Jpop: Sakanaction - Maybe, Wind (多分、風)

How it is possible, I don't know, but I managed to miss out on this early winter single from Sakanaction, the Japanese synth band that has over the years given me the most musical enjoyment (forgive me, Perfume, but that's the truth). Their bittersweet but still soft sound is healing for the soul, and this song is no exception. And, oh, the video is just so great too!

• Sakanaction - Maybe, Wind (多分、風)

Jpop: Tokyo Girls Style - Predawn

Tokyo Girl Style has since the first video I saw ("Cross-Movie") ever been about that slightly gothic and about long and wistful looks from the members, and "Predawn" continues that tradition with lots of melancholic ambience.

• Tokyo Girls Style - Predawn

Kpop: Asakura Saya - Shinjo Melody (新庄節)

Shinjo is a part of the Japanese region Yamagata, which is where Asakura Saya come from. This then is fully natural, as she writes about and sings in the dialect of Yamagata. This song is picked from the album "Future Trax", just like the last song I wrote about. She really does something simple but magical with these folk songs.

• Asakura Saya - Shinjo Melody (新庄節)

Bitpop/art: m7kenji & Toriena - Pulse Fighter

All the images are from "Pulse Fighter"

Bitpopartist m7kenji and music writer Toriena has done this bitpop pearl of a musical and visual art, which really plays (double meaning intented) as a old school video game. This is hard not to love.

• m7kenji & Toriena - Pulse Fighter
• m7kenji & Toriena/Kandi - Pixel Z

Jpop: Yunomi (ゆのみ)

Yunomi is a young japanese music artist that makes really intensive but somehow charming electronic melodies. I'm guessing you eaither love it or leave it, but the videos is a must see if you are the least for japanese nerd culture.

• Yunomi feat nicamoq - Ni Ocha Shite (にお茶して)
• Yunomi feat Tonomi - Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー)

Jpop: Cicada - Shake Your Fingertips (ゆれる指先)

Cicada did one of my favorite japanese songs last year with "Yes", and the new ciy pop sounding "Shake Your Fingertips" sounds as great too, with the video of swimmers and Metroid-looking sea animals matching the mood perfectly.

• Cicada - Shake Your Fingertips (ゆれる指先)

Jpop: Sayuri (さユり)

All the images are from "Crescent Moon"

It is hard to define 20 year old Sayuri's music without talking about her presense and charisma, she really gives the impression of being 110% into what she sings without just screaming it out, with the videos so far doing a great job of showing this. The style of mixing anime and real footage is also a aestetically pleasing choice.

• Sayuri - Crescent Moon (ミカヅキ)
• Sayuri - Parallell Line (平行線)
• Sayuri - It Is Like A Small Light (それは小さな光のような)

Jpop: Suiyoubi no Campanella - Ikkyu-san

Again Suiyoubi no Campanella goes back to a Japanese cultural icon when naming their latest song after 14th century zen-buddist monk Ikkyu. WC and their videos is always charming and cool, but I find myself loving this video extra much and I think it is due the kind of warm energy radiating out from it.

• Suiyoubi no Campanella - Ikkyu-san