"Ikebukuro Dance Party" tries to capture the pulsating spirit of one of the famous night life districts in Tokyo. "Amerika-mura" is a part of down town Osaka where the cosplay types love to parade their wild and wacky outfits. "Shinsaibashi" is a very lively part of Osaka where the clubs beat on until the early hours. The song "Nagasaki" reflects on the sad history of this western city, site of the second A-bomb attack. In "The Battle for Okinawa, 1945-" I try to capture not only the awful tragedy of the WWII battle, but also the ongoing struggle by Okinawans to keep their land and culture. "Mt Koya" oozes with the mysterious atmosphere of the mountain headquarters of the Shingon school of Esoteric Buddhism. "Katsuoji Temple" continues the reflective mood of the temple which has developed a reputation as a place to pray if you want to be a winner. Finally, the album ends with "Modernization", which combines traditional and contemporary sounds in a mixture that to me encapsulates the complexity and diversity of modern Japan. I hope you enjoy the music!
