Wikipedia

Benten Label

Benten Label is an independent record label based in Japan. Founded by Audrey Kimura (who would go on to co-found Japan Nite)[1] in 1994, it focuses on female bands of various genres and music that is "fun, energetic, and exciting".[2]

Benten Label
Founded1994; 32 years ago (1994)
FounderAudrey Kimura
Distributors
Genre
Country of originJapan
LocationTokyo
Official websitehttps://bentenlabel.com/

History

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While working for a bank in Tokyo, Audrey (Shisaka) Kimura[3] was helping Hiroshi Asada[1] with his job at the Tom's Cabin music promotion office. At Asada's suggestion, Kimura formed her own record label in April 1994 with the goal of specializing in female artists.[4] She named it Benten Label after the only female deity of the Seven Lucky Gods, and goddess of the arts, Benzaiten.[5] Kimura later opined that "female bands are more free" and are "less uptight about musical categories."[6] The label started with licensing works by American band Lunachicks as well as The Flamenco A Go Go.[4] In 1997, she formed a sister label to Benten, with distribution from Nippon Crown and Fuji Pacific Music, called Sister Records.[5]

In 2005, the label started releasing records in America, with distribution handled by Austin-based label Australian Cattle God, under the name Benten Tokyo.[7] TsuShiMaMiRe's Pregnant Fantasy was the first album to be released through this arrangement, with Red Bacteria Vaccum's Roller Coaster, Amppez's The Irony of a Fruit and Petty Booka's Dancing with Petty Booka following afterwards.[8][9]

Roster

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See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 Michel, Patrick St (2015-03-24). "SXSW's Japan Nite celebrates 20 lively years". The Japan Times. Retrieved 2026-04-17. Before this, Asada met Audrey Kimura, with whom he would go on to co-found Japan Nite. ... Kimura also launched her own imprint, Benten Label, and went to Austin with rock band Lolita No. 18.(subscription required)
  2. ↑ Graves, Karen E., Benten Lable Sampler: The Greatest Girls Bands... | AllMusic, retrieved 2026-04-17
  3. ↑ Driscoll, Catherine (2002). Girls: Feminine Adolescence in Popular Culture and Cultural Theory. Columbia University Press. p. 296. ISBN 9780231504720.
  4. 1 2 #FUKUOKA. "サウス・バイ・サウスウエスト（SXSW）ジャパンナイトの仕掛け人が語る、2018年の楽しみ方&見どころ - HASH#FUKUOKA". #FUKUOKA 福岡のクリエイティブなニュース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  5. 1 2 "Sister Records + Benten Label". www.sister.co.jp. Archived from the original on 1999-11-16. Retrieved 2026-05-10.
  6. ↑ McClure, Steve (1998). Nippon Pop: Sounds From the Land of the Rising Sun. Tuttle Publishing. p. 77. ISBN 9780804821070.
  7. ↑ Beets, Greg (2007-10-19). "Australian Cattle God". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-05-28. Serving as U.S. subdistributor for Japanese all-girl act label Benten Tokyo – home of SXSW favorites Petty Booka and Tsu Shi Ma Mi Re – also contributes to ACG's global scope.
  8. ↑ "BENTEN Label -USrelease2005-press". Sister Records + Benten Label. Archived from the original on 2008-02-10. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
  9. ↑ "Australian Cattle God News". Australian Cattle God. Archived from the original on 2006-12-06. Retrieved 2026-05-28.
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