JUDGMENT! RECORDS
Located in Higashi-Nakano, JUDGMENT! RECORDS is a secondhand record store with a focus on jazz, while also offering a curated selection of rock, J-pop, city pop, and black music. The store's name comes not from the idea of “judgment,” but rather from its alternative meaning: “discernment” or “connoisseurship,” reflecting owner Mr. Hanawa’s sharp eye for quality records. Raised in a family that ran a jazz café, Hanawa has been surrounded by vinyl since childhood. After years as the head of the jazz division at Disk Union, he was instrumental in the reissue of iconic labels such as Three Blind Mice and Blue Note. The shop features carefully selected rare jazz pressings, audiophile-grade records, and sought-after collector’s items, all of which can be auditioned on vintage audio equipment. Surrounded by 1960s furniture and artwork, the space offers a unique cultural and sonic experience. While the shop focuses on vinyl, their extensive CD inventory is available online via their Mercari store. JUDGMENT! RECORDS is a new must-visit spot where music lovers gather, bringing together deep passion, refined taste, and a love for analog sound.
