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.

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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 // Apr 19 – Apr 25 // Apr 26 – May 2 // May 3 – May 9 // May 10 – May 16 // May 17 – May 23 // May 24 – May 30

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THIS WEEK: May 31 – June 6

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Ayase – Urusa

The beat on this is great. Very energetic.

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B’z – Kanzen Muketsu

Ooh, a proper glam rock stomp from these veterans of the game. I approve!

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Hokuto – Diamond

Upbeat, easy listening. It’s got enough energy to work even if its sound is a bit one-note.

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The Jet Boy Bangerz – Black Sheep (song of the week!)

Ooh, I love when these acts take an 80s funk approach. This is their best single in awhile – or at least, the one that most closely aligns with my taste.

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Let Me Know – Lovely Ør Lonely

This takes their sound in a slightly more uptempo direction.

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Lienel – Melo Collection

I really like what this is trying to do. I don’t know that the execution is for me, though.

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NORD – Purupuru

Has some catchy parts and I like the energy, but mostly I just think the group name is kind of funny.

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Ocha Norma – Dantotsu de Aishite

I feel like I’ve heard this song a thousand times before. It’s still solid, though. Classic J-pop.

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Phantom Siita – Horror Queen

A bit early for Halloween, but this is good, theatrical fun.

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Shota Totsuka (A.B.C-Z) – Guerrilla Love

I admire this more than I enjoy it. It’s so 90s.

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Sota Hanamura – Lose (song of the week!)

Not my favorite song from his new solo album, but still a lot of fun. But really, you should immediately check out b-sides Drifting, Breaking Free and Real Emotion instead. Great stuff!

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Super Beaver – Climax

I assume we’ll be getting a lot of football/soccer themes over the next few weeks. This one’s alright. It sounds like a typical rock track to me.

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Super Eight – Damdarah

I wrote about this last week but now it has a music video.

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Taiga Kyomoto – Kotora

This is a really nice sound for him. I like the traditional elements.

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Whisper Out Loud – Beautiful Paradox (song of the week!)

This actually came out at the end of May but I didn’t discover it until this week and it’s just too good to ignore. LOVE that guitar solo at the end.

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22/7 – Sakebushikanai Seishun

Nice vocals on this. Not sure about the song.