Live In Japan was a double live album released in 1992, credited to George Harrison with Eric Clapton and Band.
It was Harrison’s second live collection, following 1971’s The Concert For Bangladesh, and the final new release during his lifetime.
The album was recorded in Osaka and Tokyo during Harrison’s December 1991 tour of Japan, backed by a band which included Eric Clapton. It contains a mix of Beatles and solo songs from throughout Harrison’s recording career.
The tour was Harrison’s first for 17 years, and his first dates in Japan since The Beatles’ final tour in 1966. He was persuaded to take part by Eric Clapton, who also sang a number of songs on the tour.
I don’t think he’s ever had the experience of playing for an audience with a great band. The Beatles played to 10-year-old kids who screamed their heads off. He’s stopped smoking, he’s got himself into fighting-fit shape, he’s got my lighting, my sound, my band. It’s a crack team.
Q, January 1992
Tickets for the tour dates, which were billed as “Rock Legends: George Harrison live with Eric Clapton and his band”, went on sale on Sunday 20 October 1991, with a handful of extra dates added to meet demand.
Rehearsals took place from 4-22 November at Bray Film Studios in Berkshire, England. On 12 November a film crew from Japan’s NHK TV visited the set to record a preview, which was shown on 24 November during the Subarasiji Nakamatati (Beautiful Comradeship) show.
It’ll be special for me, because it’ll be the tour which will decide whether I wanna do anymore touring or not, you see. This could be my first and last tour or it could just be something that begins a new period for me.
Subarasiji Nakamatati, NHK TV
More interviews were recorded at Bray during November, which were included on a Sony Music TV Special, which was broadcast in Japan shortly before the tour began. Final rehearsals took place on 30 November at the Yokohama Arena.
