Jrock, Ink.: A Concise Report on 40 of the Biggest Rock Acts in Japan

by Josephine Yun

jrock, ink. is an executive report on the energized Japanese rock scene today. It showcases 40 of the hottest names in jrock history with histories, reviews, and discographies, all in a stunning full-color package highlighted by original art and photographs. Many of these artists have toured and released CDs in North America and are known for theirwork on anime and movie soundtracks. "Lovingly written and gorgeously produced... the first book published in the United States to survey the delirious landscape of Japanese rock... This is a work of visual art, about some very visual artists." -- SFGate.com "Stunningly elegant...witty...the first of its kind; an exciting first step..." -- Centigrade-J "It’s as if jrock, ink. itself were the work of that rare blend of talents that makes for a great band. Yun is front woman, with all the sass one would expect from a music critic for Baltimore’s alternative weekly City Paper . Designer Yelena Zhavoronkova’s brilliantly creative use of alternating margins and sparse, colored text not only gives the book a unique tone, it also makes nearly page-long paragraphs surprisingly easy to follow. It’s all rounded out by artist Yana Moskaluk’s full-page illustrations for each of the 40 bands summarized. This book is a must not only for the serious rocker or DJ. It’s also invaluable for students of modern Japanese culture and music criticism alike." -- The Asian Reporter About the Author Josephine Yun is a freelance music and arts writer whose work has appeared in Baltimore City Paper, Johns Hopkins Magazine, and SIGNAL to NOISE. She has worked in a cafe, a public arts high school, an airport, a Japanese restaurant, a symphony hall, and as a case clerk, piano accompanist, and string teacher. In 2006, she was interviewed by BBC/PRI's "The World" for a segment featuring Japanese rock and jrock, ink.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book because I was writing my Senior Thesis on Japanese music. I don't think I ended up able to use it for anything academic.

[Dixi · Rating 3 out of 5]

i found this book randomly in new york. i had no expectations and just wanted to waste time. the content on the bands/groups are fluff. the information is just a little more than what you would get on the back of a cd cover. however, what made me buy it was the illustration for every band. so if you want a cute coffee table book with time wasting quick reads, it's a good buy.

[Kiku · Rating 1 out of 5]

If there was a way to review this book and give it no stars, I would. What a poorly researched piece of garbage. Some bands get a decent shake in this book, but the vast majority are simply ignored, and less is said about them than in the standard Wikipedia entry you can access for free.

Don't bother.