Hitachi Lo-D Plaza - Revision history

Ikigai at 02:49, 31 January 2026

2026-01-31T02:49:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:49, 31 January 2026
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	\| December 20th, 1977 \|\| Yoshihiro Nakagawa & Dixie Dix + 1 \|\| 中川喜弘とディキシーディックス＋１ \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 \|\|		\| December 20th, 1977 \|\| Yoshihiro Nakagawa & Dixie Dix + 1 \|\| 中川喜弘とディキシーディックス＋１ \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 \|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| December 21st, 1977 \|\| ~~紀の国屋BAND~~ \|\| 紀の国屋BAND \|\| 2:00 / 4:00 \|\|		\| December 21st, 1977 \|\| Kinokuniya Band \|\| 紀の国屋BAND \|\| 2:00 / 4:00 \|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| December 22nd, 1977 \|\| Yoshihiro Nakagawa & Dixie Dix + 1 \|\| 中川喜弘とディキシーディックス＋１ \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 \|\|		\| December 22nd, 1977 \|\| Yoshihiro Nakagawa & Dixie Dix + 1 \|\| 中川喜弘とディキシーディックス＋１ \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 \|\|

Ikigai: added 1977 live schedule

2026-01-31T02:48:24Z

added 1977 live schedule

Show changes

Ikigai at 13:25, 15 January 2026

2026-01-15T13:25:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:25, 15 January 2026
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	\| logo_image = [[File:LoD_Logo.png\|200px]]		\| logo_image = [[File:LoD_Logo.png\|200px]]
	\| logo_size = 150px		\| logo_size = 150px
	\| image = <br>[[File:bowow_lod.jpg\|250px\|frameless\|center\|alt=~~Bowow~~ performing at Lo-D Plaza on 1980/01/16\|Bowow performing at Lo-D Plaza on 1980/01/16]]		\| image = <br>[[File:bowow_lod.jpg\|250px\|frameless\|center\|alt=BOWOW performing at Lo-D Plaza on 1980/01/16\|Bowow performing at Lo-D Plaza on 1980/01/16]]
	\| image_size =		\| image_size =
	\| image_alt =		\| image_alt =
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	The mid-seventies in Japan saw a trend of most major audio manufacturers (incl. [[wikipedia:Victor_Entertainment\|Victor]], [[wikipedia:Sansui_Electric\|Sansui]], [[wikipedia:Sony\|Sony]], [[wikipedia:Technics_(brand)\|Technics]], [[wikipedia:Toshiba\|Toshiba]] and Hitachi) establishing their own individual showrooms at locations across Tokyo to showcase their newest additions and advancements to their lineup of audio products, offering product testing and various listening experiences to members of the public. As part of the experience, most showrooms would additionally host live performances of popular local artists as a means to showcase the ability of their audio equipment, and further drive customers to the venues in a form of mutual advertisement. All concerts and events that took place at Hitachi Lo-D Plaza were completely free of charge, as was the case for most of these audio manufacturer showrooms.		The mid-seventies in Japan saw a trend of most major audio manufacturers (incl. [[wikipedia:Victor_Entertainment\|Victor]], [[wikipedia:Sansui_Electric\|Sansui]], [[wikipedia:Sony\|Sony]], [[wikipedia:Technics_(brand)\|Technics]], [[wikipedia:Toshiba\|Toshiba]] and Hitachi) establishing their own individual showrooms at locations across Tokyo to showcase their newest additions and advancements to their lineup of audio products, offering product testing and various listening experiences to members of the public. As part of the experience, most showrooms would additionally host live performances of popular local artists as a means to showcase the ability of their audio equipment, and further drive customers to the venues in a form of mutual advertisement. All concerts and events that took place at Hitachi Lo-D Plaza were completely free of charge, as was the case for most of these audio manufacturer showrooms.

	Alongside live performances, Lo-D Plaza would also host film and video screenings, album listening parties, DJ sessions, and a weekly amateur band concert.		Alongside live performances, Lo-D Plaza would also host film and video screenings, album listening parties, DJ sessions, performance art, comedy shows, and a weekly amateur band concert. In addition to these activities, a monthly radio program titled "FM Sound In Now" was recorded live from Lo-D Plaza, hosted by music icon Kouichi Sugiyama. This program ran from the mid to late 70s.

	== Overview ==		== Overview ==
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	== Notable Artists ==		== Notable Artists ==
	Hitachi Lo-D Plaza played host to a great majority of popular Japanese bands and artists throughout the 70s and early 80s, featuring artists from Jazz, Fusion, Pop, Rock, Punk Rock and Electronic genres. Popular Jazz Fusion artists to have performed at Lo-D Plaza include [[Casiopea]], [[Prism]], [[T-Square]], [[Space Circus]], Crosswind, Kazumi Watanabe, Katsutoshi Morizono, and many others.		Hitachi Lo-D Plaza played host to a great majority of popular Japanese bands and artists throughout the 70s and early 80s, featuring artists from Jazz, Fusion, Pop, Rock, Folk, Blues, Punk Rock and Electronic genres. Unlike most live houses in Japan during this period which typically focused on hosting artists of particular genres, Lo-D Plaza served as a hub for fans to see a wide array of musical acts.
			Popular Jazz Fusion artists to have performed at Lo-D Plaza include [[Casiopea]], [[Prism]], [[T-Square]], [[Space Circus]], Crosswind, Kazumi Watanabe, Katsutoshi Morizono, and many others.

	Lo-D Plaza also hosted resident performer Hideto Kitamura (saxophone), who would often play several times a month with his band in multiple different styles of genre (mostly Jazz and Fusion/Crossover), sometimes accompanying solo artists as the backup band when necessary. In the earlier years of the showroom, his group would often play 3 stages instead of the usual two.		Lo-D Plaza also hosted resident performer Hideto Kitamura (saxophone), who would often play several times a month with his band in multiple different styles of genre (mostly Jazz and Fusion/Crossover), sometimes accompanying solo artists as the backup band when necessary. In the earlier years of the showroom, his group would often play 3 stages instead of the usual two.

Bleach: /* Image Gallery */ consistency n shiet

2026-01-11T06:27:49Z

Image Gallery: consistency n shiet

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:27, 11 January 2026
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	\| December 30th, 1976 \|\| Hideto Kitamura Quintet \|\| 北村秀人5 \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 / 5:15 \|\|		\| December 30th, 1976 \|\| Hideto Kitamura Quintet \|\| 北村秀人5 \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 / 5:15 \|\|
	\|}		\|}
	== ~~Image~~ Gallery ==		== Gallery ==
	<gallery widths="140">		<gallery widths="140">
	File:FR_lod.png\|Ryojiro Furusawa Quintet performing at Lo-D Plaza in 1981.		File:FR_lod.png\|Ryojiro Furusawa Quintet performing at Lo-D Plaza in 1981.

Ikigai at 05:45, 11 January 2026

2026-01-11T05:45:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:45, 11 January 2026
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	\| caption2 = The outside of Yuraku Food Centre, where Hitachi Lo-D Plaza was originally located.		\| caption2 = The outside of Yuraku Food Centre, where Hitachi Lo-D Plaza was originally located.
	}}		}}

			[[File:Lod_advertisement.jpg\|thumb\|right\|250px\|A magazine advertisement for Lo-D Plaza with visitor information.]]

	== History ==		== History ==
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	[[File:Hideto_Kitamura_lod.jpg\|thumb\|center\|250px\|Hideto Kitamura Group performing at Lo-D Plaza.]]		[[File:Hideto_Kitamura_lod.jpg\|thumb\|center\|250px\|Hideto Kitamura Group performing at Lo-D Plaza.]]


	== List of Live Performances ==		== List of Live Performances ==
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	File:Lillies_lod.jpg\|The Lillies performing at Lo-D Plaza in the 1970s with Hideto Kitamura Group		File:Lillies_lod.jpg\|The Lillies performing at Lo-D Plaza in the 1970s with Hideto Kitamura Group
	File:crosswind_lod_2.PNG\|Crosswind performing at Lo-D Plaza on June 6th, 1981		File:crosswind_lod_2.PNG\|Crosswind performing at Lo-D Plaza on June 6th, 1981
			File:Lod_Pamphlet.jpg\|A pamphlet from March 1980, with a photograph of an unknown band performing.
			File:Lo-D_Schedule_1980-10.jpg\|Magazine advertisement from October 1980 with the month's live schedule and a how-to guide.

	</gallery>		</gallery>

Ikigai: /* Overview */

2026-01-11T05:26:31Z

Overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:26, 11 January 2026
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	Alongside the 16 channel mixing sessions, Lo-D Plaza also offered a ‘16ch→2ch Mixdown Session’, where a 16 channel master tape from a past live performance is played back for fans to then mix the recording to their liking onto cassette tape. In this format, the mixing desk arrangement could accommodate up to 20 fans for one session. These Mixdown Sessions would often take place during the intermission of the two live stages of a performance.		Alongside the 16 channel mixing sessions, Lo-D Plaza also offered a ‘16ch→2ch Mixdown Session’, where a 16 channel master tape from a past live performance is played back for fans to then mix the recording to their liking onto cassette tape. In this format, the mixing desk arrangement could accommodate up to 20 fans for one session. These Mixdown Sessions would often take place during the intermission of the two live stages of a performance.

	Upon release of the schedule for upcoming shows at Lo-D Plaza, fans were able to mail in a postcard up to one week in advance of the concert, expressing their interest in their preferred date(s) and stage(s) for recording.If the number of applications exceeded the total number of available desks, fans were selected at random via a lottery system to attend, as was most often the case. If chosen, fans are allocated a number between 1-10, signifying which desk they are to sit at. Each fan is presented with a custom 16 track mixer that records directly to a Lo-D branded cassette deck, often being interchanged as new models release. Each channel of the mixer is wired to a separate microphone on the stage, so fans can change the volume, left-right balance, reverb and equalization for each instrument mic at their own will. The microphones are clearly labelled 1 to 16 on the stage for ease of access. When it is time for the performance to start, a light ~~will come on at each desk saying ‘Now Recording’~~.		Upon release of the schedule for upcoming shows at Lo-D Plaza, fans were able to mail in a postcard up to one week in advance of the concert, expressing their interest in their preferred date(s) and stage(s) for recording.If the number of applications exceeded the total number of available desks, fans were selected at random via a lottery system to attend, as was most often the case. If chosen, fans are allocated a number between 1-10, signifying which desk they are to sit at. Each fan is presented with a custom 16 track mixer that records directly to a Lo-D branded cassette deck, often being interchanged as new models release. Each channel of the mixer is wired to a separate microphone on the stage, so fans can change the volume, left-right balance, reverb and equalization for each instrument mic at their own will. The microphones are clearly labelled 1 to 16 on the stage for ease of access. When it is time for the performance to start, a sign would light up with the phrase '録音中' (meaning "Now Recording" in English).

	== Notable Artists ==		== Notable Artists ==

Ikigai at 05:18, 11 January 2026

2026-01-11T05:18:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:18, 11 January 2026
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	Work in progress		Work in progress

			===1976===
	{\| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable mw-collapsed"		{\| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable mw-collapsed"
	\|+		\|+
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	\| July 17th, 1976 \|\| Tsutomu Arakawa \|\| 荒川務 \|\| 1:30 / 4:30 \|\|		\| July 17th, 1976 \|\| Tsutomu Arakawa \|\| 荒川務 \|\| 1:30 / 4:30 \|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| July 18th, 1976 \|\| Lucile \|\| ルシール \|\| - \|\|		\| July 18th, 1976 \|\| Lucile \|\| ルシール \|\| 1:30 / 4:00 \|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| July 19th, 1976 \|\| AIDO \|\| 愛奴 \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 \|\|		\| July 19th, 1976 \|\| AIDO \|\| 愛奴 \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 \|\|
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	\| July 20th, 1976 \|\| Hideto Kitamura Quartet \|\| 北村秀人4 \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 / 5:15 \|\|		\| July 20th, 1976 \|\| Hideto Kitamura Quartet \|\| 北村秀人4 \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 / 5:15 \|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| July 21st, 1976 \|\| Sei Kitazumi \|\| 北炭生 \|\| - \|\|		\| July 21st, 1976 \|\| Sei Kitazumi \|\| 北炭生 \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 \|\|
	\|-		\|-
	\| July 22nd, 1976 \|\| Hideto Kitamura Quartet \|\| 北村秀人4 \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 / 5:15 \|\|		\| July 22nd, 1976 \|\| Hideto Kitamura Quartet \|\| 北村秀人4 \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 / 5:15 \|\|

Zaide Simmons at 05:15, 11 January 2026

2026-01-11T05:15:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:15, 11 January 2026
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	Work in progress		Work in progress
	{\| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable mw-collapsed"		{\| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable mw-collapsed"
	{\| ~~class="wikitable sortable"~~		\|+
	! Date !! Artist Name (English) !! Artist Name (Japanese) !! Stage Times !! Status		! Date !! Artist Name (English) !! Artist Name (Japanese) !! Stage Times !! Status
	\|-		\|-
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	\|-		\|-
	\| December 30th, 1976 \|\| Hideto Kitamura Quintet \|\| 北村秀人5 \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 / 5:15 \|\|		\| December 30th, 1976 \|\| Hideto Kitamura Quintet \|\| 北村秀人5 \|\| 12:20 / 3:30 / 5:15 \|\|
	\|}
	\|}		\|}
	== Image Gallery ==		== Image Gallery ==

Ikigai at 05:03, 11 January 2026

2026-01-11T05:03:34Z

Show changes

Ikigai at 02:53, 11 January 2026

2026-01-11T02:53:15Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:53, 11 January 2026
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	Unlike the other audio showrooms, Hitachi's Lo-D Plaza had employed a special gimmick in that it actually allowed attendees to operate their own personal 16 channel [[wikipedia:Mixing_console\|mixing desk]] during live performances, recording the concert directly through the soundboard to cassette tape. Prior to recording, all cassette tapes were applied a [[wikipedia:Japanese_Society_for_Rights_of_Authors,_Composers_and_Publishers\|JASRAC]] sticker seal (Japan's musical copyright agency) for certification, after which it could then be brought home by the attendee. By extent, all recordings made at Hitachi Lo-D Plaza can be considered official live recordings. Fans were free to bring along their own cassette tapes for recording, or were able to purchase Lo-D branded cassettes at the venue. All other equipment used in the recording process is Lo-D brand Hi-Fi. A custom Lo-D Plaza [[wikipedia:J-Card\|J-Card]] was given out to record the details of the live recording on the cassette.		Unlike the other audio showrooms, Hitachi's Lo-D Plaza had employed a special gimmick in that it actually allowed attendees to operate their own personal 16 channel [[wikipedia:Mixing_console\|mixing desk]] during live performances, recording the concert directly through the soundboard to cassette tape. Prior to recording, all cassette tapes were applied a [[wikipedia:Japanese_Society_for_Rights_of_Authors,_Composers_and_Publishers\|JASRAC]] sticker seal (Japan's musical copyright agency) for certification, after which it could then be brought home by the attendee. By extent, all recordings made at Hitachi Lo-D Plaza can be considered official live recordings. Fans were free to bring along their own cassette tapes for recording, or were able to purchase Lo-D branded cassettes at the venue. All other equipment used in the recording process is Lo-D brand Hi-Fi. A custom Lo-D Plaza [[wikipedia:J-Card\|J-Card]] was given out to record the details of the live recording on the cassette.

	Hitachi Lo-D Plaza operated in a two-stage format in order to allow a greater number of fans to experience the personal 16 channel mixing session. Each 16 channel live concert would have 10 separate mixing desks available for recording, granting a possibility of 20 separate fans to record across the two stages. It is extremely rare for one attendee to have been chosen to record both stages of a concert.		Hitachi Lo-D Plaza operated in a two-stage format in order to allow a greater number of fans to experience the personal 16 channel mixing session. Each 16 channel live concert would have 10 separate mixing desks available for recording, granting a possibility of 20 separate fans to record across the two stages. It is extremely rare for one attendee to have been chosen to record both stages of a concert. Concert stages were often limited to a maximum of 45 minutes, to fit the performance to one side of a 90 minute cassette tape without it needing to be flipped.

	Alongside the 16 channel mixing sessions, Lo-D Plaza also offered a ‘16ch→2ch Mixdown Session’, where a 16 channel master tape from a past live performance is played back for fans to then mix the recording to their liking onto cassette tape. In this format, the mixing desk arrangement could accommodate up to 20 fans for one session. These Mixdown Sessions would often take place during the intermission of the two live stages of a performance.		Alongside the 16 channel mixing sessions, Lo-D Plaza also offered a ‘16ch→2ch Mixdown Session’, where a 16 channel master tape from a past live performance is played back for fans to then mix the recording to their liking onto cassette tape. In this format, the mixing desk arrangement could accommodate up to 20 fans for one session. These Mixdown Sessions would often take place during the intermission of the two live stages of a performance.
Line 45:		Line 45:
	Hitachi Lo-D Plaza played host to a great majority of popular Japanese bands and artists throughout the 70s and early 80s, featuring artists from Jazz, Fusion, Pop, Rock, Punk Rock and Electronic genres. Popular Jazz Fusion artists to have performed at Lo-D Plaza include [[Casiopea]], [[Prism]], [[T-Square]], [[Space Circus]], Crosswind, Kazumi Watanabe, Katsutoshi Morizono, and many others.		Hitachi Lo-D Plaza played host to a great majority of popular Japanese bands and artists throughout the 70s and early 80s, featuring artists from Jazz, Fusion, Pop, Rock, Punk Rock and Electronic genres. Popular Jazz Fusion artists to have performed at Lo-D Plaza include [[Casiopea]], [[Prism]], [[T-Square]], [[Space Circus]], Crosswind, Kazumi Watanabe, Katsutoshi Morizono, and many others.

	Lo-D Plaza also hosted resident performer Hideto Kitamura (saxophone), who would often play several times a month with his band in multiple different styles of genre (mostly Jazz and Fusion/Crossover), sometimes accompanying solo artists as the backup band when necessary. In the earlier years of the showroom, his group would often play 3 stages instead of the usual two.		Lo-D Plaza also hosted resident performer Hideto Kitamura (saxophone), who would often play several times a month with his band in multiple different styles of genre (mostly Jazz and Fusion/Crossover), sometimes accompanying solo artists as the backup band when necessary. In the earlier years of the showroom, his group would often play 3 stages instead of the usual two.

	[[File:Hideto_Kitamura_lod.jpg\|thumb\|center\|250px\|Hideto Kitamura Group performing at Lo-D Plaza.]]		[[File:Hideto_Kitamura_lod.jpg\|thumb\|center\|250px\|Hideto Kitamura Group performing at Lo-D Plaza.]]
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	== List of Live Performances ==		== List of Live Performances ==

	A complete list of live performances to have taken place at Hitachi Lo-D Plaza between 1976 and May of 1982.		A complete list of live performances to have taken place at Hitachi Lo-D Plaza between January of 1976 and May of 1982.
			This list contains only musical performances, not other events that took place at Lo-D Plaza during this time period.

			Work in progress
	{\| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable mw-collapsed"		{\| class="wikitable mw-collapsible sortable mw-collapsed"
	\|}		\|}