Yoichi Shibuya, Founder of Rockin'on Magazine and Pillar of Japanese Music Culture, Dies at 74
Yoichi Shibuya, a renowned Japanese music critic, editor, and the founder of the rock music magazine "rockin'on," passed away in the early hours of July 14th at the age of 74. He had been recuperating since suffering a cerebral hemorrhage in November 2023, but his life concluded after developing aspiration pneumonia earlier this year. In 1972, at the young age of 20, Shibuya founded the music magazine "rockin'on." With its fresh perspective and insightful critiques, it profoundly impacted the Japanese music scene. Anecdotes from its early days tell of a passionate beginning: initially, the magazine was largely composed of reader submissions, and due to a lack of funds, staff members delivered copies by handcart. Subsequently, spin-off magazines like "Rockin'on Japan" were launched, and countless young people discovered international and Japanese rock music through his writings. Furthermore, he showcased his unique personality as a radio DJ on N...