Hit The Decks! Exploring Hiroshima’s Record Stores

May 26, 2021

Hit The Decks! Exploring Hiroshima’s Record Stores

The modern music industry is well and truly established in the digital world. Most people access their favorite artists now through Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Soundcloud, but there has also been an unexpected boom in analog music. According to Forbes, vinyl record sales have risen by 260 percent since 2009, and in 2017 the US saw sales growth for the 12th consecutive year, with the most units sold since 1991. Vinyl, it seems, is on its way back and is no longer the preserve of music nerds and hipsters.

The rebirth is also being present in Japan, signaled by the fact that Sony is once again firing up its pressing factory after a 30-year absence, as young music lovers find artists through streaming sites and then go on to buy the physical album. If you too are a record fan or want to discover some hidden gems in the Japanese market, there are many CD and record shops around Hiroshima. Below is just a small selection of what the city has to offer.

Dumb Records

With a name like ‘Dumb,’ it will probably come as no surprise to hear that this record store in Naka Ward specializes in punk music. And even if you didn’t guess that from the name, there will be no doubt as soon as you see the huge Ramones poster on the wall and their merc with the word DUMB styled like that of CBGBs.

Run by old-school rocker Nass, the store draws influence from The Ramones, with over 1000 pop/melodic punk records, holds live events, and even has its own indie record label. Furthermore, if all your ‘rocking out’ leaves you peckish, Dumb also does a pretty decent line in curries in its cafe bar.

Where: Hiroshima, Naka Ward, Mikawacho, 5−15, 4F (map)
Website: dumbrecords.com

Groovin’ Hiroshima

Your one-stop audio shop, Groovin’ Hiroshima, is a second-hand specialist for vinyl, CDs, and DVDs. Groovin’ both buys and sells music and offers a curation service for anyone wanting to spark life into their collection.

The main focus is on western music and Jazz, and there are some stores in the area, though you can find the main branch in Minami Ward’s Kyobashicho.

Where: 2-21 Kyobashi-Cho, Minami-Ku, Hiroshima-shi (map)
Website: groovin-jp.co.jp

Ooshio Records

An absolute box-diver’s dream, Ooshio Records is definitely the place for you if you are interested in all things retro. They specialize in Japanese editions of most genres, but as you can tell from its magnificent Showa-era decor, 60’s and 70’s Japanese pop is very much king.

It’s a bit of a trek – a seven-minute walk from Kabe Station – but for the spectacle alone, you should not let the journey put you off. It really is a one of a kind, where you may literally find ones of a kind!

Where: 3 Chome-46-20 Kabe, Asakita Ward, Hiroshima (map)
Website: ooshiorecords.com

Tower Records

Americans amongst you may be aware of Tower Records. Starting in Sacramento in the 1960s, it grew to become one of the biggest music outlets in the country. It filed for bankruptcy in 2006 in the States, but it never went away here in Japan.

Also selling DVDs, CDs, and merch, this is the place to find current releases, and they also have a decent selection of classic reprints.

Where: Hiroshima, Naka Ward, Shintenchi, 2-1 Hiroshima Parco Annex 9F (map)
Website: tower.jp

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Image: Mark Guthrie (Own Work)
Image: via https://www.dumbrecords.com/store
Image: via http://www.groovin-jp.co.jp/#
Image: via https://www.ooshiorecords.com/