Nippon Noise

Festival: 5th One Way Contest
Date: Likely sometime in Spring, day unknown
Venue/festival location: Unknown, likely held in Kichijoji
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Competitors:
Unknown

Festival: W² (Wind&Wave)
Date: Unknown, likely July
Venue/festival location: Unknown
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors: Unknown

Tournament Grand Champion: Unknown

Festival: Stage Flight
Date: July 31
Venue/festival location: Nitori Culture Hall, Sapporo
Special guest performer: Second Helping, Minister
Compilation album released: Yes (Stage Flight ’80ライブレコード)

Tournament Day Competitors (12):
Soul Itch
Magobee
Radical Schwatch
Meadows
Noritake China
Mercy
Modern
List
Midnight Blue
Jongura
Choku & Moon Express (直＆ムーンエクスプレス)
Bliss Band

Tournament Grand Champion:
Mercy

Other Tournament Champions:
Magobee
Noritake China

Additional Tournament Prizes:
Best vocalist: Akiko Sakai from Meadows
Best keyboardist: Hiroki Uematsu from Magobee
Best guitarist: Makoto Ono from Magobee
Best saxophone: Jō Suzuki from Radical Schwatch
Best drummer: Naoto Watanabe from Mercy

Festival: Rock Jam
Date: Unknown (likely early August)
Venue/festival location: Tokyo Electron Hall Miyagi
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: Yes (Rock Jam ’80ライブレコード)

Tournament Day Competitors:
(Note* I believe there were more than the 11 competitors listed below.)
Ursaders
Tama Yabu Band
Wakakusa Jido-kai
Out Burst
Fire Hydrant
Storm
Lemon Company
Epitarious
Mojo Boogie
Stainless Hino Band
Unspecified other bands

Tournament Grand Champion:
Storm

Other Tournament Champions:
Unknown

Historical significance notes: The first Rock Jam band battle. Nothing too outstanding, but the bands were decent considering it was their first year. Both Fire Hydrant and Epitarious were heavy metal / hard rock bands and both made it onto the festival’s live album, Fire Hydrant with the song “Sai-Tama-Shock-Hin” and Epitarious with “Get the Fire“.

Festival: WestWave
Date: Unknown, likely July or August
Venue/festival location: Unknown
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: Yes (WestWave ’80ライブレコード)

Tournament Day Competitors:
Sheer Heart
Shed
Acid Queen
Super Cocaine
Seiyūkai (正友会)
Setonaikai (瀬戸内海)
See See
Muscat
Angie
Ryūsei Shōnen Papi Band (流星少年パピイバンド)
U.F.B.
Unknown other bands

Tournament Grand Champion: Unknown

Festival: MidLand
Date: August 2
Venue/festival location: Aichi Kinro Kaikan
Special guest performer (tournament day): None
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors (18):
Rhythm Section
Affection
Unknown Soldiers Last Stand
Doratama Queen (怒羅偶Queen)
Filty
Honey
Tip
Tomi Band
Elf
ΣMB
Zett
Mongolia
Overheat
Anzu (杏)
Cristy
Shore Break
Jailhouse
Requiem

Tournament Grand Champion:
Cristy

Other Tournament Champions:
Unknown Soldiers Last Stand
Doratama Queen (怒羅偶Queen)

Additional Tournament Prizes:
Best vocalist: Ikuko Sasamori from Tomi Band
Best guitarist: Jun Takamura from Cristy
Best horn: ΣMB
Best drummer: Misao Hibi from Filty
Best bassist: Toshiyuki Miyata from Zett
“Senior first prize”: Mongolia
“Ladies’ first prize”: Elf
“House food award”: Filty
“Columbia prize”: Shore Break
“FM Aichi prize”: Zett

Historical significance notes: Nothing really noteworthy with this festival, but I couldn’t help but notice the band Filty attending a band battle and somehow winning some kind of food related prize.

Festival: RockFusion
Date: Unknown (likely July or early August)
Venue/festival location: Unknown
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors: Unknown

Festival: 8.8 Rock Day
Date: August 9 (tournament day), August 10 (festival day)
Venue/festival location: World Expo Hall, Osaka
Special guest performer (youth tournament day): Junshi Yamagishi Group & Quys (山岸潤史グループ&Quys, Zeus)
Special guest performer (ladies’ and senior tournament day): Daregakabayanen Rock & Roll Show (誰がカバやねんロックンロールショー)
Compilation album released: Yes (8.8 Rock Day ’80ライブレコード)

Youth Tournament Day Competitors (28):
Nose
Sustain
Etranger
Superstition
Hell Cat
Kotobuki (琴吹)
Blues Squeezer
Joker (Note* Not the Japanese metal band that appeared on the Neo Hard Shock comp.)
Help
Jinriksha (人力車)
Kaminarimai (雷舞)
Freddy Blues Deluxe
Dokushin Kizoku (独身貴族)
Messiah
Reimai (麗舞)
Bakeneko (化猫)
Attraction
Neck
Kyoko & Licorice (京子＆Licorice)
Freedom
Ogre Battle
At Q
So What Blues Band
Pierce
Koshu Daimon Band (江州大門バンド)
Revolution
Privy & Privy
10 Hors

Ladies’ and Senior Tournament Day Competitors (16):
Shini (神威)
Shinia Bumon (シニア部門)
Uno Band
Banana Shot
Soul Doo-Out
Dancan
Dropdown Mama
Brainbuster
Acapulco Gold
Sweet Area
Do Bimbo
Live Shell
Eightman Fusion
Shampoo & Lince
Dew Drop
The Mind

Tournament Grand Champions:
Privy & Privy (Youth tournament)
Shini (神威) (Ladies’ tournament)
Soul Doo-Out (Senior tournament)

Other Tournament Champions: None

Additional Youth Tournament Prizes:
Best vocalist: Masashi Kondo from Nose, Kyoko Kataoka from Kyoto & Licorice
Best guitarist: Ryoji Watanabe from So What Blues Band, Seiichi Teramoto from Kotobuki (琴吹)
Best rhythm section: Muneharu Ikeda from Attraction
“Super Idol award”: Privy & Privy
Newcomer award: Blues Squeezer
“Fighting award”: Ogre Battle, Koshu Daimon Band (江州大門バンド)

Additional Ladies’ and Senior Tournament Prizes:
Best vocalist: Teruyuki Uno from Uno Band
Best keyboardist: Kaoruko Naito from Dew Drop
Best percussion: Ju Kita from The Mind
“Super Idol award”: Shini (神威), Acapulco Gold
“Fighting award”: Banana Shot, Sweet Area
“Effort award”: Do Bimbo, Dancan, Live Shell, Eightman Fusion
“Fashion award”: Shampoo & Lince

Festival: L-Motion
Date: August 10
Venue/festival location: Fukuoka Sports Center
Special guest performer (tournament day): None
Compilation album released: Yes (7th L-Motionライブレコード)

Tournament Day Competitors (35):
Dark Lady
Rumor
Lloyd
Colt Gang
White House
Thugs
Nuts
Pompadour
Unpen
Eve
4 ° C
Maribas (Note* This isn’t Murbas.)
Pile Driver
From ’80 Shocking Revolution
Lemon Lime Wind
Restaurant Hokusei Band (レストラン北星バンド)
Time Limit
DMS Band
Mustang
Just
Angels
Kunochi
With Action
Betty
SMS
The Bacchus
Zippo
Zeus
Paki Paki
Keigo Kihara & Spirits (木原慶吾＆スピリッツ)
Hakata Paradise (博多パラダイス)
Wind Breakers
Ossho Iwakushu (おっしょい若衆)
Almighty Blues Band
Hot Point

Tournament Grand Champions:
Hot Point
Wind Breakers

Other Tournament Champions:
With Action
Paki Paki
Keigo Kihara & Spirits (木原慶吾＆スピリッツ)

Additional Tournament Prizes:
Best vocalist: Shūji Ishibashi and Yoshihiko Ishibashi from Hakata Paradise (博多パラダイス)
Best keyboardist: Daiuke Iwasaki from Hakata Paradise (博多パラダイス)
Best guitarist: Masahiko Nozu from Hakata Paradise (博多パラダイス)
Best drummer: Takehiro Nagasaki, Kōji Kurose, Tarō Kuroki from Maribas
Best bassist: Nobuyoshi Shibata from Ossho Iwakushu (おっしょい若衆)
Columbia Records award: Keigo Kihara & Spirits (木原慶吾＆スピリッツ)
Special award (unspecified): From ’80 Shocking Revolution

Historical significance notes: Not a very interesting one, but I must say I was intrigued seeing that the band Maribas apparently had 3 drummers going at once, and they won an award for it.

The band Dark Lady were apparently a hard rock or heavy metal band. They’d reappear again in a few years.

Festival: EastWest
Date: August 23 (junior and ladies’ tournament), August 24 (senior tournament), August 26 (festival day)
Venue/festival location: Nakano Sun Plaza Hall
Special guest performer (youth and ladies’ tournament day): Kodomo Band (子供バンド)
Special guest performer (senior tournament day): Wshakoda, Milky Mama, Shijūjinkaku(四重人格)
Tournament sponsors: Japan Airlines, Wrangler, Shiseido, House Foods, Canyon Records, Victor Music Industry, Alpha Records, Epic Sony
Compilation album released: Yes (EastWest’80ライブレコード)

Youth Tournament Day Competitors (9):
Shutoku (拾得)
U.S.A.
Modern
Etsujirō Band (悦次郎バンド)
Wizard
Gracy
Kotobukikagirinashi (寿限無)
Shijūjinkaku (四重人格)
Argus

Ladies’ Tournament Day Competitors (9):
Shinki Maboroshi (新紀幻)
Violet · Fizz
Love Generation
Ja-Girls
Fact (Note* Definitely not the 2000s post-hardcore band.)
Puzzle
Milky Mama
Jail
Lucille

Senior Tournament Day Competitors (16):
Orpheus
Panama Limited
Big Heads
Hot Line
Super Slump
Shin & Yott
Bobo Brazil
Pikapika
Bad Scene
Popo
Hong Kong Kids
Endless Way
Guts Achilles
Mellow-Light
Ichigo no Kokoro
Asupen. (明日変。)

Tournament Grand Champions:
Shijūjinkaku (四重人格) (Youth tournament)
Milky Mama (Ladies’ tournament)
Pikapika (Senior tournament)

Other Tournament Champions:
Etsujirō Band (悦次郎バンド), Argus (Youth tournament)
Puzzle, Lucille (Ladies’ tournament)
Hong Kong Kids, Guts Achilles (Senior tournament)

Additional Tournament Prizes:
Best keyboardist: Miori Ījima from Popo
Best guitarist: Seizaburō Tobe from Guts Achilles
Best drummer: Noriyasu Kawamura from Pikapika
Best bassist: Keiichi Miyamoto from Ichigo no Kokoro
“Fighting award”: Panama Limited
“Best personal award”: Kenji Futagawa from Super Slump
Unspecified award: Panama Limited, Big Heads

Historical significance notes: This one didn’t really spawn any big names, but one interesting appearance was by the heavy/progressive rock and metal band Orpheus, who, believe it or not were one of three different heavy metal/prog rock bands named Orpheus active in Japan in the early to mid 80s. This one was the only band battle event regular. Another Orpheus later appeared on Explosion Works’ Neo Hard Shock compilation in 1985, which was a part of the Heavy Metal Force series. The third Orpheus released a pretty cool album in 1983. This particular one, however, were featured on the EastWest ’80 live album with the song “Cry the Night“.

One of the more fascinating finds, the band Bad Scene were a rather pleasant hard rock variant, they also made the live album with the song “Bird of Fire“. To my surprise around as early as 1972, they once featured famous guitarist Char with whom they made a single in 1973. After this event, Bad Scene actually made a full-length and an excellent single called Sahara, the B-side of which was a fantastic metal tune called “In the City“. Singer Mitsunori Kaneko would later replace Kinny Kitao in Sniper briefly during 1985-1986 as well. The rest of the bands at this event were mostly new-wave, city pop, and bizarre proggy stuff though, some of it pretty decent.

After the remarkable EastWest ’79 festival prior to this year’s one, Yamaha made the decision to tone down the spectacle of this event a bit, bringing on less sponsors, and removing the festival day, making it all just a big two day tournament. They didn’t do this for no reason though, as Yamaha set themselves up to launch a super-festival for the champions of all their underling tournaments to compete in for an even bigger prize and some huge bragging rights, starting next year.

Festival: 6th One Way Contest
Date: Likely sometime in Spring, day unknown
Venue/festival location: Unknown, likely held in Kichijoji
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Competitors:
Unknown

So first off, before getting to the festivals from this year, it should be noted that info suddenly became a whole lot harder to dig up for all festivals from 1981 and onward unless they were the huge ones like 8.8 Rock Day and EastWest. Yamaha began dumping a ton of resources into their shiny new tournament to come at the end of the year and all I was really able to find on most of the underling festivals were their champions. It’s safe to assume festivals like W², Stage Flight, Rock Jam, WestWave and similar were the same size as always though, with pretty decent prizes.

Festival: W² (Wind&Wave)
Date: Unknown, likely July (tournament)
Venue/festival location: Unknown
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors:
T.N.T (Note* This isn’t the T.N.T that made a couple demos and later changed their name to Paradise Jade.)
Joker (Note* I don’t believe this is the Japanese metal band from the Neo Hard Shock comp.)
Unspecified other bands

Tournament Grand Champions:
T.N.T
Joker

Festival: Stage Flight
Date: Unknown, likely late July or early August (tournament)
Venue/festival location: Unknown
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors:
Aksmmit
Nashi no Tsubute
Unspecified other bands

Tournament Grand Champions:
Aksmmit
Nashi no Tsubute

Festival: Rock Jam
Date: August 7 (tournament)
Venue/festival location: Tokyo Electron Hall Miyagi
Special guest performers: Storm, Kodomo Band (子供ばんど)
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors (16):
Daibutsu (大仏)
Bokura
Smokey
Jeanne d’Arc
Chā Mīzu
Goblin
Stainless Hino Band (ステンレス日野バンド)
Success
Final Memorial South
Patarillo
Stiff
Mojo Boogie
Hot Menu
Dynamite Shop
Atom
New Fire Band

Tournament Grand Champions:
Jeanne d’Arc
New Fire Band

Festival: WestWave
Date: Unknown, likely July or August
Venue/festival location: Unknown
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors:
Natsu wa Pūruda! Suikawari Bando (夏はプールだ！スイカ割りバンド)
Screw (Note* Definitely not the visual kei band.)
Unspecified other bands

Tournament Grand Champions:
Natsu wa Pūruda! Suikawari Bando (夏はプールだ！スイカ割りバンド)
Screw (Note* Definitely not the visual kei band.)

Festival: MidLand
Date: Unknown, likely early August
Venue/festival location: Unknown
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors:
Yajiuma (野次馬)
Chunwakan
Lady Hurricane
Tanuki Band
More
Zett
Unspecified other bands

Tournament Grand Champions:
Yajiuma (野次馬)
Chunwakan
Lady Hurricane
Tanuki Band
More
Zett

Historical significance notes: You’d think this one would have more info out there, considering it was still a decently major festival, large enough to have 6 different champions from I assume multiple days, all of whom were invited back for the much grander festival which would begin later on this year.

Festival: RockFusion
Date: August 2
Venue/festival location: The Kanazawa Theatre
Special guest performer (tournament day): None
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors (25):
Hormone
Z（ゼット）
Liberty Bell
Illusion (Note* Likely not the Japanese metal band who released the Broken Wall single.)
Cash Box
Flow-Light
Led Stuff
Ladies Bumon (レディス部門)
Operation Research
Strange Boy
Okosama Family
Chimney Sweep
Bizz
Oinari Band
Mozz
Space Dragon
Panama Moon
Junction Boogie
Funky Town
Shock (Note* Likely not the Japanese hard rock band which released the “On the Rock” EP.)
Isis
You Got A Friend
Stalwart Party
Blood Line
Popeye

Tournament Grand Champion:
Bizz

Other Tournament Champions:
Blood Line

Festival: 8.8 Rock Day
Date: August 8 (tournament day)
Venue/festival location: World Expo Hall, Osaka
Special guest performer: Quyz
Compilation album released: Yes (8.8 Rock Day ’81ライブレコード)

Tournament Day Competitors (19):
Oil
Peanuts Barrel
Hareruya! (晴レルヤ！)
Do Bimbo
Pipe Line
Party Joke
Wipe Out
Akurochi (悪露血)
Naniwa Express (浪花 Express)
K.G. Swing Charioteers
Rocks
Sugar Loaf Express
Grand Cross
Africa
Sustain
Arden Way Office
Jaglo
Early Byrds
Raurarawaka (羅麗若)

Tournament Grand Champions:
Africa

Other Tournament Champions:
Party Joke
Early Byrds
Sugar Loaf Express
Grand Cross
Sustain

Additional Tournament Prizes:
Best vocalist: Kiyoshi Kinoshita from Rocks
Best guitarist: Kunihiro Tsuji from Early Byrds
Best bassist: Masato Ide from Party Joke
Best drummer: Koichi Tanaka from Party Joke
Best keyboardist: Taeko Ikeda from Akurochi (悪露血)
Best trombone: Masahiro Yamagishi from K.G. Swing Charioteers

Historical significance notes: 8.8 Rock Day is the latest festival to see a downsizing, turning into a single day tournament. This event wasn’t without a couple of interesting names though, as a few years later jazz fusion band Naniwa Express were still playing these tournaments; this was their last one before going major.

Additionally, the band Oil appeared here too. This band featured Kiyoshi Utsunomiya, of numerous bands like Jesus, Belladonna and Cloud Forest. While not as well known as some of his later stuff, this one was also a metal band and they played a bunch of shows in the Osaka region around this period of time.

Festival: L-Motion
Date: August 29 (youth and ladies’ tournament), August 30 (senior tournament)
Venue/festival location: Fukuoka Sun Palace
Special guest performer (tournament day): Hot Point
Compilation album released: No

Youth and Ladies’ Tournament Day Competitors (33):
Chelsea
Selection
Tsuki Koromo Yume (月衣夢)
Papyrus
Lynx
Shunkan Privacy (瞬間プライバシー)
Utamaro
Shu (修)
Que Chap
Potato Chips
EVE(L)
Umemitsu Kankō Group (梅満観光グループ)
L · T · B
Swing
Salem (Note* Not the Japanese metal band.)
Breaker (Note* Not the Japanese metal band.)
Ma Ama Urara To (魔亜麻麗斗)
Spit Fire
Vanity
Double Wink
Shakes
Kunochi
Tact
Fifty Thousands
Soy Soy Band
Pao Pao
Gokusaishoku (極彩色)
Ari Jigoku (蟻地獄)
Mix Vegetable
Supreme
Hiruandon
The Moga the Moderngirl’s
The Checkers

Senior Tournament Day Competitors (30):
Tramp
Mar Fees
The Big
High Heels
Ma Yōn Ezu (魔世音絵図)
Maribas (Note* This isn’t Murbas.)
Musashi (武蔵) (Note* Not the prog/folk metal band.)
Front Hock
Mercury
Eve
Matenrou (摩天楼)
Okusama Memo (奥様メモ)
Sanjin Kanja (参人患者)
Over Do
Popeye
Fuaiyābādo
Wood Stock
Candies
Keisuke & Network
2 Vice & BBdips
Mustang
Hakata Paradise
Money Makers
Fat Cat
Nashika
From ’80 Shocking Revolution
The Shadows
Ghetto
With Action
Modern Dolls

Tournament Grand Champions:
The Checkers
Nashika

Historical significance notes: So with almost all the other festivals scaled back in production for the debut of Yamaha’s big upcoming event, they stacked the last couple festivals leading up to the event, one of which was the 8th L-Motion, which had a ridiculous 63 bands compete this year over two days.

The 8th L-Motion didn’t impact Japanese metal in any way, but whoa, J-rock band The Checkers‘ career started here. They had a bunch of record deals thrown at them apparently after their win, and they signed with Pony Canyon, but the members decided to finish high school before beginning their professional career which they kicked off in 1983. They would get a return invite to the Yamaha super festival upcoming only a few days after this win.

Festival: EastWest
Date: August 22 (senior tournament), August 23 (junior and ladies’ tournament)
Venue/festival location: Nakano Sun Plaza Hall
Special guest performer (senior tournament day): Pikapika
Special guest performer (youth and ladies’ tournament day): Chanel’s
Tournament sponsors: Shiseido, House Foods, Canyon Records, Trio Records, Victor Music Industry, Epic Sony, Rittor Music
Compilation album released: Yes (EastWest’81ライブレコード)

Senior Tournament Day Competitors (20):
Kaminari-mai (雷舞)
Yours
B · Cinema Club
Sunset Kids
Powerful
Ato Mikku Pawa
Mami Band (魔魅バンド)
Cindy
Spazro
Super Slump
Orange Tube
Sexy Money
Doraemon
The Vox
Kanpari
Big Heads
Waffle
Bakufū Jū (bappugan) (爆風銃 (バップガン))
Cold Sweat
Mellow Light

Youth Tournament Day Competitors (17):
Lewd
Kemushi
Truss Rod
Qewpie
Burn
Stefan no Muttsu-ko
Broadway
Crise Lady
Cabin 81
Anal Sex
Kotobukikagirinashi (寿限無)
Garçon
Rocka Billy Ms Aiko
Express
Secret
Six Nine
Jet Link

Ladies’ Tournament Day Competitors (7):
Rokuninkan Onna (六人館女)
Grace
Love Juice
Orisachiji (Orugōru) (織幸路(オルゴール))
Show-Ya
Carrot
Tango Europe

Tournament Grand Champions:
Bakufū Jū (bappugan) (爆風銃 (バップガン)) (Senior tournament)
Express (Youth tournament)
Tango Europe (Ladies’ tournament)

Other Tournament Champions:
Sunset Kids, Super Slump (Senior tournament)
Kotobukikagirinashi (寿限無), Six Nine (Youth tournament)
Show-Ya, Carrot (Ladies’ tournament)

Additional Tournament Prizes:
Best bassist: Choppin’ Kato from Bakufū Jū (bappugan) (爆風銃 (バップガン))
Best guitarist: Isao Motegi from Cold Sweat
Best vocalist: Seiichi Yokoo from Mami Band (魔魅バンド)
Best drummer: Reiko Saeki from Sunset Kids
Best percussion: Takato Eto from Spazro
Best keyboardist: Hiroto Gomi and Seishichi Saegusa from B · Cinema Club
Unspecified other award: B · Cinema Club, Cold Sweat, Big Heads
Unspecified special prize: Crise Lady, Cabin 81

Historical significance notes: In the final tournament of the year preceding the debut of Yamaha’s new tournament addition, EastWest 1981 was pretty cool to say the least.

The ladies’ tournament featured a newcomer that had formed just 4 months prior to this competition, by the name of Show-Ya. I was a bit shocked by their appearance here, as in various places online it’s claimed that they formed in 1982, not 1981, so this is actually pretty remarkable. They performed two songs which were never officially released by them which secured them a secondary champion victory, the songs “Die Young” and “Sunny Rose”. This 1981 formation date can’t possibly be wrong either, because they appeared on this festival’s 1981 live album, plus the band conveniently said that they’d formed just months before this late 1981 event occurred.

Festival: Light Music Contest (LMC)
Date: September 13 (junior and ladies’ tournament), September 15 (senior tournament)
Venue/festival location: Nemunosato Hotel & Resort
Special guest performer (youth and ladies’ tournament day): Casiopea
Special guest performer (senior tournament day): Masayoshi Takanaka
Tournament sponsors: Japan Airlines, Finance Corporation, Sound and Revitalization Association
Compilation album released: Yes (LMC’81ライブレコード)

Youth and Ladies’ Tournament Day Competitors (15):
(Youth competitors)
Sustain
Joker (Note* Not the Japanese metal band that appeared on the Neo Hard Shock comp.)
Yajiuma (野次馬)
Nashi no Tsubute
Grand Cross
Express
Bizz
The Checkers
Screw (Note* Definitely not the visual kei band.)

(Ladies’ competitors)
Tango Europe
Sugar Loaf Express
Lady Hurricane
Jeanne d’Arc
Show-Ya
Tanuki Band

Senior Tournament Day Competitors (15):
Chunwakan
Sunset Kids
Zett
Nashika
Aksmmit
Party Joke
New Fire Band
Bakufū Jū (bappugan) (爆風銃 (バップガン))
T.N.T (Note* This isn’t the T.N.T that made a couple demos and later changed their name to Paradise Jade.)
Africa
Super Slump
More
Natsu wa Pūruda! Suikawari Bando (夏はプールだ！スイカ割りバンド)
Early Byrds
Blood Line

Tournament Grand Champions:
The Checkers (Youth tournament)
Sugar Loaf Express (Ladies’ tournament)
Early Byrds (Senior tournament)

Other Tournament Champions:
Joker, Express (Youth tournament)
Tango Europe, Tanuki Band (Ladies’ tournament)
Nashika, Bakufū Jū (bappugan) (爆風銃 (バップガン)) (Senior tournament)

Additional Tournament Prizes:
Best vocalist: Akemi Hanawa from More
Best drummer: Reiko Saeki from Sunset Kids
Best keyboardist: Masakazu Osabe from Party Joke
“Judges special award”: The Checkers
“Judges special award” (individual): Shizuko Sasaki from Jeanne d’Arc

Historical significance notes: This is the first edition of the revamped Light Music Contest. Originally tied to older, somewhat less rock-focused Yamaha events, it initially ran from 1967-1971 and was an unbelievable event featuring as many as 2,000 amateur groups going through qualifiers, eliminations and other events vying for record deals, so you can understand the significance of Yamaha deciding to bring this competition back for a new run of glory in the early 80s. Yamaha had been adjusting their other festivals gearing up for this event for at least the last couple years, and it was totally worth the effort. Relaunching as Yamaha’s flagship rock tournament from this first year until the end of Yamaha’s festival run, this tournament brought in the best of the best, only the champions and select secondary winners from all of Yamaha’s other rock events, to crown a supreme champion, and generally launch a band into massive success.

Invited back to compete were Show-Ya, however they didn’t pull off a win among this roster of bands, which was understandable with the lack of experience. Them pulling out a major win at EastWest as total rookies was a great accomplishment, so they were probably just happy to be here. They tragically didn’t get a song featured on the live album for this festival though.

One youngster band that did pull out a pretty big victory was The Checkers taking LMC’s youth tournament. Already heading towards success after taking the 8th L-Motion crown a month ago, this only helped their cause in becoming an iconic 80s J-rock band.

Featured guests were former competitors Casiopea for the youth and ladies’ tournament, who were full-blown stars now, and for the senior tournament day, guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka of Flied Egg and Sadistic Mika Band fame performed. He was in the midst of a blossoming solo career at the time.

Festival: 7th One Way Contest
Date: February, day unknown (Recording Session)
Venue/festival location: Studio Take-1, Kichijoji
Special guest performer: None
Compilation album released: Yes (7th One Way Contest)

Event Features:
Sexy Money
Misty Cats
突撃ダンスホール
E.B.R
Sunrise
権兵衛
Express

Historical significance notes: This event is a little bit different than the others, it seems to be one of the qualifying events which would have sent bands off to larger tournaments like EastWest which would always be held later in any given year. This seems to be the 7th annual One Way Contest event held by Yamaha Kichijoji, and they even made an omnibus album for the bands that took part, and again, those bands passed through other stages of qualifications. I don’t know if this event continued after this year however.

An interesting feature is a NWOBHM influenced heavy metal act, E.B.R., I don’t think they progressed very far in the grand scheme of things with Yamaha’s countless events, but they certainly weren’t bad and got far enough to receive a feature on this event’s LP.

A fascinating band who were at this event was the all-woman band Misty Cats which featured a 19 year old Mari Hamada, sounding as great as ever. Apparently she and Misty Cats would perform pretty much weekly at Yamaha events and competed in many small Yamaha band battles, which got them a feature here as well with the song Misty Blue. Though the band didn’t make it and dissolved before Mari Hamada embarked on her incredible solo career, Misty Cats progressed quite far in some of these events, even getting decently far in the EastWest qualifiers for 1981, a few months before this.

Festival: W² (Wind&Wave)
Date: July 25 (tournament)
Venue/festival location: Kagoshima Shimin Bunka Centre Big Hall
Special guest performer: Bakufū Jū (bappugan) (爆風銃 (バップガン))
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors (20):
Kotobuki Band (寿バンド)
Kagemichi (Shadow) (影道(シャドー))
Blood Shot
Jet Jive
To&To
Addy
Gaboon Viper
Bri Bri Brothers
Sumomo Band
Come Come’s
Sunny Side Cancan
5th
Mana Murasaki Koneko Sexy Cat (愛紫仔猫セクシーキャッツ)
Railway
Anju
M. B. B.
Storm
Urabure Yokochō Band (うらぶれ横丁Band)
Kicks
Olieve’s Step

Tournament Grand Champion:
Olieve’s Step

Other Tournament Champions:
Railway

Festival: Stage Flight
Date: Unknown, likely late July or early August (tournament)
Venue/festival location: Unknown
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors:
Stratus
Fairy
Unspecified other bands

Tournament Grand Champions:
Stratus
Fairy

Festival: Rock Jam
Date: Unknown, likely July or August
Venue/festival location: Unknown
Special guest performers: Unknown
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors:
Mother Mary
Markies
Unspecified other bands

Tournament Grand Champions:
Mother Mary
Markies

Historical significance notes: One of the winners was a hard rock/heavy metal band called Mother Mary. They would get a return invite to compete at this year’s LMC.

Festival: WestWave
Date: Unknown, likely July or August
Venue/festival location: Unknown
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors:
Spellbound
Yanbaru Kuina
Unspecified other bands

Tournament Grand Champions:
Spellbound
Yanbaru Kuina

Historical significance notes: So, virtually no info on this one remains online either, sadly, but the primary winner of this was a band called Spellbound. Now this isn’t the Spellbound most people know, which would be the thrash metal band, no, those guys formed in 1990. Fascinatingly, this was the other Spellbound, a NWOBHM-ish heavy/speed metal band who released a demo in 1982 around the time of their win here. I can tell this is without a doubt them because they rambled on about Iron Maiden and fighting their way through the competition with power and speed.

Festival: MidLand
Date: July 10, 11, 21, 22, 31 (all tournament days)
Venue/festival locations: Diamond Hall, Nagoya (July 10, 11, 21, 22), Nagoya Civic Assembly Hall (July 31)
Special guest performers (July 10th, 11th tournament days): Early Byrds
Special guest performers (July 21st, 22nd tournament days): Yoshihiko Naya Group
Special guest performers (July 31st tournament day): Kodomo Band (子供バンド)
Sponsors: Japan Airlines, Chunichi Shimbun, Yamaha Music Foundation, FM Aichi, Yamaha Nagoya
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Competitors (118):
Note* Yamaha didn’t specify which of the 5 tournament days each of the following bands performed on.
Squall
Screw Driver
Okishidōru
Led House
Nenjū Mukyū (年中無休)
Reduction
Highde
Gospel
Crisis
Tokuhyō (徳表)
Soulman Brothers
Paranoia (Note* I can’t tell if this is Nov from Aion’s old band Paranoia or not, I’d lean towards it not being them, but you never know. They performed a self-titled song at the festival. The Japanese metal Paranoia supposedly formed in 1985, so this isn’t terribly far off.)
Nagoyasaurus (名古屋ザウルス)
Mukuro (骸)
Dō～ja
DPS
Boil Point
Pygmalio
Smokey Medicine
Light House
Shishi Band (獅子バンド)
Pola & Bigdipper
Sangenjaya (三軒茶屋)
Super Endless
Noize
Windmill
Veil
Power Rock Generation
Sukapontan
FreeWill
DS II
Norakuro
Kintarō World (金太郎World)
Apricot
Aventure
Atsu!
Jakōneko (麝香猫)
Chim Chim Cher-ee
Wonder～Land
Itaru kun to o Tomodachi Band (至くんとお友だちバンド)
Reject
Pumpkin Jam
X-Certs
Giants
Dee
Sun Shine Giragira Ase Dobadoba (Sun Shineギラギラ汗ドバドバ)
Kōnari Yawaracchae Band
M.P.
Mistress
Bri Bri Brothers
Setamows
Monsters
Wine
Nipponia Nippon
Spellbound
Hard Times
Waiwai Company
Super Limousine
Buagon
Tilt
Shaker
Orient Express
The Rolling Live
Orange Essence
Brain
Little Harbor & Captain Pirates
Le-Ri-5
Jo Kasanejin (女襲人)
Sweet Soul
Tip Top
Sniper
Mephistopheles
Success
Young Comeya
Jiryūnami (時流波)
Act
Freedom
Mongolian Chop
Moden Bazar
Yoi Ko no Me Selection (良い子のオススめSelection)
Strutter
Maji ni Rock’n’Roll
Popping Shower
Service
Karibow Project
Keep Your Rhythm
All Kansai Detarame Session (All関西出鱈目セッション)
Akebono (曙樂團)
Lucifer (Note* This could have been a metal band, but it probably wasn’t the one from the Heavy Metal Force Special split, that seems to have appeared quite a bit later on.)
Graffiti
Aim
Goma
Valentine
Seaside Rendezvous
The End
Woman Tone
Elegant Ship
Person
Fōmīzu
Bureikō (無礼講)
Flood
Zōkei Club (造形倶楽部)
Hot Rod
Lady
Sutoman Old Stars
Steps
O Matase Shimashita! Urabure Yoko JBand (おまたせしました！うらぶれ横JBand)
Himajin (卑魔神)
Stations
Nice Gang
Spiritz
Orange Papa
Ask
Python (Note* I can’t confirm or disprove that this is the same Python who appeared on the Heavy Metal Force Summer Special split, it’s a possibility.)
Try to Soul
Sugar Puff
Sohanaren (惣花輦
Spin Naker
Pub

Tournament Grand Champions:
Aventure

Other Tournament Champions:
Dō～ja
Soulman Brothers
Spiritz

Additional Tournament Prizes:
Best guitarist: Shigeo Nakano from Spiritz
Best bassist: Naoko Tanaka from Service
Best drummer: Chiho Hayashi from Jakōneko (麝香猫), Naoko Mori from Apricot
Best keyboardist: Yoshiharu Sedoya from Mongolian Chop
Judges’ special award:
“Excellence award”: Spiritz
“FM Aichi award”: Service
“Chunichi Shimbun award” Atsu!
“Japan Airlines award”: Aventure

Historical significance notes: Impressive, huh? In a spectacularly bizarre move, Yamaha had this tournament feature… 118 bands! That made this year’s edition of MidLand the single largest rock tournament in terms of competitors that they ever held, which was hosted over 5 days, and that’s not even including the qualifier days. I couldn’t imagine the job the judges had, sifting through so much crap to narrow down to even this many bands.

While totally absurd, this MidLand featured an absolutely marvelous lineup for Japanese metal, seriously let’s list it all off to show just how awesome this event was.

The winner was a hard rock/heavy metal band of women called Aventure. I can’t find much info on them, but they were pretty good.

This was first big stage that Sniper ever played. Their first demo tape came out this same year and though they didn’t win anything at this event, Nagoya’s Electric Lady Land records scooped up the band right away and with a bit more added experience, the band put out a single and two excellent full-lengths beginning a couple years later. Here at MidLand they performed the songs “Dedicate” and “Kaku Densetsu“, I have to say those were strong choices.

What’s this? Veil were here too? Well that’s cool. They didn’t win anything sadly, but I know this is definitely them because they were invited to compete at EastWest later this year where they had a fairly strong showing.

Oh look, if it isn’t Tilt too. Their appearance here busts their rumored formation date of 1983, MidLand was the Nagoya regional festival and Tilt are one of Nagoya’s greats, this is totally them. It’s not unreasonable that they formed a few months earlier than people had thought they did. Interestingly the band performed two songs that never made it onto a release, the songs “Opening Attraction-Ji no Hajimari”, which seems like some kind of opener jam song, as well as the song “Black Hole”. They had their name typeset the same way too.

Spellbound appeared here too (not the early 90s thrash band, we discussed this Spellbound earlier under WestWave ’82). They performed the song “Cracked” at this festival, and were invited to the prestigious Light Music Contest at the end of this year.

I’m about 95% certain that the Mephistopheles here is that Mephistopheles. The two songs they played here, while never appearing on a release, had very metal names, “Deserter” and “Dark Friend”. They formed in 1982 and were releasing stuff by 1985, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they tried their hand at a band battle like this early on in their career. The festival was only a couple hours away from their home too.

There were a few unlikely maybes here too in Python, Lucifer, and Paranoia, but if any of them really were the metal bands that just adds to this impressive roster.

Lastly, I have to give a shoutout to the hilarious band names Nagoyasaurus as well as the Southern All Stars parody named band Sutoman Old Stars.

Criminally, there was no live album made for this beast of a festival.

Festival: RockFusion
Date: July 25 (tournament day)
Venue/festival location: The Kanazawa Theatre
Special guest performer (tournament day): The Wood
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors (25):
Messiah
Chario Teer
The Speed Truck
Junim
The Rude
The Piledriver
Kazami Niwatori (風見鶏)
B-Lark
Wing-C
Bizz
Drums
Center River Family
Up!
Rokumeikan (鹿鳴館)
Onikko Band
Home
News Gathering
Big
Charly Service
Chaka
You Got A Friend
Rack Ten
Private
G･J･A（Great Jazz All Stars）
Junction Boogie

Tournament Grand Champion:
B-Lark

Other Tournament Champions:
Private

Historical significance notes: This was the last RockFusion festival Yamaha would do. It was never really as much of a player as any of their other festivals, so they probably figured they’d just cut it completely and use the funds elsewhere.

Festival: 8.8 Rock Day
Date: Unknown, likely on or around August 8 (tournament day)
Venue/festival location: Unknown, likely World Expo Hall, Osaka
Special guest performer: Unknown
Compilation album released: No

Tournament Day Competitors:
Attraction
Sylvester
Flying Potato
Star Legend
Random Shot
X-Ray
Missty
Ushi
Party Joke
Early Byrds
Naniwa Express (浪花Express)
Soul-Doo-Out
Daregakabayanen Rock & Roll Show (誰がカバやねんロックンロールショー)
Southern Cross
Kashin (花神)
Southern Breed
Star King Delicious
Electric Banana
(Assumed other unspecified bands)

Tournament Grand Champions:
Random Shot

Other Tournament Champions:
X-Ray
Party Joke
Flying Potato
Attraction
Sylvester

Additional Tournament Prizes:
Best vocalist: Yasuyuki Īo from Missty
Best guitarist: Shin Yuasa from X-Ray
Best bassist: Yumi Seki from Flying Potato
Best drummer: Minoru Hajime Bandō from Random Shot
Best percussion: Michihiro Doi from Party Joke
Best keyboardist: Ken Kudō from Ushi
Judges’ special award: Missty, Star Legend

Historical significance notes: Okay, so for some reason there’s information holes all over this festival that I tried to fill in, it seemed to be as major of an 8.8 Rock Day as ever, but I can’t find all that much info on who competed and other specifics like that. I believe there were quite a few more than the 18 bands I’ve listed, because the festival had too many champions for a smaller festival.

The best inclusion here, and total underdogs competing with bands who had won other events to even get here were none other than eventual Japanese metal legends X-Ray. They performed well, taking home a secondary champion prize and getting a return invite to compete at Light Music Contest ’82. Also, impressive, but not unexpected considering the man’s talent, guitarist Shin Yuasa also took home this festival’s top guitarist prize. Pretty lofty accomplishments for your band’s first year of activity.

Festival: L-Motion
Date: August 7 (youth and ladies’ tournament), August 8 (senior tournament)
Venue/festival location: Fukuoka Sun Palace
Special guest performer (youth and ladies’ tournament day): The Checkers
Special guest performer (senior tournament day): Voice & Rhythm
Compilation album released: No

Youth and Ladies’ Tournament Day Competitors (30):
Shock (Note* Likely not the Japanese hard rock band which released the “On the Rock” EP.)
Crimson Rose
R. Drive
Detroit
Kurohime Yama (黒姫山)
Tenjin Hyperion (天神ハルペニオン)
Rakkasei (楽花生)
Teds
Proportion
The Fucks
Shu
Gypsy
Ideal
Up-Beat-Underground
Ume Minoru Kankō Group (梅満観光グループ)
W.Wink
Guy
Hakata Sanparesu Vanity (博多サンパレスバニティー)
Breaker (Note* Not the Japanese metal band.)
Transportation
Shainī Hamigaki
Aspirin
Cherry
The Moga
Shōjo Kagekidan (少女歌劇団)
Zō no Fukazume
Kunoichi
Momo Ryokudan (桃力団)
ABC (Abiko)
Aijin I♥zin (愛人Izin)

Senior Tournament Day Competitors (28):
Sea Cross
R&R Hearts
Mersey Connection
Almighty Blues Band
Neo Museum
Yoru Maneko (夜魔猫)
Wednesdays
Nagata Masatoshi Tozō Band
The Mistress
Drop Out Junkie
The Roulettes
With Action
Chikyū Bōei Gun (地球防衛軍)
Wood Stock
Okusama Memo (奥様メモ)
Spice
Wind Whisper
The Bacchus
J.J & Tears
High-Heel
The Fan Klub
569.Magnet’ ALL Star Special
Off Shove
Keigo Kihara & Spirits (木原慶吾&スピリッツ)
Maripas
Hisa Ryokawa Band (久呂加和バンド)
Zisiz (Jisuisu)
OPQ (Ōbāpawākyū-chan)

Tournament Grand Champions:
Kurohime Yama (黒姫山) (Youth tournament)
Kunoichi (Ladies’ tournament)
High-Heel (Senior tournament)

Festival: EastWest
Date: August 7 (junior and ladies’ tournament), August 8 (senior tournament)
Venue/festival location: Nakano Sun Plaza Hall
Special guest performer (youth and ladies’ tournament day): Heavy Metal Army, Tango Europe
Special guest performer (senior tournament day): Kodomo Band (子供バンド)
Tournament sponsors: Canyon Records, Victor Music Industry, Epic Sony, Rittor Music, City Road, Vago, Japan Airlines, Yamaha music stores, Trio Records, Shiseido, House Foods
Compilation album released: Yes (EastWest’82ライブレコード)

Youth Tournament Competitors (16):
Blues Maker
Violet Cloudy
Cube
Influenza-C
T.K.I. (Tokyo Killer Imminent)
Magic Stick
Freedom
Guttsurāzu
Jet Link
The L.S.D.
Anjizu
Cries Lady
Mainichi Shōgakusei Bando (毎日小学生バンド)
Sleazy Luster
Nyan Nyan Brothers
Consomme Punch

Ladies’ Tournament Competitors (7):
Peach Melba
Milky Ways
Show-Ya
International Nyanko
Grow
Carrot
Feaze

Senior Tournament Competitors (20):
Veil
Talkmans
Hottentots
The Shakes
Ships
Parade
Magical Power Band
100Percent
J.Street Rock and Roll Band
Yacht
Kangaroo
Juni Hitoe (十二単)
Heart Beat
SRGMPDNS
The-Panz
Kirisutegomen (斬捨御免)
Moneys
Kenmi-Misstones
Sexy Money
Slast Cast

Tournament Grand Champions:
Jet Link (Youth tournament)
Show-Ya (Ladies’ tournament)
Kangaroo (Senior tournament)

Other Tournament Champions:
Magic Stick, Nyan Nyan Brothers (Youth tournament)
Peach Mel’ba, Grow (Ladies’ tournament)
Juni Hitoe (十二単), The Shakes (Senior tournament)

Additional Tournament Prizes:
Best bassist: Mitsuru Ogino from Slast Cast
Best guitarist: Kazuo Ozaki from SRGMPDNS
Best vocalist: Toshinobu Kubota from Hottentots
Best drummer: Yoshiharu Ogura from The Panz
Best keyboardist: Ikuko Aragaki, Hitomi Masegi from Kangaroo
Unspecified other award: Heart Beat, SRGMPDNS
Judges’ special prize: Blues Maker, Guttsurāzu

Historical significance notes: Well, this is easily the best EastWest yet, and maybe the best one they ever had. There was a ton of interesting talent on the Japanese metal front from guests to competitors.

First, there was a pretty good hard rock/heavy metal band called Magical Power Band, they were on the V/A comp with the song “Free“.

At EastWest this year was Veil, who didn’t pull out a win at MidLand ’82, but were still invited to compete here. They also didn’t win here, but they got a feature on the EastWest ’82 live album with the song “Devil Woman“. They sadly never really made it, despite plenty of musical skill. They would release a handful of demo tapes and get a promotion on the first Heavy Metal Force compilation as one of Japanese metal’s up-and-comers alongside Anthem, Sniper, Sabbrabells and others, but that was as far as they went.

Returning from EastWest last year was Show-Ya, who with another year of experience under their belt took a victory in the women’s tournament, and also earning themselves an invite to this year’s Light Music Contest coming up a month after this tournament. Show-Ya also got a feature on this tournament’s live album, with the song “A View After Dark“, a song that wouldn’t be officially released by the band for nearly 30 years. Interestingly, the song was written by Show-Ya’s original guitarist Mitsuko Numata (now Suzuki), though she didn’t stay with the band for very long.

A feature at this competition which I think is utterly fantastic is Sleazy Luster, a metal band with bunch of high school kids, including none other than Fumihiko Kitsutaka. Obviously they were pretty inexperienced, and they didn’t win anything, but the fact that even Kitsutaka tried his hand at one of these Yamaha tournament/festivals is just so cool to me. Sleazy Luster would become Arouge a couple years after this and then release a full-length under the Arouge name, before Kitsutaka went on to a legendary career with Kinniku Shoujo Tai. Unfortunately Sleazy Luster weren’t on the live album.

Yet another Japanese metal feature, this time in the senior/veterans tournament was Juni Hitoe, led by Masanori Fujiwara. The band pulled out a secondary champions prize at this event, earning an invite to the Light Music Contest alongside Show-Ya. Also getting a feature on the EastWest ’82 live album, Juni Hitoe contributed the song “Alone in the Night“.

Lastly, as a guest, Yamaha brought in early Japanese metal act Heavy Metal Army to play a show on the junior and ladies’ tournament day. Pretty awesome feature on top of an already cool event.

Festival: Light Music Contest (LMC)
Date: August 28, 29
Venue/festival location: Nemunosato Hotel & Resort
Special guest performers: Casiopea, Chanel’s, Kodomo Band (子供バンド), Early Byrds, Voice and Rhythm
Tournament sponsors: Yamaha Musical Instrument Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Japan Airlines, Yamaha Music Foundation
Compilation album released: Yes (LMC’82ライブレコード)

Youth Tournament Competitors (8):
B-Lark
Mother Mary
Attraction
Dō～ja
Spellbound
Kurohime Yama (黒姫山)
Jet Link
Soulman Brothers

Ladies’ Tournament Competitors (8):
Peach Melba
Stratus
Kunoichi
Sylvester
Railway
Flying Potato
Show-Ya
Aventure

Senior Tournament Competitors (16):
Mongolian Chop
The Shakes
Olieve’s Step
Yanbarukuina
Meshued
X-Ray
Private
Juni Hitoe (十二単)
Party Joke
High-Heel
Fairy
Random Shot
Wednesdays
Kangaroo
Markies
Spiritz

Tournament Grand Champions:
B-Lark, Soulman Brothers (Youth tournament)
Show-Ya, Flying Potato (Ladies’ tournament)
Olieve’s Step, Juni Hitoe (十二単) (Senior tournament)

Other Tournament Champions:
No additional champions (Youth tournament)
Peach Melba, Aventure (Ladies’ tournament)
Fairy, Mongolian Chop (Senior tournament)

Additional Tournament Prizes:
(Youth tournament prizes)
Best vocalist: Kaori Takashima from B-Lark
Best drummer: Shinya Matsuda from Soulman Brothers
Best guitarist: Takahiro Noda from Kurohime Yama (黒姫山)
“Judges special award”: Toshio Kuroda from Dō～ja
Unspecified award: Jet Link

(Ladies’ tournament prizes)
Best vocalist: Keiko Terada from Show-Ya
Best drummer: Noriko Hamasaki from Kunoichi
Best bassist: Yumi Seki from Flying Potato
Best keyboardist: Takaaki Tanaka from Flying Potato

(Senior tournament prizes)
Best vocalist: Tomiko Fujii from Mongolian Chop
Best drummer: Masashi Hasegawa from Kangaroo
Best keyboardist: Masakazu Osabe from Party Joke
Best guitarist: Osamu Yamashita from Wednesdays
Best bassist: Kiyoshi Tamura from Olieve’s Step
“Judges special award”: Private

Historical significance notes: So with the Japanese metal bands performing so well at other events this year, it hinted towards this being a pretty good Light Music Contest, as many of those bands earned invites to this event.

First off a few smaller return features, including Mother Mary (Rock Jam ’82 winner) who performed a cover of UFO’s song “Doctor Doctor” that made the live album, not bad. Also returning was fusion band Kangaroo, performing the same song that won them a podium finish at EastWest this year, “Taruikasu“. Kangaroo actually fared pretty well, securing a record deal and releasing a few excellent albums. Then there was the all-female Aventure (MidLand ’82 winner), who, going by their LMC ’82 live album feature here, played an enjoyable hard rock style. Their song on the album was “Feel So Good Together“. Lastly hard rock band Spiritz were back from MidLand ’82 as well, and their song on the live album was “Midnight Train“.

Returning to compete in this championship of champions was Spellbound after doing well at both WestWave and MidLand earlier in the year. They didn’t win, but they got a feature on the LMC ’82 live album with a cover of Iron Maiden’s song “Wrathchild“.

X-Ray were invited back too, after pulling out a secondary champion win at 8.8 Rock Day. I found it interesting they were put in the tournament bracket with the senior bands, despite only being in their late teens. They didn’t win anything at this one, but they did earn a live album feature at least, with the song “Dirty Girl“. X-Ray were also impressive enough that record label Teichiku scooped up the band right away and they got to work immediately on their debut 魔天~Hard Section. They released another successful album shortly after, then took part in the legendary 5th Grand Metal festival in 1984 and released two more classic Japanese metal albums before calling it quits on a short, albeit great career.

Next we have Juni Hitoe, being named as one of the main champions of the senior bands tournament. This band sadly didn’t make it, despite the skillset to match the best Japanese metal had to offer in this era. That being said, their prize and the notability generated from pulling out a win at a major competition gave them the best shot they would get. The band produced a few demos, and a couple years after this were promoted alongside newcomers Anthem, Sabbrabells and Sniper as one of Japan’s best up-and-coming metal acts on the Heavy Metal Force compilation from Explosion records, and in addition to that they released a solo album for singer Masanori Fujiwara, and also made a promotional video for their song Heavy Metal Lady, however nothing more came of Juni Hitoe in the bigger picture. Juni Hitoe had the song “1999(崩壊の日)” featured on this festival’s live album.

Show-Ya on the other hand, back and much improved in only a year, took the LMC ’82 women’s tournament crown, with Keiko Terada being named that tournament’s best singer. Their win earned them a record deal offer from Toshiba EMI. Over the next 3 years leading to their debut album, the band spent this time refining their lineup and creating material for said album. During this time they also replaced their original guitarist, who I didn’t know about until writing this thread, a lady by the name of Mitsuko Numata. She left the band at some point in-between 1982 and 1984 roughly, and was replaced by Sun-go, rounding out the band’s iconic lineup, and then from there they went on to their legendary career. Show-Ya were also featured on LMC ’82’s live album with the song “Hold You Tight“.