Send me some Japanese music!

25 comments

1. One Ok Rock

   Band-Maid

2. Ken Yokoyama

3. Midori, Kikuo, Fishmans, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Sakanaction, The Gerogerigegege, Lamp, Yellow Magic Orchesta, 相対性理論, Ichiko Aoba, Kinoko Teikoku, Haru Nemuri, Mass of the Fermenting Dregs, My Dead Girlfriend and Hako Yamakashi are some of my favorites. If you’re curious about anyone in special, tell me

4. Since you mention midwest emo which is pretty specific….

   There weren’t a whole lot of bands in Japan during the 90s with that kind of sound, but Bloodthirsty Butchers’ 1994 album [Lukewarm Wind](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrpiimNiWI0) is pretty midwest-y. Less on the American Football end of the spectrum, more like Giants Chair or Sideshow. BTB’s next album, [Kocorono](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg5NM1jLr5A) is a classic, but it’s more of an indie rock record with fewer emo/post-hardcore elements.

5. Ichiko Aoba is amazing for folk sorts of things.
   Hikaru Utada just released a new album this year and it’s pretty awesome.
   ooioo and melt banana are amazing experimental rock bands.

6. I have [my playlist](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/433wnIq5rX3l4HZSVtgdLH?si=35527b70eb8a4794) with all of the japanese songs I stumbled up with and liked! Is over 99 hours long and with A LOT of genres. Hope you find something you like!

7. Polkadot Stingray is a good time

8. I have made a Japanese song playlist on Spotify. There’s 51 on there, they’re all pretty good give some a listen. [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7wVkKs99KsMoTgrYIQG3Du?si=c2a8833ba5e04516](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7wVkKs99KsMoTgrYIQG3Du?si=c2a8833ba5e04516)

9. Suspended 4th

   [Stratocaster Seaside](https://youtu.be/F9DWCjF4tjs) Is their best song.

10. Every time I see one of these I’m shocked to not see Official Hige Dandism

11. The Pillows are always a classic, 90’s alt rock goodness. Even without the nostalgia of them being the soundtrack to Fooly Cooly they’re one of my favorite bands. [My Foot](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2Cy5_wcngI), [Runner’s High](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6VCAYghwoU&t=1185s), and [Little Busters](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pF0Fzi-Ggw) are albums to check out.

    The Seatbelts/Yoko Kanno. Again one of my all time favorites, even without the related Cowboy Bebop nostalgia. Yoko Kanno is one of the greatest living composers in my opinion. [Space Lion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DybCZvW1mBo) is an absolutely beautiful song, on the other end of the spectrum there’s [NY Rush](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE_ofAg8POY), which may be a dangerous song to drive to, and plenty of other great songs in between.

    Ado is pretty popular recently, and with good reason, she’s got an absolutely stunning voice. [うっせぇわ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp3b-RXtz4w) is her most popular song, but [ギラギラ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOiMD45QGLs) and her cover of [ハングリーニコル](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lf_sgxIWlg) are my favorites.

    For something heavier and a bit more punk, 例のK (formerly 中学生棺桶), usually have some real heavy and fast beats. They may be hard to find, though, especially if you’re trying to track down physical media. [殺してみろ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-cZ-Prrosk) is probably my favorite by them.

    Along those same lines Ningen Isu are pretty good metal, and they have a pretty unique aesthetic. [Heartless Scat](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbI79e5iZKs) is probably a good introduction to them.

    Masayoshi Takanaka. If you like jazz fusion with a side of city pop I cannot recommend him enough. [The Rainbow Goblins](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzYD56hKF-8) is a real trip of an album. Though admittedly it is less of a road trip album and more of a “lie on the bed and stare the ceiling” kind of album.

    Speaking of city pop, Mariya Takeuchi is impossible not to mention. [Plastic Love](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gj47G2e1Jc) is a classic.

    Her husband Tatsuro Yamashita is nothing to shake a stick at, either, with songs like [Ride on Time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdPN9q5_log) and his cover of The Young Rascal’s [Groovin’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVo_4DBhD10).

    On the more experimental side of things Susumu Hirasawa has a very unique, unmistakable sound. [Technique of Relief](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhZYGuUGvUA&t=649s) is the one to check out by him.

    I wouldn’t be a proper weeb without mentioning Hololive. If you like rap you may want to check out [Mori Calliope](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y3xh8gs24c). I also recommend [Gawr Gura](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGgEFoI9MhE) and [Nanashi Mumei](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py21QCndbxc)’s original songs, as well as the cover of [Ochame Kinou](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFJHdT_ie9U) that all of HoloEN did. There’s plenty more good originals and covers through all three branches of Hololive, but those ones are my favorites. I apologize in advance if you fall down the vtuber rabbit hole because of this.

    I have a friend who would disown me if I didn’t mention [Casopea](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GEI3PpXEAo). Arguably the high point of Japanese jazz-fusion, if not jazz fusion in general.

    I have just an obscene number of anime opening and ending themes and/or video game soundtracks I could recommend, but this is probably enough for now.

12. [KRINJI – 時間がない](https://youtu.be/mgY7V-nB3VI)

13. indigo la end, frederic, fishmans, dadaray, nakamuraEmi, mitsume, gesu no kiwami otome, minmi, passepied

14. [Vola and the Oriental Machine](https://youtu.be/3G8z6s1FUxQ)

    [Flip](https://youtu.be/vZkw3zSV2ko)

    [Onsoku Line](https://tower.jp/item/3032735/Alternative)

    [Hinto](https://youtu.be/zncdqa0yVyo)

15. I like hideyoshi, awich, jp the wavy. (Rap)

16. So many great suggestions, I can’t wait to go through all of these!

17. Snail house

18. Lucky Old Sun(band), just found out about them

19. King Gnu, particularly hakujitsu, it’s a small world and slumberland

20. CASIOPEA’s album Mint Jams is a classic. No text though.

21. I haven’t seen people mention Shishamo in here. Pretty cool band

22. I love ずっと真夜中でいいのに。 Thatll be my tip

23. Hello Sleepwalkers

    Edit: also a big fan of Scandal.

24. Back number

25. Try yoasobi..