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: 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

Jpop: Top 20 of 2016

The year of 2016 in Japanese pop has for me been less idols and more electronic and synth songs. Still a lot of strange and freaky, but in a more tempered way.
So here is my top 20 songs in some kind of order.

20. Ladybaby - Renge Chance! The bearded Australian doing maid cosplay with a heavy metal voice returned with an ode to ramen! Of course!

19. Natsu no Mamono. Cos-players and crazy live festival organizers, one has to love their videos, so full of just plain fun.

18. Awesome City Club. I like their sound, full of air and happiness.

17. Sasanomaly. Yes, the music is fine, but really, it is the videos you can't miss. They are arts-and-crafty litter masterpieces!

16. Fake - You. At first I felt like, hmm, it's OK for this kind of model group. But go beyond the surface and the song is a polished pop hit that has no unused space.

15. Haraeki Stage Ace - Rockstar. Passion and energy in this fighting track. Now can you please start posting full videos...?!

14. Suchmos - Stay Tune. It was like Jamiroquai had landed in a pop song in a good way.

13. C-ute - Dreamlike Climax. Mixing classical music and pop may sound odd, but it worked really well for C-ute, the drama of song and dance harmonizing with the classic melody.

12. Stereo Japan - Dancing Again. Good song but those breaks with super funky sounds made all the difference.

11. Babymetal. An anticipated comeback for the jpop metal girls, with The One and Karate holding up to expectations.

10. Oyasumi Hologram - Neuromancer. This indie duo delivered a track with a superb nerve that really made it stand out.

9. Reol - Give me a break Stop now. She finally showed herself in a full video, and such a great video it was - cool and catchy, so a great way to debut!

8. Cherrsee - White Shirt. While this is unabashed "Brave Sound in Japanese", it is still high quality and polished pop.

7. Czecho No Republic - Dream Beach Sunset. When they get their synths right, CNR is such a great group. Like here.

6. Cicada - Yes. The voice and the sound of "Yes" is soft and inviting, silent passion in harmony.

5. Have A Nice Day! ft New World's Girlfriend - New Romance. This song proves again that feeling and that extra 'it' always beats static perfection.

4. Taemin - Sayonara Hitori. Even though the video sometimes passes over to gaming territory, it is still a great ballad, with drama and a song without dead spots.

3. Niji no Conquistador - ↓Alien Girl in New York↑. The passion and the humor made me instantly love this song by the idol girls of Niji no Conquistador.

2. Frederic. The group may not have changed their basic concept so much, but "Only Wonder" was another great example of their trademark sound, and I do think their later "Night Step" marks a new step in a kind of darker and fresh direction.

1. Metafive. Even though the participating artists may have seen their best days, the stylish mega-group had high expectations on it when it debuted early this year, but they have surely delivered. Both "Luv U Tokio" and "Musical Chairs" are music perfection.