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 // May 31 – Jun 6 // Jun 7 – Jun 13 // Jun 14 – Jun 20 // Jun 21 – Jun 27 // Jun 28 – Jul 4
THIS WEEK: July 5 – July 11
A.B.C-Z – Maji Magic
Reasonably catchy dance track.
aoen – Hajimari Color
It’s cool to see them veering into a more “J-pop” sound, but this kind of song does nothing for me.
Ballistik Boyz – Do Don PA!!
What’s the sound of that crunchy synth bass that opens this track because I’m really sick of hearing it. Otherwise, this is a fine club track with a lousy chorus.
Class Seven – I Know Hero
A nice classic J-pop sound, but the song doesn’t stand out.
Daichi Shiozaki (M!LK) – Shiozaki Wonderland
Too much for me. It’s like a bad kiddie show.
DIALOGUE＋ – Dear Our Summer
Cute, but the vocals are not for me.
DISH// – Aikotoba
Sounds like so many other J-rock tracks.
Doberman Infinity – Tawagoto
Slow. Boring.
DXTEEN – Our Sky (song of the week!)
It’s nothing revelatory or unique, but I’ll always take a brisk pop/rock song with a good chorus.
frederic – Nonsense Nonsense
Meh Meh
f5ve & Utaha – Tropical Paradise (3AM Girls)
A serviceable summer track.
i☆Ris – Welcome to Azatosa World (song of the week!)
I really enjoy the surging energy of this.
Kamenashi Kazuya – Wave
I wrote about this a couple weeks ago and now it has a music video.
ME:I – Flower Road
A nice, surging pop rock track.
Mega Shinnosuke – Unmei No Kimi
Fun indie rock song.
News – The Boys Rock You All!
Sigh. I keep waiting for Starto groups to make good music again. At this point, it seems more and more like a lost cause.
OCTPATH – Natsumeki
Nothing new here. These songs are a dime a dozen.
Park Yuchun – 153cm
Upbeat, funky pop track. Pretty good, but equally forgettable.
Psychic Fever – If You’re Mine
Struggles to find a melody.
Queen Bee – Star
You know how much I adore Queen Bee, but it’s been awhile since one of their songs has really hit me. This is also just “fine” when it should be “fantastic.”
QWER – Show Down
If any K-pop act was primed to burst into the Japanese market, it’s QWER. Their music already sounds like J-pop! This is a fine re-debut, but not as good as their best material.
Snow Man – Good Time
Just too cheesy.
syudou × Yusei Yagi (Fantastics) – Latte Magic
Bouncy and upbeat.
U&pia – The Way Of
I like the idea of a rock-heavy boy group. The mixing is a bit weird but this isn’t bad.
YAO – 777 (ft. Awich, CHICO CARLITO, ONE OK ROCK & Paledusk)
What a team-up! I wish the chorus was better, though. This has so much potential but just doesn’t get there for me.