Authorship and composition, read through DOWN TOWN.
“DOWN TOWN (EPO)” is cataloged here as a written musical work, separate from any particular performance, recording or physical issue. The documented credits separate the words by Ginji Ito from the music by Tatsuro Yamashita. Keeping these roles explicit makes it possible to follow the authors even when a performer’s name is the most prominent name on a release.
The explicit work relationship leads to the Atlas song entry “DOWN TOWN (EPO)”, associated with EPO’s 1980 album “DOWN TOWN”. The work entry preserves the authorship relationship, while the song essay examines the musical context. Neither the album’s year nor a later reissue date should automatically be read as a separately verified composition date.
The explicitly linked edition positions are MHCL-31017 / 01. Those positions tell us where the associated song is listed; they do not demonstrate that every issue uses an identical performance, mix or master.