Editing Japan (band) (section)

===Early years===
In March 1978, the band released their first single, a cover version of "[[Don't Rain on My Parade]]" followed a month later by their debut album ''[[Adolescent Sex]]''. Advertising campaigns that focused on the band's androgynous glam rock image failed to attract much interest for the band in the UK but was more successful in Japan where the band attracted a considerable fan following before a record had been released.<ref name="mp">Martin Power ''David Sylvian: The Last Romantic'' Omnibus Press 2012, chapter 2</ref>

The debut album was followed by a UK tour supporting [[Blue Öyster Cult]], intended to promote their album. The album itself sold poorly, and Japan faced negative criticism and hostile audiences.  In August 1978 their second single, "The Unconventional," failed to chart. In November the band made a short US tour, but although they were better accepted by American audiences it proved to be their last and only US tour. The follow-up album ''[[Obscure Alternatives]]'' showed musical progress and particularly the last track "The Tenant" – which has been described as a fusion of ''[[Low (David Bowie album)|Low]]''-era [[David Bowie]] and the piano works of [[Erik Satie]] – was a hint of the band's future, but again the album was a commercial and critical flop.<ref name="mp" />

Though influenced by artists such as Lou Reed, T. Rex, New York Dolls, Roxy Music and David Bowie,<ref name="Robert Dean"/> both albums were widely dismissed by the UK music press as being distinctly outmoded at a time when punk and [[New wave music|new wave]] bands were in ascendance. However, both albums, produced by [[Ray Singer (record producer)|Ray Singer]], sold well in Japan and the Netherlands, where the single version of "[[Adolescent Sex (song)|Adolescent Sex]]" was a top 30 hit. They also gained some popularity in Canada. But in their native UK, those albums failed to garner public attention and did not chart.<ref name="The Great Rock Discography">{{cite book
| first= Martin C.
| last= Strong
| year= 2000
| title= The Great Rock Discography
| edition= 5th
| publisher= Mojo Books
| location= Edinburgh
| pages= 496–498
| isbn= 1-84195-017-3}}</ref>

While unsuccessful in their home country, the band [[Big in Japan (phrase)|gained a huge popularity in Japan]]. They were voted the second most popular group in Japan in 1978, and was on top of the list the following year.<ref name="sh" /> In March 1979, they made their first visit to the country and sold out the 11,000 seat capacity [[Budokan Theatre]] three days in a row.<ref name="Martin Power 2012">Martin Power ''David Sylvian: The Last Romantic'' Omnibus Press 2012, chapter 3</ref>