Full Moon Reggae

Posted on May 21, 2007 by Angie Davis

One of the things I absolutely love about Japan is the variety of music on offer. Tokyo, known as DJ capital of the world, is home to every genre of sound that one could ever imagine. Before I moved to Japan, I spent my University days working part-time at an independent record store, blowing all my spare cash on music, always believing that there are some things that are always justified when spending money, those being music, books, travel, family and of course beer.

Since moving to Japan, I have been to many live shows all over the country, but especially in Tokyo, seeing gigs from everything to Ben Harper, Spinna B-Ill and Snoop Dogg, to the solid GunmaOne of Japan's 47 prefectures. It forms the Northwest corner of the Kanto area. Jet band Nikajagga, yes, meat and potatoes. But there's one gig that I will keep going back to, month after month. Reggae night at LOA in Ichinomiya is held on the first Friday of every month, under the vibes spread by the new full moon. LOA is a small Lakeside bar just back from the beach, is owned by a dancing-crazy Japanese surfer called Hiro, and Reggae night features Tokyo's finest DJ Junji, who spins reggae hits old and new, original and re-mixed, to an audience dominated by surfers, chillers, and just generally really nice crew!

If you love reggae, or just want to have a totally different Japanese experience, you should make it to one of the reggae nights at LOA, and join the party by sipping on local Kujukuri Beer, or even Bintang for all the Bali lovers, and stay the night at one of the local pensions, giving you the option of surfing the next day to cure your Jamaican hangover.

Get yourself to Kujukuri in ChibaOne of Japan's 47 prefectures. Located just East of Tokyo and home to such well known sites as Narita International Airport and Tokyo Disney Land., follow the signs to Ichinomiya, and when you get off the Kujukuri Toll road, turn right at the Route 30 just before the Lawson. Just up the road about 200-300m you will see LOA on your right. If you get lost, ask someone, almost everyone knows the place! Hope to see you there next month, the summer parties go OFF!