A mixed bag in Miyazaki with windswept Sonny Rollins photos to die for and a rather melancholic end to the visit, before Philip sets off on an epic one day journey north. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

The band breaks up to pursue solo careers, as James heads home with a man and and a squid, and Philip takes off across Kyushu in a search of four more highly-rated joints.Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

We go bananas before a bowl of lemon (yes, lemon) ramen and making it at last to two deeply different old school joints in Nagasaki. Some top Japan travel hacks, and James finally reveals at last that he's a 'two t-shirt a day' man.Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for assistance with sound.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

We take a fast boat ride across the bay as we head for Nagasaki and Philip mistakenly masquerades as Japan's greatest living photographer. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with soundOleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

James continues to alienate local tourist boards as we suffer further frustration in Saga, and finish the night with an utterly surreal stop in US Navy-town Sasebo. Not every day can be better than yesterday! Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for assistance with sound.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

We finish our first full – and utterly epic – Kyushu day with 3 more joints, burnt records, posted kimonos, tiny whisky shots, some unexpected royal family action and our regular late night konbini run. Oh, and James offends an owner’s son.Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.…

Still making our way around Kyushu, it's an emotional return for us both as the project comes full circle. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

Jam, a quick Jab and an inauguration into the Adams family in Fukuoka as a new Kyushu adventure ensues!Thanks as ever to Brian from Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound, and to Louie Lastic for the theme tune.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

We are back! James & Philip have a catch-up of all things kissa before diving into new adventures.Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

We are back with more stories, but before we get into our latest adventures in Kyushu and beyond, we have an extra special episode with some incredibly exciting news! Listen in to find out how you help all of James's stars align at once...Shout out as ever to Brian from Grooves Ahead for all his assistance.…

We take a more free jazz approach to this episode as we waffle unashamedly for about half an hour and reflect on what's been a truly incredible year for the project. James continues to reframe the English language in his own image.Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his patience and assistance.…

April's trip comes to an intimate end, not in that way, and we wrap up things with two stunning, and stunningly different places in the drinking lanes of the oddly tropical-feeling city of Kochi.Thank as ever to Brian for the sound mix and Louie Lastic for our theme music.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

We are in Shikoku at last as James continues to expand his palate while Philip comes to grips with an unexpected response (and not James' this time...).Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

A powdered-up James eats mountains of the shaved stuff as Philip tentatively dips his toe in the lesser-known jazz kissa art world in this last part of our three-day Kansai adventure. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

All editing prudence goes to the wall as we fall down a deep, deep Kansai-shaped hole in this feature-length episode which is the third of a four-parter...strap in! Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his assistance with sound.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

Disagreement is the name of the game in this second instalment of a four-parter over three hectic days in Kansai.Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for sound assistance and to Louie Lastic for our music track.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

Edible insects, jazz double entendres and some unreal Osaka joints in this first of a four-parter where we spend three hectic days in Kansai. Thanks to Brian of Grooves Ahead for sound assistance and to Louie Lastic for our music track.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

After his daring diversion into curry a few weeks ago in Masako, James reverts to the old anti-jazz kissa food ways as we get back into town for a good old-fashioned Tokyo episode with three cracking Tokyo joints!This episode is dedicated to the inimitable Natori-san of Osaka's legendary Bird/56, who sadly passed away on August 7, 2023.Thanks as al…

James continues to offend in the last of a four-parter trip up north: this time it's just the whole of the European continent. Philip recaps on some book launch party highlights in Belfast while James murders French words. And we visit the epic Paragonian run by the inimitable Hiroshi!Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

James pisses off another regional tourist board as we hit the snowless spring streets of Aomori for another couple of contrasting but equally brilliant joints.Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead for sound assistance, and to Louie Lastic for our theme music.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

In this second of four on a northern tour, we visit Morioka, officially the next best city after NYC apparently, for two great joints. And Philip has a serendipitous encounter with a certain Johnny...Thanks to Brian of Grooves Ahead for his help with all things sound.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

It's the turn of James to live vicariously in this first episode of a four-part sojourn to colder climes with teachers, taxi and a treasure trove of joints. Oh yeah, and The Crusaders.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

James chats to Philip about the mind-blowing experience he had seeing the Tokyo Jazz Joints photobook finally being born at the printers near Heidelberg in Germany! Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead, and to Louie Lastic for our theme music.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

Two men weep uncontrollably as they meet in a Shibuya hotel and finally recommence what they love doing most. Five years later, post-pandemic, we reunite to hit three Tokyo joints that symbolise the old and the new, and somewhere with the best of both!Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead, and to Louie Lastic for our theme music.…

A recap of the incredible support we have had with the book project, the next steps, and a couple of tantalising Tohoku pitstops. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

James (probably) offends all of Finland, and we have a quick catch up before announcing our big news!Buy the book! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/philiparneill/tokyo-jazz-jointsThanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

We're back with some stories and updates and while James swans about Kyushu and Honshu visiting jazz joints, Philip lives vicariously through the stories from the other side of the world...Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

The second part of James' solo trip on the island with a trip down memory lane and a distant brush with a famous Fred.Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

Pork 'belly' politics, Sony Rollins on the beach and a mixture of the new and old as James heads south on a solo mission.Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

Episode 44: Not the end by a long way, merely the end of the beginning. We first look back and then look forward to what is in store for Tokyo Jazz Joints in 2021 and beyond. And Philip finally gets the last word. Thanks as ever to Brian of Grooves Ahead, and to Louie Lastic for our theme music.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

Episode 43: Record cleaning dentists, curried gyoza, Guinness World Records and upright standing man (not James obviously). In the final part of our Tokyo Jazz Joints Awards we finally get to our our all-time favourite joint, not an easy task with so many to choose from. We have a go anyway just for the hell of it, peppered with the usual slick pre…

Episode 42: Dodgy snacks, retired teachers, sleeping in kitchens and more... Part 2 of our very own Tokyo Jazz Joints Awards, as we reminisce on the project so far, and choose some of our biggest regrets, and funniest and most baffling moments from the last 5 years. We’ll both get to our all-time favourite place in the next episode, but not before …

Episode 41: Tiny toilets, right wing politics, road rage, ice cream sundae dishes and more... We’re back with our very own Tokyo Jazz Joints Awards, as we reminisce on the project so far, and choose some of our weirdest, saddest, funniest and most irritating moments from the last 5 years. Eventually we’ll both get to our all-time favourite place, b…

A bumper length episode today as our journey comes to a climactic end with a manic, phenomenal day of discovery, and we hit 7 joints around Kyushu. More importantly, James finally reveals the secret ingredient to his luscious locks: the reason that you’ve really been listening all this time….We hope you’ve enjoyed coming on this epic trip with us, …

Welcome to Part 7 of 5 Days in June! We finish off a day of ups and downs with four incredibly cool and individually unique places in the amazing and funky waterfront city of Fukuoka. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.Oleh Philip Arneill & James Catchpole

Part 6 of 5 Days in June brings us easily the most beautiful location of any jazz kissa ever, and the uncovering of a beautiful Fender Rhodes hidden in a B&B, before a slightly frustrating afternoon of shuttered shops and a desperate search for some food! Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our th…

Our journey continues as we make a tight deadline and arrive in Kumamoto to spend the evening in a trio of very different joints, before finishing up with some dinner and jazz to line our stomachs, before a bit of a blow out for one of us...Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.…

So here is Part 4 of 5 Days in June. We hope you like it. Apart from James’ fashion show, we hike up a volcano (kind of), visit the awesomely tasteless RIFF in Kagoshima, and get serenaded over dinner by men in loincloths. Oh, and go to the epic, epic Paragon as we wind our way north on Kyushu island. All photos of the joints are on tokyojazzjoints…

5 Days in June: Part 3 is upon us, and still in Sapporo, we take a double bite at the Bossa cherry, and sleep in glorified coffins before dissecting Philip’s extensive morning routine. After breakfast at the wonderful Groovy, and a quick one in Mingus Coffee, we race back to the airport to jump on a plane for the next leg of the journey at the othe…

In Part 2 of 5 Days in June, we are still in Hakodate, where we uncover the incredible Leaf, before jumping on a slightly too long train ride to the biggest city in Hokkaido - a chance for James to catch up on some sleep of course - for an amazing evening in some utterly classic joints, some of which we knew about, some of which we didn’t. Thanks a…

Right. Here we go. We’re back and hope you’re ready to join us! 5 Days in June:Part 1 is live and we are kicking off in Haneda before hitting Hakodate to uncover the beautiful Sōen and the incredible Bop. 行きましょう〜 Oh, and James takes the first of many naps, probably.Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic…

Ep 32: This week we finish up with our final joints in Kansai and take the long way home back to where we started 32 episodes ago, via the faded seaside glamour of Atami and a wealthy Tokyo suburb. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.…

Episode 31: This week we hit a selection of joints that didn't quite fit neatly anywhere else and as ever, every one is a gem. We marvel at Philip's French, find out where the best place to store a bike helmet is, and finally put the great Bunca vs. Banka debate to bed once and for all. Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assist…

Episode 30: This week is the fourth and final part of our Tokyo Deep Cuts series, and in the spirit of leaving (some of)the best till last, we cruise the funkier streets of Kichijoji to take in Scratch and Sometime, before heading back via Shimokitazawa to call on Lady Jane. We head out to the suburbs to finish up in the incredibly enigmatic Genius…

Episode 29: This week we bring you all low before ending on a high, as we focus on the original raison d'etre of the Tokyo Jazz Joints project by looking at some of the amazing joints we visited, but which are sadly no longer with us.Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.…

Episode 28: This week we are back in the comforting arms of Mother Tokyo as we pick off another handful of epic and lesser known joints around the capital. We find out where to get some pricey minty peas, and why you should bring your own drinks to the irrepressible Intro in Takadanobaba.Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assis…

Episode 27: This week our international jazz joint journey of discovery continues as we bounce from North America to South and uncover the amazing Black Forest, hidden under a beautiful bookshop in the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires, and run by Jali and his partner Marcela. Jazz kissa culture really is irrepressible!All photos of Black Forest …

Episode 26: This week we are down in the old imperial capital to check out some of Kyoto's finest, where we encounter among other things an absolutely massive red fish and photos of Abdullah Ibrahim playing in a Japanese temple.Thanks as always to Brian of groovesahead.com for audio assistance and Louie Lastic for our theme music.…

A fictionalised version of our first visit to the incredible, inimitable Basie in Northern Japan, the jazz joint to end all joints.Story written by Philip Arneill. Soundscape by Brian of Grooves Ahead. Basie photo ©Philip Arneill 2020.+++++CreditsSound Effects: (freesound.org)scottyhigh20, cantikfrantik, sinatra314, bplayers, soapuel, khenshom, joa…

Episode 25: Sometimes less is more, and this is one of these times. This week we finally make it to our destination in this final instalment of a series of 3. Basie, the jazz joint to end all joints, speaks for itself.This episode also includes a fictionalised version of our visit to Basie.Story written by Philip Arneill. Soundscape by Brian of Gro…