Those Tower prices are bit high.
If you're talking about new vinyl, no. Importing vinyl is expensive and that's why there's a markup.
As for used vinyl, I don't know, I think those prices are pretty fair considering the quality of the records. The average record costs a bit more in Japan, but you're usually getting something that's in great shape.
@@LostTurntable Meant to say CD's, and SACD's. Like less than $20 for them.
Ah, well in Japan you can rent CDs! So there's a mark-up on domestic prices for CDs. That's why so many retailers import foreign ones, which in turn is why so many Japanese CDs have bonus tracks, to entice people to spend more money for the domestic copy! You're not going to find cheaper CDs anywhere, the prices on literally on the product itself, they don't change them.
@@LostTurntable The prices are cheaper on Amazon Japan. That's why I mainly asked. Just wanted to know if places sold SACD's at those prices.
What gets my panties in a bunch about Japan and the UK in terms of music is that they consistently get the privilege of having access to things that the US either gets in modified form or simply, not at all. The unfairness is sickening.
Or we never get them at all, these days, which is mostly the norm by now, given how the US music biz has degenerated and the culture as well. And of course, just sheer
economics. I think it's not even unfairness, it's sheer business modeling, all by deliberate design. A good example is, last year I'd heard of a new box set of Richard and
Linda Thompson, only had heard of it via Amazon, and of course, a UK or Europe-only release, it was out for all of a week, then disappeared, seemingly, and you'll never
find such a thing in America I venture to guess, in any actual record store, and that's if you can find one. Then, two years later, it'll show up for $2000 on eBay because
that's the stupid fucking shit that we have to put up with now in terms of music marketing. Especially here in America. And, I'll give up listening to and buying music
before I pay prices like that for anything. My point is, also, that you cannot sell a product that people cannot find easily. Half of this stuff they aren't even making
available as a download/digital version, so that's not even an option.
@@thiscorrosion900 And certain pockets of the industry still have the gall to moan about counterfeits, bootlegs, home taping & file-sharing. They’re just never going to learn.
@@monaural2.988 Haha!!! That was so spot-on. I can't even FIND bootlegs or counterfeits here in NY anymore, anyway! I can't find F.A., that's the whole problem! Har. It really is a farce.
LIke, even in NYC these days, if you go into the average indie record store, Brooklyn, whatever, and ask for the Richard Thompson new box set, they'll stare at you and go "oh dude....heard of him but we don't have it." We can special order it after 9 months and $250, though. Ok, great!
Your accent is very intriguing
I'm glad 20 years of speech therapy took me from "debilitating speech disorder" to "intriguing accent!"
@@LostTurntable I honestly just thought you were from NYC or Jersey or Boston or something.
WHEN ARE THEY GONNA BRING TOWER RECORDS BACK TO THE US, SPECIFICALLY TO THE EAST COAST??
This guy sounds like a Brooklyn born Jewish Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Tower Records should come back to this world before this world is extinct. And that's the bottom line cause Stone Cold said so (from 976-CREOLEMAN)!
Ray barone is the narrator
Now, if a vinyl collector was a billionaire and had 50 years to actually hear and enjoy all the records he could buy from Tower it'd be worth it. **wink**
(Incorrect:）Tower Records in Shibuya Tokyo Japan - The Biggest Record Store in Tokyo!
(Correct) Tower Records in Shibuya Tokyo Japan- The Biggest Record Store in the world! Now a day
Prince the best 💜🔥
Noooo why do you hate the swans
The terminator accent was painful to listen too! Ouch - my ears are bleeding!
Congratulations! I've been doing UA-cam videos for several months now and you're the first person to make a disparaging comment about my speech impairment. You must be very proud of yourself, mocking a person's disability.
I worked for over 20 years to get my speech to where it is now. How long will you have to work in order to be a better person?