Tokyo-based large ensemble Minyo Crusaders take elements from Japanese working-class folk songs known as min’yō, and hypercharge them with rhythm, energy, and celebratory excitement. The group has grown progressively into this hybrid of the traditional and the new over the course of several albums, combining Japanese melodies handed down over generations with Latin flare, cumbia sounds, and other global cross-pollinations. From Japan with Love finds Minyo Crusaders in a mode that’s both fiery and playful, with powerful percussion, electrified horn arrangements, and group playing that emphasizes fun. The album starts off with a bang, kicking into high gear with the salsa-flavored “Hokkai Bonuta.” There’s a clash of uncanny…

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