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 // Jul 5 – Jul 11 // Jul 12 – Jul 18 // Jul 19 – Jul 25 // Jul 26 – Aug 1 // Aug 2 – Aug 8 // Aug 9 – Aug 15

THIS WEEK: August 16 – August 22

AST8 – No Delay

Generic boy group slop.

BOYNEXTDOOR – Boom Boom Boom

I wrote about this here. I thought it was okay.

cosmosy – Stay Alive

This group clearly isn’t for me. I haven’t enjoyed a single song from them and this is no different. It’s just boring.

Creepy Nuts – Running Wheel

This feels a lot more aggressive for them. I don’t hate it.

FTISLAND – Lemonade

Feels like a cheering song at a sports event.

Hiromi Go – I’m Neo G

Silly fun.

ICEx – Netsuretsu Fire (HOTx)

Lots of energy but the song doesn’t do anything for me.

K01KEYZ – K01KEYZ

You know I love bright boy group music, but this might be a bit cloying even for me. I appreciate the retro influences, though.

Ma’Scar’Piece – Resonating Beats (song of the week!)

This band name is killing me, but who doesn’t love a big ol’ EDM slammer with an insanely cheap mv?

milet – Christmas Eve

Releasing a song called “Christmas Eve” in August is frying my brain.

Miss Mercy – Be The One

The brass on this is nice.

OWV – Lovey-Dovey

Typical bright boy group fare, but fun enough.

RIIZE – Rise Over

Pretty generic for them, but the vocals are great as always.

Spitz – Unknown Thread

This is one of those massively popular/influential bands in Japan that just doesn’t translate well to me.

tripleS – World Wide Woman

A solid track very much in keeping with their sound.

TXT – Setsuna Hanabi

I wrote about this here. I thought it was good.

WATWING – My Sweet Place

Typical upbeat boy group fare. Not bad, not amazing.

X:IN – Girls On Fire

I wrote about this here. I didn’t like it.

ZEROBASEONE – Existence