In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in what’s new in J-pop.
With that in mind, here’s where you come in: I’m one person with one set of musical preferences, so please embed any other new J-pop tracks you’ve enjoyed in the comments so we can get a fuller spectrum each week.
*And just like I do with my reviews, I’ll wait until full versions of songs are available before posting them in this round-up. This will mostly apply to Starto groups, who still limit the majority of their YouTube uploads to shorter, edited versions.
2023-2024 Index
2025 Index: Dec 29 – Jan 11 // Jan 12 – Jan 18 // Jan 19 – Jan 25 // Jan 26 – Feb 1 // Feb 2 – Feb 8 // Feb 9 – Feb 15 // Feb 16 – Feb 22 // Feb 23 – Mar 1 // Mar 2 – Mar 8 // Mar 9 – Mar 15 // Mar 16 – Mar 22 // Mar 23 – Mar 29 // Mar 30 – Apr 5 // Apr 6 – Apr 12 // Apr 13 – Apr 19 // Apr 20 – Apr 26 // Apr 27 – May 3 // May 4 – May 10 // May 11 – May 16 // May 17 – May 24 // May 25 – May 31 // Jun 1 – Jun 7 // Jun 8 – Jun 14 // Jun 15 – Jun 21 // Jun 22 – Jun 28 // Jun 29 – Jul 5 // Jul 6 – Jul 12 // Jul 13 – Jul 19 // Jul 20 – Jul 26 // Jul 27 – Aug 2
BABYMETAL – My Queen (ft. Spiritbox)
This isn’t really a sound I enjoy, but it’s a decent song.
Boys & Men – Mr. Me～n
Way too silly for me.
Bullet Train (Choutokkyuu) – Eve (song of the week!)
I hope this gets a music video eventually because it’s one of their stronger recent songs. It has a real nice sense of build and I love the electronic backdrop. Great chorus, too.
Da-iCE – Nonfictions
I already wrote about this but now it has a music video.
DJ Koo x BEYOOOOONDS – Saikooo De Dance (song of the week!)
I’ll always love this super high energy eurobeat sound, as stupid as it is. I don’t know if this is “good,” but it’s very fun.
Hi-Fi Un!corn – Teenage Blue
Anthemic and youthful, though I feel like it’s constantly stuck at one energy and needs more dynamics.
King & Prince – What We Got
This sounds like the theme park commercial it is. With that in mind, it’s alright.
Mamoru Miyano – Jump Shite Mite
This probably works best alongside the comical music video.
m-flo loves n-choco – Elusive
Vibey but dull.
Naniwa Danshi – Black Nightmare
This is a short version of their upcoming single, but it’s enough to get the gist of the song. I like them in a darker setting but this isn’t doing much for me.
News – Joyer (song of the week!)
News’ new album is a mixed bag, but I’m really loving the energy of this track. The explosive second verse is especially fantastic.
NOA – Merry Go Round
This has more bite than its title suggests.
Official HIGE DANdism – Rashisa
One of their strongest singles in awhile. I love how upbeat and punchy it is.
One Love One Heart – Bagucchau Ne (song of the week!)
I wrote about this here. I liked it a lot!
SKE48 – Karma
Pleasant fluff.
