THE 1980s was a groundbreaking period for reggae music in Japan. Festivals like Japan Splash attracted big acts such as Dennis Brown, Freddie McGregor and Sugar Minott.

Reggae also thrived in the country’s clubs where Jamaican musicians, like drummer Emanuel Walsh and bassist Ian ‘Bassheart’ Knight, played in resident bands.

For the past five years, Walsh and Knight have led Black Blood, a hardcore reggae band that will kick off a month of dates on Boxing Day at the Rudy Room in Tokyo.

“The focus of this tour is to continue to promote our previous album

Transfusion and also to give an insight into the next one coming out next spring by performing some of the tracks,” said Walsh.

Black Blood, which comprises Jamaican and Japanese members, will also do club dates in the cities of Gunma, Nagano and Kanagawa.

Walsh and Knight have played together in bands for over 25 years, most of them in Japan. On their latest trek they plan to reach out to a younger generation of fans.

“The first time we went to Japan, reggae was booming with Japan Splash, etc; now it has trended down. Having the opportunity to go there at least once per year, we have made it our stomping ground and have taken on the responsibility of being the ambassadors for reggae, not only in Japan. We aim to take the music to other countries in Asia, like Taiwan, China, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines,” said Walsh.

The St Thomas-born Walsh first met Knight in 1988 when their respective bands were contracted to play in Japan, which at the time was reggae’s fastest-growing market.

Returning to Jamaica in 1994, they formed a band that backed artistes such as Dennis Brown, John Holt, the Mighty Diamonds, Pablo Moses and Garnet Silk on live shows.

Black Blood’s second album is titled

Singing Drum & Bass.

— Howard Campbell