Music to eat sushi by

May 14, 2009 1:26 PM

What type of music would you want to hear playing in the background if you went out to a nice-ish non traditional sushi bar for dinner? Nothing too intrusive, extra bonus points for music originating from Japan.
posted by newpotato to food & drink (27 comments total)

Pizzacato Five?
posted by The Whelk at 1:31 PM on May 14 [1 favorite has favorites]

On the Love Beach by Nagisa Ni Te
posted by dydecker at 1:32 PM on May 14

Asobi Seksu is dreamy and low-key and makes me think of pink shiny bubbles.
posted by zoomorphic at 1:33 PM on May 14

I rather like some of Ryuichi Sakamoto's work. And Kyoto Jazz Massive are quite good, for a different sound.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:36 PM on May 14

Kahimi Karie does an amazing cover of The Harder They Come by Jimmy Cliff that I would love to hear eating sushi out.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 1:37 PM on May 14

isan
posted by Jaltcoh at 1:38 PM on May 14

Wait, no...

I Am Robot and Proud

(Japanese, instrumental)
posted by Jaltcoh at 1:40 PM on May 14

The Sakana Song
posted by dydecker at 1:43 PM on May 14

ooooooooh seconding the Isan. They're great for damn near anything you do.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 1:49 PM on May 14

Mefi's own flapjax at midnite.
posted by umbú at 1:57 PM on May 14

Susumu Yokota.
posted by mds35 at 2:12 PM on May 14

DJ Krush.
posted by box at 2:17 PM on May 14

Mono — Japanese post-rock
posted by martens at 3:10 PM on May 14

Yellow Magic Orchestra
posted by not_on_display at 3:18 PM on May 14

I always enjoy some Utada when I go out for sushi. Seconding Asobi Seksu too.
posted by joydivasian at 3:21 PM on May 14

I tend to go for solo instrumental stuff for dinner. My favorites are Thelonious Monk's Solo Monk or Alone in San Francisco (there's also a more comprehensive collection called Monk Alone).

Another great option is Luiz Bonfa's solo recordings, Solo in Rio 1959. Really gorgeous.
posted by 6and12 at 3:42 PM on May 14

Shugo Tokumaru.
posted by synaesthetichaze at 4:00 PM on May 14

Hey, thanks, umbú, for linking to my stuff! I'll add two from my Japonisme series, cause I think they might also fill the bill nicely.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:31 PM on May 14

No. 9 (Joe Takayuki)

Takagi Masakatsu
posted by VikingSword at 5:49 PM on May 14

Nujabes.
Amazing amazing Japanese producer with some great instrumentals.
posted by ad4pt at 6:53 PM on May 14

Takemitsu? A lot of his music is light and jazzy, but intelligent.
posted by roll truck roll at 6:53 PM on May 14

The album Ki-Oku by DJ Krush and Toshinori Kondo.
posted by Beardman at 7:25 PM on May 14

Still not sure what kind of mood you want to set. Do you want to keep the energy up or calm it down? Modern or traditional?

For semi-traditional Japanese music: Yoshida brothers. (maybe a little too uptempo)

How about Jaztronik?

United Future Organization.

Cornelius.

FPM.

Not from Japan, but Bebel Gilberto is good to eat anything by.

Also not Japanese, but maybe the
Verve remixes?
posted by Ookseer at 7:40 PM on May 14

Ookseer, you seem to be spot on. Yoshida brothers, though I like their sound, might be a bit too uptempo. Loved Jaztronik, Cornelius, some of FPM, and the Verve remixes.
Also really liked DJ Krush and Kyoto Jazz Massive. Anything I marked as a favorite, actually, I liked quite a bit.
Flapjax, your Japonisme tracks are fantastic.

I'm really appreciating the more ambient feeling stuff, but trying not to be too lounge-y, Looking for more modern stuff, without going too deep into electronic or J-pop, and though I mentioned Japanese based musicians, it doesn't necessarily need to be.

A lot of really great suggestions, thanks to everyone so far.
posted by newpotato at 9:29 PM on May 14

Akira Kosemura.
Haruka Nakamura.
And of course, Rei Harakami.
posted by misozaki at 10:13 PM on May 14

Flipper's Guitar
posted by snofoam at 1:41 PM on May 15

a 2nd for Kahimi Karie, 3rd for FPM and I'd also add:


Audio Sports - hip hop with Yamatsuka Eye of Boredoms, electronic composer Aki Onda and then-battle DJ Nobukazu Takemura

Bulljun - producer of mad beats

Cappablack - down tempo hip hop/illbient beats

INO hidefumi - Satisfaction is his take on the 70s standards. Very jazzy stuff.

Jemapur - electronic hip-hop

Lullatone - electro-pop duo

Nao Tokui - some nice electronics

Riow Arai - electronic hip-hop

Takagi Masakatsu - has an album Eating and another one called Eating 2. Rehome is pretty nice too
posted by cjw333 at 1:44 AM on May 16 [1 favorite has favorites]