TOGAWA, JUN tamahimesama YLR-28014
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Artist = TOGAWA, JUN
Title = tamahimesama
Label = YEN
Catalog# = YLR-28014
Barcode = none
Release = JAPAN
Year = 1984
RPM = 33rpm
Disc Size = 12"
Number of Discs = 1
Mono/Stereo = stereo
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he Theatrical Debut of a True Original: Jun Togawa’s “Tamahimesama”
Few artists have ever arrived on the music scene with a vision as fully formed and brilliantly strange as Jun Togawa. Her official solo debut, the 1984 album “Tamahimesama” (Princess Tamahime), stands as a landmark of Japanese avant-pop and an audacious opening statement. We’re looking at the original Japanese pressing on the esteemed Yen Records label, with the catalog number YLR-28014.
“Tamahimesama” introduced the world to Togawa’s fascinating and complex artistic persona. The album is a theatrical and conceptual work, exploring themes of femininity, biology, and the grotesque through a pop lens. The title itself, as she explained, refers to a chrysalis, a princess in a transitional, pupal state. This theme of metamorphosis and the strange beauty of the biological world permeates the entire record.
Musically, the album is a stunning achievement. Produced by Haruomi Hosono, it features the sophisticated electronic textures and synth-pop craftsmanship that were the hallmark of Yen Records. Yet, these sounds are bent into new and unusual shapes to fit Togawa’s unique world. The songs range from catchy, new wave-inflected pop to dramatic, almost cinematic pieces. Standout tracks like “Mushi no Onna” (Insect Woman) and the iconic title track showcase her incredible vocal range, which shifts from a sweet, almost childlike whisper to powerful, operatic heights in the blink of an eye.
Lyrically and thematically, “Tamahimesama” was unlike anything else in the mainstream. Togawa’s lyrics, which she co-wrote, are filled with vivid, often unsettling imagery drawn from the natural world, entomology, and human anatomy. It’s this combination of sophisticated pop music with challenging, thought-provoking concepts that made the album so revolutionary.
For any fan of experimental pop, 80s Japanese music, or simply artists who defy categorization, “Tamahimesama” is an essential and endlessly fascinating album. It is the brilliant starting point for one of music’s most unique and enduring careers. You can find this iconic piece of Japanese pop history in our store or on our website.