Vol. 18 — May 1981

The Japanese fanclub magazines were given another facelift beginning with this isssue, restylized to be brought even more closely into alignment with the English-speaking UK-based fanclub. The Japanese magazines had been trending that way for quite some time, and starting with this issue they began to share covers, photos, and info translated directly from the English fanclub. Info inside was still localized to a degree of course, but gone was the heady, bespoke feeling of the early Japanese fanclub magazines. Fanmail and personal notes from the Japanese fanclub staff were greatly culled as well. Although the magazines had begun as quarterly publications, since 1979 they had been issued somewhat irregularly, and starting with vol. 18 the month of issue was printed on the cover for easy access. From here on out, more and more issues would be produced with full-color covers as well.

Vol. 18 focuses largely on Queen's 1981 tour of Japan, which was their fourth visit to the country. "Tour", however, was a misnomer, as this time around there were only five gigs, all at the Budoukan in Tokyo. There is also a spread on a side trip Brian took to Kamakura and Asakusa, as well as a few pictures of the band's welcome party in Roppongi.

There's also a letter in the back from a Japanese fan who spent some time in London and noted that they had recorded See What A Fool I've Been from a late-night radio show that plaed a lot of rare Queen gems. See What A Fool... had not been released in Japan at this point, and was considered somewhat of a holy grail song amongst Japanese fans as a result. But this fan notes that they had unfortunately been forced to use a "cheap, tacky 90-minute American-made cassette tape" to record this song, which made it difficult to offer copies. The taper was also able to record Ian Hunter (of Mott the Hoople)'s You Nearly Did Me In, which features Freddie, Roger, and Brian on backing vocals.

Brian's Japanese Vacation

1981 Japanese Tour Anecdotes

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