Japanese Punk Playlist
Today we have a true late-summer treat for you: a mix-tape.
Robinson’s Garden is a drug-fueled ode to Japanese Punk shot in rebellion to the stiffling bubble era of a prosperous Japan.
The film premiered at the Berlinale Forum where the director met many of his Asian counterparts (Shu Kei, Hou Hsiao Hsein… more on that in a few months!) This gem was lensed by Tom DiCillo (Living in Oblivion, Johnny Suede) and Jim Hayman who Yamamoto brought on after talking to Jim Jarmusch.
We asked translator and punk singer Dan Joseph to help us curate a playlist for the film. Parts are available on spotify; parts are available on youtube; parts are available nowhere. Handing it over to Dan now!
Robinson's Garden is a truly punk movie, in the sense that it's overflowing with punks - at least one of the leads and seemingly most of the extras were in bands. Machizo Machida (aka Kou Machida), frontman of Japanese punk pioneers INU, appears as the protagonist's sort-of-boyfriend.
And while some people might recognize Sakevi, legendary madman and singer of crust-metal pioneers G.I.S.M., it turns out the rasta he beats up is just as interesting: Izaba worked on the movie Rockers, managed the band Third World, and seemingly acted as reggae ambassador between Japan and Jamaica.
Likewise, members of bands like Jagatara (who feature on the soundtrack) crop up alongside Mitsuwa Sakamoto of Tokyo Bravo and Mute Beat, as well as Tomorou Taguchi, who may be most famous for starring in Tetsuo the Iron Man, but who also fronted the punk band Bachikaburi back in the 80s.
It's all kind of hard to pin down, but all these people seemed to know each other - Machida, for instance, appears on records by both Jagatara and Bachikaburi - and it's pretty clear that Robinson's Garden emerged from a swirling maelstrom of punk music and indie filmmaking insanity. It must've been an exciting time, but it's just as exciting that we get to revisit it now.
Enjoy.
Dan Joseph is a Japanese translator and punk singer. His most recent publications are Rip It Up by Kou Machida (Inpatient Press) and Try Saying You're Alive! Kazuki Tomokawa in His Own Words (Blank Forms Editions).
Ideal lineup (unbound by capitali$m)
Jagatara - [Songs from soundtrak]
Jagatara - 家族百景 [featuring Machida]
Yoichiro Yoshikawa - [Songs from soundtrack]*
Togawa Jun and Yapoos - [Yoshikawa did some music on a few of their albums]
Togawa Jun - Suki Suki Daisuki [arranged and w/keyboards by Yoshikawa]
Sankai Juku - [butoh troupe that Yoshikawa wrote the music for]
Hamza El Din - [Songs from the soundtrack]*
Hamza El Din - The Visitors, Mwashah
Bachikaburi - [Taguchi Tomoro's band, some of which also features Machida]
Mute Beat - Butterfly [featuring Sakamoto Mitsuwa]
Tokyo Bravo - [featuring Sakamoto Mitsuwa]
James Bong/DJ Izaba - Shobaihanjyo
INU - [Machida's band]
Machida Machizo - Doterai Yatsura
GISM - Endless Blockades for the Pussyfooter
*on neither spotify nor youtube
& thank you everyone who made it out to our world premiere of the new transfer of What’s Up Connection at the Fantasia International Film Festival. The reviews are GREAT to read. What’s Up Connection (1990) is the follow-up to Robinson’s Garden (1987) and coming later this year. In the meantime, a sneak peak of that release:
About Kani Releasing
Named after Yasujiro Ozu’s custom-made, tatami-level, crab-like tripod, Kani Releasing is a new home video label dedicated to leveling the gaze and furthering the understanding of Asian cinema in North America. Focused on genre-defying films, Kani aims to expand the canon, bolster up-and-coming filmmakers and reintroduce repertory classics in context.