Part of a series of collections by legends of Japanese popular music. Taro Shoji (1898-1972) was an interesting and controversial figure, who majored in Marxist economics at Waseda University, and worked in China on the railways, organizing a union much to the disdain of his managers and the Imperial Japanese Army. His songs, beginning with Akagi no Komoriuta in 1934, often were about Japanese anti-heroes. Following the war, his music was banned by the American occupation forces as being too nationalistic, although was perhaps misunderstood. It was only in the 1960s when early Showa era songs became popular again, that Shoji's songs gained national attention once more. Great singing, and shamisen and koto accompaniment, in a kind of early version of enka. Fantastic stuff.
1. Mugi To Heitai 2. Shanghai No Machikado De 3. Tabikasa Douchuu 4. Meigetsu Akagiyama 5. Nozaki Kouta 6. Kokkyou No Machi 7. Kotei No Kokyou 8. Murasaki Kouta 9. Akagi No Komori Uta 10. Senjou Hatsubutai 11. Kiri No Minato No Akari Ga Urumu 12. Aa Kusamakura Ikutabi Zo 13. Gunkoku Maiougi 14. Ginza Owari Chou 15. Biwako Aika 16. Umi No Soko Sa He Kisha Ha Iku 17. Kudan No Sakura 18. Dai Ni No Kokyou 19. Kuroda Bushi 20. Kibou No Basha
