*A long-lost Japanese acid folk gem- Niningashi's 1974 private press debut Heavy Way- Pressed on black vinylA long-lost Japanese acid folk gem, Niningashi's 1974 private press debut Heavy Way shimmers with originality, deft song writing and a dream-like groove.Although he was training as a pharmacist, Kazuhisa Okubo was much more interested in prescribing musical medicine.A coming-of-age album, Heavy Way captured a turning point in Okubo's life, and Japanese society more widely as a nostalgia for the pastoral calm of the traditional life, met the cosmopolitan thrill of coffee, sex and cigarettes in the big city.Intoxicated by Tokyo, driven by a passion for music and surrounded by a thriving acid folk scene, the young student filtered his experiences through a psychedelic cocktail of soulful influences from the US and Japan.Niningashi was his first band, and Heavy Way was their only album. It was honest and raw, deep and strangely funky, in an off-beat kind of way. Across nine tracks, Okubo and the 6-piece band put their own spin on the new folk sound of Japan, combining witty lyrics with electric guitar-driven solos and crisp, understated grooves.Melancholy and profound, opening track 'Ameagari' feels like a synthesis of Harvest-era Neil Young and Haruomi Hosono's Happy End. Then there's the whimsical washboard country sound of 'Semai Boku No Heyade'; the moody, low-lit charm of 'Restaurant'; and 'Hitoribotchi', a sensitive portrayal of childhood, steeped in memories of rainfall that will resonate with fans of Woo and Mac Demarco.While Okubo would go on to taste success with psychedelic folk bands Neko and Kaze, the latter of which scored three #1 albums, little is known about his mysterious debut with Niningashi.Self-released by Okubo in 1974, and featuring album artwork by his brother, it has slowly generated a cult following online, intrigued by it's soft and enchanting sound. So few records were ultimately pressed that those remaining have fetched up to £1,500 online.Featured on Time Capsule's era-spanning collection Nippon Acid Folk, Niningashi's Heavy Way is a deep-cut grail of a vibrant time in Japan's musical history, where even the pharmacists were making jams.Ameagari (After the rain); Semai Boku No Heyade (In My Small Room); Ososugite (Too Late); Miyo Chan; Oraga Murano Soncho San (Our Village Chief); Restaurant; Natsu (Summer); Chikan No Uta (Molester Song); Hitoribotchi (On My Own)
Release date:
June 21, 2024
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Phono Preamps - Top Picks
A selection of the best phono preamps for your turntable setup
-
Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
Features a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV
-
Cartridges - Top Picks
A selection of turnatble cartridges that provide great performance and sound quality
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
-
Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Miles Kane Sunlight In The Shadows (Blue Skies)
Easy Eye Sound
October 17, 2025 -
Introspekt Moving The Center [2xLP]
Tempa
August 8, 2025 -
Tate McRae The One Day
Nettwerk Records
October 17, 2025 -
Cass McCombs Interior Live Oak [2xLP]
Domino Record Co
August 15, 2025 -
Higher Power There's Love In This World If You Want It in sleeve
Nuclear Blast
September 19, 2025 -
The Favors The Dream
Darkroom / Interscope
September 19, 2025 -
Oh He Dead Ugly
Inkind Music
September 5, 2025 -
Rise Against Ricochet
Loma Vista Recordings
August 15, 2025 -
John Prine Lost Dogs + Mixed Blessings [2xLP]
Oh Boy
September 12, 2025 -
Belinda Carlisle Once Upon A Time In California (Autographed; Sunset)
Demon / Edsel
August 29, 2025 -
Upchuck I'm Nice Now
Domino Record Co
October 3, 2025 -
Madi Diaz Fatal Optimist
Anti
October 10, 2025 -
G Flip Dream Ride
Flipo Music Pty Ltd
September 5, 2025 -
D.D. Verni and the Cadillac Band Buckle Up [2xLP]
Deko Music
September 19, 2025