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 28 of 2023. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
DEVIANT – Solitude
It’s always fun to see whether a band releases a music video, especially now that streaming services are so popular. But the five men of visual kei rock band DEVIANT clearly really think otherwise with what they posted on their YouTube channel last Saturday. They felt that one music video was insufficient and simultaneously released four music videos to promote DEVIANT’s first album, Gallows. With the new album on the horizon and two singles already released in 2022, the young band, formed in 2021, is ready to solidify their presence in the music scene. — Recommended by Francisca
World’s End Girlfriend – IN THE NAME OF LOVE
Behind World’s End Girlfriend is multi-instrumentalist Katsuhiko Maeda, who also runs the label Virgin Babylon Records. In September, the new album Resistance & The Blessing will be released with 35 tracks (you read that right), with past collaborations with Smamy, KADEN and CRZKNY, among others, also included in the tracklist. According to the project’s description, World’s End Girlfriend’s music makes you survive reality rather than escape it. It is a different perspective where you can discover beauty in, let’s say, something that might not be seen as pretty by many and embrace yourself with music that is hard to categorise (one moment it is post-rock, the other moment electronic music) and intriguing visual imagery. — Recommended by Francisca
sigh – dawning
For those expecting to see a video of avant-garde experimental metal band Sigh here, take note. There is another band under the same name and that is this four-member band from and mostly active in Niigata. The band started activities not long ago, the start of 2019 is being mentioned on their Tunecore page, and is heavily influenced by alternative post-rock and emo music from the 1990s. On top of that comes the clear singing voice of Kanami Sakai, who also wields the bass guitar. In August, the band will release their first-ever mini-album, titled out focus, where the band members – further consisting of guitarist Yoshitake Teraguchi, guitarist Dai Sasaki and drummer Maya Fujisaki – worked hard on recording and mixing until they were satisfied with it. — Recommended by Francisca
the Enma. – マイノリティ (Minority)
Hailing from Tokyo, the Enma. are a dynamic and thought-provoking genderless lovesong band defying conventions and sharing their own visions of life. Led by vocalist and guitarist Coharu Kurokiri and drummer Emiri Morita (also known as Morimi), they work on delivering a sound that transcends boundaries with a blend of theatricality and profound lyrical themes. In the words of the vocalist, who is candid about having gender dysphoria, “I want to make an effort to convince society. I want to be someone who can be understood.” Building upon their first mini-album, アダムとイヴ (Adam and Eve), released last year, the duo is set to release their highly anticipated second mini-album, ンゲンドラマ (Ningen Drama), in August. — Recommended by Francisca
the private theater – 深紅 (Shinku)
Formed in the summer of 2022, the Fukuoka-based four-piece piano rock band the private theater wasted no time in making their mark. After releasing a single, Last year, it got followed up by their debut EP earlier this year, in April, titled プロローグ (Prologue). Led by the lyrical musings of guitarist and vocalist Yuta Katanosaka, their sound is complemented by the melodies and rhythm from keyboardist Yuki Tobinaga, bass player Shoma Matsuura and drummer Otsuki. Known for their energetic and impassioned live performances, the four-piece has been showcasing their true rock spirit. This band is still young, but given what they have delivered thus far, they have a promising future. — Recommended by Francisca
MIKENN – 瞬き (Blink)
In June, Tokyo-based alternative rock band MIKENN released their third digital single, 瞬き (Blink), which at the same time is their first release in six months. Now this single has a music video. Since their inception in the winter of 2019, this three-piece rock band has pursued emotional rock, unravelling forgotten fragments of the listener’s life with their gritty and melancholic soundscapes. Their music might serve as a reminder of what we may have lost along the way, evoking a sense of nostalgia and self-reflection. Curious to see what else they will release in the near future. — Recommended by Francisca
the Hz – Faces
This four-piece band is formed in 2020 and is based in Okayama. Drawing inspiration from UK alternative rock, this band has been working on a sound that pays homage to their influences while also adding their own flair. In the three years that they have been active, they released a six-track EP titled You Ate My Psycho in 2022, showcasing their ability to blend catchy melodies with evocative lyrics. Their most recent single, Faces, can be found on the streaming services. We will stay tuned to see what the next steps will be for this four-piece. If you want to see what music is on their EP, watch the two other music videos on their YouTube channel. — 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.
