r/japanesemusic

I’m from Japan, and I’m really curious about how Japanese alternative rock, shoegaze, and indie rock are perceived overseas. I’d love to hear what bands or songs you think are "interesting" or worth checking out from a non-Japanese perspective.

To give you an idea of what I’m into, here are a few of my current favorites:

ivy - Konran suru Apatite
uchu nekoko - Kimi no Youni Ikiretara
hitohira - tsukuru
yukiguni - tokyo
kimisima oosora- oto no suru heya
yuusari - hoshi wo tugu hito
FCO.- Inc

Hi, I recently came upon the song KUCHUBURANKO by Plastic Trees and wondering what other songs / albums / artists are similar? I really like the song. Thanks!

Let me get this outta the way first: I am aware of Tokyo Jihen but they don’t quite do it for me the way her solo music does!

I love Sheena Ringo’s music, particularly her first 3 albums. The songs all sound incredibly distinct but the albums are still cohesive, kinda weird but very catchy, and her vocal style packs so much emotion into it. I’m looking for similar artists who just kinda make jaw dropping and unexpected but still catchy music like that.

Some other artists I like are The Oral Cigarettes, the pillows, Band Maid, andymori, and Shishamo

I kinda like Yorushika but haven’t really clicked with it yet

I’ve struggled to get into King Gnu, Polkadot Stingray, Asian Kung Fu Generation, and Mass of the Fermenting Dregs

Any recs would be appreciated! Thanks!

Hello everyone,

I’m currently attempting to sign up/purchase for Rock in Japan 2026, but I’m facing an issue regarding the phone number verification process. It seems that the phone number needs to be Japanese, and since mine is not, the registration won’t proceed.

To anyone from other countries who have previously managed to sign up for Rock in Japan in the past years:

How did you manage to complete the phone number verification?

Was a Japanese phone number used by your friends/family members?

Any suggestions on what method should I try?

Any help will be much appreciated. Thank you in advance

I was watching welcome to demon school iruma-kun I was at season 3 and heard hot pot commander by Wednesday campanella I was so shocked that song that I was listening to regularly which I think was pretty neat.

before I used to think it's just pretty good song with kinda weird lyrics but in ending song characters are literally making hot pot and since they are demons it makes sense why lyrics are like that and honestly this is very pleasant surprise.

hi! im buying a face value companion 001 ticket off someone. they said that it will be transferred through email address digitally instead of a paper ticket or through a convenience store? is this how it actually works or is this not the case?

These are some of my favorite Japanese songs/artists lately.
I’d love to hear your recommendations too!

hello!!

so, as much as a fan i am of R&B i'm also a big fan of japanese R&B (J-R&B). and for specific periods of my life i've been exploring what it has to offer, and have i found some real good gems, specially from big exponents like crystal kay or hikaru utada, who channel the 90s-2000s sound perfectly.

but i haven't gotten the same from male artists. the ones that have stick out to me are m-flo, that are more hip-hop-like. i've listened to ken hirai or chemistry, but their style is not really for my liking, since they are more ballad-ish. and for what i've seen, no male artists have actually done R&B quite like crystal kay, hikaru utada or double, sounding really western, janet jackson-ish. some songs from psychic fever like their last year hit "What's Happenin'" are what i'm looking for, but i don't enjoy their entire catalogue.

so i wanna know if you have any recommendations for that? because maybe i haven't been looking or researching well. so could anybody help me out with some male artists that sound like the 90s-2000s western R&B that sound like usher, ne-yo, brandy, janet jackson, destiny's child, tlc and many more.
i would be very thankful for it!!

Hello everyone, I'm new to listening to Japanese music, I started with Fishmans, Boris and Sheena Ringo, my favorite genres are post-rock, shoegaze, post-hardcore and jazz, I would love for you to recommend more artists or albums.

It doesn't matter if they are not of these genres

So we're driving kind of far to visit some graves in a few weeks and he begrudgingly lets me on aux usually. His taste is fairly eclectic but some of his more recent favorites off the top of my head are: Bootsy Collins. Paramore, Maynard Ferguson, Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Kansas, Big Thief, and Pierce the Veil selectively. Basically jazz, oldies, post grunge and usually gravitates towards more musically involved/complicated or groovy stuff. He recently started working with a Japanese company and has shown some interest in some of my music lately so I was thinking of playing him some songs I think he'd like. I showed him 勉強しておいてよ by ずっと真夜中でいいのに and he liked that. Basically looking for help on finding some things y'all might think are up his alley based on the earlier artists and some songs I'm considering:

YASAI FUNK by カラスは真っ白

草木 by 長谷川白紙

カラカラ by 結束バンド

すみれ September Love by 一風堂

パラレルスペック by ゲスの極め乙女

死神 by 米津玄師

違う、そうじゃない by 鈴木雅之

わすられないの by サカナクション

クロとシロ by 鈴木弘