With a large music industry such as Japan has, the second largest in the world, it is inevitable that music fans will be inundated with a profusion of good (and also less good) music from this country. It is impossible to keep track of this and write a review about it per video. But to avoid missing out on gems, it is time for a weekly list of new music videos from lesser-known Japanese musical acts that are definitely worth watching.
We are now looking back on a couple of videos that were released in week 26 of the year 2022. Enjoy the new discoveries!
Heavenstamp – No, Thank U
No, Thank U, is the title of Heavenstamp’s latest digital single that was released in May of this year. It is a straightforward rock tune and can be seen as a classic Heavenstamp song. The indie band has a variety of music available to them thanks to a career lasting more than ten years. The latest album by the pop-rock duo was From the Basement, which was released in 2021. The band’s sound is a fusion of numerous musical genres, including rock, post-punk, and shoegaze, as well as dance music and classical music with a strong emphasis on rhythm and melody. — Recommended by Francisca
白航 (Hakkō) – ネオストリッパー (Neo Stripper)
It has been a while that the Kyoto-based rock band Hakkō released new music, in October 2021 they released a single as a three-piece, but in the meantime, they did not sit still. The band, formed in 2019, has recently welcomed a guitarist bringing them back to a four-piece formation. In August, they will release a single with three songs. This single release will be the first to be available in CD format, adding to the intrigue. — Recommended by Francisca
Sugar House – If you can’t get enough
This four-piece indie rock band, which was formed in December 2019, has a sound that is evocative of 1980s shoegaze and US indie music from the 2010s. If you can’t get enough is Sugar House’s first new song in six months, which has more of a punk-rock vibe in comparison to their prior material. Following the band’s creation, they have been very active releasing music videos and songs, but also appearances on the stage that have caught the attention of both the fashion and music industries. — Recommended by Francisca
ノウルシ (Nourushi) – Stand Alone Complex
Four people make up the Tokyo-based shoegaze group Nourushi. The band strives to portray unforgettable sensations and emotions, scenarios that may have been experienced someday, and landscapes that might have been seen in a dream. They draw inspiration from indie pop, post-rock, dream pop and other genres. From the start in 2014, Nourushi released three mini-albums, an EP, a single and a demo. They will release Prototype Human: Nearside, a new EP, in a few days. — Recommended by Francisca
シヨ (Shiyo) – VAMPIRE CITY
Shiyo’s activities began in the summer of 2021, specifically on Rock Day (the ninth of June, 69,), which means they have just recently celebrated their first anniversary. The three band members joined forces to establish the rock band since they were friends from high school and some of them had been involved in other bands in the past. They want to make music and music videos with the intention of eventually playing at live venues. — Recommended by Francisca
Haze of the Bullet Blossom – Chamomile
With the music video of Chamomile, the Tokyo-based metal band Haze of the Bullet Blossom introduced themselves to the world. On the 11th of June, the band sent out their first tweet: “Hi. You can see me soon” and just a few days later they made known what the band was all about. Haze of the Bullet Blossom are a lyrical, emotional metalcore three-piece, according to the band’s own definition. Later this month, they will release Preserved, their first concept album with a floral-based theme. — Recommended by Francisca
AKARA – Regeneration
Rock group AKARA debuted a new music video for the first time in three years while touring in Europe. In order to highlight AKARA’s distinctive vision on the subject of humanity perpetually repeating the cycle of destruction and regeneration, the film was shot at a Noh theatre. The multilingual vocalist MIKIKO leads the Japanese traditional rock band, which was founded in 2014 and includes of several musicians who play traditional Japanese instruments while combining rock music with them. — Recommended by Francisca (This music video got re-released in November 2022)
Next week we will be back for a new list of new music videos to check out. But you can also look back to the earlier editions of this weekly article series for when you yearn for more musical gems! Want to read more about how this project started or check out the YouTube playlists? Click here for all the information.
