Eiichi Ohtaki

"Each Time" represents the artistic peak of one of Japan's most important pop musicians, combining Ohtaki's accumulated experience as a songwriter, producer, and student of pop music history. The album's ability to outsell Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in Japan speaks to both its immediate commercial appeal and its deep connection with Japanese audiences.

The album serves as both a culmination of Ohtaki's career and a definitive statement of mid-1980s Japanese pop sophistication. His reputation as a synthesizer of the best elements of international pop music suggests that "Each Time" represents not just personal artistic achievement but also a masterful distillation of pop music's possibilities.

For listeners interested in Japanese pop music history, sophisticated pop arrangements, or the work of producer-artists who shaped the sound of the 1980s, "Each Time" stands as essential listening. The album's combination of commercial success, critical acclaim, and lasting influence makes it a cornerstone recording that rewards both casual listening and deep analysis.

The tragic fact that this was Ohtaki's final studio album adds poignancy to its historical importance, making "Each Time" both a celebration of artistic achievement and a bittersweet farewell from one of Japan's most gifted musical minds.