Wataru Takada / Cat's Nap (LP)

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Haruomi Hosono's full participation, Wataru Takada's early masterpiece "FISHIN' ON SUNDAY" recorded in Los Angeles, and the 80s/90s masterpieces "Neko no Negoto" and "Wataru" are now available as limited edition analog records with the latest remastering!
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Starting with "FISHIN' ON SUNDAY," which marks exactly 50 years since its release, "Neko no Negoto," released in 1983, and "Wataru," released 10 years later and the last original album, will be reissued as limited edition analog records over three consecutive months. "Wataru" will be released on analog for the first time.
All three works have been newly remastered by Soichiro Nakamura (Peace Music) and include liner notes by Shinichi Ogawa ("Wataru" includes newly written notes for this reissue).

*If you order all three works simultaneously, delivery will be on July 22, 2026 (Wednesday), the release date of "Wataru." If you wish for individual deliveries, please place separate orders.

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*We received a comment from Ren Takada regarding the analog release of the three works.

"Wataru's Wake"
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Ren Takada

　"FISHIN' ON SUNDAY," an epoch-making album that was my father's first and only trip to the US, happily featuring Haruomi Hosono and Van Dyke Parks; "Neko no Negoto," the most European-flavored (what was then called world music) work of his entire career; and "Wataru," a hidden masterpiece produced by Keiichi Suzuki that deserves re-evaluation now—these are the restorations of his trajectory through the 70s, 80s, and 90s, or perhaps a journey through bars transcending time and space. And "Wataru" is also being released on analog for the first time.
Each album (or rather, the life of the rare being that was Wataru Takada himself) contains numerous legendary episodes that cannot be conveyed here, and because of this, the lively studio atmosphere vividly emanates from the spaces between the recorded sounds.
Listening to each album again, one can glimpse the shy smile of Wataru Takada, who deeply loved music from all over the world. Many poets' words row their boats on these colorful waves of sound. I would like to raise a toast to the dawn of the Age of Exploration of Wataru Takada in 2026.
I sincerely hope that this wake will reach everyone as grooves on a record.
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TBV-0109 Wataru Takada "Neko no Negoto" (Released June 10, 2026)

Released in 1983 from Tokuma Japan's Climax label. This is Wataru Takada's 8th work. It begins with "Grandfather's Clock," transitioning from an autoharp melody to a children's chorus, and is packed with good-time music colored by various genres and instruments such as folk, Tex-Mex, and European traditional music. More than 10 friends participated in the recording. It was the only album released in the 80s, when he was most actively touring the country.

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Artist: Wataru Takada
Title: Neko no Negoto
Label: Tokuma Japan Communications Distribution: TUFF BEATS
Format: LP
CatNo.: TBV-0109 (TJJA-10083)
Barcode: 4580187181731
Price: 5,000 yen + tax
Release Date: June 10, 2026 (Wednesday)

■Track List:
Side A
1. Grandfather's Clock
2. Winter Night Lullaby for Children
3. Stone
4. Cat's Meow
5. On a Night I Want to Drink

Side B
1. Limerick
2. Someday
3. Bye-Bye
4. Lazybones
5. My Blue Heaven