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.

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2023 Index

2024 Index: Dec 24 – Jan 6 // Jan 7 – Jan 13 // Jan 14 – Jan 20 // Jan 21 – Jan 27 // Jan 28 – Feb 3 // Feb 4 – Feb 10 // Feb 11 – Feb 17 // Feb 18 – Feb 24 // Feb 25 – Mar 2 // Mar 3 – Mar 9 // Mar 10 – Mar 16 // Mar 17 – Mar 23 // Mar 24 – Mar 30 // Mar 31 – Apr 6 // Apr 7 – Apr 13 // Apr 14 – Apr 20 // Apr 21 – Apr 27 // Apr 28 – May 4 // May 5 – May 11 // May 12 – May 18 // May 19 – May 25 // May 26 – Jun 1 // Jun 2 – Jun 8 // Jun 9 – Jun 15 // Jun 16 – Jun 22 // Jun 23 – Jun 29 // Jun 30 – Jul 6 // Jul 7 – Jul 13 // Jul 14 – Jul 20 // Jul 21 – Jul 27 // Jul 28 – Aug 3 // Aug 4 – Aug 10 // Aug 11 – Aug 17 // Aug 18 – Aug 24 // Aug 25 – Aug 31 // Sep 1 – Sep 7 // Sep 8 – Sep 14 // Sep 15 – Sep 21 // Sep 22 – Sep 28 // Sep 29 – Oct 5 // Oct 6 – Oct 12 // Oct 13 – Oct 19 // Oct 20 – Oct 26 // Oct 27 – Nov 2 // Nov 3 – Nov 9 // Nov 10 – Nov 16 // Nov 17 – Nov 23 // Nov 24 – Nov 30 // Dec 1 – Dec 7

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THIS WEEK: December 8 – December 14

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Exile Takahiro – Winter Song

This one’s for you ballad lovers out there.

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Hikaru Utada – Electricity

This has been out for many months now, but finally has a music video.

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JO1 – JOin Us!!

Not this time, guys.

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Lil League – Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo

Meh. Lots of expected shouting. The clobbering chorus has potential, though.

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Natori – In_My_Head

I like the energy more than the song.

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NiziU – Buddy Buddy

Not for me, but I guess it’s cute.

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Official HIGE DANdism – 50% (song of the week!)

There’s a nice sense of drama to this. I like when their music goes big and this song has a fluidity to it that’s quite engaging. The second verse almost sounds like Queen Bee’s Avu-chan wrote it, which is a comparison I never thought I would make.

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One Love One Heart – Meshiagare Seishun

I’m happy we finally hear a better mix of the female/male vocals, but this isn’t really the sound I love from this group. I think their more rock-influenced material is their best. I’ll eventually come around to this, though.

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OrβIT – Xmas-time

I have so many K-pop/J-pop songs on my holiday playlist that I have to be a bit picky now, but I really like the energy of this one. Very jolly.

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RealRomantic – Blooming

I think this group is making their proper debut next year and I’m not sure if it’s with this song or something else. It’s got nice, bright energy. Very K-pop.

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Takane No Nadeshiko – Ai No Virus

This presents an interesting blend of soft and harder-edged elements.

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Takanori Nishikawa – Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi (SKYBREAKER) (song of the week!)

I want this to explode more than it does, but I will always be excited for new music from Nishikawa, so in an underwhelming week this is still a highlight.

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Wednesday Campanella – Moving Point P

It’s solid but they’ve released far stronger material this year.

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White Jam – Cho-Yabee

That album cover is quite something, huh? The song is definitely off-kilter. I’m not quite sure it holds together.

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Yurina Hirate – All I Want

Back when she made her solo debut I was convinced Hirate was going to be the next big soloist, pushing music forward. The dullness of these recent singles suggest the opposite, but I suppose there’s always potential for a turnaround.

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7ORDER – Tokyo Trip

This is an interesting shift in sound for them. The song could be stronger, but it’s kind of groovy.

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This week’s old favorite:

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Shonentai – ABC (1987)

How about going waaaay back in the time machine to the supremely popular 80’s act Shonentai? This is one of their catchiest hits.