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 43 of 2025. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
merimeriyeah – トランスじいさん (Trance Zisan)
Earlier this October, the two-piece band merimeriyeah released their first full-length (self-titled) album after fifteen years of being active, the culmination of a collaboration that began when the two musicians were still schoolmates. The album had been in the making for some time and, after non-stop work and refinement, it was released on the non-profit label Kenobi Label. The songs are said to all have a strong identity of their own, filled with powerful energy, warmth and pure emotion. — Recommended by Francisca
kinderwalls – 予祝 (Yoshuku)
Since forming in 2017, kinderwalls, a three-piece alternative rock band from Takamatsu City in Kagawa Prefecture, has produced all their music independently. In 2024, the trio released their first full-length album, entitled パンスペルミア (Panspermia), only three tracks of which are available on digital streaming services. The band’s sound is described as emotion riding on an explosive sound, presenting music that is powerful and sincere, expressing life as it is felt. — Recommended by Francisca
nim – Knives and Trifles
Earlier this month, emo rock/dream pop band nim released a split 7″ record with American alternative rock band Startographers. The Kyoto-based band is said to have gradually evolved from being an aggressive emo band to a shoegaze quartet, with Knive and Trifles seen as an important turning point. The four-piece band began their activities in 2006, works with a mixed vocal ensemble, and has released three full-length albums, two EPs, and several singles to date. — Recommended by Francisca
Junk. – 幸福東京 (Happiness of Tokyo)
After browsing YouTube for a while, I came across a music video by Junk. (including the period), a singer-songwriter from Tokyo who creates pop music with a loud, intense sound, which this musician describes as “roaring pop”. Looking at the information available about Junk., the musician has recently started out and this music video is the musician’s introduction to the public. It’s a very strong start for the mysterious singer-songwriter and I’m curious to see what else Junk. has in store. — Recommended by Francisca
LAZY TWO PERCENT – SPARK
Although this four-piece mixture rock band from Kagawa Prefecture, named LAZY TWO PERCENT, has been active for several years, they only started releasing music last year. To date, they have released five singles, the most recent of which came out a few days ago. The band moves freely between music genres such as grunge, hip hop and pop music with the goal to produce an innovative sound with catchy melodies, playful lyrics, solid drum parts and jazzy accents. — Recommended by Francisca
34 (Sanjushi) – 瑪瑙の釣り針 (Menou no Tsuribari)
After a break of about four years, the three-piece alternative rock band 34 (Sanjushi) recently announced that they will be back on stage on November 8. To make their return even more special, the band has released a music video for a brand-new song written during their hiatus. The trio started their activities in 2012 in the city of Gunma, eventually moving their activities to Tokyo. With several releases to their name, their most recent release is the EP WALLFLOWER, which came out in March 2020. — Recommended by Francisca
Monochrome Cinderella – フレネミー×フレネミー (Frenemy x Frenemy)
In November, Monochrome Cinderella, a melodic metal band fronted by former sylph emew vocalist Ramu, will release their first album. The metal band was formed in March 2024 and, since the addition of bass player Anna, consists of five members. The songs on the album, titled Beyond The ANSEmble, are described as energetic and catchy and feature guest appearances by Coco from melodic death metal band Omelas and Nami Nakagawa. A preview has been given with the song フレネミー×フレネミー (Frenemy x Frenemy). — 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.
