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 21
THIS WEEK: March 15 – 21
Ado – AiAiA
This sounds like crazy circus music. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on the listener!
BE:FIRST – BE:FIRST All Day
Kind of like a lighter Stray Kids song?
CIRRA – Always
This sound has potential and I like the chorus, but the song as a whole is just a bit uneventful.
CRAVITY – Blast Out
I wrote about this already but now it has a music video. It’s still not one of their better songs.
Da Pump – ChoChoCho! Super Happy (ft. m.c.A.T)
This is obnoxious.
Iginari Tohoku San – DECO! (song of the week!)
Well, you can’t say it’s not unique! I’m giving it bonus points for being SO J-pop.
KAZ (Generations) – Better Believe It
A bit groovy, I guess.
Lienel – Love ga Gotoku Koi no Furinkazan
I should like this more in theory but it ends up being a lot of noise without much focus. There are some nice parts, I guess, and the structure is certainly interesting.
ME:I – Best Match
I wrote about this a few weeks ago and now it has a performance video.
Nogizaka46 – Saigo ni kaidan o kake agatta no wa itsuda?
Quite pretty!
N.TOP – Shining Star (song of the week!)
This doesn’t do much to distinguish itself, but it’s a style of song I always enjoy so that earns it a “song of the week” pick by default, even if I’m not super excited about it.
OCTPATH – Steppin’!!!
I wrote about this last week and now it has a music video.
One N’ Only – Be Fresh
This is pretty fun. It’s generic, but I’ll always enjoy this style of funk-pop track.
OWV – Rocket Mode
These guys have been pretty hit or miss for me. This has a bit of both, but ultimately I just don’t like the chorus.
Quubi – Accelerator
I really enjoy the energy.
TAGRIGHT – Hanakotoba
I prefer this to their debut. It’s nothing new or exciting, but it’s performed and arranged well.
timelesz – Good Together
Meh. It’s fine.
Tsubaki Factory – FireWorks
A nice, driving pop song.
Wolf Howl Harmony – One Minute
Their vocals continue to impress and this is a pleasant mid-00s throwback.