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Blue Note Records in Japan has seen a multitude of releases since 1968 by Toshiba Musical Industries, King Records (Japan), and Toshiba EMI. Japanese pressings are highly prized for their superior audio quality, combining the second-best sound reproduction, following closely behind original U.S. pressings, with state-of-the-art vinyl pressing technology that ensures exceptionally clean and quiet playback. Hence, certain Japanese vinyl records, particularly those from the 1970s by King Records, have become highly sought-after collectible items due to their exceptional quality and historical significance within the music industry.

The blue note distibution and license in Japan have 3 eras:
 * Toshiba EMI Era (1966-1977): During this era, Toshiba EMI held the license for distributing Blue Note Records in Japan. This period saw the introduction and establishment of Blue Note's presence in the Japanese market. Toshiba EMI released numerous Blue Note albums during this time, contributing to the label's popularity among Japanese jazz enthusiasts.
 * King Records Era (1977-1983): Following the Toshiba EMI era, King Records obtained the license for distributing Blue Note Records in Japan. King Records continued to release Blue Note albums and maintain the label's presence in the Japanese market during this period.
 * Toshiba EMI/Universal Music Era (1983-Present): In 1983, the licensing rights for Blue Note Records in Japan returned to Toshiba EMI, which later became part of Universal Music Group. Since then, Universal Music Group has held the license for distributing Blue Note Records in Japan, maintaining the label's presence and continuing to release albums from the Blue Note catalog.

These three distinct eras reflect the changing landscape of Blue Note's distribution in Japan and its growing popularity among Japanese jazz enthusiasts. Each era is characterized by the efforts of different record companies to promote and distribute Blue Note's jazz recordings within the Japanese market.

Toshiba Musical Industries – Toshiba EMI 1966-1977
Toshiba's acquired the rights to the Blue Note catalog for distribution in Japan at that time. The LP s they released from 1966 onwards were U.S. pressings imported into Japan and sold with additional items such as OBIs (paper bands around the album cover with Japanese text) and inserts written in Japanese to cater to the Japanese market.

In 1968 Toshiba started to release own pressings "made in Japan". The first releases were 20 different 45rpm 7 inch singles under the name of "Blue Note Best Series". In addition a 3 LP complilation promo Box was issued.

{| class="wikitable" ! Catalogue Nr. !! Record !! Artist
 * + Blue Note Best Series (1968)
 * NP-2001 || The Sidewinder, Part I, Part II || Lee Morgan
 * NP-2002 || Moanin’, Part I, Part II || Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
 * NP-2003 || Blues March c/w, Along Came Betty || Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
 * NP-2004 || Autumn Leaves, Part I, Part II || Cannonball Adderley
 * NP-2005 || Sister Sadie, Break City || Horace Silver Quintet
 * NP-2006 || Blowin’ The Blues Away, Senor Blues || Horace Silver Quintet
 * NP-2007 || Song For My Father, Part I, Part II || Horace Silver Quintet
 * NP-2008 || Blue Minor, Part I, Part II || Sonny Clark
 * NP-2009 || Cleopatra’s Dream, The Scene Changes || Bud Powell
 * NP-2010 || Alligator Boogaloo, Rev. Moses || Lou Donaldson
 * NP-2006 || Blowin’ The Blues Away, Senor Blues || Horace Silver Quintet
 * NP-2007 || Song For My Father, Part I, Part II || Horace Silver Quintet
 * NP-2008 || Blue Minor, Part I, Part II || Sonny Clark
 * NP-2009 || Cleopatra’s Dream, The Scene Changes || Bud Powell
 * NP-2010 || Alligator Boogaloo, Rev. Moses || Lou Donaldson
 * NP-2008 || Blue Minor, Part I, Part II || Sonny Clark
 * NP-2009 || Cleopatra’s Dream, The Scene Changes || Bud Powell
 * NP-2010 || Alligator Boogaloo, Rev. Moses || Lou Donaldson
 * NP-2010 || Alligator Boogaloo, Rev. Moses || Lou Donaldson
 * NP-2010 || Alligator Boogaloo, Rev. Moses || Lou Donaldson
 * NP-2011 || A Night In Tunisia, Part I, Part II || Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers
 * NP-2012 || Watermelon Man, Part I, Part II || Herbie Hancock
 * NP-2013 || Somethin’ Else, Part I, Part II || Cannonball Adderley
 * NP-2014 || Blue Train, Part I, Part II || John Coltrane
 * NP-2015 || Amen, Fuego || Donald Byrd Quintet
 * NP-2016 || Cool Struttin’, Part 1, Part II || Sonny Clark Quintet
 * NP-2017 || Opus De Funk, Ecaroh || Horace Silver Trio
 * NP-2018 || Doodlin’, The Preacher || Horace Silver & The Jazz Messengers
 * NP-2019 || The Frown, Still I’m Sad || The Three Sounds
 * NP-2020 || The Midnight Creeper, The Humpback || Lou Donaldson
 * NP-2016 || Cool Struttin’, Part 1, Part II || Sonny Clark Quintet
 * NP-2017 || Opus De Funk, Ecaroh || Horace Silver Trio
 * NP-2018 || Doodlin’, The Preacher || Horace Silver & The Jazz Messengers
 * NP-2019 || The Frown, Still I’m Sad || The Three Sounds
 * NP-2020 || The Midnight Creeper, The Humpback || Lou Donaldson
 * NP-2019 || The Frown, Still I’m Sad || The Three Sounds
 * NP-2020 || The Midnight Creeper, The Humpback || Lou Donaldson
 * NP-2020 || The Midnight Creeper, The Humpback || Lou Donaldson
 * NP-2020 || The Midnight Creeper, The Humpback || Lou Donaldson

In 1969 Toshiba started their own pressings of LP records. The initial releases were compilations featuring various artists, best of albums as well as reissues of swing records, sourced from the Blue Note Records catolgue. The two "This Is Blue Note Jazz" albums were later reissued as LNP95059/60 "Blue Note Jazz Golden Disk". Then in 1970 and 1971 Toshiba EMI released 16 LP's under their name. Initially, the label on these LP records indicated that they were "MFD. UNDER LICENSE BY TOSHIBA MUSICAL INDUSTRIES LTD. IN JAPAN." This wording suggests that the manufacturing and distribution of the records were carried out under license by Toshiba's music division in Japan. However, later pressings featured a slight change in the label statement, indicating "MFD. UNDER LICENSE BY TOSHIBA-EMI LTD. IN JAPAN." This alteration reflects the evolution of the partnership between Toshiba and EMI, with the joint venture becoming more prominently involved in the production and distribution of the records.
 * NP-9020C
 * Blue Note Jazz
 * Various
 * }
 * }