Ward Records

Ward Records (ワードレコーズ) is a Japanese record company headquartered in Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. It was founded in 2002 by Yasutaka Namiki, a former record-company employee. The label's core business is the production and sale of Japanese editions of works by overseas artists — licensing foreign releases, adding Japanese-language booklets, lyric translations and bonus material, and distributing them to the Japanese market. While it is best known for rock, progressive rock and heavy metal, its founder has stated that he releases whatever he personally considers good regardless of genre, and the catalogue does in fact extend beyond rock. The label operates a sub-label, Chaos Reigns, dedicated to extreme metal. It also runs its own e-commerce operation, Ward Records Direct (ワードレコーズ・ダイレクト), through which it sells CDs, LPs, magazines and concert-related products directly to fans. The store's catalogue runs to several thousand items, spanning new releases, pre-orders, limited Japanese pressings, signed editions and imports. Ward Records' release slate is heavily oriented toward international hard rock and metal acts. Recent and upcoming titles promoted on its store include Stryper's 'Throne Of Thorns', Kai Hansen's 'Born With A Hammer', Anthrax's 'Cursum Perficio', Hollywood Vampires' 'At Montreux Jazz Festival', Marilyn Manson's 'One Assassination Under God – Chapter 2', Asia's 'Indigo', Equilibrium's 'Equinox', Sinner's 'Boom Bang Goodbye', Mad Max's 'Stories of Destiny' and Riot's 'RIOT祭2024 LIVE IN JAPAN', alongside Japanese artists such as Yui Sakakibara and Yasuharu Takanashi. The label frequently offers Japan-only configurations — for example 180g heavyweight vinyl pressed in Japan, Japan-limited colour LPs, Blu-ray Audio with Dolby Atmos, and editions bundled with hand-signed cards. Beyond recorded music, Ward Records is involved in bringing overseas artists to Japan and in related live activity. Its site has hosted ticketing and tour information, including the Myrath 'The Magical Tour 2020 in Japan' dates at Shibuya Stream Hall, which were ultimately cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company also publishes or distributes the Japanese rock magazine BURRN! through its store and promotes television programming such as tvk's '伊藤政則のROCK CITY'. Ward Records remains a privately held, independent Japanese label. Its identity rests on curation and localization: selecting overseas rock and metal releases, producing high-quality Japanese editions, and serving a dedicated domestic fan base through direct sales and artist-related events.

Ward Records was established in 2002 by Yasutaka Namiki, who had previously worked at a record company. From the outset the business was built around licensing and localizing overseas recordings for the Japanese market: producing Japanese editions of foreign artists' albums, adding Japanese-language booklets and lyric translations, and selling them through Japanese retail and distribution channels. The company is headquartered in Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Although the label became closely associated with rock — particularly progressive rock and heavy metal — Namiki has said that he releases works he personally judges to be good, regardless of genre, and the catalogue accordingly includes releases outside rock. To serve the heavier end of the market, Ward Records created the sub-label Chaos Reigns, dedicated to extreme metal. Over the years the label built a broad roster of international hard rock and metal artists for the Japanese market. Its promotional calendar is dominated by simultaneous or near-simultaneous Japanese releases of overseas albums, often with premium Japan-only configurations. Examples visible on its store include Stryper's 'Throne Of Thorns', Kai Hansen's 'Born With A Hammer', Anthrax's 'Cursum Perficio' (including a fully Japanese-produced 180g 2LP), Hollywood Vampires' 'At Montreux Jazz Festival', Marilyn Manson's 'One Assassination Under God – Chapter 2', Equilibrium's 'Equinox', Sinner's 'Boom Bang Goodbye', Mad Max's 'Stories of Destiny', Coreleoni's 'Generection', Metalite's 'Discovery', and Riot's 'RIOT祭2024 LIVE IN JAPAN' in multiple CD/DVD/Blu-ray combinations. The label also handles Japanese acts such as Yui Sakakibara and Yasuharu Takanashi. A significant part of the operation is direct-to-consumer. Ward Records runs the online store Ward Records Direct (ワードレコーズ・ダイレクト), whose catalogue runs to several thousand items and includes CDs, LPs, magazines and event-related goods. Through this store the company sells Japan-only pressings, limited colour vinyl, Blu-ray Audio editions with Dolby Atmos, and bundles with hand-signed cards. It also sells the Japanese rock magazine BURRN! and promotes television programming such as tvk's '伊藤政則のROCK CITY'. Ward Records has also been active in live music in Japan. Its website has hosted tour and ticketing information for visiting overseas artists; a notable case was Myrath's 'The Magical Tour 2020 in Japan', scheduled for Shibuya Stream Hall on March 20–21, 2021, which the company cancelled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and international travel restrictions, arranging refunds through the relevant ticket agencies and its own store. The company stated it would consider new dates once the pandemic came under control. Today Ward Records remains a privately held, independent Japanese record company. Its role in the market is that of a curator and localizer of international rock and metal, combining physical-format expertise — Japanese pressings, audiophile and collector editions — with a direct sales channel and live-event activity aimed at the Japanese fan base.

• 2026

  Japan-only editions of Asia's 'Indigo' and other international releases announced.

• 2021

  Myrath's Japan tour at Shibuya Stream Hall cancelled due to COVID-19; refunds arranged.

• 2002

  Ward Records founded by Yasutaka Namiki.

• Chaos Reigns sub-label established for extreme metal releases.

• Ward Records Direct online store launched, offering thousands of items.

Independent Japanese label and direct retailer focused on curated Japanese editions of overseas rock, progressive rock and heavy metal, with Japan-only premium formats and direct-to-fan sales.

• Stryper – Throne Of Thorns (CD / CD + hand-signed card)

• Kai Hansen – Born With A Hammer (CD / CD + hand-signed card)

• Anthrax – Cursum Perficio (CD / Japan-produced 180g 2LP)

• Hollywood Vampires – At Montreux Jazz Festival (2CD)

• Marilyn Manson – One Assassination Under God – Chapter 2 (CD)

• Asia – Indigo (CD / CD+Blu-ray Audio Dolby Atmos / Japan-limited colour 2LP / signed-card edition)

• Equilibrium – Equinox (CD)

• Sinner – Boom Bang Goodbye (CD)

• Mad Max – Stories of Destiny (CD)

• Coreleoni – Generection (CD + bonus CD)

• Metalite – Discovery (CD)

• Riot – RIOT祭2024 LIVE IN JAPAN (4CD / 2DVD / Blu-ray / combos)

• A Cold Paradise – A Cold Paradise (CD, Japanese booklet and lyric translation)

• BURRN! magazine (monthly issues)

1. 1ワードレコーズ・ダイレクト / ★TOPページwardrecords.com
2. 2MYRATH THE MAGICAL TOUR 2020 IN JAPAN - ワードレコーズ・ダイレクトwardrecords.com
3. 3ワードレコーズ・ダイレクト / 全商品wardrecords.com
4. 4ワードレコーズ・ダイレクト / A Cold Paradise【CD】wardrecords.com
5. 5Ward Records - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6ワードレコーズ - Wikipedia (ja)ja.wikipedia.org