East — East 1972 (Japan, Psychedelic Rock)

Aman Ryusuke Seto and Gen Morita were classmates in Junior High School in Tokyo, Japan. They were in Middle School (in the early 60’s) and formed a band called «The Four Frogs». Their sound emulated that of another popular band called «The Foy Brothers». They were very much into the folk sound of «The Kingston Trio». They played small clubs and got recognized by the influential music critic Hiroyuki Takayama. He got them a record deal with Polydor, but the band changed their name to «The New Frontiers». After the record was released, they began to get more popular and started playing Junior Jamborees and Student Festival Concerts in Tokyo, they were also booked on TV Shows and their songs were played on the radio. More albums were recorded and they played a number of shows at US Military Camps located in the area. Ryusuke decided that he wanted to attend College in the USA, so he went to New York and then asked the other members to join him there. It was 1964 and The New Frontiers came to the USA, played shows in New Jersey and it went very well. They got some real confidence and thought they might actually be able to make a living playing music in the USA. But, then Ed Sullivan debuted «The Beatles» on his variety show. It changed history and bands like «The New Frontiers» could not compete with the new sound and music of the «British Invasion». They all went back to Japan to finish College. The days were long with class and studies during the day, but they still played clubs after hours. The long hours were tough, but «The New Frontiers» were still very popular and Ryusuke and Gen still had the passion to continue on. Members changed over the next few years and so did their sound which went from traditional folk to more of a «Beatles» influence. But, playing music in Japan did not satisfy their dream of being a world contender. They needed to go back to America to give themselves a chance. A demo tape was made and sent to several different US labels where they had hoped to land a US record deal. Ken Nagano heard the demos. He lived in California and convinced a radio personality working at a station in San Jose that they should invite «The New Frontiers» to the USA. They got a temporary (6 month) U.S. VISA to stay in the US. So, Ryusuke (aka Ruese) Seto (guitar, piano), Gen Morita (traditional instruments, guitar), Noboru Asahi (bass), Tadahide Yoshikawa (traditional instruments, guitar) and Fumio Adachi (drums) traveled to the US and settled in the town of Milpitas on the outskirts of San Jose. Ken Nagano became their Manager and Booking Agent and they began playing local clubs. The unusual sound of traditional Japanese instruments, guitars and drums made a huge impact on a lot of people. The psychedelic scene was still present in the Bay area and their sound fit right in. Their big event was a one week stay at «The Boarding House» on the campus of the University Of San Francisco. The «buzz» was on about this band and they didn’t disappoint. The San Francisco Examiner gave them a very favorable review. After this they were asked to play in Santa Monica at «The Troubador» which is where acts like «Carly Simon», «James Taylor» and «Tom Waits» frequented. Capitol Records was there and offered them the US record deal they were looking for. They felt the deal was a little hasty, but they signed anyway just to get notice in America. The New Frontiers name was changed to «Light From The East» which was shortened to «East». The album was recorded and released. What evolves is a genuine uniqueness in sound that compares favorably to “Stone Country”, but influences coming from «Arthur Lee» and “Love” is also heard. A wonderful band. Capitol kept them busy with shows on the West Coast, but they overlooked their VISAs and they didn’t get extended. They were very popular in Hawaii and had a song in the top 10 at the major radio station there. When they arrived to play some shows in Honolulu, they were surrounded by fans, but they were also told that their US VISAs had run out and they had to return to Japan. Ruese and Gen were that close to attaining their dream and it all came to an abrupt end. They went back to Japan and «East» dissolved. Ruese started writing solo material and built a studio on the coast of Japan in the town of Hayama. He released a couple solo albums in the mid 70’s, produced and recorded other local bands and has recently produced shows and released quite a few albums (CDs) for his daughter «Hanayo». Gen Morita became a holistic healer, promoted organic foods and got famous for his environmental stands against converting forests into Golf Courses. He formed the «Global Anti-Golf Movement» (GAGM) represented in 10 different countries. He and his wife Yumi Kikuchi also developed «The Harmonics Life Center» and they travel the world giving concerts and promoting the cause.