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 45 of 2025. We sincerely hope you enjoy the new discoveries!
ポンツクピーヤ (Pontsuku Piya) – らふらぶ！ (Laugh Love)
Now that three singles have been released in succession, we can look forward to seeing what else the three-piece pop rock band Pontsuku Piya has in store as the self-proclaimed ‘hyper cute ultra pop band’. The Kyoto-based band was formed in 2022 by three classmates from a technical college and made a big impression with their debut single. This motivated them to continue, and within a few years time, they had produced a stack of singles, an EP, a mini-album, and an album that was well received. — Recommended by Francisca
wagamama – 我楽多娯楽 (Garakuta-Goraku)
After a brief hiatus earlier this year, wagamama returned this week as a three-piece band with a brand-new single on the theme of ‘the beauty of uselessness’. The group started out in 2022 and quickly made an impression with their distinctive music, combining strong rock energy with catchy pop melodies, a style they call ‘Wagamama Pop’. Although they released a new single this week, they will officially return in December with a performance at Shimokitazawa Flowers Loft. — Recommended by Francisca
SULLIVAN’s FUN CLUB – Iと手を (I to TE wo)
We have written about SULLIVAN’s FUN CLUB before, but given that several years have passed, it is nice to see what the four-piece rock band is currently up to. This week saw the release of their first album in about four years, released on their own independent label and entirely self-produced and self-recorded, with the apt title Pure True. With almost 10 years under their belt, even with a year-long hiatus, the quartet has built up an interesting discography filled with high-energy rock music. — Recommended by Francisca
moonless dawn – Juvenile
After releasing a number of (digital) singles since their debut in 2023, Tokyo-based five-piece band moonless dawn released their first album this week. It is a self-titled album by the alternative rock band, filled with eight tracks described as music that stays with you when the moon is absent at the break of day. The songs dance around feelings of melancholy, stagnation and hope, with the band playing a mix of alternative rock and pop music, sometimes dreamy and sometimes clear and melodious. — Recommended by Francisca
Muddy Days – 路上 (Rojou)
Muddy Days, an alternative rock band from Tokyo, released a new EP last August on which the personal roots of the band members have been fused into a record with (organic) layers. The band reflects on the fast-moving consumer society in which people only seem to look up and have forgotten the earth, the source of all life. Elements of psychedelic rock and folk rock are reflected in the music of this four-piece band, with pounding guitars and relaxed songs. Unique to this release is that all songs are entirely in Japanese. — Recommended by Francisca
MORITA – Descent
This week, bassist and composer Yusuke Morita, under his new solo name MORITA, released a music video for a brand-new song that will be released digitally later this month. This marks the beginning of a new project in which the musician challenges himself to experiment with drum and bass music, or a renewed form of it, and in which he will also play with visuals and light. The first song, Descent, has been the first result, with more material on the way as he further develops the concept. — Recommended by Francisca
Suzuna ☾*･ – Bipolar – 衝動 – (Impulse)
This week, singer-songwriter Suzuna ☾*･ released two music videos for two songs that can be linked by their contrast between tranquillity and beauty versus intensity and speed. At their core, the two songs are the same, but with opposite arrangements and lyrics. The two songs, which combine pop and metal, had already been released as digital singles a month earlier and appear to be her first official releases on streaming platforms. However, she has produced several original songs in recent years. — 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.
