From kawaii metal to electronic dance pop, Japan's music scene has something for everyone! Join us as we explore the most exciting acts in J-Pop that deserve a spot on your playlist. From legendary groups that shaped the industry to fresh faces taking the world by storm, these artists are redefining Japanese popular music.
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00:00Welcome to Ms. Mojo and today we're counting down our picks for the most
00:10legendary J-pop bands you need to add to your playlist, STAT.
00:21Number 10, J01
00:30Groups formed through competition shows have a well-deserved leg up in the industry.
00:35They're not only talented but also popular and on the business side of things, wonderfully marketable.
00:41However, J01, created on the inaugural season of Produce 101 Japan,
00:47has consistently proved that they have what it takes to make a lasting impact.
00:51J01's success has exceeded the buzz of reality TV,
01:02as the group has made waves across charts, sweeping awards, and selling out concerts.
01:08Their brand of pop is modern and versatile, and the members boast incredible chemistry,
01:13making stage performances even more attractive.
01:16Plus, you get solo projects aplenty.
01:19If you're looking to explore the wondrous world of J-pop,
01:22there's no better gateway than J01.
01:31Number 9, Morning Musume
01:34One of the OG pillars of J-pop,
01:43Momosu has been reigning supreme in fans' hearts since 1997.
01:47Producer Tsung-ku decided to take a chance on them all those years back,
01:52and today, they're one of the highest-selling Japanese girl groups ever.
02:04Despite the ever-changing lineup of members,
02:07Morning Musume has maintained the bubbly musical aesthetic
02:10and cheery dance style that they're loved for to this day.
02:13They've also paved the way for numerous spin-off acts under the Hello Project banner,
02:18who went on to make their own names in the industry.
02:21Morning Musume's presence, influence, and relevance in the J-pop scene will always be indelible.
02:32Number 8, Snowman
02:35It hasn't been long since this group put their hat in the ring for global stardom,
02:39and they're already killing it.
02:46Before making their foray into the international digital market,
02:52Snowman focused primarily on physical releases
02:54and was selective about YouTube content.
02:58Call it exclusivity or gatekeeping.
03:00Nothing could stop the rise of Snowman.
03:03Their groovy tunes reached listeners worldwide
03:05through their hit anime soundtracks for Blue Lock and Black Clover.
03:17As their popularity skyrocketed,
03:19fans fell in love with their energetic tracks and intricate choreography.
03:23Member Ren Maguro's acting career soared,
03:27Daisuke Sakuma shone as a voice actor.
03:30And Raul broke into modeling.
03:32Other members are also earning praise for their solo endeavors.
03:36Needless to say, Snowman is destined for greatness.
03:39Now we're gonna break it
03:41Just go ahead,
03:42Butchikamase
03:43Inuchizake
03:44Now we're gonna break it
03:45Sengyoufude
03:46Kono Tomuke
03:47That's my way
03:48Number 7, Radwimps
03:50Who knew a group of middle school friends from Japan
03:59would make the world cry like babies one day?
04:02Radwimps,
04:03the band behind the iconic Your Name OST
04:05and several other Makoto Shinkai movie soundtracks
04:09has a discography chock full of more where that came from.
04:12Drawing from his lived experiences,
04:22lead vocalist,
04:24Yojiro Noda
04:24pens almost all of the band's music himself.
04:27The sincerity of Radwimps' lyrics,
04:30the swelling melodies,
04:31and Noda's magical voice
04:33have united the world in love and appreciation for the band.
04:36If you're yet to immerse yourself in their music,
04:39now's a better time than ever to jump on the bandwagon.
04:42Number 6, Yo Asobi
04:51This pop duo is easily one of the most interesting acts in J-pop right now.
05:01Members Ayase and Ikura
05:03started off making music inspired by content
05:06posted on the creative writing platform Monogatari.com.
05:10Now, they score some of the biggest anime out there.
05:13We're talking Oshinoko,
05:15B-Stars,
05:16Frerin,
05:17Beyond Journey's End,
05:18and more.
05:19Besides,
05:20you'll always find their music trending on social media.
05:29Remember that viral Japanese bop
05:32that sounds eerily upbeat for its dark lyrics
05:34and took TikTok by storm?
05:36That's Racing Into the Night by Yo Asobi.
05:47Clearly, they have a knack for captivating their listeners
05:49with intrigue,
05:51chill beats,
05:51and angelic vocals.
05:53Number 5,
05:54Atarashigako
05:55If there's any group that represents
05:57the beating heart of new-gen J-pop
05:59and its burgeoning global potential,
06:02it is this one.
06:03The Atarashigako members,
06:05donning their sailor uniforms,
06:07reject the very essence of Japanese beauty standards
06:09and toxic societal norms.
06:11They're not bothered about having an idol-like appearance
06:20or sporting the latest fashion.
06:22All they care about is having fun.
06:30With the credo of shunning anything boring,
06:34A.G. makes music worth headbanging to,
06:36but also tackle issues like the objectification of women
06:39and pressures on youngsters.
06:41Similarly,
06:42the group's choreography,
06:44expressive and instinctual,
06:46is a style of their own.
06:48Dig deep into their work
06:49and you'll find it as intellectually stimulating
06:51as it is catchy.
07:01Number 4,
07:03Sendaime J-Soul Brothers
07:04All hail the legendary heavyweights of J-pop.
07:08Sendaime J-Soul Brothers
07:09represents the best of Japanese boy bands.
07:19From their inception in 2010,
07:21this group has devoted tireless time and effort
07:24to reinventing themselves for every comeback.
07:27As a result,
07:27you get smooth R&B and soul in one album
07:31and bratty electropop in another.
07:34There are passionate love songs for the boot up
07:36and trap beats for singles to party the night away.
07:39No matter the mood,
07:493JSB has something for you.
07:51It's almost like having your favorite playlist on Shuffle.
07:54You might not know what you'll get next,
07:55but best believe it's going to be a banger.
07:57Number 3,
08:06Perfume
08:07Ever wished your favorite vocaloids were real people?
08:10Meet Perfume,
08:11the J-pop girl band
08:12who put the electronic in electronic dance music.
08:15Despite their songs being auto-tune heavy,
08:24the Perfume members boast a global fandom.
08:27In fact,
08:28their stylized vocals,
08:29which often use vocoders,
08:31are exactly what propelled them
08:33to major commercial success.
08:35In combination with their crisp,
08:44often angular choreography,
08:46Perfume's music matches their futuristic visuals
08:49and gives the band a clear identity.
08:52Any Perfume song can instantly kickstart a rave,
08:55so it is no surprise that their concerts are always lit.
09:05Number 2,
09:07AKB48
09:08Calling them just a J-pop band would be a disservice.
09:11AKB48 is a phenomenon,
09:14albeit a double-edged one.
09:16They put J-pop girl groups on the map
09:18thanks to the novelty of their rotating member system
09:21and the sheer magnitude of their stellar performances.
09:29This concept became so popular
09:31that it birthed sister groups across Asia.
09:34However,
09:35they also raised concerns
09:36about the manufactured image of idols,
09:38the toxic rules they must abide by
09:40to keep up the perfect facade,
09:42and parasocial relationships with fans.
09:45Zooming in on the music alone,
09:47AKB48 is the group you can go to for a pick-me-up.
09:57The members are sunshine personified
09:59and their music and choreography are equally bright
10:02without lacking emotional depth.
10:04They'll never not cheer you up.
10:14Before we unveil our top pick,
10:17here are a few honorable mentions.
10:19NiziU,
10:20these fan-favorite darlings are dominating charts.
10:23This all-Japanese pop group is truly global.
10:42Psychic Fever from Exile Tribe.
10:44They're building on their virality
10:46to create something bigger.
10:55Be first.
10:57They're the future of J-pop.
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11:20Whoever thought it would be a good idea
11:26to make pre-teens scream their heads off
11:28in a metal band
11:28couldn't possibly have known
11:30it would be such a genius one.
11:32It was an unprecedented
11:33and possibly risky creative move at the time,
11:37but you know what they say,
11:38high risk, high reward.
11:39Babymetal ended up inventing a genre
11:46aptly called kawaii metal,
11:49and their artistic innovation
11:50made them a household name
11:51even outside the J-pop fandom.
11:54However, their uniqueness
11:55wasn't the only key to their success.
12:04Members Sue Metal, Moa Metal,
12:06and Momo Metal,
12:07as well as former member Yui Metal,
12:09are prodigiously talented
12:11and have honed their craft
12:12beyond perfection.
12:14They make music that matters
12:15and have an adorably edgy aesthetic
12:17setting them apart.
12:19What's not to love?
12:26Which J-pop band
12:28has the best discography
12:29according to you?
12:31Sound off in the comments down below.
12:39Do you agree with our picks?
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