9/29 Update: Hello and thank you for dropping by and checking on the status of NMC! Unfortunately at this time I lack the financial or technological resources to continue the show online. I really appreciate all of your support through the nearly nine years the show was on 88.5 and look forward to playing music for you all again soon.
Please note - I will not accept donation offers, as I cannot guarantee when I would be able to give you a show. Thank you.
b-chan
I'll leave my graduation letter up for a little while longer:
After many years at GSU, the time has come for me to graduate. After nearly nine years of being in air, Nippon Music Champ will have its last broadcast on Sunday, May 1st from 6pm to 10pm.
When NMC began in June of 2002, I was completely unaware of how many places it would take me and how many wonderful people I would meet along the way. I've had the great privilege of spending most of my 20s with WRAS, in fact I saw my first Japanese band live on my 20th birthday - Quruli at The Echo Lounge on October 3rd, 2002. The early years of NMC were very rough and I of course was very young, and so I want to thank all of you for growing up with me. I'm so glad I was able to focus in on playing you the best in Japanese indie and underground bands, while also playing you music from the 1920s and 30s, Jazz from the 40s and 50s, 60s rock'n'roll, and Japanese post punk and new wave. In 2008, NMC won the WRAS Listeners Choice Award for Best Specialty Show, a recognition I will always be grateful for.
Japanese bands have always enjoyed healthy exposure on college radio. When I began listening to WRAS in high school, bands such as Cornelius, Guitar Wolf, and Pizzicato Five were in regular rotation. When I started at Album 88 in April of 2002, both Cornelius' album Point and Buffalo Daughter's album I were being played regularly. Unfortunately, Album 88 has been unable to stream online the entire time I've worked there, but at 100,000 watts it is the most powerful student-run college radio station in the country, and I am so proud to have done a show like this on its airways.
Having a show focused on an international music market is a challenge but one that I thoroughly enjoyed meeting. For all the advancements in social media and technology the last decade brought us, I can also still go digging around in a record store and find hidden gems. I've always tried my best to feature a balance of imports and domestically available releases, and hopefully encouraged all of you out there to jump in and become musical explorers. Japan has the world's second largest music market and a rich popular music history. I sincerely hope that in this time, I've manage to give you a good foundation of all that is out there.
I also hope you've had a chance to check out some of the Japanese bands that have come through Atlanta during this time. One of the many wonderful and unexpected things to come out of doing this show is that I began to assist Anime Weekend Atlanta in booking Japanese bands to perform at the convention: Peelander-Z, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, The Emeralds, The Captains, Omodaka (first show in the southeast), and Molice (first show in the US). Other bands that have played in Atlanta include Quruli, Electric Eel Shock, Ex-Girl, DJ Krush, Gito Gito Hustler, The Spunks, Guitar Wolf, Mono, Melt Banana, Green Milk From The Planet Orange, Boris, Afrirampo, PINE*am, Polysics, and Lite.
In addition to hosting NMC, I also hosted Album 88's soundtrack show Nitrate 88 for a number of years and have done several free forms featuring artists from all over the world. For the last year and half, I have also had the joy of serving as the station's Promotion Director. For me, the most important thing about working at Album 88 has been the ability and privilege to expose people to new and wonderful music.
Thanks for listening and being 100,000 watts of awesome!
b-chan
The drawing to the right was done by Mari from Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re. Used with permission.
Please note - I will not accept donation offers, as I cannot guarantee when I would be able to give you a show. Thank you.
b-chan
I'll leave my graduation letter up for a little while longer:
After many years at GSU, the time has come for me to graduate. After nearly nine years of being in air, Nippon Music Champ will have its last broadcast on Sunday, May 1st from 6pm to 10pm.
When NMC began in June of 2002, I was completely unaware of how many places it would take me and how many wonderful people I would meet along the way. I've had the great privilege of spending most of my 20s with WRAS, in fact I saw my first Japanese band live on my 20th birthday - Quruli at The Echo Lounge on October 3rd, 2002. The early years of NMC were very rough and I of course was very young, and so I want to thank all of you for growing up with me. I'm so glad I was able to focus in on playing you the best in Japanese indie and underground bands, while also playing you music from the 1920s and 30s, Jazz from the 40s and 50s, 60s rock'n'roll, and Japanese post punk and new wave. In 2008, NMC won the WRAS Listeners Choice Award for Best Specialty Show, a recognition I will always be grateful for.
Japanese bands have always enjoyed healthy exposure on college radio. When I began listening to WRAS in high school, bands such as Cornelius, Guitar Wolf, and Pizzicato Five were in regular rotation. When I started at Album 88 in April of 2002, both Cornelius' album Point and Buffalo Daughter's album I were being played regularly. Unfortunately, Album 88 has been unable to stream online the entire time I've worked there, but at 100,000 watts it is the most powerful student-run college radio station in the country, and I am so proud to have done a show like this on its airways.
Having a show focused on an international music market is a challenge but one that I thoroughly enjoyed meeting. For all the advancements in social media and technology the last decade brought us, I can also still go digging around in a record store and find hidden gems. I've always tried my best to feature a balance of imports and domestically available releases, and hopefully encouraged all of you out there to jump in and become musical explorers. Japan has the world's second largest music market and a rich popular music history. I sincerely hope that in this time, I've manage to give you a good foundation of all that is out there.
I also hope you've had a chance to check out some of the Japanese bands that have come through Atlanta during this time. One of the many wonderful and unexpected things to come out of doing this show is that I began to assist Anime Weekend Atlanta in booking Japanese bands to perform at the convention: Peelander-Z, Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re, The Emeralds, The Captains, Omodaka (first show in the southeast), and Molice (first show in the US). Other bands that have played in Atlanta include Quruli, Electric Eel Shock, Ex-Girl, DJ Krush, Gito Gito Hustler, The Spunks, Guitar Wolf, Mono, Melt Banana, Green Milk From The Planet Orange, Boris, Afrirampo, PINE*am, Polysics, and Lite.
In addition to hosting NMC, I also hosted Album 88's soundtrack show Nitrate 88 for a number of years and have done several free forms featuring artists from all over the world. For the last year and half, I have also had the joy of serving as the station's Promotion Director. For me, the most important thing about working at Album 88 has been the ability and privilege to expose people to new and wonderful music.
Thanks for listening and being 100,000 watts of awesome!
b-chan
The drawing to the right was done by Mari from Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re. Used with permission.