Nobuo Tsukahara, known as Nobuo Hara, is a legendary Japanese saxophonist who gained fame in 1951 with his big band, the Sharp & Flats. Over their illustrious career, they recorded more than a hundred albums.
 
Hozan Yamamoto, a revered shakuhachi (traditional Japanese flute) player, was honoured as a Living National Treasure in 2002. Their first collaboration was a live recording from the 1967 Newport Jazz Festival, leading to their seminal studio album, New Jazz in Japan, released in 1968. This album, now reissued for the first time since 1971, showcases the unique blend of Hara's tenor sax and Yamamoto's shakuhachi, underpinned by the powerful Sharp & Flats ensemble.
 
The result is a compelling fusion of jazz and traditional Japanese music, creating a distinct and enoyable sound. Presented in gatefold packaging, this reissue allows a new generation to experience the innovative and harmonious interplay between these two master musicians.