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The Origins of HOSONO HOUSE: Tracing the Roots
For example, in “Jūsho Futei Mūshoku Tei Shūnyū,” there is a cheerful New Orleans funk influence, exemplified by Dr. John. “Rokka Bai Mai Beibī” evokes nostalgia for 1930s pop music and Hollywood tunes. The funkiness of “Aiai Gasa” and the 16 beats and rose piano in “Bara to Yajū” and “Fuku wa Uchi, Oni wa Soto” are strongly influenced by contemporary funk and R&B, as seen in artists like Sly & The Family Stone and Billy Preston.
This applies to all the songs, but regarding the deep vocals, Hosono has often stated that he was influenced by James Taylor’s singing style. Additionally, contemporary American rock bands such as Van Dyke Parks, Little Feat, The Band, Buffalo Springfield, and Moby Grape have continually influenced Hosono since his Happy End days.
It’s well known that HOSONO HOUSE was recorded at Haruomi Hosono’s home in the residential area of “America Village” in Sayama, Saitama. This location played a significant role as an influence. The area, once home to U.S. military officers near Johnson Air Base, transformed into affordable public housing, attracting Japanese people fascinated by foreign cultures.
Among the residents were musicians such as Minako Yoshida, Chū Kosaka, and Tetsu Okada (Moon Riders), as well as creative youth like the design team WORK SHOP MU!! (including members like Yukimasa Okumura and Hajime Tachibana).
In the turbulent 1970s, amidst pollution, the oil crisis, and economic stagnation, escaping from the rapidly disappearing “Kazemachi” in Tokyo, Hosono spent his days in the American-style houses with fellow artists. The floating mood of HOSONO HOUSE owes much to this unique creative environment.
Kazemachi refers to the scenery of Aoyama, Shibuya, and Azabu, where Takashi Matsumoto, the drummer and lyricist of Happy End, spent his youth. He explains in his work Kazemachi Shijin (1986) that he sought to depict the feeling of being a stranger in his familiar neighborhood, contrasting it with the unfamiliar landscapes of Aoyama now, exploring this paradox.
