Morio Agata (b. 1948) is a Japanese performer, singer-songwriter, actor, and director whose prolific five-decade career has exhibited a consistent sense for playful experimentation. Agata’s 1972 debut single “Sekishoku Erejī” (Red Elegy) sold over half a million copies with further mainstream success to follow with his contribution to the theme song of NHK TV show Bakeruno Elementary School, but his darker, political output is less known to international audiences. Material like his Vanity Records LP Norimono Zukan, 1970’s Chikuonban, his feature film Boku wa tenshi ja naiyo, and his recent recordings have nevertheless become celebrated for their depth and ability to embody various vital moments in Japanese politics. Inspired by the chameleonic qualities of David Bowie and Bob Dylan, his music takes disparate generic forms, passing through folk rock, synth pop, open experimentation, and tango while retaining an unmistakable voice bent on the exploration of Western pop culture as filtered through the lens of the Japanese avant-garde. As a collaborator, he has additionally worked with Haruomi Hosono, Akiko Yano, Eiichi Ohtaki, and zolo band Virgin VS.