Ondekoza Fujiyama Numbered Limited Edition One-Step Half-Speed Mastered 180g Import 2LP

2025 Positive Feedback Writers' Choice Award Winner!

World Renowned Japanese Taiko Drummers Ondekoza!

In its 40-plus year history, Ondekoza has been influential in spreading and popularizing taiko, particularly outside of Japan. Many of the pieces arranged by Ondekoza have been incorporated into the repertoire of taiko groups around the world.

Ondekoza continually pursues greater means of expression through the use of taiko drums. By trimming the performance of all that is excessive, and playing to the limit of physical capabilities, Ondekoza believes that the sound of the drum alone is capable of striking a powerful impression. Ondekoza aims to create stage pieces that are enjoyable to children and adults alike.

Before each show, individual shime drums are tightened to the limit—a task requiring the synchronized strength of two members—in order to achieve the cutting sound that is representative of Ondekoza's style.

UHQLP – Pressed with High-Quality Control
UHQLP is pressed on virgin vinyl with the newest generation, German-made pressing machine, under the supervision of AQCD Technology Company. With the help of an advanced German controlling system, time duration, pressure and temperature are critically set and strictly controlled. UHQLP is a vinyl LP faithfully made to the original master source.

Half-speed Mastering – Enables better grooves cut
Half-speed mastering was done by award winning engineer Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios in the UK. The cutting lathe running at half-speed (the original being 33 1/3 rpm or 45 rpm) enables the cutting stylus twice as much time to carve the most intricate of grooves. All the difficult-to-cut high-end frequencies become relatively easy-to-cut mid-range frequencies. This results in cuts that have excellent high-frequency response (treble) and very solid and stable stereo images.

One-Step Processing – Less is more!
Instead of the standard three steps lacquer plating process, UHQLP acquires one step processing. In One-Step, the Father stamper (the very first stamper plated from the lacquer) is utilized to press the vinyl record instead of 3-steps processed stamper (the stamper plated from Mother which was plated from Father). This process ensures the lowest surface noise and more musical detail and dynamics.

Ondekoza's album Fujiyama is the most eclectic musical selection of 2025. RCA Victor Japan celebrated their 70th anniversary with the recording of Fujiyama in 1997. It wasn't until 2021, however, that this originally all-analog recording made with the mighty 24-track Studer A820 and mixed down to stereo using a Studer C37 1-inch, 2-track saw the light of day on vinyl. Make no mistake either. Fujiyama isn't another audiophile drum record. This album includes six compositions by Ondekoza along with three compositions by distinguished Japanese composers. Of note is the Maki Ishi composition Monochrome II featuring traditional Japanese instruments such as the Koto and Shakuhachi (Japanese flute). Sonically, this recording separates the men from the boys with its huge dynamics, deep and powerful bass (oh those 2-meter drums!), tonality, the smaller drums' lightning-fast transient attacks and the tremendous sense of space. Oh yes. The sound of this new LP reissue puts the 2018 UHQCD to shame.