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 29 of 2025. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
Aya Gloomy – 2 star
With a new EP on the way and her first European tour on the horizon, the wind seems to be in favour of self-produced indie pop musician Aya Gloomy. Since 2018, her distinctive pop melodies and fashion sense have been attracting attention, in Japan and beyond. She was even the subject of London-based photographer Francesco Allen’s photo book, titled Aya, and featured in a number of episodes of Kiko Mizuhara’s Amazon Prime Video series Kiko Kikaku. — Recommended by Francisca
夜に駆ける (Yoru Ni Kakeru) － 赤から青に変わるとき (Aka Kara Ao Ni Kawaru Toki)
This single was digitally released in late November 2024, but has finally received a music video. Probably nice to know, but the band has decided that the English title for the song is Dawn. It was their first new track since the spring of 2022. The dreampop/shoegaze band seemed to have disappeared from the radar for a while, but now seems to be slowly making a comeback, one step at a time. Since their formation in 2020, the band has released two EPs and several singles. — Recommended by Francisca
エリア５１ (Area51) – バーバー・イン・バスルーム (Barber in the Bathroom)
Area51 can be best described as a creative collective that brings together performing arts, music and film in boundary-pushing performances, with the philosophy that members are not physically or mentally constrained. Since 2022, the group has been developing their own form of musical theatre. This is a live music video with footage from their musical theatre performance あれ、なんかディレイする涙 (Are, Nanka Delay Suru Namida), in which they show how they make their performances come alive. — Recommended by Francisca
物品販売 (Buppin Hanbai) – 非・家族 (Hi Kazoku)
This song can be found on Buppin Hanbai’s first EP, まごころ (Magokoro), released last spring as a follow-up to their December single, アンチロック (Anti Rock). The four-piece rock band from Sendai has been active since late 2022 and presents themselves as a ‘super rock band’. Their music is characterised by a combination of playful pop melodies and solid guitar riffs, amplified by the infectious energy of the young musicians who play without holding back. — Recommended by Francisca
テレビ大陸音頭 (TV Tairiku Ondo) – 俺に真実を教えてくれ!! (Ore Ni Shinjitsu wo Oshiete Kure!!)
Although the song, of just over a minute and a half, was released digitally more than a year ago, it only received an official music video this week. According to an interview with Rolling Stone Japan, the four-piece alternative rock band from Sapporo was inspired by post-punk from South London for this song. Meanwhile, a second single has also been released earlier this year. What they will do next will be interesting to see, but for me, this was a very nice introduction. — Recommended by Francisca
嘯く雨。 (Usobukuame.) – far
To celebrate their 10th anniversary, the three- piece emotional post-rock band made a music video packed with memories from the past years. The song from the video originally appeared on their first mini-album from 2020 and can also be found on the compilation HACHIOJI NOW 2018. Apart from these releases, the trio also released a number of singles and two mini-albums. In their music, they combine poetic sounds with catchy melodies and irregular time signatures. — Recommended by Francisca
DYGL – Just Another Day
DYGL will release a brand-new album, entitled Who’s in the House?, on 13 August. In recent months, the four-piece indie rock band has released several singles to promote their upcoming album, with the band seemingly returning to the essence of music but also taking a fresh direction. It is seen as the first chapter of a new DYGL. All instruments were recorded simultaneously in one take without metronomes, leaning more towards a live-like atmosphere. — 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.
