Sawano Kohboh

Sawano Kohboh (澤野工房) is a Japanese jazz record label and footwear retailer based in Naniwa-ku, Osaka. It operates under the trade name Atelier Sawano and was founded in 1980 by Yoshiaki Sawano, the fourth-generation owner of a footwear shop in Osaka's Shinsekai district. The label's simple concept, 'If it sounds good, that's enough,' has earned it a dedicated following among jazz enthusiasts for the high quality of its CD and DVD productions. The company began by exporting Japanese jazz records to Europe and later expanded into record production and import sales, becoming the first Japanese distributor for the Dutch label Chris Cross Jazz. After a downturn in the late 1980s due to the shift from vinyl to CD, it withdrew from export in 1990 but revived the business five years later and started producing CDs in 1998. Its releases gained recognition, and by 2000, four of its titles were in the top 20 of HMV's modern jazz chart, including Vladimir Shafranov's 'Portrait in Music' at number one. The company was incorporated in 2002 as Sawano Kohboh Co., Ltd. and began producing DVDs and organizing concerts by its affiliated musicians. Sawano Kohboh has released CDs by numerous international jazz artists, including Georges Arvanitas, Michel Herr, Vladimir Shafranov, Daniel Humair, René Urtreger, Pierre Michelot, Giovanni Mirabassi, Rob Madna, Antonio Faraò, Klaus Weiss, Georges Paczynski, Michel Graillier, Riccardo Del Fra, Antoine Hervé, Chihiro Yamanaka, Steve Lacy, and Jean-Philippe Viret. The label's activities have also attracted attention from local government, and it has co-hosted jazz festivals with Naniwa Ward. A dedicated Sawano Kohboh corner exists at the '&on' general store in Namba Parks, selling all of the label's releases.

Sawano Kohboh was founded in 1980 by Yoshiaki Sawano, the fourth-generation owner of a footwear shop in Osaka's Shinsekai district. A passionate jazz fan since his university days, Sawano had amassed a large record collection, and his younger brother, also a jazz enthusiast, frequently traveled to Europe to buy records. When his brother moved to France, Sawano established Sawano Shokai in 1980. Initially, the business focused on exporting and introducing Japanese jazz records to Europe. Three years later, it began producing records and importing and selling them, becoming the first Japanese distributor for the Dutch label Chris Cross Jazz. However, in the late 1980s, the shift from vinyl records to CDs caused a downturn, forcing the company to withdraw from the export business in 1990. Five years later, it revived the export business and in 1998 started producing CDs. The quality of these CDs was highly regarded, and Sawano's products gradually began to be carried by major CD stores. By the HMV modern jazz chart of January 23, 2000, four of Sawano's releases were in the top 20, with Vladimir Shafranov's 'Portrait in Music' reaching number one. In 2002, the company was incorporated as Sawano Kohboh Co., Ltd. That same year, it began producing DVDs and organizing concerts by its affiliated musicians. Its activities have also attracted attention from local government, and it has held jazz festivals in cooperation with Naniwa Ward. A Sawano Kohboh corner has been set up at the '&on' general store in Namba Parks, selling all of the label's works.

• 2002

  Incorporated as Sawano Kohboh Co., Ltd.; began DVD production and organizing concerts.

• 2000

  Four releases in top 20 of HMV modern jazz chart, including Vladimir Shafranov's 'Portrait in Music' at No. 1.

• 1998

  Started producing CDs.

• 1995

  Revived export business.

• 1990

  Withdrew from export business due to the shift from vinyl to CD.

• 1983

  Began record production and import sales; became first Japanese distributor for Chris Cross Jazz.

• 1980

  Founded as Sawano Shokai by Yoshiaki Sawano, initially exporting Japanese jazz records to Europe.

High-quality jazz label with a simple, listener-focused philosophy, bridging European jazz and Japanese audiences.

• Portrait in Music

• CD releases by Georges Arvanitas

• CD releases by Michel Herr

• CD releases by Daniel Humair

• CD releases by René Urtreger

• CD releases by Pierre Michelot

• CD releases by Giovanni Mirabassi

• CD releases by Rob Madna

• CD releases by Antonio Faraò

• CD releases by Klaus Weiss

• CD releases by Georges Paczynski

• CD releases by Michel Graillier

• CD releases by Riccardo Del Fra

• CD releases by Antoine Hervé

• CD releases by Chihiro Yamanaka

• CD releases by Steve Lacy

• CD releases by Jean-Philippe Viret

1. 1Wikidata: Sawano Kohbohwikidata.org
2. 2Wikipedia (Japanese): 澤野工房ja.wikipedia.org