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 22 of 2023. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
inari – 東京娘々 (Tokyo Girl)
It’s been a while since we wrote about this four-piece rock band from Fujinomiya, at the foot of Mount Fuji. The alternative rock band inari, active since autumn 2020, released last year a mini-album with several accompanying music videos. It looks like the band is planning much more for this year, now that the four-piece has published music video number 6. What can we expect from this intriguing band in the future? — Recommended by Francisca
ユアミトス (yourmythos) – マイゴノウタ (Maigo no Uta)
We can best describe yourmythos as an orchestra with the amount of group members and instruments that are involved. They work with the concept of making music where you can close your eyes and watch a story unfold while listening. Their goal is to eventually become a songwriter for theme songs for anime series, but they are already in the right direction, considering yourmythos have since created several songs for indie games like DEEMO (I and II), Cytus II, and VOEZ. — Recommended by Francisca
伝々夢史 (DENDENMUSHI) – キミカヅク (Kimikazuku)
Heavy metal band DENDENMUSHI has not been around for very long, in 2022 four musicians with various experiences in the music industry got together and have been working on creating music. In the past week, they released their very first music video. Additionally, they will soon share information about their first shows planned for the second half of 2023. The band’s theme is based on ‘folk tales’ (min’yo) from all over Japan, where the heavy sounds gets combined with traditional culture and the two vocals of Pinoko and Burning. — Recommended by Francisca
RAN – finale.
Last November, five-piece visual kei rock band RAN released their first album, titled VIRULENT. This album sold out, therefore it was decided to produce a second pressing, which came with an additional song, ROPE, and a DVD containing the music video below and additional footage. The second pressing of VIRULENT got released in late May. This is an album that you really need to physically own to listen to, as it is not available on streaming services for now. — Recommended by Francisca
辻井くぬえ (Tsujii Qunuee) – ねえ、起きて (Nee, Okite)
Tsujii Qunuee is a university student who is active as a singer-songwriter in his spare time. He incorporates a variety of musical genres into his pop music and this week released a 5-track EP titled 月の川 (Tsuki no Kawa). Besides being active solo, he is also part of the video and music performance unit 人間ファージ (Human Phage) with six other students, in which they express through animation, live action, live music and programming. — Recommended by Francisca
Maya Ongaku – Melting
This week saw the release of Maya Ongaku’s very first album, Approach to Anima, released via Guruguru Brain. Maya Ongaku is a collective of local musicians from the coastal communities around Enoshima. The band is currently a trio and the origins of the band is a vintage shop called Ace General Store, where between chatting, putting together the vinyl section and manning the cash register, they also find time to jam and record music in the studio that can also be found there. — Recommended by Francisca
リリックホリック歌劇団 (LyricHolic Kagekidan) – 哭鴉 (Nakigarasu)
Now operating under the name LyricHolic Kagekidan, previously this metal idol unit operated under the names LyricHolic, LyricHolicNoir and LiLiHoLi (in this order). Last March, the group decided to take a break and returned in April under the current name continuing to produce gothic metal music with themes of gothic, fairy-tale, and unrealistic worldview while showing not only idol-like charm, but also eccentric and innovative make-up and costumes. With this music video, they are promoting the first single under the new name. — 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.
