The Ultimate Tokyo Vinyl & Cassette Hunting Guide: Digging Deep in Shibuya, Ochanomizu, and Beyond

Cover art of the Beastie Boys' 'Gratitude' 12-inch vinyl record featuring a black and white contact sheet design, sitting in a record store bin.

Introduction: Diving into the Analog Ocean of Tokyo This is CityNomix. In my daily life in digital marketing, I constantly wrestle with rows of numbers, data, and KPIs. For me, weekend “digging” is like a deep breath for the soul. In an age where magic like Spotify and Apple Music grants us instant access to Continue reading “The Ultimate Tokyo Vinyl & Cassette Hunting Guide: Digging Deep in Shibuya, Ochanomizu, and Beyond”

Punk Roots in Tokyo: Hunting Rare Beastie Boys Vinyl EPs and Singles

Cover art of the Beastie Boys' 'Gratitude' 12-inch vinyl record featuring a black and white contact sheet design, sitting in a record store bin.

This is CityNomix. While I spend my weekdays analyzing data in the digital marketing world, my weekends are dedicated to seeking out “noise.” Good noise, that is. Today, I’m taking you to Ochanomizu, Tokyo, to report on a vinyl hunt that uncovered a specific kind of beautiful noise: the hardcore punk roots of the Beastie Continue reading “Punk Roots in Tokyo: Hunting Rare Beastie Boys Vinyl EPs and Singles”

Seeking Jamiroquai’s Roots: The Value of “Emergency On Planet Earth” UK Pressing in Japan

Vinyl record cover of Jamiroquai's 1993 debut album 'Emergency On Planet Earth', featuring a black silhouette of the Buffalo Man on a white background with a price sticker in the top right corner.

Tokyo, specifically the Ochanomizu district, is often cited as a battleground for vinyl collectors. For a digital marketer like myself, who spends days analyzing data on screens, physical record hunting is a necessary detox. It is a tactile experience that connects the soul to the music.   On a crisp February evening in 2026, I Continue reading “Seeking Jamiroquai’s Roots: The Value of “Emergency On Planet Earth” UK Pressing in Japan”

From Burnage to The 1975: An Oasis Fan’s Journey into Manchester’s Modern Sound. Discovering the Four Essential EPs at Disk Union.

12-inch vinyl record of The 1975's 'IV' EP displayed in a record store bin

When you think of Manchester, you think of grey skies, red bricks, and the raw, unpolished roar of working-class guitar music. Growing up worshipping the altar of the 90s, my musical landscape was dominated by the Gallagher brothers. To me, “Manchester music” meant Oasis, The Stone Roses, and The Smiths. Anything that came after—especially bands Continue reading “From Burnage to The 1975: An Oasis Fan’s Journey into Manchester’s Modern Sound. Discovering the Four Essential EPs at Disk Union.”

Ochanomizu Dig Revisited: From Cardiff 1996 to Cardiff 2024. A Timeless Oasis Journey & The Rare Vinyl I Left Behind

Back cover of the CD

This is CityNomix.   Ochanomizu, Tokyo. This neighborhood possesses a unique magnetic field. Descending the slope lined with musical instrument stores, where the scent of old books from the antiquarian district mingles in the air, lies a sanctuary that inevitably pulls us music lovers in.   I am talking, of course, about Disk Union Ochanomizu. Continue reading “Ochanomizu Dig Revisited: From Cardiff 1996 to Cardiff 2024. A Timeless Oasis Journey & The Rare Vinyl I Left Behind”

The Ultimate Guide to Cassette Tape Hunting in Tokyo: A CityNomix Journey to Find Analog Treasures

Walts sign - Nakameguro cassette tape specialty store

In Search of Lost Magnetic Memories: A Journey into Tokyo’s Cassette Tape Scene This is CityNomix from Photomo. In my daily hustle chasing numbers and logic in the world of digital marketing, there are moments when I find myself pausing, drawn to something with a tangible warmth. That ‘something’ is the cassette tape. It’s the Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Cassette Tape Hunting in Tokyo: A CityNomix Journey to Find Analog Treasures”

Hunting for Oasis Rarities at Disk Union Ochanomizu: A Fateful Encounter with the Legendary ‘JILY’ Bootleg

Jacket photo of Oasis's bootleg CD album 'JILY' high-quality remastered edition.

Today in Tokyo, a precious sunny spell graced us before the rainy season’s official arrival. It was Saturday, June 21st, 2025, a little past 2:00 PM. My business in Ochanomizu finished much quicker than expected, leaving me with some welcome free time. A thought sparked: “On a day like this, digging for music at Disk Continue reading “Hunting for Oasis Rarities at Disk Union Ochanomizu: A Fateful Encounter with the Legendary ‘JILY’ Bootleg”