“David & I had been playing as a duo for about 2 yrs (73/74), during which time David was belting out his own songs -totally owning them- outgoing Mick joined us seeing himself as a potential frontman (for cover songs at least) - he printed up a business card with our home phones”. - Steve on X.

Japan original trio (Mick, Steve and David) in the “Catford Gazette”, summer 1974, around the time of their first ever concert at Mick’s older brother’s wedding. #japantheband #japan #davidsylvian #stevejansen #mickkarn #richardbarbieri #robdean #raintreecrow #postpunk #synthpop #newwave #glamrock

“Music was the only open door on the horizon. I knew that I had to get out of that environment and that creating music was my only means of escape”. - David Sylvian Source: “A foreign place”, Anthony Reynolds ©

Phenomenal band, from their first album onward. Fortunate enough to have seen them live on on their first American tour, lots Los Angeles.

Welcome to the unofficial account dedicated to British band Japan. Japan (1974-1982) are keyboardist/synth programmer/sound designer Richard Barbieri, guitarist Rob Dean, drummer Steve Jansen, bassist/multi-instrumentalist Mick Karn and singer/multi-instrumentalist David Sylvian. #japantheband

David photographed by Steve Rapport for the cover of magazine “Japan Sounds Fan Library”, No. 1, July 1982. Clerkenwell Studios, London, 14th April 1982. Credit: Steve Rapport ©️ #japan #japantheband #davidsylvian @davidsylvian.bsky.social

democracy is failing us. free palestine (with love and blood)

Happy heavenly Birthday, Mick ♥️ Fretless wonder, theatrical, colourful, flamboyant, alien, suave, sophisticated, intellectual, funny, wit, haunting, exotic, beautiful creature, master of bass guitar. Photo: “Art of parties” UK tour, Hammersmith Odeon, London, 17th May 1981. Credit: Pete Still ©

Mick and Steve on West Street in London, 31st May 1985. #mickkarn #stevejansen #japan #japantheband #raintreecrow #jansenbarbierkarn #jbk #mediumproductions

"It had nothing to do with 'Adolescent Sex'. It was made for the Rainbow Theatre show in 1979 during an instrumental passage in one of the songs, possibly 'Suburban Berlin'. The idea was to make the show 'special' with our limited budget". - Rob Dean 】 #japan #japantheband

Richard Barbieri has been interviewed for the brand new issue of “Blitzed” magazine. Order your paper copy or download digital version on blitzedmag.com @richardbarbieri.bsky.social #japan #japantheband #richardbarbieri #porcupinetree #jbk #jansenbarbierikarn #dolphinbrothers

The new issue of Blitzed magazine has a nice interview with @richardbarbieri.bsky.social

1979: “This song is amazing!” 2019: “This song is amazing!” 2059: “This song is amazing!” #quietlife #japantheband www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JF2...

“Mick Karn...the only man in history to have dyed pink hair, wear a zebra print jacket and still look suave, sophisticated and intellectual”. Comment from a fan on YouTube. Photo: Koh Hasebe ©️ All rights reserved #mickkarn #japantheband

“I knew that I had to find my own voice, both figuratively and literally”. We are grateful you found it, Sir. Thank you for over 50 years of inspiration. Happy Birthday. Photo: David during “Sons of pioneers” tour, Japan, December 1982. Fin Costello/Redferns © @davidsylvian.bsky.social

Good news everyone! The wait is almost over! Flashes for Bluesky is now available for free pre-order on the App Store. 🔥 Pre-"order" now (it's free) & get it the moment it launches! apps.apple.com/de/app/flash...

“I want to mention that the audio installation from my exhibition in Tokyo will shortly be available in four options on Bandcamp~but also Exit North have 2 new tracks mixed 😮‍💨and ready for a single for release~and I’m not even going to mention the thing about Kabuki Theatre”. -Steve Jansen on X

“The abbreviation of superfluity is a quality of maturity rarely found in any artist barely touching 24 years of age”. - Angela Bowie. Foreword to “Sculpture” catalogue, Hamiltons Gallery exhibition, Mayfair, London, 1982. #mickkarn #sculpture #japan #japantheband

Out now on @bandcamp.com Lucrecia Dalt’s 7” “cosa rara” featuring David Sylvian. @lucreciadalt.bsky.social @davidsylvian.bsky.social

Out now on vinyl! @davidsylvian.bsky.social #davidsylvian #japantheband

“With two people I respect and admire🥹 #SteveJansen #土屋昌巳#SUGIZO”. -Sugizo on Instagram Photo: Steve with Sugizo and Masami Tsuchiya at his recent photo exhibition “The space between”, Tokyo, January 2025. #japantheband

“In the band we’ve always worn masks as protection and it’s people like me, the ones who look the oddest, who have the most to hide. But over the years we’ve tended to wear less and less colour in our hair and make-up as we’ve become a little more confident”. #mickkarn #japantheband

I've just posted 2.5 hours of interviews with David Sylvian to YouTube.
 This 3-pt series discuss Blemish, Dead Bees On a Cake, songwriting, collaborative process, Rain Tree Crow, Robert Fripp & more. Pt. 1: youtu.be/RJ7srs_Mgdo?... Pt. 2: youtu.be/uB1pvrW26pk?... Pt. 3: youtu.be/mjJqxOrK5xc?...

David Sylvian - Died In The Wool (Manafon Variations) and The Good Son vs The Only Daughter (The Blemish Remixes) Vinyl preorders shipped, now in stock: burningshed.com/artists/japan-artist #musicfeed #musicsky

*ANNOUNCEMENT - LIVE TOUR* EXIT NORTH will perform in small-scale venues as a streamlined 3-piece unit. Thomas Feiner & Steve Jansen will be joined by singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tim Elsenburg, who has previously featured on Jansen's solo recordings. 1/2

David Sylvian is an artist beloved of so many of us.. in 2022 he recorded an Audio Diary for me at his home, he was living in solitude in the American Desert.. he'd not engaged with the media in 14 years.. we repeat this extraordinary piece: Thurs 11.30am GMT www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

“We shall soon be announcing live dates in the UK during late April ~ please stay tuned for all the details”. - Steve Jansen on X Photo: Thron Ullberg ©

Thanks @innerviews.bsky.social for the audio version of this 1996 interview with our beloved Mick! #japantheband #mickkarn

“Mick was probably the most colourful dresser in our band but he also enjoyed toning it down sometimes with more classic styles”. - Steve Jansen answering a question from a fan on his Sleepyard blog, May 2018. #mickkarn #japantheband

At 13, Steve got his first drum kit. “I was very pleased when I got them; they were delivered at night and I sat in front of them smiling until morning. In 1973, we formed the band and began to practise”. - Steve Jansen #japantheband #japan @istevejansen.bsky.social

Please be aware that this account is possibly impersonating the real David Sylvian. Real Sylvian’s account is bsky.app/profile/davidsylvian.bsky.social

Japan perform “Life in Tokyo”. #japantheband #giorgiomoroder

Welcome to the unofficial Bluesky account dedicated to British band Japan and its members. Japan (1974-1982) are Richard Barbieri, Mick Karn, David Sylvian, Steve Jansen and Rob Dean. #japantheband #japan Photo: Koh Hasebe ©

“There has never been another band like Japan. Their smooth sophistication was pure class and ‘Gentlemen Take Polaroids’ is the epitome of their modus operandi. It remains a classic album of its time, and if not a pure diamond, then surely it’s a shimmering ruby to reflect its 40 years anniversary”.

“There has never been a rhythm section quite like Mick Karn and Steve Jansen and probably never will be again”. - Matt Phillips © www.movingtheriver.com Photo: Steve and Mick recording “Quiet Life” album, 1979. Credit unknown. #japantheband #japan #stevejansen #mickkarn

The beginnings of Japan. Steve, Mick and David rehearsing for Mick’s brother wedding gig in Mick’s bedroom. Catford, spring 1974. Source: Japan’s biography “A foreign place” by Anthony Reynolds © Unknown photographer. #japantheband #stevejansen #mickkarn #davidsylvian #richardbarbieri #robdean

My in-depth interview with Mick Karn from 1996 is now on the Innerviews YouTube channel. It covers all his solo LPs released to that point, Japan, Rain Tree Crow, and JBK. He also offers a heavy dose of philosophy on his absolutely unique approach to bass playing. Listen: youtu.be/MZE4Yw3rEyM?...

Candidates for the Innerviews YouTube channel. It honestly never struck me for even a nanosecond in the previous 30 years of Innerviews that the audio recordings of the interviews had any value… and now I’m finally realizing they do…

Innerviews is now on YouTube! Enjoy 40+ vids, including my interviews with: • Steven Wilson in his Hand. Cannot. Erase. documentary • Jean-Michel Jarre on Zoolook and Oxygene • Adrian Belew on his secret for happiness • Percy Jones on auditioning for Roxy Music www.youtube.com/@innerviews-...

Hanging at Amoeba Records SF. No algorithms. No fake artists. No AI. No schemes. No scams. No psychotic billionaires. Try and give your local record stores a spin over the holidays and help keep these critical institutions alive.

Double Happy Birthday to Richard Barbieri (born on 30th November 1957) and Steve Jansen (born on 1st December 1959)! @richardbarbieri.bsky.social @porcupinetree.bsky.social #stevejansen #japan #japantheband #friends #friendship

The genesis of absolute EXCELLENCE

@japantheband.bsky.social Been a while since I added ‘new’ 7” Japan singles to my collection; can’t believe I’ve never owned them… #japantheband

If you have an Instagram profile you can follow Japan the band there too, as well as the twin account dedicated to the late Mick Karn. Links in bio. #japantheband #mickkarn Photo: Fin Costello/Redferns ©

40 years ago on this day in 1984, the charity supergroup Band Aid recorded “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” at Sarm West Studios in London, England. #bandaid84 #dotheyknowitschristmas #feedtheworld

On this day 45 years ago Japan performed two sets at the Ryerson Theatre in Toronto, their first show in six months (and also their last ever performance in North America), featuring for the first time Jane Shorter on sax. Photo: www.stevejansen.net © #japantheband #japan

Didn't really take to X so I'm setting up here. Hope to make it fun and informative. You can see how happy I look at the prospect.