Kazemachi Roman is the second album by Japanese folk rock band Happy End, released on URC Records in 1971. In this concept album, Happy End attempted to paint a musical picture of Tokyo before the 1964 Summer Olympics, through which sweeping changes transformed the city forever.
Kazemachi Roman cover, clockwise from top left: Matsumoto, Suzuki, Hosono and Ohtaki, illustrated by Kazuhiko Miyaya
Happy End was a Japanese folk rock band active from 1969 to 1972. Composed of Haruomi Hosono, Eiichi Ohtaki, Takashi Matsumoto and Shigeru Suzuki, the band's pioneering sound was regarded as avant-garde to most Japanese at the time. They are considered to be among the most influential artists in Japanese music. MTV described Happy End's music as "rock with psych smudges around the edges."
Happy End in September 1971. From left to right: Eiichi Ohtaki, Haruomi Hosono, Shigeru Suzuki and Takashi Matsumoto.