In reference to my need to totally sustain with the J-pop business, I’m planning on doing a weekly round-up of any new releases which have caught my ear. A few of these might have been lined on the weblog already, however my hope is that this may turn out to be a one-stop store for anybody all in favour of what’s new in J-pop.

With that in thoughts, right here’s the place you are available: I’m one particular person with one set of musical preferences, so please embed every other new J-pop tracks you’ve loved within the feedback so we will get a fuller spectrum every week.

*And similar to I do with my opinions, I’ll wait till full variations of songs can be found earlier than posting them on this round-up. It will principally apply to Starto teams, who nonetheless restrict the vast majority of their YouTube uploads to shorter, edited variations.

2023-2024 Index

2025 Index: Dec 29 – Jan 11 // Jan 12 – Jan 18 // Jan 19 – Jan 25 // Jan 26 – Feb 1 // Feb 2 – Feb 8 // Feb 9 – Feb 15 // Feb 16 – Feb 22 // Feb 23 – Mar 1 // Mar 2 – Mar 8 // Mar 9 – Mar 15 // Mar 16 – Mar 22 // Mar 23 – Mar 29 // Mar 30 – Apr 5 // Apr 6 – Apr 12 // Apr 13 – Apr 19 // Apr 20 – Apr 26 // Apr 27 – Might 3 // Might 4 – Might 10 // Might 11 – Might 16

Da-iCE – Black And White

I wrote about this a number of weeks in the past however now it has a music video. I nonetheless don’t take care of the tune.

Hello-Fi Un!corn – Recreation

I’m undecided what the plan is for this band, however churning out a sequence of anime-esque rockers like this looks like a good suggestion.

Hinatazaka46 – Umikaze To Wagamama

A reasonably typical summery idol observe.

Hiroko Moriguchi – Everlasting Wind (Hohoemi wa Hikaru Kaze no Naka)

This isn’t a brand new tune, but it surely’s given an orchestral makeover this week.

IS:SUE – Starstruck (tune of the week!)

I’ve ragged on just about all the things IS:SUE have launched to date, so I really feel obligated to submit this new b-side that’s really fairly good. Can they only go on this path any longer?

J Soul Brothers – New Web page

Fairly boring.

JamsCollection – Flame

With a bunch identify like this, you’d higher deliver the jams! Fortunately, I believe this tune qualifies.

Kento Nakajima – Hekireki (tune of the week!)

This may be Kento’s greatest solo single but? It nonetheless has its points, however the synthwave sound suits him like a glove and retains the vitality (principally) excessive and satisfying.

King & Prince – What We Bought

Glad and jolly however fairly uneventful. It’s a Disney business and feels like one.

Kis-My-Ft2 – Half Baked

For the primary time in awhile, I used to be fairly glad with the promoted tracks from Kis-My-Ft2’s new album. The b-sides sound much less thrilling, as evidenced by this groovy however forgettable album observe.

MA55IVE The Rampage – Kimi No Toko Made

Not my form of tune in any respect, sadly.

OCTPATH – Let’s Go Again To Summer time

A subdued tackle the tropical home sound that was so well-liked a decade in the past. I want it was extra of a banger.

Orange Vary – Majide Sekai Kaecyau5 Byoumae

I wrote about this one already, however now it has a music video.

PassCode – DESTINEX

An lively mix of rock and electro.

PG – If I May

What’s it with co-ed teams all the time splitting into gendered unit tracks? What’s the purpose of being a co-ed group, then?

Polkadot Stingray – Mamono

The vibes are sturdy with this one. I like her breathy vocals.

Takanori Nishikawa (T.M.Revolution) – Heroes

I’ll all the time love him, however his latest music is way more hit or miss for me. This one’s fairly generic. I like its massive, anthemic nature, although.

Tani Yuuki – Koukaishi

This begins a bit sluggish however grows into a pleasant, chugging vitality because it goes. It sounds a bit like The Lumineers.

Tokyo Gegegay – Gee Gee Practice

I recognize this from a creative standpoint, however the drastic shifts in vitality make it a bit difficult to get pleasure from with as a lot ardour as I did his final album.

Yoasobi – Watch Me!

In case you like their music, you’ll like this. In case you’re extra of an off-the-cuff fan (like me), it could be an acquired style.

SixTONES – Phone (2020)

Starto is placing SixTONES’s discography on streaming in drips and drabs. The superior “ST model” of Phone (with the additional electrical guitar!) isn’t up but, however the authentic model is. I’ve all the time beloved this tune. It jogs my memory of Y2K boybands in one of the simplest ways.