EDIT: ADDED TSUBAKIYA SHIJUUSOU TO ROCK (1/28/2011)
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to one of the most comprehensive introductory guides to Japanese music on the internet!
Here I’ve compiled an easily digestible list of, whom I believe to be, the most important (mostly modern) artists of Japan in their respective genres. This thread is dedicated to my love for music, and the perpetual discovery of its ever broadening and exciting horizons. I want to share the labors of over a decades worth of personal research, with the hopes that you will find enjoyment in something amazing you never knew existed. Some artists of personal importance may have been neglected, though the list is readily capable of being adapted to the tastes of the community. No traditional Japanese music (taiko, folk, gagaku, etc.) will be featured, as that is not my focus, but you may hear some influence in the following works.
With regards to the highly subjective nature of music, I’ve attempted to provide a diverse array of sounds, while still adhering to a personal standard of quality: dynamism, creativity, technical ability, pacing, and spirit (energy/sincerity/x-factor).
WHY FEATURE JAPAN?
Whilst any other country is obviously capable of producing excellent music, Japan’s dramatic history allowed its own to develop differently than most. Their music was aided in developement by an adaptive reaction to inhereted Western culture. This reaction helped to create a unique, still rapidly evolving, melding of world sounds. Exhibiting diversity well beyond the current generation of America’s most popular muscians, the works of Japan often feature “genre-fusion”. This is where several types of music are combined in a single song to create a new sound. Genre-fusion can be found anywhere in the world, but Japan’s music possesses an unusual concentration of, competency in, and creativity with such. Japan’s take on Jazz is the most noticably different upon observation, integrating more: pop, rock, hip-hop and electronic elements. This eclecticism is what makes Japanese music so exciting.
I promote Japanese music purely because of my own invested interest, no disrespect to other nationalities. I urge you to form your own opinions and enjoy music in how you see fit! That said, head below to uncover the unique sounds of Japan! I have divided them into specific genres and sub-genres, knowing most of you will not have the patience to dabble in it all. For example, you may find house to be the worst music you’ve ever heard! It’s better to skip than endure, but even sub-genres contain a lot of diversity. Please, don’t be too hasty to shun them! Not all of the genre assigments are entirely resolute, as some of the artists are simply too diverse to be confined to just one. ‘Shiina Ringo’ was particularily difficult to place in an appropriate category. Discovery what genres you enjoy and branch out from there!
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT GROUPS YOU LIKE AND DON’T LIKE! IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING NEGATIVE TO SAY, PRESENT IT IN AN INTELLIGENT WAY TO PROMOTE DISCUSSION!
I hope to update this in the future, subscribe if you wish!
due to limited resources on youtube, some of these artists’ best works were unable to be linked
**** ELECTRONIC
*** DRUM & BASS
Makoto
Primarily D&B, Makoto sometimes experiments with nu-jazz and deep house.
*** **“Blackberry Jam”
[media=youtube]yvzutmIPT74&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Peace of Mind”
[media=youtube]4cBG26eOjj8&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Time”
[media=youtube]cwah0XroqUs[/media]
*** ELECTROPOP**
capsule
*** **“Soratobu Toshikeikaku”
[media=youtube]sOJUPwX_G6g&feature=related[/media]
*** **“space station No.09”
[media=youtube]nxB-jkpT6Uw[/media]
*** **“JUMPER”
[media=youtube]aaAWEAHxhQ4[/media]
*** **“Love or Lies”
[media=youtube]VJKf_-1tF30[/media]
COLTEMONIKHA
*** **“Party Carronade”
[media=youtube]fmma_bVS8zQ&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Namaiki”
[media=youtube]0Buz309Ld2g&feature=related[/media]
Perfume
*** **"??? ??? “
[media=youtube]JACE8z97dVo[/media]
*** **“NIGHT FLIGHT”
[media=youtube]oqo3P4B0lUE&feature=related[/media]
*** **”???"
[media=youtube]y13poaezWDI&feature=related[/media]
Yellow Magic Orchestra
Well known for pioneering the electropop genre.
*** **“Rydeen”
[media=youtube]sk6o4GWFIV8[/media]
*** **“Technopolis”
[media=youtube]7OOLxGjb3dY&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Nice Age’”
[media=youtube]1chfLyM7-24&feature=related[/media]
*** ELECTRONICA**
Pax Japonica Groove
*** **“Funtime”
[media=youtube]WfnrLLrZUX0[/media]
*** **“Fantastical Adventure” (CD DEMO)
[media=youtube]Cu6TIHCH0sw&feature=related[/media]
Mondo Grosso / Shinichi Osawa
*** **“Shinin’”
[media=youtube]LHssppekuSo&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Push”
[media=youtube]HsJaoo0rFj4[/media]
*** **“Blaze It Up”
[media=youtube]A1e7EhiyPus&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Still in the Rain”
[media=youtube]ahn3CHwgntE&feature=related[/media]
murr*murr
*** **“Echo”
[media=youtube]VJCb9FExYk8[/media]
Towa Tei
One of Japan’s most prized producers.
*** **“Mind Wall”
[media=youtube]EnYWy9g2Y3I&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Taste of You”
[media=youtube]ZQ5ORXRjctk[/media]
*** **“A.O.R.”
[media=youtube]PGPb1jNhhwU[/media]
*** **“Risk Some Soul”
[media=youtube]PoWPFTBbZ1M[/media]
*** HOUSE**
DAISHI DANCE
*** **“Winter Night Melodies”
[media=youtube]eRM_mi0HQCI&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Spectacle”
[media=youtube]SskRt9hUy0w&feature=related]YouTube - [HD[/media]
DJ Kawasaki
*** **“Paradise”
[media=youtube]vvg12U_hzxk&feature=related[/media]
[media=youtube]HLvqns4p1gM&feature=related[/media] (same, -video +audio)
*** **“Like Thunder”
[media=youtube]0dk90PBl5tg&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Shooting Star”
[media=youtube]kSw2b3VDpYY&feature=related[/media]
M-Swift
*** **“evening sun”
[media=youtube]fa8KBwSJnxQ&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Set You Free”
[media=youtube]HxOzTOSBes0&feature=related[/media]
*** **“All This Love”
[media=youtube]nX4JBKKKWP8&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Kosmic Love”
[media=youtube]drsLMSprcdw&feature=related[/media]
Seikou Nagaoka
*** **“Only You Can Rock Me”
[media=youtube]QtW7aulpjDs[/media]
yuma
*** **“Love Yourself”
[media=youtube]e4SSJOxWYqs[/media]
**** **HIP-HOP
45
*** **“Hello Friends”
[media=youtube]hI0470mShCM[/media]
*** **“Struttin’”
[media=youtube]ZZK5jnPZDkI&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Sole Muzic”
[media=youtube]vFTZW4F_BXE&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Searchin’”
[media=youtube]5jQ3FE-h980&feature=related[/media]
DJ DECKSTREAM
*** **“Can You Let Me Know”
[media=youtube]ZUPp5YjbSdQ[/media]
*** **“Life is good”
[media=youtube]vyZ7axrViu4[/media]
*** **“Play on”
[media=youtube]W2C8JAOq0Zk&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Screwtape”
[media=youtube]PY-iLyafB9A&feature=related[/media]
*** **“L.A. DECK”
[media=youtube]rNyNStMWkss&feature=related[/media]
DJ Honda
*** **“Blaze It Up” (samples from Djavan, “Samurai”)
[media=youtube]7mp4jvp7kZU[/media]
*** **“On The Mic”
[media=youtube]2uGsbHp4oDI&feature=channel[/media]
*** **“Disco T-E-C”
[media=youtube]RPvNI5JWKro&feature=channel[/media]
DJ MITSU THE BEATS
*** **“Right Here”
[media=youtube]T-h39BKriBw&feature=related[/media]
*** **“pursuits of clarity”
[media=youtube]xsFrWGa_9yA&feature=related[/media]
*** **“After Midnight”
[media=youtube]0NCVG9kromk&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Mine Lady”
[media=youtube]32wJgYCsyBQ&feature=related[/media]
GAGLE
*** **“DoooYaThing! / Round’n’Round “
[media=youtube]iQf3lcdhrNU&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Farewell”
[media=youtube]A6lgt7Y_p7o&feature=related[/media]
*** **”???&???”
[media=youtube]zFUfSl03AjU&feature=related[/media]
m-flo
*** **“prism”
[media=youtube]FcDNiQ_og4w[/media]
*** **“L.O.T”
[media=youtube]Gk5df_mcGEY&feature=channel[/media]
*** **“come again”
[media=youtube]RNBiaZbFGII&feature=related[/media]
*** **“How You Like Me Now?”
[media=youtube]ung-YlfB0qs&feature=channel[/media]
*** **“Lotta Love”
[media=youtube]xJS5xvyBAvk[/media]
Nomak
*** **“Diaphanous Air”
[media=youtube]kNqfzdBQoPY&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Elemental Music”
[media=youtube]LMGWlAfS-YU&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Stimulation”
[media=youtube]5mPdlLzm6Lc&feature=related[/media]
nujabes
*** **“Luv (sic) pt. 2”
[media=youtube]KAxgpHWtLC0[/media]
*** **“Letter From Yokosuka”
[media=youtube]0lM908TkcPo&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Aruarian Dance”
[media=youtube]TUwRGPxCG_Y[/media]
*** **“Kujaku”
[media=youtube]yrz3VOMH8y4&feature=related[/media]
RIP SLYME
*** **“GALAXY”
[media=youtube]tIcX_lK6NFw[/media]
*** **“BLUE-BE-BOP”
[media=youtube]fOiI-x02iYk&feature=related[/media]
*** **“STEPPERS DELIGHT”
[media=youtube]Z833ewLDALM&feature=related[/media]
*** **“SUPER SHOOTER”
[media=youtube]Ivgva0XdV4E]YouTube - *Super Shooter [RIP SLYME[/media]
*** **“Dandelion”
[media=youtube]qg73872lq5c]YouTube - RIP SLYME: Dandelion [PV - Eng Subs[/media]
Shin-Ski
*** **“Flow High”
[media=youtube]oRg5gzsGf9w[/media]
*** **“You Did It Again”
[media=youtube]hWV9usQMszE&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Rough Draft”
[media=youtube]4me1gLUrNQA&feature=related[/media]
Shingo Suzuki
*** **“Flyable”
[media=youtube]5Uru8vqyHlI&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Sunrise”
[media=youtube]0TZy0rBSscA&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Night Lights”
[media=youtube]O0EZRUrS8ws[/media]
*** EXPERIMENTAL**
DJ Krush
*** **"Journey of Time"
Absurdly dope song.
[media=youtube]vwgbe9gK6Zk&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Coffee Talk”
[media=youtube]9-DFfSgGHO4&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Day’s End”
[media=youtube]q2SAR7N6m_0[/media]
*** **“Kemuri”
[media=youtube]aVjgRlto8PI&feature=related[/media]
**** **FUNK / BLUES
Tomo Fujita
A extremely technically proficient guitarist! These are primarily demos he performed at the NAMM SHOW in 2007. I couldn’t find any album rips or PVs, sorry!
*** **“Funk Groove in C”
[media=youtube]RNsGZrsW90E&feature=related[/media]
*** **"Kyoto"
More jazzy, but I included it because it’s awesome.
[media=youtube]bzqkyP-aDUo&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Slap Funk Guitar Jam”
[media=youtube]N7B3esp4X20&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Just Funky”
[media=youtube]5Z4YFRQf9rE[/media]
**** **J-POP
Bonnie Pink
*** **“It’s Gonna Rain!”
[media=youtube]q6spiOrXfkI[/media]
*** **“So Wonderful”
[media=youtube]w1qGHyVbqBA[/media]
*** **“Gimme a Beat”
[media=youtube]ivt1WkK0MAQ[/media]
Utada Hikaru
Experiencing a dynamic transition from her earliers works, featuring elements from 90’s R&B and New Jack Swing, Utada Hikaru is a muscian that displays the ability to adapt to the times and remain outstanding in her field. Her current style remains resolutely unique and has developed an incomparable ethereal groove.
*** **“Automatic”
[media=youtube]Zu3pGNeEmD0[/media]
*** **“Movin’ On Without You”
[media=youtube]5i_8T7lYucQ&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Close to You” (cover: Carpenters, The)
[media=youtube]XLQD40uNnuk[/media]
*** **“Passion”
[media=youtube]uJYHSIoJNhI[/media]
*** **“Traveling”
[media=youtube]Tfc8w6A-f9U&feature=related[/media]
Salyu
*** **“YES”
[media=youtube]P3J8dVlCUtM&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Landmark” (live)
[media=youtube]i6wjFzX2BMg[/media]
*** **“Be There” (live)
[media=youtube]Ubo_pI78VLQ&feature=related[/media]
*** PROGRESSIVE POP**
Kirinji
Kirinji is composed of two brothers, Takaki and Yasuyuki Horigome. While not demonstrating oustanding technical skill, they stand tall as one of the most musical groups of Japan. Within the confines of a few notes, Yasuyuki (lead vocals) displays an uncanny ability to develop tremendous and moving melodies. Complimented by subtly dynamic and diverse instrumentals, their work can range from progressive rock to synth-pop. Either contrast, they are unlikely to disappoint. Their ability to compose, produce, and play their own work is phenominal. The breadth of their knowledge, and astute ear for harmony, allow them create compositions of unparalled beauty.
*** **“Aliens"
One of my favorite songs of all time.
[media=youtube]mCGYUogF5UI&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Arcadia”
[media=youtube]u6l6SUzCkrw[/media]
*** **“Shootin’ Star”
[media=youtube]S0i5-LjAK_w[/media]
[media=youtube]OHBsBZ3B96Y&feature=related[/media] (unofficial 8-bit remix by, hinued)
*** **“Tandem Runaways”
[media=youtube]GXtHqDfPygk&feature=related[/media]
*** **“Toshi Kouzan”
[media=youtube]eWt9VLvqyDo&feature=related[/media]
[media=youtube]4hEVRIDA5oo&feature=related[/media] (unofficial 8-bit remix by, hinued)
*** **“Drifter”
[media=youtube]jm2V-ZF6l4s&feature=related[/media]
[media=youtube]-Okpja6tMik&feature=related[/media] (unofficial 8-bit remix by, hinued)
*** **”???"
[media=youtube]EctWcVqsB2U&feature=related[/media]
*** **"???"
[media=youtube]tpv_jQeTLCE&feature=related[/media]
*** **"???"
[media=youtube]T_GYcF0nwAE&feature=related[/media]