{"product_id":"3700604772712","title":"TOHYAMA,HITOMI PENNY – TOKYO FUNK DIVA - LP •","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUPC: 3700604772712 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLabel: WEWANTSOUNDS \u003cbr\u003eFormat: LP\u003cbr\u003eRelease Date: November 28, 2025\u003cbr\u003eIn stock items ship within 48 hours\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWewantsounds presents the release of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eTokyo Funk Diva\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a compilation highlighting the work of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eHitomi \"Penny\" Tohyama\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, one of Japan's leading funk voices of the 1980s. Blending funk, boogie and soulful grooves, Penny brought a distinctive energy to Japan's music scene during the decade. Compiled by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eNick Luscombe\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e -- who previously curated \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eTokyo Dreaming\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e for the label -- the set marks the first time Hitomi's music has been compiled outside of Japan. Featuring newly remastered tracks and liner notes by Luscombe, the release offers fresh context to Penny's work and its role in the evolution of Japanese funk and groove culture. Hitomi \"Penny\" Tohyama was one of the few female singers to fully embrace Japan's burgeoning funk and boogie movement of the 1980s. Born in Okinawa in 1957 and raised partly in California, she developed a cosmopolitan outlook that would shape her music. At a time when the country's pop scene was shifting toward slick, funk-oriented productions, Penny crafted a distinctive style that fused boogie, disco, and funk with her confident, soulful delivery. Her albums for Nippon Columbia recorded in the '80s capture this vibrant moment, combining sophisticated studio craft with the pulse of Tokyo's nightlife. The selection includes cult classics such as \"Sexy Robot,\" \"Love is the Competition,\" and \"Instant Polaroid,\" with lesser-known gems such as \"Exotic Yokogao\" and \"I Love You Shika Omoitsukanai.\" Together they showcase the singer's versatility, moving effortlessly between syncopated upbeat floorfillers and chilled mid-tempo grooves. While her music earned recognition at home, these releases were never widely available outside Japan and slowly became prized finds among DJs and collectors. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eTokyo Funk Diva\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e presents highlights from this catalogue for the first time in an international release. Compiled by broadcaster and tastemaker Nick Luscombe, the selection has been newly remastered and comes with Luscombe's liner notes, retracing Penny's career and her role in the evolution of Japanese boogie and disco. As he writes in the liner notes, \"It's this deep musical craftsmanship -- both in the songwriting and performances -- that gives Penny Tohyama's work its lasting power. Her music feels as fresh and relevant today as it did when it was first released.\" With its mix of sharp production, irresistible rhythms, and Penny's unmistakable presence, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eTokyo Funk Diva\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e serves both as a long overdue introduction to one of Japan's original funk queens.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTRACK LIST:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1        Love Is The Competition    3:47\u003cbr\u003e2        Brand New Day    4:57\u003cbr\u003e3        Sfo Oakland    3:35\u003cbr\u003e4        Wanna Kiss    4:33\u003cbr\u003e5        Instant Polaroid    4:09\u003cbr\u003e6        Sexy Robot    4:02\u003cbr\u003e7        Call Me    3:45\u003cbr\u003e8        Teardrops Romance    3:56\u003cbr\u003e9        Exotic Yokogao    4:39\u003cbr\u003e10        I Love You Shika Omoitsukanai    4:11\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WEWANTSOUNDS","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":44100640833635,"sku":"3700604772712","price":35.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/2553\/7123\/files\/Image_4013508d-5b1c-464d-bf29-2dc08bc27f9c.jpg?v=1775882516","url":"https:\/\/lunchboxrecords.com\/products\/3700604772712","provider":"Lunchbox Records","version":"1.0","type":"link"}