The Tsugaru region, where legendary Japanese folk singers such as Kazuki Tomokawa, Kan Mikami and Mibu Kogawa were born, is located at the northernmost tip of Japan mainland, far removed from urban culture. The unique sensibility nurtured in this land—shaped by the bitterly cold, long winters that seem to cut through the body, as well as by an atmosphere imbued with shamanistic traditions—manifests in songs that are almost like incantations. These songs possess an intensity that distinctly separates them from conventional folk music.
This album, originally released in 1978, was largely forgotten by the public for over 30 years. However, in 2012, it was reissued on CD by P-VINE, and now, it is finally being re-released on vinyl. P-VINE is truly delighted to offer music fans around the world the opportunity to discover this one and only album left behind by the indigenous outsider singer.
Though the album’s notes are written entirely in Japanese, it comes with a 20-page booklet providing an in-depth explanation of both Tsugaru and Furukawa’s music and background.