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.

*And just like I do with my reviews, I’ll wait until full versions of songs are available before posting them in this round-up. This will mostly apply to Johnny’s groups, who still limit the majority of their YouTube uploads to shorter, edited versions.

---

2023 Index: Feb 1 – Feb 18 // Feb 19 – 25 // Feb 26 – Mar 3 // Mar 4 – Mar 10 // Mar 11 – Mar 18 // Mar 19 – Mar 25 // Mar 26 – Apr 1 // Apr 2 – Apr 8 // Apr 9 – Apr 15 // Apr 16 – Apr 22 // Apr 23 – Apr 29 // Apr 30 – May 6 // May 7 – May 13 // May 14 – May 20 // May 21 – May 27 // May 29 – Jun 3 // Jun 4 – Jun 10 // Jun 11 – Jun 17 // Jun 18 – Jun 24 // Jun 25 – Jul 1 // Jul 2 – Jul 8 // Jul 9 – Jul 15 // Jul 16 – Jul 22 // Jul 23 – Jul 29 // Jul 30 – Aug 5

---

THIS WEEK: Aug 6 – Aug 12

---

Aile The Shota – Pandora

This is very different than his usual sound! I love how frantic the electronic beat is.

---

androp – Hyper Vacation

This is a real mood-lifter. The energy is so upbeat and enjoyable. It’s too short, though.

---

BUGVEL – Summer Party

Kind of a unique take on the typical idol summer track, adding a bit more guitar crunch to the mix.

---

Chanmina – Death Anniversary

The guitar really makes this one.

---

DISH// – Happy

A pretty strong rock track.

---

DXTEEN – First Flight (song of the week!)

I wrote about this here. I liked it a lot, and it’s my first song of the week!

---

Faky – Summer Dive

Faky’s music is always great and I love hearing their take on a summertime house groove.

---

fripSide – Red Liberation

Want a bombastic, hyperactive dance-meets-rock hybrid? Good, because fripSide are up to their old tricks.

---

Genin wa Jibun ni Aru. – Hit The Cymbal

I’m not sure if this is intended to be a single or just a digital release, but it’s one of the strongest songs I’ve heard from them.

---

Nakashima Mika – We Are All Stars

Pitched as a tribute to Rupaul, this definitely sounds like something you’d hear on Drag Race.

---

Nissy – Rendezvous

At first, I found this song a bit monotone, but Nissy’s superb vocal lends it plenty of charm. The video’s great, too.

---

News – News Expo (Album)

Johnny’s prevents me from embedding any audio, but News is back with their 20th Anniversary album this week! It’s mostly an extension of the sound they’ve pursued for the past two years, and is at its best when the choirs are big and the production goes for broke — especially on the expressive melodies of Different Lives and Gekiban. Alien also has a great chorus.

---

Nogizaka46 – Ohitorisama Tengoku

Nogizaka46’s early-spring single remains one my 2023 favorites. This isn’t quite as transcendent, but I love the big EDM festival energy. It’s very upbeat and fun.

---

Official HIGE DANdism – Chessboard

Tattoo has grown on me, but still feels like the band on autopilot. Sadly, I have similar feelings about this one. It’s just kind of… dull.

---

Ryokuoushoku Shakai – Summer Time Cinderella (song of the week!)

I’m loving this season’s Manatsu no Cinderella drama, and the fact that this serves as its main theme has guaranteed its placement on my playlist. It’s a great summer track and my second song of the week.

---

SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] – odd:I (ft. Akihito Okano)

I’m always up for new music from Hiroyuki Sawano.

---

Stray Kids – Superbowl

This song originally appeared on the group’s most recent Korean album, and its Japanese version now has a music video. I didn’t love it then, don’t love it now.

---

The Super Fruit – Summer☆Getchu

I feel like they’re just playing with us at this point… like how weird and silly can we get?

---

Utada Hikaru – Gold (Mata Au Hi)

I featured this song a couple weeks ago, but now we have its accompanying music video!

---

ZILLION – Love & Sweat

“Love & Sweat” is such an awkward title for a song…

---

This week’s old favorite:

---

Nami Tamaki – Reason (2004)

I love the high energy, propulsive sound of Nami Tamaki’s music. Her entire discography is fantastic, but this is probably my favorite single.