With a large music industry such as Japan, the second largest in the world, music fans will inevitably 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 Japanese music acts that are definitely worth watching and need some extra focus, with an emphasis on the lesser-known names.
We are now looking back on a selection of videos released in week 02 of 2025. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
samayuzame – no aid(ea)
After releasing the EP butcher knife in October 2024, artist and singer-songwriter samayuzame released her first single from 2025 on 8 January: no aid(ea). A versatile artist with a unique style that goes in all directions, samayuzame creates mysterious, electronic soundscapes and has been impressing with self-produced music since 2018 and has also had several interesting collaborations, including with world’s end girlfriend and Pause Catti. — Recommended by Francisca
少年キッズボウイ (Shonen Kids Boy) – 名前をつけてよ (Namae Wo Tsuketeyo)
A standout eight-member band (although one band member is taking a break), consisting of two vocalists, you can expect instruments such as guitars, bass, drums, and wind instruments (such as the trumpet and flügelhorn) can be expected. Always looking for something beautiful, they make (dancable) music full of playful energy and melancholy, inspired from their daily lives as working adults, such as in the clothes shop, cinema and even as conductors, as well as their interests in manga and comedy. This is their newest song. — Recommended by Francisca
AYUKA – モノノ怪BEAT (Mononoke BEAT)
Inspired by singer-songwriter Marie Ueda, AYUKA began learning to play guitar and live-streaming. In 2020, she took the plunge into making her own songs and in 2021, she quit her steady job to fully focus on her music career. The nickname Tofu Mental Rock Girl is said to have originated from her nervous nature, as well as her rock spirit. Her mission is to share the stage with Marie Ueda in the near future, as well as be invited to rock festivals. This song is featured on AYUKA’s second mini-album, PARADE, which was released in late November 2024. — Recommended by Francisca
ZIYOLA – RE:bellion
Osaka-based loud rock band ZIYOLA decided to get the year 2025 off to a good start. As this is ZIYOLA’s third single, at the same time this is also the band’s first music video. In a ‘distant’ past, the band was called AVELDCAIN, then part of the visual kei scene. After some line-up changes and the change of band name in 2022, the band has been consisting of three band members for a while, with Koharu behind the microphone, Sho being the only remaining original member of the band and on guitar, and Bucchi on bass guitar. Curious to see what else they have planned for 2025! — Recommended by Francisca
エイプリルブルー (AprilBlue) – 夜だけが知っている (Hidden By The Night)
Over Christmas, a new single was released by dream pop band AprilBlue, 夜だけが知っている (Hidden By The Night), the second single from that year and a prelude of what is coming. That’s the band’s second album, yura, which will be released in February and this song will be part of it. Active since the autumn of 2018, the dream pop band combines dreamy melodies with indie influences and poetic lyrics sung by vocalist Haruki Funasoko, and surely a dream team of experienced musicians, such as Azusa Suga (ex-For Tracy Hyde), Kai Murakami (I Saw You Yesterday), Yuki Muraoka (ARAM), and Junichiro Miyazawa (Seventeen Years Old and Berlin Wall). — Recommended by Francisca
NEAREQUAL – イマジナリーフライト (Imaginary Flight)
Rock band NEAREQUAL recently welcomed a new drummer and released their first single and music video with this new line-up this week. イマジナリーフライト (Imaginary Flight) is described as an emotional and fast-paced song that can give a boost to people lost in their daily lives. Based in Osaka, the band’s sound is inspired by rock music from the 90s and 2000s. The first single also follows their demo EP ローグライド (Lowglide), which was released in March 2024 via Soundcloud. — Recommended by Francisca
DaimonOrchestra – 匂いとケモノ (Scent and Beast)
It looks like this is the first new song from self-proclaimed super indie music group DaimonOrchestra since the release of the album 数字と文學 (Math and Literature) in November 2023, we talked about this album release before. The song has not yet been released anywhere, so we are first treated with a new music video that allows us to say that the band is kicking off 2025 with vigour. As expected, it is wonderfully chaotic which the band has musically laid out and the music video builds on that. — 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.
