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 all this and write a review about it per video. But to avoid missing out on (obscure) gems, the decision has been made to create 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 25 of 2025. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
EUPHOBIA – INSOMNIA
On Friday the 13th, the visual kei black metal band EUPHOBIA officially hit the scene, consisting of five members. The five-piece combines black metal and deathcore in a dark and heavy sound with complex structures and a theatrical flair. This week, the five-piece band released their first single, accompanied by a music video. This is just the beginning, as two more singles with accompanying music videos are planned for the coming months. A strong start that makes us curious about what else is to come. — Recommended by Francisca
SLEIPNIR – Breed
After sharing several teasers over the past few weeks, loud rock band SLEIPNIR released their first music video this week for the song Breed. With it, they immediately set a dark and powerful tone, complemented by a strong visual style. A worthy introduction for this brand-new trio from Nagoya, consisting of vocalist Rouge (who also runs two bars in addition to this band), guitarist Shunya, and bassist Jack it out. They have their first live show scheduled for August. If you like what you hear, be sure to keep an eye on this band. — Recommended by Francisca
no-no – oldsea
Since 2021, the Nara-based quartet no-no have been making alternative rock that combines nostalgia, poetry and dreamy intensity. no-no’s music evokes images and atmospheres, often in the form of small, personal stories set to music. Frontwoman Aina is responsible for both the lyrics and the compositions, and her emotional voice contributes to the narrative character of the songs. Their new digital EP Time rendering will be released on 1 July, featuring the song oldsea as the opening track. This song can also be found on a compilation album KAZAANA ’25. — Recommended by Francisca
Azami – sad song
Since their formation in 2013, the five-piece band Azami has built up a solid live reputation in the Japanese hardcore scene. In addition, the band has released numerous singles, several mini-albums and an EP, undergone a few line-up changes and played at major festivals such as SUMMER SONIC. Now, the quintet has arrived at the digital single sad song, their first release of 2025. It is yet another confirmation that their power and emotion are still very much present in their music. Looking forward to what else Azami will do this year. — Recommended by Francisca
純情マゼラン (JyunJyou Mazeran) – 渇き (Kawaki)
After releasing their first album in November 2023, it may seem as if the four-piece indie rock band JyunJyou Mazeran has been quiet for a while. But nothing could be further from the truth. In addition to a considerable number of performances in Japan, the four musicians have been working hard on their second album, 祝酔 (Iwai yoi), which will be released this winter and is undoubtedly full of danceable rock and an atmosphere steeped in alcohol and nightlife. The track in this live video can be found on their single 渇き/マリッジブルー (Kawaki/Marriage Blues), which is only available during their concerts. — Recommended by Francisca
亀のちのちKIRIA (Kame Nochinochi KIRIA) – 出来損ないとレッテル (Dekisokonai to Retteru)
Kame Nochinochi KIRIA started activities in early 2024, with singer-songwriter KIRIA (vocals and guitar) and guitarist Kame, who has been in different bands, like Moudoku, Jollits, Gusha Ningen, and Real3ku. This month, they released their first album, which showcases how the duo effortlessly switches between genres such as folk, alternative rock, psychedelia and shoegaze. The songs range from dreamy to confrontational, with poetic lyrics. Fun fact: this song was previously released by KIRIA as an acoustic song. — Recommended by Francisca
いろかにほへと (Irokani Hoheto) – errorrrrrrrrrrrr
Following the well-received debut music video in the summer of 2024, this young four-piece alternative rock band from Osaka released their second music video this week for a yet-to-be-released song. Irokani Hoheto have only released two singles so far, but with just a handful of songs, they have already made a strong impression with Ako’s powerful vocals and the captivating instrumental work of all band members (Ako on guitar, Noda na noda on guitar, ROM on bass and support drummer м ⅰи ä). It promises much for what the future will bring. — 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.
