Hoshireco

This time, we introduce Hoshireco, located on the Taisho Roman Yume-dori shopping street in Kawagoe, Saitama.

Run by Mr. Hoshitani, Hoshireco is an all-genre record shop with a name that cleverly combines his surname and the Japanese phrase meaning “I want records.” After nearly 40 years of record collecting and a career as a salaryman, he opened the shop with the goal of creating a space where both locals and tourists could casually enjoy vinyl culture.

The store is organized clearly by genre, making it easy for beginners to explore, with essentials like classic albums and Beatles records, as well as treasures for DJs and collectors: 7-inch singles, soul, disco, and Japanese music. Beyond the records themselves, the shop’s appeal lies in the stories behind the collections acquired through buybacks and the cross-generational interactions among customers.

Blending seamlessly with the retro streetscape of Kawagoe, Hoshireco offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere that makes it much more than just a record store.