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 // Apr 19 – Apr 25 // Apr 26 – May 2 // May 3 – May 9 // May 10 – May 16 // May 17 – May 23 // May 24 – May 30 // May 31 – Jun 6 // Jun 7 – Jun 13 // Jun 14 – Jun 20 // Jun 21 – Jun 27 // Jun 28 – Jul 4 // Jul 5 – Jul 11 // Jul 12 – Jul 18 // Jul 19 – Jul 25 // Jul 26 – Aug 1 // Aug 2 – Aug 8 // Aug 9 – Aug 15 // Aug 16 – Aug 22 // Aug 23 – Aug 29 // Aug 30 – Sep 5 // Sep 6 – Sep 12 // Sep 13 – Sep 19 // Sep 20 – Sep 26 // Sep 27 – Oct 3 // Oct 4 – Oct 10
THIS WEEK: October 11 – October 17
Ayumu Imazu – musubi
I just find this so boring. I guess it would be good for studying to?
BE:FIRST – It’s Not A Bad Life
Better than most of their recent stuff.
BEYOOOOONDS – Shoushisenban
I like the energy. It’s got a confident stomp to it.
Chanmina – Legend
A very delicate ballad.
Chotokkyu (Bullet Train) – ETRANCE Fever (song of the week!)
Eurobeat is one of my favorite undersung genres so I absolutely ADORE this. They’re bringing back the madcap energy with resounding vocals to boot! I hope we get a music video eventually.
Clan Queen – Warning!!
A little Ado-esque in places.
DRAW♡ME – KACHIKAKU LOVE
This is quite a fun debut.
FLOW – Sorrow
Really like the energy of this.
GALEDGE. – Wildcard
I liked where they were going with this debut until the lame beat switch up during the chorus.
Genic – Like Water
I absolutely love Genic and their music, but this is a very dull ballad.
Hey! Say! JUMP – I Love You no Evidence
This has a very nice melody that fits the group quite well. Not bad!
Kaya – Queendom
I hear a lot of potential in this, even if the song doesn’t quite get there for me.
Keita Richard Kusama – My Re:born in DISCOTHEQUE
After leaving Ae! group, he’s back as a soloist with a completely different sound. The new jack swing style is a nice fit.
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu – Pang Pang Pang
Well… it’s relentless.
Little Glee Monster – Cherry Coke
Quite laidback. Nice vocals, as usual.
MADKID – Unbroken
Another big rock banger from them.
Man With A Mission – Firestarter
I keep waiting for one of their new songs to resonate with me but it just isn’t happening yet despite my love for this band.
MATSURI – Koinochuosen
Another verrrrry old fashioned song from them. It’ll definitely appeal to a certain niche.
NEWSTAR – Moratorium Parade
This is classic, fluffy idol J-pop with strong melodies. It’s nothing new, but it’s well done and refreshing. It reminds me of early King & Prince.
ONE OR EIGHT – Yellow Brick Road (song of the week!)
I wrote about this last week and now it has a music video. It’s still great.
Phantom Siita – Sweet Pea
Moody and downbeat.
Shazna – Beautiful Halloween Night
Something for your Halloween playlist, maybe?
Travis Japan – Ego
I appreciate what they’re going for with the slight electro-swing sound, but I’m not sure it’s for me.
White Scorpion – Suguni (song of the week!)
Another banger from them. They have a pretty awesome track record so far!
YOASOBI – The Bloom
Sprightly, but not really my thing.
Yusei Yagi – Like Like Like
Another solid track after his solo debut early this summer.
