Epic Records Japan

Lore & Background

Epic Records Japan began as Epic/Sony Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary established in August 1978. It was folded back into CBS/Sony Group in March 1988, then re-established in 2001 as Epic Records Japan Inc. In 2014, Sony Music Records Inc. absorbed it and other subsidiaries, renaming itself Sony Music Labels, after which Epic Records Japan became an imprint. The label also published video games for Nintendo consoles from the late 1980s to early 1990s, including titles like Tokoro-san no Mamoru mo Semeru mo (1987), Solstice (1990), and Hook (1992). The video game division was dissolved shortly after the announcement of PlayStation, with future titles going directly under Sony Music Entertainment Japan.

Reader's Guide

Epic Records Japan's significance lies in its dual role as a record label and video game publisher during a formative period in Japanese entertainment. As a label, it launched or hosted major artists like Hikaru Utada, Tetsuya Komuro, and Kimiko Itoh, contributing to the Japanese music industry. Its video game publishing arm, active from 1987 to 1994, released titles for Famicom, Game Boy, and Super Famicom, often developed by notable studios such as HAL Laboratory, Software Creations, and Ocean. The label's absorption into Sony Music Labels in 2014 marked a consolidation of Sony's Japanese music operations. Its legacy includes a catalog of games that reflect the cross-media strategies of the era, and its imprint status continues under Sony Music Labels.

Did You Know?

• Epic Records Japan was founded by Shigeo Maruyama.
• It operated as Epic/Sony Inc. from 1978 to 1988.
• The label published video games for Nintendo consoles from 1987 to 1994.
• Notable artists include Hikaru Utada, Tetsuya Komuro, and Kimiko Itoh.