Zankyō Records

Zankyō Records (残響レコード) is a Japanese independent record label founded in 2004 by Akihiro Kōno, who is also a guitarist in the bands te' and O'dile. The label grew out of the release of te's first single, which unexpectedly topped the in-store chart at Disk Union's Shimokitazawa branch and led to wider distribution. Its stated concept is 'a record company that changes the ears of 10,000 people.' The label is known for a roster spanning indie rock, post-rock, electronica and post-hardcore, often characterized by loud guitars and a melancholic, romantic atmosphere; some sources refer to this style as 'Zankyō-kei.' Over the years it has released music by acts such as te', 9mm Parabellum Bullet, cinema staff, People In The Box, mudy on the 昨晩, the cabs, 雨のパレード, and international artists including 65daysofstatic, Do Make Say Think, and Rolo Tomassi. Beyond its core label business, Zankyō has operated a studio, a directly managed CD shop called Zankyō SHOP (open in Shibuya from 2011 to 2015), an online store from 2016, and a seminar program called Zankyō-juku. It has also run the Zankyō Matsuri live event series, including a 5th-anniversary edition in 2009 and a 10th-anniversary tour in 2014. In 2020 it launched a collaborative label with the talent agency Cross Idea called Zankyō XiDEA. By 2016 the company had withdrawn from all businesses except label and management operations and reduced its staff to a very small number. It continues to release music and manage artists, with a current roster including te', KenCove, ERENA, シンダーエラ, じゅじゅ, SERANO, Mr.Hygge, The;Cutlery, The $100 Burger, and Miyake Haruka. The company is headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, and remains privately held.

Zankyō Records was founded in 2004 by Akihiro Kōno, a musician from Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, born in 1974. Kōno started the label with 100,000 yen after the first single by his band te' — initially stocked only at Disk Union's Shimokitazawa store — reached number one on the store's chart, prompting wider distribution. The label's concept is 'a record company that changes the ears of 10,000 people.' In its early years the label built a roster of Japanese indie, post-rock and post-hardcore acts, including 9mm Parabellum Bullet (2005–2006), niumun, naan, perfect piano lesson, salmon mousse papa, hologram, and later cinema staff (2008–2011), People In The Box (2007–2008), mudy on the 昨晩 (2008–2012), the cabs (2010–2013), and 雨のパレード (2014–2016). It also established sub-labels: under_bar (2005–2011), CONTRAST (for electronica and acoustic music, 2006–2010), and 残響Jazz (2010). The label also licensed and released music by international artists such as 65daysofstatic (2006–2013), Do Make Say Think (2008–2010), Rolo Tomassi (2013), and The Octopus Project (2014). In 2009, marking its 5th anniversary, the label held the 'Zankyō Matsuri' event at live houses in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka (two venues in Tokyo), featuring label bands and guests such as The 50 Kaitenz (Osaka only), LOST IN TIME, and sleepy.ab (Tokyo only). The event was held annually from 2011 to 2014, and for the 10th anniversary it became a tour of ten live houses nationwide. On May 3, 2011, the label opened a directly managed CD shop, Zankyō SHOP, in Shibuya, Tokyo; it hosted in-store live performances but closed on May 10, 2015. From January 2016 the label has operated an online store. By 2016 the company had withdrawn from all businesses except label and management operations, and its staff had been reduced to a very small number. In 2020 it launched a collaborative label with the talent agency Cross Idea called Zankyō XiDEA. The label continues to release music and manage artists, with a current roster including te', KenCove, ERENA, シンダーエラ, じゅじゅ, SERANO, Mr.Hygge, The;Cutlery, The $100 Burger, and Miyake Haruka. The company is headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, and remains privately held.

• Akihiro Kōno founds Zankyō Records with 100,000 yen.

• Sub-label under_bar established; early roster includes 9mm Parabellum Bullet, niumun, naan, perfect piano lesson, salmon mousse papa.

• Sub-label CONTRAST established for electronica and acoustic music; international artist 65daysofstatic joins.

• 5th anniversary 'Zankyō Matsuri' held in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.

• Sub-label 残響Jazz established; group annual sales reach 500 million yen.

• Directly managed CD shop 'Zankyō SHOP' opens in Shibuya, Tokyo.

• Zankyō Matsuri becomes an annual event (held 2011–2014).

• 10th anniversary Zankyō Matsuri tour visits 10 live houses nationwide.

• Zankyō SHOP closes.

• Online store begins operation; company withdraws from all businesses except label and management.

• Collaborative label 'Zankyō XiDEA' launched with talent agency Cross Idea.

Independent Japanese label focused on post-rock, indie rock, electronica and post-hardcore, with a concept of 'changing the ears of 10,000 people' and a distinctive 'Zankyō-kei' sound.

• te'

• KenCove

• ERENA

• シンダーエラ (cinder-ella)

• じゅじゅ (jyujyu)

• SERANO

• Mr.Hygge

• The;Cutlery

• The $100 Burger

• Miyake Haruka

• 9mm Parabellum Bullet

• cinema staff

• People In The Box

• mudy on the 昨晩

• the cabs

• 雨のパレード

• 65daysofstatic

• Do Make Say Think

• Rolo Tomassi

• The Octopus Project

• Zankyō Matsuri

1. 1残響 - Official Websitezankyo.co.jp
2. 2会社概要 - 残響zankyo.co.jp
3. 3Zankyō Records - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4残響レコード - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org