Record Shop BASE

Record Shop BASE is a record store that opened in 1997 in Tokyo’s Koenji, specializing in punk and hardcore music. The shop’s name comes from the word "base," symbolizing both a "foundation" and a "hub." One of its founders, Minami, previously worked at VINYL JAPAN in Shinjuku, always dreaming of one day running his own store. Although finding the right location was initially a challenge, they eventually settled on their current spot through a stroke of luck. Since then, BASE has built deep connections with the punk and hardcore scene, particularly focusing on independent and self-released records. Today, it remains a legendary store, attracting numerous fans of Japanese hardcore music from around the world.