The traditional folk songs of any country are often considered uncool — unless approached with a distinctive vision. Think Bob Dylan, Fairport Convention, or the Chieftains.

“For Japanese people, min’yō is both the closest and most distant folk music,” says bandleader Katsumi Tanaka. “We may not feel it in our daily urban lives, yet its melodies, vocal styles, and rhythms are ingrained in our DNA.”

Japan’s indigenous folk music, min’yō, consists largely of work songs rooted in rural communities — music tied to daily life, seasonal rituals, and local identity. While some songs are known nationwide, many remain region-specific, and in modern Japan they are often unfamiliar to younger generations.

Minyo Crusaders, a Tokyo-based 12-piece ensemble, reimagine this tradition through an expansive palette of global rhythms, from cumbia and reggae to Afro-Caribbean and African styles.

The band was formed in 2011 in Fussa, a culturally hybrid area on the western edge of Tokyo near the Yokota U.S. air base. Guitarist Katsumi Tanaka, originally drawn to global music, began exploring min’yō in the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, seeking a form of Japanese roots music that resonated with him. Vocalist Freddy Tsukamoto — who had discovered min’yō after hearing a song from his hometown on television — shared that vision, and together they laid the foundation for the group.

Following early independent recordings, the band released their debut album Echoes Of Japan in 2017. The album garnered strong acclaim domestically and was later picked up for international release, leading to their first European tour and appearances at major festivals including Trans Musicales, Le Guess Who?, and Oslo World.

Their international profile has continued to grow steadily. Since 2022, Minyo Crusaders have toured extensively across more than 20 countries, performing over 60 shows at major festivals such as Primavera Sound Bogotá, Roskilde, Fusion, WOMAD UK, Green Man, Lowlands, Sziget, and Best Kept Secret, establishing themselves as one of the most dynamic representatives of Japanese music on the global stage.

Their 2023 album Tour Of Japan marked a new phase in the band’s evolution, refining their arrangements while maintaining their signature energy. With From Japan With Love in 2026, Minyo Crusaders take another step forward. The
album is rooted in the band’s deep affection for min’yō — a tribute to the music itself, its richness, and its enduring potential to evolve across time and cultures. Through this perspective, the songs begin to reveal the many layers of feeling they carry: expressions of human connection, family bonds, and longing for one’s hometown that have been passed down through generations across Japan.

Across the album, traditional melodies are transformed through vibrant arrangements drawing on salsa, cumbia, afrobeat, and beyond. Songs such as “Hokkai Bonuta,” “Hanagasa Ondo,” “Shigesa Bushi,” and “Iyo Manzai” retain their regional identity while opening outward into a shared global language.