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 // Dec 8 – Dec 14 // Dec 15 – Dec 21
THIS WEEK: December 23 – December 28
AKB48 – Nantettatte Idol
A cover of an old 80’s hit. It’s fun.
ALI – Neon (ft. The Crane)
Some nice synth tones on this.
Ballistik Boyz – 360°
I like this bounding synth sound.
BUGVEL – Order In The Court
Awful chorus.
Gang Parade – Sparkling Moon
I did not expect the big band instrumental.
Genic – Fun! Fun! Fun!
This song finally has a music video. Everything released since their March album hasn’t been that great, though. This is fine but far from their best.
Hinatazaka46 – Sotsugyosyashindakega Shitteru
There’s nothing about this that really sticks out to me. It sounds about what I would expect from them.
Nakajima Kento – The Code
His debut album released this week and it’s… not at all what I would have wanted from his music. This is a decent song, I guess. I wish it was more than “decent,” though.
Phantom Siita – HANAGATAMI
It’s interesting to hear something slower from them. This is pretty.
Reol – Shinobi
This is a bit rockier for her. It’s good, but not really my thing.
Ryosuke Yamada – Switch
Why can’t Starto release good music anymore? This is very disappointing coming from someone as talented and charismatic as Yamada.
Ryugujo – ZeroZero (song of the week!)
There are things about this that frustrate me, but overall I really like the musical theater appeal of the melodies and the general vibe.
Snow Man – SBY
This has been such an underwhelming year for them, musically. This does not feel like a top tier ballad.
Taiyu Fujiwara – Pocket Beat
Pleasant and jaunty.
UVERworld – MMH
For those of you who like your rock heavy as hell.
UVERworld – Phoenix
For those of you who like your rock a bit groovier.
WATWING – 365
A bright, funky track.
XY – Talk (song of the week!)
This is a much better dance track than their Get Stupid earlier in the year. Still needs a chorus, though.
This week’s old favorite:
Sakanoue Yosuke – Harukaze (2001)
Yosuke is one of those artists I first checked out because he worked a little with my all-time favorite producer Daisuke Asakura. He’s got such a unique voice and his early-2000’s hits are quite catchy.