Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980-1990

This meticulously curated anthology surveys a specific, highly refined era of Japanese environmental music ('kankyō ongaku') initially designed to soundtrack public spaces, architecture, and retail environments. Featuring pioneering artists like Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Hiroshi Yoshimura, the tracks employ nascent synthesizer technology to craft serene, minimalist atmospheres. Its release sparked a massive international reappraisal of 1980s Japanese ambient music.