HONJOH, MISAKO foresight CI-34

A Look at Misako Honjoh’s 1985 Album ‘Foresight’ (CI-34)

Today, we are highlighting a key release from one of the pioneering women of Japanese heavy metal, Misako Honjoh. This database entry is for her 1985 album ‘Foresight,’ catalog number CI-34.

This LP was released on August 5, 1985 (with some sources also listing August 21), via the Continental label, a division of Teichiku Records. This was her seventh studio album and represents a fascinating point in her musical evolution.

While Honjoh’s early career was defined by the straight-ahead, powerful heavy metal of her “Witch Trilogy” (albums like ’Messiah’s Blessing’ and ‘The Cruiser’), ‘Foresight’ captures her transition into a more polished hard rock sound, incorporating poppier melodies and broader song structures.

The album still features plenty of heavy guitar riffs, as heard on tracks like “Dreams Transparent.” It also includes the hard-edged rock number “Wanna Be A Super Star,” which was notably composed by Takehiko “shake” Kogure, the famed guitarist from bands like Rebecca and RED WARRIORS.

‘Foresight’ is an excellent example of mid-80s Japanese rock, blending a hard-driving sound with Honjoh’s catchy, pop-infused vocals. It’s a high-quality album that, while rooted in the metal scene, is also sometimes re-evaluated today for its crossover appeal.

Tracklist: A1. In The World A2. Dreams Transparent A3. Riverside High Noon A4. Natural A5. No! Don’t Explain B1. Wanna Be A Super Star B2. Pedicure Talk B3. Sunshine Girl B4. Nobody Like You