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 1988, 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).
Angie: Atarashii Marchen [アンジー：新しいメルヘン] (reviewed by HK–link to full list of capsule review writers below)
RC Succession: Covers [RCサクセション：カヴァーズ] (IT) *
YBO²: Alienation [YBO²: Alienation] (NK2) *
Kome Kome Club: Go funk [米米クラブ：GO FUNK] (SM)
Psy•s: Nonfiction [サイズ：ノンフィクション] (ST3)
G-Schmitt: Alternative Garnet [G-シュミット：オルタネイティヴ・ガーネット] (OJ)
Ziggy: Hot lips [ZIGGY: ホット・リップス] (YK)
Jun Sky Walker(s): Hitotsu dakishimete [ジュン・スカイ・ウォーカーズ：ひとつ抱きしめて] (ST2) *
Suzuki Hirobumi: First compact disk [鈴木博文：ファースト・コンパクト・ディスク] (SY)
Dead End: Shambara [デードエンド：shambára] (TM) *
The Toys [ザ・トイズ] (AY)
Doom: Complicated Mind [ドゥーム：コンプリケイテッド・マインド] (TM)
Pizzicato Five: Bellisima! [ピチカート・ファイヴ：ベリッシマ] (YM) *
Himuro Kyosuke: Flowers for Algernon [氷室京介：フラワーズ・フォー・アルジャーノン] (ST2) *
Fence of Defense: III [Fence of Defense: III] (ST2) *
Princess Princess: Let’s Get Crazy [プリンセス・プリンセス：レッツ・ゲット・クレイジー] (ST2) *
Box: Box pops [ボックス：ボックス・ポップス] (OJ)
Hotei Tomoyasu : Guitarhythm [布袋寅泰：ギタリズム] (IM2) *
Yusa Mimori : Soramimi on the hill [遊佐未森：空耳の丘] (IM)
The Roosters: Four Pieces [ルースターズ：FOUR PIECES] (AY)
Red Warriors: Kings [レッド・ワォーリアーズ：キングス](YK)
Watanabe Misato: ribbon [渡辺美里：ribbon] (HK)
Japan Rockology 
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