Benten Label

Lore & Background

Audrey Kimura was working for a bank in Tokyo while helping Hiroshi Asada at the Tom's Cabin music promotion office. At Asada's suggestion, Kimura formed her own record label in April 1994 with the goal of specializing in female artists. She named it Benten Label after the only female deity of the Seven Lucky Gods, and goddess of the arts, Benten, whom she called an inspiration. Kimura later opined that 'female bands are more free' and are 'less uptight about musical categories.'

Benten Label started with licensing works by American band Lunachicks as well as The Flamenco A Go Go. Regarding the marketing utilized by the label, No Depression wrote: 'The outrageously funny and downright raunchy nature of some of Benten's promotional material sinks any image of meek Asian women.' In 1997, Kimura formed a sister label to Benten, with distribution from Nippon Crown and Fuji Pacific Music, called Sister Records.

In 2005, the label started releasing records in America, with distribution handled by Austin-based label Australian Cattle God, under the name Benten Tokyo. TsuShiMaMiRe's Pregnant Fantasy was the first album to be released through this arrangement, with Red Bacteria Vacuum's Roller Coaster, Amppez's The Irony of a Fruit and Petty Booka's Dancing with Petty Booka following afterwards. The label sponsors the Wild Wacky Party punk rock concert series.

Reader's Guide

Benten Label holds significance as an independent Japanese record label founded by Audrey Kimura in 1994, dedicated to promoting female bands across various genres. Its founding was inspired by the goddess Benten, reflecting a focus on artistic expression. The label's early work included licensing American acts, and its promotional material was noted for challenging stereotypes. The establishment of Sister Records in 1997 expanded its reach. In 2005, the label began releasing records in the United States through a partnership with Australian Cattle God under the name Benten Tokyo, bringing Japanese and other artists to an international audience. The label's roster includes a diverse array of bands, and it sponsors the Wild Wacky Party punk rock concert series. Benten Label's legacy lies in its consistent support of female musicians and its role in cross-cultural music distribution.

Did You Know?

• Benten Label was named after Benten, the only female deity of the Seven Lucky Gods and goddess of the arts.
• The label's first releases included licensing works by American band Lunachicks and The Flamenco A Go Go.
• In 1997, a sister label called Sister Records was formed with distribution from Nippon Crown and Fuji Pacific Music.
• The label sponsors the Wild Wacky Party punk rock concert series.