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.
2023-2025 Index
2026 Index: Dec 28 – Jan 3 // Jan 4 – Jan 10 // Jan 11 – Jan 17 // Jan 18 – Jan 24 // Jan 25 – Jan 31 // Feb 1 – Feb 7 // Feb 8 – Feb 14 // Feb 15 – Feb 21 // Feb 22 – Feb 28 // Mar 1 – Mar 7 // Mar 8 – Mar 14 // Mar 15 – Mar 21 // Mar 22 – Mar 28 // Mar 29 – Apr 4 // Apr 5 – Apr 11 // Apr 12 – Apr 18 // Apr 19 – Apr 25 // Apr 26 – May 2 // May 3 – May 9 // May 10 – May 16 // May 17 – May 23 // May 24 – May 30
THIS WEEK: May 31 – June 6
Ayase – Urusa
The beat on this is great. Very energetic.
B’z – Kanzen Muketsu
Ooh, a proper glam rock stomp from these veterans of the game. I approve!
Hokuto – Diamond
Upbeat, easy listening. It’s got enough energy to work even if its sound is a bit one-note.
The Jet Boy Bangerz – Black Sheep (song of the week!)
Ooh, I love when these acts take an 80s funk approach. This is their best single in awhile – or at least, the one that most closely aligns with my taste.
Let Me Know – Lovely Ør Lonely
This takes their sound in a slightly more uptempo direction.
Lienel – Melo Collection
I really like what this is trying to do. I don’t know that the execution is for me, though.
NORD – Purupuru
Has some catchy parts and I like the energy, but mostly I just think the group name is kind of funny.
Ocha Norma – Dantotsu de Aishite
I feel like I’ve heard this song a thousand times before. It’s still solid, though. Classic J-pop.
Phantom Siita – Horror Queen
A bit early for Halloween, but this is good, theatrical fun.
Shota Totsuka (A.B.C-Z) – Guerrilla Love
I admire this more than I enjoy it. It’s so 90s.
Sota Hanamura – Lose (song of the week!)
Not my favorite song from his new solo album, but still a lot of fun. But really, you should immediately check out b-sides Drifting, Breaking Free and Real Emotion instead. Great stuff!
Super Beaver – Climax
I assume we’ll be getting a lot of football/soccer themes over the next few weeks. This one’s alright. It sounds like a typical rock track to me.
Super Eight – Damdarah
I wrote about this last week but now it has a music video.
Taiga Kyomoto – Kotora
This is a really nice sound for him. I like the traditional elements.
Whisper Out Loud – Beautiful Paradox (song of the week!)
This actually came out at the end of May but I didn’t discover it until this week and it’s just too good to ignore. LOVE that guitar solo at the end.
22/7 – Sakebushikanai Seishun
Nice vocals on this. Not sure about the song.