Grace Notes Records

Grace Notes Records (グレイスノーツレコーズ) is a Japanese independent record label whose stated philosophy is to release refined, high-quality music regardless of genre. It was established in 1998 as the in-house label of Water Garden Productions Co., Ltd., a company founded in 1997 by composer and arranger Mitsuo Yamamoto in Sakurashinmachi, Setagaya, Tokyo. Yamamoto started the label to give talented artists around him a platform, separate from the commissioned music production work he did for major record companies. The label's catalogue centers on pop, R&B, AOR, jazz, Brazilian music, new age, smooth jazz, gospel, and black contemporary music, with original master production and sales. In recent years it has also placed emphasis on classical and classical crossover repertoire. Its first release, in 1999, was "Miracle Shopping: Don Quijote no Theme," a theme associated with the Japanese discount chain Don Quijote. Grace Notes Records operates as a small, artist-focused imprint rather than a major-label operation. Its roster has included artists such as Maimi Tanaka, Tomoki Kikuchi, Rena Muramoto, Jun Kagami and Machiko Tokai, Four Colors, Cross Field, Kasuga Christie Hiromi, Hatsumi, Hiroko Miyano, Ruriko Kawamura, Masataka Nomiyama, Mai Taguchi, Uko, Masaki Katayama, Chieko Ishihara, Louis Furunaga, YURIE (Yurie Fukazawa), Nanako Kuge, the Ebisu Gospel Choir (EGC), Makiko Fujita, Sayoko Shimofusa, Rina Takahashi, Terumi Ishii, Duo A&K, 's Honey, Emi, Miki Yamaoka, and Akane Otsuka. The label has also been pursuing a music publishing arrangement with JASRAC. As of the available evidence, Grace Notes Records remains an active independent label based in Tokyo, selling its releases through its official store and website.

Grace Notes Records traces its origins to 1997, when composer and arranger Mitsuo Yamamoto established Water Garden Productions Co., Ltd. (有限会社ウォーターガーデンプロダクションズ) in Sakurashinmachi, Setagaya, Tokyo. Yamamoto had been active writing and arranging music on commission for major Japanese record companies, and he founded the company partly to create an outlet for the talented artists in his own circle. In 1998, Water Garden Productions launched its own label, Grace Notes Records. The label's first release followed in 1999: "Miracle Shopping: Don Quijote no Theme" (ミラクル・ショッピング〜ドン・キホーテのテーマ〜), a theme associated with the Japanese discount store chain Don Quijote. This established the label's pattern of producing and selling original master recordings. Over the following years, Grace Notes Records built a catalogue spanning pop, R&B, AOR, jazz, Brazilian music, new age, smooth jazz, gospel, and black contemporary music. The label describes its editorial stance as releasing refined, high-quality music regardless of genre. More recently it has expanded its focus to include classical and classical crossover repertoire. The label has worked with a broad roster of Japanese artists, including Maimi Tanaka, Tomoki Kikuchi, Rena Muramoto, Jun Kagami and Machiko Tokai, Four Colors, Cross Field, Kasuga Christie Hiromi, Hatsumi, Hiroko Miyano, Ruriko Kawamura, Masataka Nomiyama, Mai Taguchi, Uko, Masaki Katayama, Chieko Ishihara, Louis Furunaga, YURIE (Yurie Fukazawa), Nanako Kuge, the Ebisu Gospel Choir (EGC), Makiko Fujita, Sayoko Shimofusa, Rina Takahashi, Terumi Ishii, Duo A&K, 's Honey, Emi, Miki Yamaoka, and Akane Otsuka. The label has also been applying for a music publishing contract with JASRAC. As a small independent imprint, Grace Notes Records has remained closely tied to its founder's musical vision and to the Water Garden Productions organization. It continues to operate and sell its releases through its official website and online store.

• 1999

  First release, "Miracle Shopping: Don Quijote no Theme," produced and released.

• 1998

  Grace Notes Records established as the company's own label.

• 1997

  Water Garden Productions Co., Ltd. founded in Sakurashinmachi, Setagaya, Tokyo.

Independent Japanese label focused on refined, high-quality music across genres, with an emphasis on jazz, gospel, Brazilian, and classical crossover.

• 1999

  Miracle Shopping: Don Quijote no Theme

1. 1Grace Notes Records - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org
2. 2Grace Notes Records - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Grace Notes Records Official Storegracenotesrecords.stores.jp