In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in what’s new in J-pop.
With that in mind, here’s where you come in: I’m one person with one set of musical preferences, so please embed any other new J-pop tracks you’ve enjoyed in the comments so we can get a fuller spectrum each week.
*And just like I do with my reviews, I’ll wait until full versions of songs are available before posting them in this round-up. This will mostly apply to Johnny’s groups, who still limit the majority of their YouTube uploads to shorter, edited versions.
2023 Index
2024 Index: Dec 24 – Jan 6 // Jan 7 – Jan 13 // Jan 14 – Jan 20 // Jan 21 – Jan 27 // Jan 28 – Feb 3 // Feb 4 – Feb 10 // Feb 11 – Feb 17 // Feb 18 – Feb 24 // Feb 25 – Mar 2 // Mar 3 – Mar 9 // Mar 10 – Mar 16 // Mar 17 – Mar 23 // Mar 24 – Mar 30 // Mar 31 – Apr 6 // Apr 7 – Apr 13 // Apr 14 – Apr 20 // Apr 21 – Apr 27 // Apr 28 – May 4 // May 5 – May 11 // May 12 – May 18 // May 19 – May 25 // May 26 – Jun 1 // Jun 2 – Jun 8 // Jun 9 – Jun 15 // Jun 16 – Jun 22 // Jun 23 – Jun 29 // Jun 30 – Jul 6 // Jul 7 – Jul 13 // Jul 14 – Jul 20 // Jul 21 – Jul 27 // Jul 28 – Aug 3 // Aug 4 – Aug 10 // Aug 11 – Aug 17 // Aug 18 – Aug 24 // Aug 25 – Aug 31 // Sep 1 – Sep 7 // Sep 8 – Sep 14 // Sep 15 – Sep 21 // Sep 22 – Sep 28 // Sep 29 – Oct 5 // Oct 6 – Oct 12 // Oct 13 – Oct 19 // Oct 20 – Oct 26 // Oct 27 – Nov 2 // Nov 3 – Nov 9 // Nov 10 – Nov 16 // Nov 17 – Nov 23 // Nov 24 – Nov 30 // Dec 1 – Dec 7
THIS WEEK: December 8 – December 14
Exile Takahiro – Winter Song
This one’s for you ballad lovers out there.
Hikaru Utada – Electricity
This has been out for many months now, but finally has a music video.
JO1 – JOin Us!!
Not this time, guys.
Lil League – Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
Meh. Lots of expected shouting. The clobbering chorus has potential, though.
Natori – In_My_Head
I like the energy more than the song.
NiziU – Buddy Buddy
Not for me, but I guess it’s cute.
Official HIGE DANdism – 50% (song of the week!)
There’s a nice sense of drama to this. I like when their music goes big and this song has a fluidity to it that’s quite engaging. The second verse almost sounds like Queen Bee’s Avu-chan wrote it, which is a comparison I never thought I would make.
One Love One Heart – Meshiagare Seishun
I’m happy we finally hear a better mix of the female/male vocals, but this isn’t really the sound I love from this group. I think their more rock-influenced material is their best. I’ll eventually come around to this, though.
OrβIT – Xmas-time
I have so many K-pop/J-pop songs on my holiday playlist that I have to be a bit picky now, but I really like the energy of this one. Very jolly.
RealRomantic – Blooming
I think this group is making their proper debut next year and I’m not sure if it’s with this song or something else. It’s got nice, bright energy. Very K-pop.
Takane No Nadeshiko – Ai No Virus
This presents an interesting blend of soft and harder-edged elements.
Takanori Nishikawa – Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi (SKYBREAKER) (song of the week!)
I want this to explode more than it does, but I will always be excited for new music from Nishikawa, so in an underwhelming week this is still a highlight.
Wednesday Campanella – Moving Point P
It’s solid but they’ve released far stronger material this year.
White Jam – Cho-Yabee
That album cover is quite something, huh? The song is definitely off-kilter. I’m not quite sure it holds together.
Yurina Hirate – All I Want
Back when she made her solo debut I was convinced Hirate was going to be the next big soloist, pushing music forward. The dullness of these recent singles suggest the opposite, but I suppose there’s always potential for a turnaround.
7ORDER – Tokyo Trip
This is an interesting shift in sound for them. The song could be stronger, but it’s kind of groovy.
This week’s old favorite:
Shonentai – ABC (1987)
How about going waaaay back in the time machine to the supremely popular 80’s act Shonentai? This is one of their catchiest hits.