Dec 11, 2024
Welcome to episode 128 of Holly Jolly X'masu! In this special
X’mas Stars On 78 episode, I talk about a selection of my Christmas
78s.
I hope you enjoyed this look at older Japanese Christmas records.
The work and care that goes into these really make me appreciate
them even more. Even though I’ve been collecting them for nearly
five years, every time I listen to one, I can’t help but think
about how remarkable it is that they’re still available.
The best example of this is my Fumiko Noso record from 1909. The
fact that this brittle disc of shellac has survived 115 years
without any major damage is impressive enough, but it’s also lived
through numerous earthquakes, tsunamis, two world wars, and a
nuclear attack, not to mention being shipped halfway around the
world. Being able to listen to records like that is one of the most
fulfilling things about this hobby.
Towards the end of the episode, I mentioned how Yuji Koseki’s
record was the perfect bookend to the episode. Other than having it
end with another version of “Firefly Light,” and spacing out the
two versions of “Jingle Bells,” the other coincidences weren’t
planned. Before I started writing this episode, I didn’t realize he
was born the same year Noso’s “Firefly Light” was released, and
that Ichiro Fujiyama, the singer who most helped boost the success
of Koseki’s Pop songs, had started out by taking piano lessons from
Noso and her father. I loved that it worked out that way.
As for the picture discs, I have quite a few more that I’ll talk
about eventually. Keep an eye on my social media for pictures of
them.
As always, any feedback on this episode would be appreciated. If
have any suggestions, or if you’d like to recommend a song or album
for a future episode, drop me a line and let me know.
Remember, I've added a button to my Ko-fi page. If you'd like to support me one cup
of coffee at a time, a donation is only $3. I’ve also opened
a Redbubble store. I only have a
couple designs up, but keep an eye on it as I’ll be trying to add
more. Half of any proceeds or donations received will be donated to
support the people of Ukraine, while the rest will be used to
purchase new Japanese Christmas music to review for future
episodes. You can also find me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
And if you get a chance, leave me a review on iTunes. Thanks!
