Rock Chronicles Japan Vol. 2 (1987)

Rock Chronicles Japan Vol. 2 (1981-1999), a CD Journal Mook published by Ongaku Shuppan Sha in 1999, is subtitled, “Know the J-POP era via 50 people and 666 albums. ” The book comprises brief articles, interviews, lists of important acts and capsule reviews of albums organized by year.

Here are the essential albums of the year 1987, presented in Japanese order, preserving the romanization of artists’ names as they were printed in the original publication. Note that some romanizations are unconventional (some may be typos). Romanization of album titles, unless printed in roman letters in the original, are mine. (Please leave corrections in the comment field.) Links go to Wikipedia articles in English and Japanese. *=available on U.S. streaming platforms (as of 2022).

Agata Morio: El Jaguar del Bandoneon [あがた森魚：バンドネオンの豹] (reviewed by YM–see link to full list of capsule review writers below)
Asylum: Crystal Days [アサイラム：CRYSTAL DAYS] (IM)
Kubota Toshinobu: Groovin [久保田利伸：グルーヴィン] (IT) *
The Collectors: Boku wa collector [コレクターズ：僕はコレクター] (ST3)
The Street Sliders: Bad Influence [ザ・ストリート・スライダーズ：BAD INFLUENCE] (IT)
Takeuchi Mariya: Request [竹内まりや：リクエスト] (NK) *
Tamaki Koji: All I do [玉置浩二：オール・アイ・ドゥ] (ST2)
TM Network: humansystem [TM ネットワーク：ヒューマンシステム] (IM2) *
Nakagawa Katsuhiko: Maji-Magic [中川勝彦：MAJI-MAGIC] (OJ)
High Rise: II [ハイ・ライズ：II] (NK2) *
PANTA: Kristal nacht [PANTA: クリスタル・ナハト] (IT) *
Pink: Daydream Tracks [PINK: デイドリーム・トラックス] (SY)
The Phantomgift: The World of the Phantomgift [ファントムギフト：ザ・ファントムギフトの世界] (YM2)
BOØWY : Psychopath [BOØWY : Psychopath] (HK) *
The Blue Hearts [ブルーハーツ] (AY)
Miyahara Mebae: Mariposa [宮原芽映：マリーポーサ] (WK)
Mute Beat: Steel Echo [ミュート・ビート：スティル・エコー] (MT)
Yapoos: Yapoos keikaku [ヤプーズ：ヤプーズ計画] (OS) *
Ryudugumi: II [竜童組：II] (IT)
Various Artists: Attack of the mushroom people [アタック・オブ・ザ・マッシュルーム・ピープル] (ST)
Various Artists: West Psychedelia (NK2)

Link to list of contributors.

Link to Rock Chronicles Japan (1987) YouTube playlist