Forgive me, J-Wiki, for using the image from your article pertaining to Koijigahama, a one-kilometre span of beach in the city of Tahara, Aichi Prefecture. But I thought that this would be the ideal thumbnail photo to start this article off.
The beach is fine. However, I always have to look askance as to why singers or bands would use the word junk to name themselves. Yes, I know that there is singer-songwriter Junk Fujiyama（ジャンクフジヤマ）and of course, he has a glorious voice and all but I never quite found out why he opted to go with the word junk as part of his stage name. And then, just recently, I was made aware of a short-lived folk duo by the name of Junk. Of course, though it doesn't deserve this treatment, I couldn't help but envisage a huge pile of garbage whenever I hear the name...although I'm aware of its use as well to describe a certain type of boat.
In any case, Junk was composed of Ron Ogawa（小川ロン）and Takahiro Kanami*（金海たかひろ）who started the band in 1975. According to his own webpage, Ogawa, who was born in Tokyo but raised in Shizuoka Prefecture, has a rather sad origin to his stage name of Ron...apparently, he'd had an aging blind dog by that name and one day when Ron tried to follow his master, he ended up missing forever. In tribute, Ogawa took the name.
Anyways, Junk released four singles during their time together between 1975 and 1977 with their second single "Koijigahama" coming out in 1976. It's a lovely folk song (shimmering strings, gentle guitar) with who I believe is Ron taking the sensitive and resonant lead vocals since he was responsible for both words and music. I'm only judging by this one song thus far, but with this particular voice, it's a pity that Junk didn't last beyond a mere two years.
*Takahiro's family name can be read in several ways according to Jisho.org so if anyone out there can confirm or refute my choice for the name, I'd be very appreciative of that.
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