New & Noteworthy J-pop of the Week (December 21, 2025)

In connection with my desire to fully keep up with the J-pop industry, I’m planning to do a weekly round-up of any new releases that have caught my ear. Some of these may have been covered on the blog already, but my hope is that this will become a one-stop shop for anyone interested in what’s new in J-pop.

With that in mind, here’s where you come in: I’m one person with one set of musical preferences, so please embed any other new J-pop tracks you’ve enjoyed in the comments so we can get a fuller spectrum each week.

2023-2024 Index

2025 Index: Dec 29 – Jan 11 // Jan 12 – Jan 18 // Jan 19 – Jan 25 // Jan 26 – Feb 1 // Feb 2 – Feb 8 // Feb 9 – Feb 15 // Feb 16 – Feb 22 // Feb 23 – Mar 1 // Mar 2 – Mar 8 // Mar 9 – Mar 15 // Mar 16 – Mar 22 // Mar 23 – Mar 29 // Mar 30 – Apr 5 // Apr 6 – Apr 12 // Apr 13 – Apr 19 // Apr 20 – Apr 26 // Apr 27 – May 3 // May 4 – May 10 // May 11 – May 16 // May 17 – May 24 // May 25 – May 31 // Jun 1 – Jun 7 // Jun 8 – Jun 14 // Jun 15 – Jun 21 // Jun 22 – Jun 28 // Jun 29 – Jul 5 // Jul 6 – Jul 12 // Jul 13 – Jul 19 // Jul 20 – Jul 26 // Jul 27 – Aug 2 // Aug 3 – Aug 9 // Aug 10 – Aug 16 // Aug 17 – Aug 23 // Aug 24 – Aug 30 // Aug 31 – Sep 6 // Sep 7 – Sep 13 // Sep 14 – Sep 20 // Sep 21 – Sep 27 // Sep 28 – Oct 4 // Oct 5 – Oct 11 // Oct 12 – Oct 18 // Oct 19 – Oct 25 // Oct 26 – Nov 1 // Nov 2 – Nov 8 // Nov 9 – Nov 15 // Nov 16 – Nov 22 // Nov 23 – Nov 29 // Nov 30 – Dec 6 // Dec 7 – Dec 13

ENJIN – One Snow, One Love

I loved their single last month. This one’s a festive holiday track, which limits its appeal.

GPP – Bring It Back

What is up with that bad green screen and crazy camera angles? This has so much potential. I love hearing a girl group tackle a high energy EDM sound. Sadly, some of the vocals are pretty rough, but I’ll be keeping my eye on them.

Hyeuk – SEISHUNRIDE ON!

Snuper alert! This is ex-Snuper Woosung’s solo project and it’s got some of his group’s retro elements. I’m missing Sweetune’s production flair, but this isn’t bad.

I Don’t Like Mondays. – No Sad Love Songs

This is a very nice, shimmering mid-tempo pop track with nostalgic synth.

IS:SUE – Phase

I feel like they keep relegating their best songs to b-sides while releasing trendy, unexciting tracks like this as singles.

Keita Tachibana (w-inds.) – Please

A little too repetitive to work, but I like the general vibe.

The Rampage – Break It Down

This is a collaboration with wrestlers, of all things. It works in that field but the song is a much less-effective version of much better Rampage tracks.

Ryo Suzuki – Wish (song of the week!)

This has such nice chugging energy. I’ll always enjoy an upbeat pop/rock track of this style.

TORINNER – Top Tier

This is a fictional band from an upcoming Japanese drama about K-pop, so it’s performed in Korean. That’s a bit confusing and doesn’t necessarily fit on a J-pop round-up, but I’m eager to watch the drama. The song is just okay. Pretty bland and generic.

UNIS – mwah…

The description of this song says “Japanese version,” but unless I’m missing something there’s no other version available? It should probably stay in Japan, honestly. I don’t think much of it.

VAUNDY – Zutto Love Song

This has such a throwback sound. I like the verses a lot and it’s nice to hear something more upbeat from him.

White Jam – Trend Breaker (song of the week!)

This is quite an interesting sound. I’ve always wanted to get into this group since I’ve loved the songs they’ve written for other artists. Maybe this is my cue.

22/7 – Inochi No Tsuzuki

It’s hard to judge this as a song because most of it is covered with talking in the mv. It’s an… interesting choice?