Epic Records Japan Explained

Epic Records Japan
Parent:	Sony Music Entertainment Japan
Founded:	(original) (relaunch)
Defunct:	(original)
Founder:	Shigeo Maruyama
Genre:	Various, mainly J-pop and J-rock, formerly video games
Country:	Japan

Epic Records Japan is a Japanese record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment Japan. Its founder was Shigeo Maruyama.

Between 1978 and 1988 the label operated as a wholly owned subsidiary: Epic/Sony Inc. (Japanese: 株式会社EPIC・ソニー) was established in August 1978^[1] and was folded back into CBS/Sony Group in March 1988.^[2]

Notable music artists for this company have included Hikaru Utada, Tetsuya Komuro, and Kimiko Itoh.

In 2001, it was re-established as .

Games published

During the late 1980s and early 1990s they also published video games for Nintendo consoles.

• 1987 - Tokoro-san no Mamoru mo Semeru mo for Famicom – developed by HAL Laboratory
• 1988 - Vegas Dream for Famicom
• 1989 - Japanese: 飛ing ヒーロー Flying Hero for Famicom – developed by Aicom^[3]
• 1989 - Tashiro Masashi no Princess ga Ippai for Famicom ^[4]
• 1990 - サッカー・ボーイ Soccer Boy = Soccer Mania for Game Boy
• 1990 - Solstice for Famicom – developed by Software Creations (UK)
• 1991 - RoboCop for Game Boy
• 1991 - Hakunetsu Pro Yakyuu Ganba League = Extra Innings for Famicom – developed by Sting^[5]
• 1991 - Jerry Ball = Smart Ball for Super Famicom
• 1991 - Dragon's Lair for Famicom – developed by Motivetime
• 1991 - Dragon's Lair for Game Boy – developed by Motivetime
• 1991 - Altered Space for Game Boy ^[6]
• 1991 - for X68000 and PC-98 - developed by The Bitmap Brothers
• 1991 - Hudson Hawk for Famicom
• 1992 - Hudson Hawk for Game Boy
• 1992 - Robocop2 for Game Boy
• 1992 - Hook for Famicom – developed by Ocean
• 1992 - Hook for Game Boy – developed by Ocean
• 1992 - Hook for Super Famicom – developed by Ukiyotei
• 1992 - Ganba League '93 for Famicom – developed by Sting
• 1993 - Japanese: ユートピア = for Super Famicom ^[7]
• 1993 - Solstice II = Equinox for Super Famicom – developed by Software Creations^[8]
• 1993 - Ganba League '94
• 1994 - Karura Ou = Skyblazer for Super Famicom – developed by Ukiyotei^[9]

Record labels

Active

• Epic Records Japan

Inactive

• Antinos
• Dohb Discs
• So What? Records
• Kowalski
• mf Records (joint venture with Motoharu Sano)
• Mint Age

Current artists

• 2PM
• 7!!
• Abingdon Boys School
• Akeboshi, Yoshio
• Angela Aki
• Aqua Timez
• Kousuke Atari
• Aura
• Brian the Sun
• Cinemusica
• The Condors
• Daisuke
• Deen
• Dreams Come True
• Dustz
• Hajime, Chitose
• Got7
• Halcali
• Hanabie.
• Haneyuri
• Hikaru Utada
• Ikimono-gakari
• Yuki
• Sawa
• LGMonkees (No Doubt Tracks/Epic)
• LMYK
• Lizabet
• Yui Makino
• Nao Matsushita
• Yuya Matsushita
• Yukie Nakama
• Nangi
• Naoto
• Nexz
• NiziU
• No3b
• Nodame Orchestra
• Nothing's Carved in Stone
• Pengin
• Motoharu Sano (Epic/mf)
• Shigi
• Solita
• Stance Punks (Epic/Kowalski/Dynamord)
• Stray Kids
• Sugaru, Matsutani (Epic/Informel)
• Masaki Suda
• Masayuki Suzuki
• Takachiya
• Yutaka Take
• Theatre Brook
• T.M.Revolution
• Uranino
• Anne Watanabe
• Misato Watanabe
• Yacht

Former artists

• ViViD
• Crystal Kay

External links

• Official website
• Epic/Sony at Discogs

Notes and References

1. http://www.sme.co.jp/sme/corporate/sme.html History.
2. CBS/Sony to Take Over 4 Subsidiaries. Jiji Press Ticker Service, February 12, 1988
3. http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Company:Aicom Aicom
4. Web site: Tashiro Masashi no Princess ga Ippai Release Information for NES – GameFAQs. gamefaqs.com.
5. http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Sting Sting
6. Web site: Altered Space: A 3-D Alien Adventure Release Information for Game Boy – GameFAQs. gamefaqs.com.
7. Web site: Utopia: The Creation of a Nation for Super Nintendo – GameFAQs. gamefaqs.com.
8. Web site: Equinox Release Information for Super Nintendo – GameFAQs. gamefaqs.com.
9. Web site: Skyblazer Release Information for Super Nintendo – GameFAQs. gamefaqs.com.