After studying the classical guitar and the piano as a child,[1] in the 1960s Kitajima was a member of his cousin Yūzō Kayama's band The Launchers.[2] After graduating from Keio University, and already a successful composer of TV and advertising jingles, he moved for one year to the UK in 1971, which brought him in to contact with British folk and psychedelic rock. Inspired in particular by The Beatles, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Syd Barrett, he dubbed himself as 'Justin Heathcliff' (picked for its English-sounding quality) and issued his lone eponymous album. Released only in Japan, the album became highly prized in collector's circles for its good-natured idiosyncrasy and casual melodicism.
In 1974, he moved to the Los Angeles area, USA, where he signed a contract with Island Records[4] Later he opened the East Quest Studios there.[1] In 1991, Kitajima released his critically acclaimed album Behind the Light in the USA (Higher Octave Music), again under his own name. In it, he blended elements of New Age and traditional Japanese music, e.g. he used the sounds of koto and shakuhachi.
Wishing to explore the expanding world of dance and electronica music, Kitajima began his collaboration with instrumentalist/composer/producer Chris Mancinelli. During the early 1990s the production team initiated a partnership by producing and arranging the albums of many artists in the Asian markets for Warner Bros, Sony Music, Toshiba-EMI, and Pony Canyon Records. These included remixes for the Warner Bros. release of Mari Henmi's "Mon Cheri Mari" and a highly revered re-mix of the all-time classic song "Sukiyaki" by Japanese legend Kyu Sakamoto for Sony Music. These collaborations lead to a record deal with the Virgin/CyberOctave label and the ground breaking release of Beyond the Circle. The guys also found time to create the underground smash Fabulous Breaker Boys techno/surf release which was a #1 seller on the now infamous Napster and mp3.com websites. Following this was a project recorded for Miles Copeland's Ark21/mondorhythmica label entitled Two Bridges Crossing (2004). This music was also featured on the label's acclaimed compilation series Zen and the Art of Chilling (2002). Copeland shuttered the record label but the project was later released independently.
Kitajima began to receive even wider interest in the West when the track "You Know What I Mean" was featured on the Asian volume of the Love, Peace & Poetry compilation series in 1999, and has since been reissued on CD. After releasing the album, Kitajima has continued to work under his own name. Now associated more closely with New Age music than pop, he currently resides and works in Los Angeles.
In 2000, he founded East Quest Records, Inc., a record company.
^喜多嶋修 作曲家/音楽プロデューサー (in Japanese). Retrieved January 1, 2014..
^喜多嶋舞が東大卒エリート社員と熱愛 (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
External links
Dr. Osamu Kitajima's Website
Osamu Kitajima at Forced Exposure
. jrawk.com. Archived from the original on 2012-03-15.
Osamu Kitajima biography by Craig Harris, discography and album reviews, credits & releases at AllMusic
Osamu Kitajima discography, album releases & credits at Discogs.com
Osamu Kitajima albums to be listened as stream at Spotify.com
January 23, 2023
osamu, kitajima, 喜多嶋, also, known, pseudonym, justin, heathcliff, japanese, musician, producer, composer, multi, instrumentalist, 喜多嶋, 修also, known, asjustin, heathcliffborn, 1949, february, 1949, chigasaki, kanagawa, japangenreselectronic, electronic, rock, i. Osamu Kitajima 喜多嶋 修 also known by the pseudonym Justin Heathcliff is a Japanese musician producer composer and multi instrumentalist Osamu Kitajima喜多嶋 修Also known asJustin HeathcliffBorn 1949 02 03 February 3 1949 age 73 Chigasaki Kanagawa JapanGenresElectronic electronic rock instrumental new age rock progressive rock psychedelic rock world traditional Years active1960s LabelsIsland RecordsAlfa East Quest RecordsCyber Octave Mesa BluemoonWebsitewww wbr eastquest wbr com Contents 1 History 2 Personal life 3 Discography selection 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditAfter studying the classical guitar and the piano as a child 1 in the 1960s Kitajima was a member of his cousin Yuzō Kayama s band The Launchers 2 After graduating from Keio University and already a successful composer of TV and advertising jingles he moved for one year to the UK in 1971 which brought him in to contact with British folk and psychedelic rock Inspired in particular by The Beatles Tyrannosaurus Rex and Syd Barrett he dubbed himself as Justin Heathcliff picked for its English sounding quality and issued his lone eponymous album Released only in Japan the album became highly prized in collector s circles for its good natured idiosyncrasy and casual melodicism After this album he dropped the pseudonym and in 1974 released his debut album Benzaiten Island Records under his own name This instrumental electronic music album was melodically rich and can be defined as a mix of progressive rock and traditional Japanese music 3 The album also featured Haruomi Hosono and it utilized various electronic equipment such as a synthesizer rhythm machine electronic drums electric guitars and electric bass 3 In 1974 he moved to the Los Angeles area USA where he signed a contract with Island Records 4 Later he opened the East Quest Studios there 1 In 1991 Kitajima released his critically acclaimed album Behind the Light in the USA Higher Octave Music again under his own name In it he blended elements of New Age and traditional Japanese music e g he used the sounds of koto and shakuhachi Wishing to explore the expanding world of dance and electronica music Kitajima began his collaboration with instrumentalist composer producer Chris Mancinelli During the early 1990s the production team initiated a partnership by producing and arranging the albums of many artists in the Asian markets for Warner Bros Sony Music Toshiba EMI and Pony Canyon Records These included remixes for the Warner Bros release of Mari Henmi s Mon Cheri Mari and a highly revered re mix of the all time classic song Sukiyaki by Japanese legend Kyu Sakamoto for Sony Music These collaborations lead to a record deal with the Virgin CyberOctave label and the ground breaking release of Beyond the Circle The guys also found time to create the underground smash Fabulous Breaker Boys techno surf release which was a 1 seller on the now infamous Napster and mp3 com websites Following this was a project recorded for Miles Copeland s Ark21 mondorhythmica label entitled Two Bridges Crossing 2004 This music was also featured on the label s acclaimed compilation series Zen and the Art of Chilling 2002 Copeland shuttered the record label but the project was later released independently Kitajima began to receive even wider interest in the West when the track You Know What I Mean was featured on the Asian volume of the Love Peace amp Poetry compilation series in 1999 and has since been reissued on CD After releasing the album Kitajima has continued to work under his own name Now associated more closely with New Age music than pop he currently resides and works in Los Angeles In 2000 he founded East Quest Records Inc a record company In 2004 he earned a doctorate in music therapy 1 Personal life EditHe married Yōko Naitō in 1970 They have three children one of their daughters Mai Kitajima is an actress 5 Discography selection EditJustin Heathcliff Justin Heathcliff 1971 Fumio amp Osamu Shinchuugoku 1972 フミオ amp オサム 新中国 Benzaiten 1974 弁才天 Osamu 1977 オサム Masterless Samurai 1978 素浪人 Dragon King 1979 Face to Face 1983 The Source 1986 Passages 1987 In Minds Way 1987 FM Shrine 1987 California Roll 1988 Sweet Chaos 1990 Mandala 1991 曼荼羅 Behind the Light 1992 Beyond the Circle 1996 EP Breath of Jade 2001 Two Bridges Crossed w Chris Mancinelli 2004 The Sound of Angel 2004 Epitome 2009 The Sacred Land NHK HD Documentary Soundtrack 2010 Over the Brink 2013 Torii In The Sea 2019 Around the Edges 2020 References Edit a b c Osamu Kitajima biography at nippop com Archived from the original on June 26 2018 Retrieved January 1 2014 喜多嶋修 in Japanese Tower Records Retrieved January 1 2014 a b Osamu Kitajima Benzaiten 1974 at Discogs 喜多嶋修 作曲家 音楽プロデューサー in Japanese Retrieved January 1 2014 喜多嶋舞が東大卒エリート社員と熱愛 in Japanese Asahi Shimbun Retrieved January 1 2014 External links EditDr Osamu Kitajima s Website Osamu Kitajima at Forced Exposure Justin Heathcliff Justin Heathcliff 1971 album review jrawk com Archived from the original on 2012 03 15 Osamu Kitajima biography by Craig Harris discography and album reviews credits amp releases at AllMusic Osamu Kitajima discography album releases amp credits at Discogs com Osamu Kitajima albums to be listened as stream at Spotify com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Osamu Kitajima amp oldid 1134187263, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
