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
THIS WEEK: April 19 – April 25
Ado – KIRA
At this point, I have nothing new to say about Ado songs. They’re all various shades of “good” to me.
Ballistik Boyz – All You Need Is Me
Way too downbeat for me…
C&K – To Be
This is a delightful bit of indie pop with a funny music video.
Cutie Street – I Amai Me Mind
Well, they deliver on their name.
DIALOGUE+ – Miracles Don’t Happen (song of the week!)
This has a very striking chorus! The whole song is very dynamic, actually.
ENDRECHERI – Heart Of Rainbow
Pretty, but also pretty sleepy.
Fantastics – Sunflower (song of the week!)
This is best thing they’re released in a very long time. I hope it gets promoted with a music video because I really like it. The chorus reminds me of Deep Forest (a reference I doubt anyone here is going to know!)
Fujii Kaze – It’s Alright
Cool video. The song isn’t really for me.
f5ve – Snowman
A bit too beige, huh?
Hiromitsu Kitayama – ULTRA
He’s had some fantastic solo material in the past. This is unfortunately pretty generic, but still a solid rock track I guess.
Konomi Suzuki & Ashnikko – Recollect (song of the week!)
Ooh, this is a banger. So much happening in the instrumental and there’s a ton of energy.
Kvi Baba – BPM (ft. Kreva)
I really like the instrumental on this. I wish the vocal wasn’t so processed, though.
NAQT VANE – Pi-Po
Their songs definitely have a formula, huh? This is no better or worse than the median NAQT VANE track.
Re:inc. – TCIY (The Choice Is Yours)
This has a nice retro groove that’s subtly addicting.
Re:name – Bedroom Angel
Enjoyable, toe-tapping indie pop.
TAGRIGHT – Zone
Sounds like everything else.
Tatsuya Kitani – Levitation (song of the week!)
I really enjoy the anthemic drive of this track.
timelesz – Akubi
Any song whose title translates to “Yawn” is probably not gonna be my thing. This is more sprightly than you’d think, though.
TRACK15 – Natsuiro Nikki
This has a very satisfying lilt to it. It sounds like a summer breeze.
Wednesday Campanella – Scipio (song of the week!)
Oh my god, they’ve gone full Eurobeat! That’s an instant yes from me. (even if the actual song could be better)
Yesung – Sakihokoru Toki o Matsu no wa
A perfectly pleasant rock mid-tempo.
You Yokoyama – Pistol
A very old-fashioned rock song.