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 for each 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.
With a little delay, we are now looking back on a selection of videos released in week 42 of 2025. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
the slow films – 白昼 (Hakuchu)
It was early 2019 when vocalist Miku and bassist Shota Kurihara decided to start a band, which became the slow films. A few months later, drummer Mikiya Hamabe joined the band, and in 2020, guitarist Asami Ishimura completed the line-up. The four-piece began releasing music in 2021, starting with several EPs and singles. Their most recent single, which is also their first release of 2025, was released on 15 October. Everyday emotions are captured in a band sound influenced by shoegaze and pop music, enhanced by Miku’s crystal-clear vocals. — Recommended by Francisca
RISK Hedge – Don’t need STEADY
This past week the rock duo RISK Hedge released their debut single to celebrate the band’s six-month anniversary. The two musicians, who each play a string instrument and also sing, were former classmates who previously played in other bands. In the end, they decided it would be more fun to start a band together. The songs they produce revolve around the theme of breaking free from stagnation and staying true to yourself. In addition, they want to make music that is pure and that they enjoy, without being tied to one particular music genre. — Recommended by Francisca
DON VOLG – Ωverdrive
My introduction to the six-piece mixture rock band DON VOLG was their performance during one of the preliminary rounds of Emergenza Japan 2025. Crammed onto a small stage, they managed to win over the audience with their boundless energy and boundary-pushing rock music. They have managed to translate this into their latest music video for the song Ωverdrive. Although far too short, it is a great appetiser for hearing more from the band. Over the past three months, they have released several singles in succession, including Ωverdrive, Fate of Madness and VIOLET. This will be concluded on 1st November with the single Paper Moon. — Recommended by Francisca
ガミガミ (Gamigami) – 春がくる (Haru ga kuru)
Having started their activities in March of this year, this four-piece rock band from Tokyo can be described as brand spanking new. In June, they released their very first single with two tracks, the title track of which received a music video last week. The rock band delivers a raw, impulsive sound with screaming emotions. It is a promising young band and I am very curious to see what else is to come. Just like the spring season, to which their debut single refers, this band seems set to bring a breath of fresh air to the Japanese rock scene and hopefully beyond. Keep an eye on them! — Recommended by Francisca
ALAN – Hue
Hue is a song that captures the fleeting moments between loneliness and hope and can be found on indie rock band ALAN’s mini-album, entitled Turtle. The mini-album was released earlier this year and has been available on streaming services since last week. The five-piece band from Tokyo has been active since 2019 and has not performed on stage or produced much music in all those years, as the band members focus more on work and private life. That makes a new release from this band all the more special. With music that resonates with the daily lives of adults in their city today, the band expresses this with layered guitar parts and powerful vocals. — Recommended by Francisca
the parahills – 雛菊の儘 (As a daisy)
Although the rock band the parahills have been active since 2016, the band only recently returned after a hiatus of several years. After releasing the single 星月夜に唄えば (Singin’ on the Starry Night) in the summer of 2024, 雛菊の儘 (As a Daisy) followed in September of this year as the band’s fourth single. According to a blog post by the three-piece band, this is the first song created after the return of the parahills, making it fitting that it has been given a music video. Despite the lightness of the video and the airiness of the full guitars, the lyrics are strikingly dark. — Recommended by Francisca
WeaJ – mono-cry
Since the start of rock band WeaJ in 2019, then known as We are the JAPAN, the Tokyo-based quartet has released two full-length albums and several singles. During that time, the four-piece has steadily built up a following, regularly performing on stage. On top of that, since this year, the rock band has been organising a bi-monthly event called The Waves of Fate, where they perform with two other bands. After a short break, during which the band focused on increasing their visibility through online content creation, WeaJ restarted their live performances this month. This single can therefore also be seen as a comeback. — 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.
