5 Facts About Satoshi Ashikawa’s Only Solo Album

Still Way (Wave Notation 2) is Satoshi Ashikawa’s only solo album. It was released in 1982 on his own Sound Process label.

The album is a landmark in Japanese environmental music. Ashikawa was a key figure in the genre, which blends ambient sound with natural and urban environments.

It was part of a series called “Wave Notation.” The subtitle “Wave Notation 2” suggests it was the second in a planned series, but no other volumes were released.

The music is minimalist and meditative. It features slow, repetitive piano and synthesizer patterns that evoke stillness and space.

The album remained obscure for decades. It gained a cult following after reissues in the 2010s, becoming a sought-after piece of ambient history.