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Top 10 Japanese Artists I Am Rooting For in 2026 (a lot of them have blue hair…?)
read more >>>: Top 10 Japanese Artists I Am Rooting For in 2026 (a lot of them have blue hair…?)Discover the top Japanese artists to watch in 2026, from breakout girl groups like HANA to rising hyperpop creators and underground rock bands shaking up the scene. Here are the must-know newcomers, viral acts, and fast-growing musicians shaping the future of Japanese music.
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SHISHAMO Is Ending: The High School Girl Band’s Final Show in 2026
read more >>>: SHISHAMO Is Ending: The High School Girl Band’s Final Show in 2026From high school clubs to festival stages, SHISHAMO defined youth rock in Japan. Their journey ends with a final show in 2026.
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My Answer to a Funk Fusion Comeback – Japanese Albums That Feel Like “Songs About Jane”
read more >>>: My Answer to a Funk Fusion Comeback – Japanese Albums That Feel Like “Songs About Jane”I remember when I listened to the song “Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5 for the first time. Digging deeper into the album Songs About Jane, 15 year old me was completely smitten by the funky sounds. It was a defining moment in my personal music history. A few years later, I was NOT happy to…
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Not Just Fujii Kaze’s Older Brother – Intro to the Professional Jazz Musician Fujii Sola
read more >>>: Not Just Fujii Kaze’s Older Brother – Intro to the Professional Jazz Musician Fujii SolaThe Fujii household stands out for their love of all things music. The family business, a jazz cafe run by father Fujii, are where his sons Kaze and Sola grew up listening to songs together. While the two brothers are separated in age by over ten years, the affinity (and skill) for jazz music runs…
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Before Mamushi: The Long Lost Global Collabs from Japanese Musicians
read more >>>: Before Mamushi: The Long Lost Global Collabs from Japanese MusiciansThe early and mid 2000s marked a time when Japanese artists worked from the shadows. A select few, like Yoshiki from X Japan, produced backing tracks, instrumentals, and worked in production with only a mere mention in the credits. Starting in the 2010s, the industry started to leave behind the dark period and brought these…
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My Favorite Japanese Inspired Reggaetón
read more >>>: My Favorite Japanese Inspired ReggaetónReggaetón with Japanese roots is a match made in heaven for me – it mashes the best of Latin and Japanese culture’s rich sounds and aesthetics, and combines it with amazing rhythms. I’m pulling out my top three picks for artists who blend Japanese culture with Latin sounds, creating Grammy winning songs and some of…
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Shimokitazawa Sound Cruising 2025 – New Artist Top Picks
read more >>>: Shimokitazawa Sound Cruising 2025 – New Artist Top PicksSound Cruising is a unique festival that takes place in Tokyo’s best spot for emerging artists, curry, and antique shops – Shimokitazawa. The timetable is enough to induce lethal levels of FOMO. Take a look. These are some of Japan’s biggest emerging artists right now. Not large enough to be signed to a record label,…
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Before the Ballads: My Favorite RADWIMPS Rock Riffs
read more >>>: Before the Ballads: My Favorite RADWIMPS Rock RiffsRadwimps has written some of the most heart-wrenching J-pop ballads and anime soundtracks of all time, but did you know they actually started off as a gritty, punk-centric rock band? If you aren’t familiar with their harder side, definitely give these a listen. If you are, walk down nostalgia road with me (: Here are…
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Ako – Japan’s Most Underrated Pop Artist in 2025
read more >>>: Ako – Japan’s Most Underrated Pop Artist in 2025Discover Ako (a子), Japan’s most underrated pop artist of 2025—dream pop meets Jpop with raw storytelling, bold visuals, and a sound all her own.
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SOUNDS TO KNOW – J Hyperpop Recs
read more >>>: SOUNDS TO KNOW – J Hyperpop RecsToday I wanted to share a little bit about Hyperpop in Japan. Hyperpop is still very new here, and artists are just now starting to emerge. Current artists draw inspiration from anime and game samples, PinkPantheress, and NewJeans. Japan’s hyperpop is much more centered on Internet culture, rather than party culture, like the hyperpop from…
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