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 selection of videos that were released in week 2 of 2023. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
花冷え。 (HANABIE.) – お先に失礼します。 (Pardon Me, I Have To Go Now!)
In case you are not yet familiar with this Tokyo-based four-piece band HANABIE. and have not seen the various publications of larger media, let’s introduce this energetic four-piece. This band is known for fusing Japanese pop and metalcore and electronica, but that is actually a very simple description for this group that was formed in 2015. They have a well-filled discography to listen to and maybe you can see them live some time to discover what their strength is. For European readers, it is good to know that they have plans to perform at European festivals this summer. — Recommended by Francisca
ノンフィクション (Non Fiction) – リューケツサワギ (Ryuuketsusawagi)
Active for 13 years, this ‘orthodox heretical’ rock band creates music for anyone who doesn’t like to follow the latest trends. Consisting of guitarist and vocalist Takahiro Iiji and guitarist Souichirou, the discography of Non Fiction is mostly filled with mini-albums and singles. For the band who insists they aren’t at all fashionable, perhaps this is just the greatest way to convey their evidently cool rock music to the listener. — Recommended by Francisca
SARI – 愛のゆりかご (Ai no Yuri Kago)
Since SARI’s departure from idol group NECRONOMIDOL, the Tokyo-based musician has not been standing still for a moment. Besides her music creations, which can best be described as experimental electronic pop with a dash of ambient, hyper pop, R&B and synthpop, she is also very active in her artistic expressions in fashion, art and photography. On her birthday, 15 January, it was time to release her very first album, 大団円-Ending-, bringing together her most recent single releases and mini-album three years after her debut. — Recommended by Francisca
チャラン・ポ・ランタン (Charan-Po-Rantan) – ぽかぽか (Pokapoka)
The sisters Momo (on vocals) and Koharu (on accordion) started their activities in 2009 as Charan-Po-Rantan. The group is characterised by its musicality, which incorporates elements of various genres, mainly chansons and folk music, and its unique circus-like worldview. Outside Japan, they have been described as alternative chanson. Since last year, they have gone independent with the start of their own label. Pokapoka is a theme song for Fuji Television’s daytime variety show of the same name. — Recommended by Francisca
竹達彩奈 (Ayana Taketatsu) – 明日のカタチ (Shape of Tomorrow)
Born in Saitama prefecture, voice actress and solo artist Ayana Taketatsu released her debut single Sinfonia! Sinfonia!!! 10 years ago but is maybe better known outside of Japan for her roles voicing characters such as Azusa Nakano in K-ON! And Nino Nakano in The Quintessential Quintuplets. This week she released the MV for the title track of her 12th single Shape of Tomorrow, the song is the opening song for the anime ノケモノたちの夜 (English title: The tale of outcasts) which started airing in Japan on January 8th in which she also voices one of the lead characters. — Recommended by PHX
Jr.alcohol – All need is you
It has been a while since we featured the three-piece dream pop-rock band Jr.alcohol on this website. Based in Morioka, the band has been active for more than five years and is commonly found on stage these days. After several releases of a mini-album in 2017, an album in 2019, two cassette tapes, a contribution to a compilation CD and three singles, it is hopefully looking forward to another full-length album from this trio. The band’s music is a fusion of indie rock, emo, power pop, and dream pop. — Recommended by Francisca
KAKUMAY – IDOL
Things seem to be going well for the five-piece visual rock band KAKUMAY, which has been active for almost four years. After releasing two EPs and a single, the quintet has arrived at its second single, IDOL, featuring three songs. This release is accompanied by a tour in Japan, titled KILLING IDOL, which will eventually end Spotify O-WEST. Who knows, with these activities, they may be heading towards a full-length album later this year. — Recommended by Francisca
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.
