New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (February 25, 2024)
Feature

New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (February 25, 2024)

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 … Continue reading

The Top 20 J-Pop Songs of 2018
Feature

The Top 20 J-Pop Songs of 2018

Each year, I try to delve deeper into the vast world of J-pop. 2018, in particular, rewarded that persistence. J-pop may be difficult to find for international listeners, but it provided a wonderful antidote to some of K-pop’s overused trends. This countdown is usually littered with Japanese title tracks by Korean groups, but this year … Continue reading

Song Review: Da Pump – U.S.A.
Review

Song Review: Da Pump – U.S.A.

I love a good comeback. And I don’t mean “comeback” in the new promotional cycle sense (though I obviously love those, too). I mean an honest to goodness resurgence in popularity after years of increased obscurity. J-pop group Da Pump has been around since the late 90’s, though they’ve struggled to maintain commercial success ever … Continue reading