Japan discography

Japan discography
Studio albums6
EPs8
Live albums1
Compilation albums17
Singles23
Video albums4
Music videos12
Box sets3

The discography of British art pop/new wave band Japan, including their reformation as Rain Tree Crow, consists of six studio albums, seventeen compilation albums, one live album, and four video releases.

Albums

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[1] 		AUS
[2] 		CAN
[3][4][5] 		JPN
[6] 		NL
[7] 		NOR
[8] 		SWE
[9]
Adolescent Sex — — — 20 — — —
Obscure Alternatives
  • Released: 27 October 1978
  • Label: Hansa
  • Formats: LP, MC, 8-track
 — — — 21 41 — —
Quiet Life
  • Released: 7 December 1979[10]
  • Label: Hansa
  • Formats: LP, MC, 8-track
 13 [A] — 81 24 — — —
Gentlemen Take Polaroids
  • Released: 7 November 1980
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: LP, MC
 51 86 39 51 — — —
Tin Drum
  • Released: 13 November 1981
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: LP, MC
 12 — — 38 — 16 33
Rain Tree Crow
(Japan reformed as "Rain Tree Crow")
  • Released: 8 April 1991
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: CD, LP, MC
 24 — 72 49 61 — 33
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Notes

  1. ^ Quiet Life peaked at number 72 in February 1980. It was reissued in January 1982, peaking at number 53. Upon re-release in March 2021, it peaked at number 13.

Live albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[1] 		CAN
[12] 		JPN
[6] 		NL
[7] 		NZ
[13] 		SWE
[9]
Oil on Canvas
  • Released: 10 June 1983
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: 2xLP, MC
 5 91 11 29 20 35

Compilation albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK
[1] 		JPN
[6] 		US
[14]
The Singles – The Best
  • Released: 21 March 1981
  • Label: Hansa
  • Formats: MC
  • Japan-only release
 — — —
Assemblage
  • Released: 11 September 1981
  • Label: Hansa
  • Formats: LP, MC
 26 45 —
Japan
  • Released: 1 March 1982
  • Label: Epic
  • Formats: LP, MC
  • US-only release
 — — 204
Exorcising Ghosts
  • Released: 26 November 1984
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: CD, 2xLP, MC
 45 — —
Souvenir from Japan
  • Released: 23 October 1989[15]
  • Label: Hansa
  • Formats: CD, MC
 — — —
The Other Side of Japan
  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Receiver
  • Formats: CD, LP
 — — —
Best Selection
  • Released: 6 July 1994
  • Label: Hansa, BMG Victor
  • Formats: CD
  • Japan-only release
 — — —
In Vogue
  • Released: 24 August 1996
  • Label: Camden, BMG
  • Formats: CD
 — — —
Japan Is the Masterpiece, but New Too
  • Released: 4 September 1996
  • Label: Hansa, BMG Victor
  • Japanese-only promo release
 — — —
The Singles
  • Released: 4 September 1996
  • Label: Hansa, BMG Victor
  • Formats: 2xCD
  • Japanese-only release
 — — —
The Masters
  • Released: September 1997
  • Label: Eagle
  • Formats: CD
 — — —
The Best of Japan (Eternal Best)
  • Released: 21 November 1998
  • Label: Ariola, BMG
  • Formats: CD
  • Japan-only release
 — — —
The Collection
  • Released: 6 November 2000
  • Label: Armoury
  • Formats: CD
 — — —
The Best of Japan – Original Hits
  • Released: 2001
  • Label: Paradiso
  • Formats: CD
  • Belgium-only remastered re-release of Assemblage
 — — —
The Best of Japan
  • Released: 2 October 2002
  • Label: Ariola, BMG
  • Formats: CD
  • Japan-only release
 — — —
The Very Best of Japan
  • Released: 27 March 2006
  • Label: Virgin/EMI
  • Formats: CD
 — — —
The Collection — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Box sets

Title Details Peak chart
positions
JPN
[6]
Japan Collector's Edition
  • Released: October 1990
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: 3xCD
  • Limited edition
  • Includes Gentlemen Take Polaroids, Tin Drum and Oil on Canvas
 —
Prophétique 1978 ~ 1980
  • Released: 4 August 1993
  • Label: Hansa
  • Formats: 4xCD
  • Japan-only release
  • Includes Adolescent Sex, Obscure Alternatives, Quiet Life and an EP bonus disc
 86
Original Album Classics
  • Released: 28 March 2011
  • Label: Sony Music
  • Formats: 3xCD
  • Includes Adolescent Sex, Obscure Alternatives (with bonus tracks) and Quiet Life (with bonus tracks)
 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Repackaged sets

Title Details
Take Two: Adolescent Sex & Obscure Alternatives
  • Released: 1 August 1983
  • Label: Hansa, Arista
  • Formats: MC
Quiet Life / Assemblage
  • Released: 1995
  • Label: Arista, BMG
  • Formats: 2xCD
Gentlemen Take Polaroids / Tin Drum
  • Released: 21 October 2002
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: 2xCD
  • Limited edition
Gentlemen Take Polaroids / Oil on Canvas
  • Released: 27 June 2011
  • Label: Virgin/EMI
  • Formats: 2xCD

EPs and mini-albums

Title Details Peak chart
positions
JPN
Special Edition Five Song Extended Play
  • Released: 1980
  • Label: Hansa
  • Formats: 12"
  • Canada-only release
 —
Live in Japan
  • Released: July 1980
  • Label: Hansa
  • Formats: 12"
  • Live EP
 —
Gentlemen Take Polaroids
  • Released: October 1980
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: 2x7"
 —
The Singles
  • Released: 21 March 1981
  • Label: Hansa
  • Formats: 12" mini-album
  • Japan-only release
 36
The Art of Parties
  • Released: 29 April 1981
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: 12"
  • Canada-only release
 —
Nightporter
  • Released: 5 December 1982
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: 12"
  • Japan-only release
 35
The Art of Parties
  • Released: 15 September 2003
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: CD
  • Different from 1981 EP
 —
Introducing... Japan
  • Released: 20 May 2008
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: digital download
  • Only available from the UK iTunes Store
 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles

Single Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[1] 		BE
[16] 		IRE
[17] 		JPN NL
[7]
"Don't Rain on My Parade" 1978 — — — — — Adolescent Sex
"The Unconventional" — — — — —
"Sometimes I Feel So Low" — — — — — Obscure Alternatives
"Adolescent Sex" — 28 — — 21 Adolescent Sex
"Deviation" (Netherlands-only release) 1979 — — — — — Obscure Alternatives
"Life in Tokyo" — — — — — Non-album single
"Quiet Life" (Japan-only release) — — — — — Quiet Life
"I Second That Emotion" 1980 — — — 87 — Non-album single
"Quiet Life" (Netherlands and Germany-only release) — — — — — Quiet Life
"Gentlemen Take Polaroids" 60 — — — — Gentlemen Take Polaroids
"The Art of Parties" 1981 48 — — — — Tin Drum
"Life in Tokyo" — — — — — Assemblage
"Quiet Life" 19 — — — —
"Visions of China" 32 — — — — Tin Drum
"European Son" (Steve Nye Remix) 1982 31 — — — — Assemblage
"Ghosts" 5 — 19 — — Tin Drum
"Cantonese Boy" 24 — 20 — —
"I Second That Emotion" (Steve Nye Remix) 9 — 14 — — Assemblage
"Life in Tokyo" (Steve Nye Remix) 28 — 26 — —
"Nightporter" (Steve Nye Remix) 29 — 13 — — Gentlemen Take Polaroids
"All Tomorrow's Parties" (Steve Nye Remix) 1983 38 — — — — Assemblage
"Canton" (Live) 42 — — — — Oil on Canvas
"Blackwater"
(Japan reformed as "Rain Tree Crow") 		1991 62 — — — — Rain Tree Crow
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Videos

Video albums

Title Details
Oil on Canvas
Instant Pictures
  • Released: October 1984
  • Label: Virgin Video
  • Formats: VHS, VHD, Betamax, LaserDisc
  • Promo videos and alternate versions of live tracks
Video Hits
  • Released: 24 July 2001
  • Label: Hansa, BMG
  • Formats: DVD
  • Japan-only release
The Very Best of Japan
  • Released: 27 March 2006
  • Label: Virgin
  • Formats: DVD
  • Includes the Oil on Canvas concert and a collection of promo videos

Music videos

Title Year
"Don't Rain on My Parade" 1978
"Sometimes I Feel So Low"
"Communist China"
"Adolescent Sex"
"Life in Tokyo" 1979
"Quiet Life" 1980
"I Second That Emotion"
"Gentlemen Take Polaroids"
"Swing"
"Visions of China" 1981
"Ghosts" 1982
"Nightporter"

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "JAPAN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  2. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 153. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  3. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  4. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Image : RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  7. ^ a b c "dutchcharts.nl – Discographie Japan" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  8. ^ "norwegiancharts.com - Discography Japan". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  9. ^ a b "swedishcharts.com – Discography Japan" (in Swedish). Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  10. ^ "Japan-Quiet Life".
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Certified Awards". British Phonographic Industry.
  12. ^ Canada, Library and Archives (17 July 2013). "Image : RPM Weekly". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
  13. ^ "charts.org.nz - New Zealand charts portal". charts.nz. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  14. ^ "Bubbling Under the Top LPs" (PDF). Billboard. 3 April 1982. p. 72. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  15. ^ "New Albums" (PDF). Music Week. 21 October 1989. p. 60. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  16. ^ "ultratop.be - ULTRATOP BELGIAN CHARTS". ultratop.be. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  17. ^ "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 15 October 2020.