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I’ve been waiting for this one. Given THE Best finally landed on my doorstep, and the box is heavier than I expected. Four LPs, the muffler towel folded crisp, the shirt soft and a little oversized (it’s an L). And the cover. Kizu Natsuki drew something new for this, and in person it almost glows.

This is the analog version of the best album that dropped back in October 2024, every theme and insert song from the anime pulled onto vinyl. Limited box, ESJL-3170. The kind of thing you don’t expect to actually get your hands on.

I put on KIZUATO, lower the needle, and wait through that first crackle. It’s the same song I’ve carried around in earbuds and late-night tabs for years. But on vinyl the air gets involved. The quiet between notes sits heavier. I feel it in my chest, the old ache that taught me how music can hold a hand you can’t reach.

Four discs is a long conversation, so I’m in no hurry. I flip through the sleeves and let the art lean against the turntable. The shirt catches the afternoon light. All of it says the same thing: you were here for this once, and you still are.

There’s a quiet joy in making room for something you love, in letting it take up space without apology. 🏳️‍🌈👨🏻‍❤️‍👨🏽 And when Side A ends, I’m already reaching for the next one, grateful for the memories, the room fills back into sound and asks me to stay longer.

Given THE Best (ギヴン THE BEST), catalog ESJL-3170 is the vinyl box set version of the best album collecting the theme songs and insert songs from the anime series Given. The original best album came out October 2024, and this analog edition released May 14, 2025. It’s a fully production-limited release, and it’s already sold out at CDJapan.

The details:

4 LPs (12 inch) in a box set
Newly drawn cover illustration by the original manga creator, Kizu Natsuki
Bundled merch: an album-exclusive T-shirt (size L), a muffler towel, and a rubber band
Artists: given / syh and CENTIMILLIMENTAL (V.A. compilation)
Price was 20,000 yen (22,000 yen tax incl. in Japan), roughly US$125
JAN/barcode: 4547366723212

The first song, opening LP1 Side A, is “KIZUATO” (キヅアト).

Repalted Posts

| ??? | #nyu #japanese #oishi @tokyorecordbar

| Accidentally, Mikey (Usagi) and I (Mooshi) made reservations at one of 2017 summer’s most trendy restaurants, Tokyo Record Bar. There are a few interesting gimmicks about this eatery:

First, it is a small Japanese style restaurant that has the feel of “small & off the beaten path”.

The location itself is the basement of a champagne bar in NYU-town and only seats about 14 people. To enter the bar you must be lead through a champagne bar, down a small set of stairs, and into a small 8×10 foot room. At the beginning of your meal each person at your table chooses a song from a playlist that will be played through the meal. An in-house DJ will compile the songs into a playlist and the fun starts. For the record, pun intended, I chose the song “Creep” by TLC. The locations serves two seatings a night and the entire meal is coursed, without substitutions. I will not spoil the last course for you, but it is not your typical Japanese dish. Overall the experience was good and I give it a B+ rating. I do think the art painted on the walls is especially good; there are even mountains that look like breast. However I think the fox in kimono stole the show in the whimsey department.

The food was not 5-star quality and wish the restaurant would have played more into storytelling that they did at the beginning and end of the meal. That being said, the price was right, but still prevented this from being an “A” in my book. I would still recommend the experience of a Japanese style pub, especially when given the changes to enjoy some music on vinyl.

| Read Insta-comments -> http://bt.zamartz.com/2yMvkcI

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Given THE Best On vinyl

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Usagi and Mooshi Time at Tokyo Record Bar