Windless Blue by Kaze - 1976

It wasn’t unusual in the 70s for American folk and rock acts to pivot into softer rock and AOR. The same shift was taking place in Japan, a prime example being the folk duo Kaze(風), formed by Shōzō Ise (伊勢正三) and Kazuhisa Ōkubo (大久保一久). They debuted in 1975 with “22-Year-Old Farewell” (22才の別れ), a heartfelt reworking of a song Ise had originally written during his tenure with the folk trio Kaguyahime.
With their first two albums, Kaze quickly established themselves in Japan’s booming folk-pop scene, guided by the steady hand of arranger Ichizō Seo (瀬尾一三), who shaped much of their early material. But by the mid-70s, both Seo and Ise had fallen under the spell of American AOR — sleek, urbane sounds pioneered by artists like Boz Scaggs, Orleans, and Steely Dan. This influence pushed the group to broaden their sonic palette and aim for a more polished, contemporary sound.
The result was WINDLESS BLUE, released in November 1976. Returning as producer and arranger, Seo surrounded the duo with top-tier talent: jazz saxophonist Takeru Muraoka (村岡健), prolific percussionist Nobu Saito (斉藤信男), and pianist Kentaro Haneda (羽田健太郎), who would later gain acclaim for his anime soundtrack work.

THE MUSIC 

1. The Woman Who Rests Her Chin in Her Hand (ほおづえをつく女/Hoozue o Tsuku Onna) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

2. Highway at Night (夜の国道 / Yoru no kokudō) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

3. Turn Left on Route 3 (３号線を左に折れ / 3-Gōsen o hidari ni ore) ⭐⭐⭐

4. An Afternoon on the Journey (旅の午後 / Tabi no gogo) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

5. Passing Shower (通り雨 / Tōriame) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

6. Afternoon Street 25 (アフターヌーン通り25 / アフターヌーン通り25) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

7. Small Hands (小さな手 / Chīsana te) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

8. The Town Where You Can See the Horizon (地平線の見える街 / Chiheisen no mieru machi) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

9. The Youth I Walked with You (君と歩いた青春 / Kimitoaruitaseishun) ⭐⭐⭐

10. Before I Realized It (ふっと気がつきゃ / Futto kigatsukya) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

11. Just a Little Baggage (少しだけの荷物 / Sukoshidake no nimotsu) ⭐⭐⭐

THE VERDICT

Listening to Windless Blue feels like stumbling across a long-lost Seals & Crofts record. Tracks like “Hoozue o Tsuku Onna” (The Woman Who Rests Her Chin in Her Hand) and “Tōriame” (Passing Shower) highlight Kaze’s knack for weaving West Coast–style soft rock into the fabric of Japanese folk. The album’s crown jewel is easily “Yoru no Kokudō” (Highway at Night). Its groovy mid-tempo pulse and rich vocal harmonies evoke the unmistakable mood of a nighttime coastal drive — windows down, salt air rolling in, headlights stretching endlessly down the highway. You can play this track right alongside "Babylon Sisters" by Steely Dan and not bat an eye. While your average American listener might not immediately connect folk music to the emergence of City Pop, Windless Blue makes the case effortlessly. Its breezy, sophisticated arrangements mark a clear turning point in the mid-70s, pushing Kaze beyond their folk-pop beginnings and into a more refined, urban soundscape.