With a large music industry such as Japan has, second largest in the world, it is inevitable that music fans will be inundated with a profusion of good (and also less good) music from this country. It is impossible to keep track of this and write a review about it per video. But to avoid missing out on gems, it is time for a weekly list of new music videos from Japanese musical acts that are definitely worth watching. We are now looking back on a couple of videos that were released in week 32.
Crispy Camera Club – 素敵な朝 (Sutekina asa)
Forming in 2016, Crispy Camera Club originate from Kyoto. Inspired by 90s UK music, the drive of their music comes from nostalgic and refreshing vocals with a soft and bouncy rock instrumental. Currently signed to indie label Koga Records, this is their 2nd single they have released this year. — Recommended by AlexD
THE KITCHEN – template
THE KITCHEN are a young rock band from Kumamoto. Currently they are trying to perform whenever they can to get their chance for a breakthrough. In September, the four men of THE KITCHEN will be releasing the single template. The band describes their music as timeless and alternative, in where they sing about sorrow and joy, sometimes gently, sometimes fiercely. — Recommended by Fran
Retro Na Syoujo – さんすうのこたえ (Sansuu no kotae)
Music unit Retro Na Syoujo (レトロな少女) or better said Retro Girl started activities in February of 2019 with the themes of nostalgia, retro, pop and cute. With no experience with a band, Makoto Nariyama, a composer who mostly works with computers, found a vocalist, Gashi, to make the project complete. The attracted the attention of many through their music videos and will publish their debut album in September. — Recommended by Fran
BabooBee – Love Me Baby
Former PASSPO☆ member Mio Masui (on bass) continues her work with Michiko (guitar) & Mirai (drums) as the 3-piece rock group BabooBee release the music video for Love Me Baby, the 4th video from their first album バブビベBorn!! (BabubibeBorn!!) which was released last year. — Recommended by PHX
MARKET SHOP STORE – イナフ (Enough)
It has been a while that the four ladies of MARKET SHOP STORE released a music video. The new video was hastily produced due to the current situation around COVID-19. The rock band got formed in 2016, started with activities a few months later, they have a weekly radio programme and organise yearly an 8-day live event with the name Daidanen (by the time of publishing, the first day of this year’s event just finished). In April, they released their mini-album PATIENCE. — Recommended by Fran
Dombutchans!!!! ‐ Monotony
This rock band from Okayama, note the four exclamation marks, was formed in 2014 as a SEKAI NO OWARI cover band when the members were still in junior high. As soon as they entered high school in 2017, the members of Dombutchans!!!! started producing original music. At the moment they have put out two singles and one mini-album. — Recommended by Fran
w.o.d. – 楽園 (Rakuen)
The name of the Kobe-based alternative rock band seems to be an abbreviation for Webbing Off Duckling and consists of three members. They put out music with a heavy grunge sound and a twist of pop. The band has been active since 2016, released a mini-album and two albums and keep the old-school way of releasing music strong by releasing their singles on cassette tapes. — Recommended by Fran
Next week we will be back for a new list of new music videos to check out.
