Sanmon Yakuza: Memoire/Who Has the Right? (7-inch vinyl)

Supercore Records – First Release!

An exclusive double-sider 7-inch featuring Japanese reggae (“Wa-Reggae”) arrangements from the 1984 release by rock band SANMON YAKUSHA. I had long been running an independent label and releasing music, but those activities are now on hold. My mindset had drifted somewhere close to resignation. Yet there was something I had always wanted to do since my twenties: to launch a reissue label.

Even within music history, there are countless gem-like works—both domestic and international—that, despite their brilliance, have never reached a wide audience.
I wanted to focus on such music and records, and reintroduce them through a fresh perspective.

The label name is Supercore Records. Although I am based in Tokyo, I run a flagship store called “Supercore” in Fukuoka, so the name was simply chosen for consistency.
However, by coincidence, it felt surprisingly aligned with the philosophy of the label.

My partner is Hiracchi from the planning department—a friend of over 20 years. After discussion, we decided that, for the time being, our activity would center on reissuing Japanese reggae titles strictly on 7-inch format. At some point, buying records had become synonymous with buying 7-inches for me. I often found myself thinking, “I wish this song existed on a 7-inch”. This project is, in part, to fulfill that desire.

I believe diggers around the world will understand this feeling. Of course, Japan already has a deep-rooted reggae culture centered around scenes in places like Yokohama and Osaka—the so-called “Japa-Reggae”. However, Supercore Records will not focus there.
Instead, we aim to spotlight “reggae arrangements” found within Japanese pop and kayō (traditional pop), reframing them as rare groove works made in Japan. We define these as “Wa-Reggae”.

The first release is an exclusive double-sider 7-inch from the still-active rock band SANMON YAKUSHA, originally formed in 1977, featuring reggae arrangements on both sides. This is a highly sought-after rarity—an alternative facet of a band otherwise known for hard rock. Perhaps it can be likened to Led Zeppelin’s “D’yer Mak’er”.

The A-side is “Memoir (Tsuisō),” released in 1984. With ska-influenced cutting shaped by the contemporary sound of The Police and a New Wave tone, combined with melancholic yet powerful, steady vocals, the groove embodies the unique charm of Wa-Reggae. When discussing the release with songwriter Tetsu Hananoki, I was met with some surprise—perhaps because this track was considered relatively soft within their catalog.

“Why this song?” he wondered. But to me, it was exactly the right choice—an affirmation of what true discovery is. The B-side features “Who Has the Right?” also from 1984. While rooted in the strength of political roots reggae, its message-driven delivery carries the intensity of a hard rock context.

I am convinced this record will stand out as a defining hook on the dancefloor, shaping the flow of DJs’ sets in nightlife environments.

Shinya Shoji (Supercore Records)
Shinya Shoji (Creative Director)
Born in Yamagata in 1978. After co-founding the fashion label mister hollywood / N.Hoolywood in 2000, he established the music label Youth Records in 2004, followed by the creative studio 1994 in 2010. He left 1994 / Youth Records in 2020. Around the same time, he launched a new creative studio, Fu-10, and the music label shu-ha-ri, where he continues to work as a creative director, music producer, and art director. In 2022, he launched the eyewear label “Issun Ippai” with the Yokohama-based eyewear shop Suteki Megane Michio. In 2025, he opened the innovation restaurant “Supercore” in Fukuoka, which he also directs.

Instagram: @manatsumirai