Essential Japanese Music Chart

I made this chart about a year and a half ago and I've seen it getting posted around a bit here and there which is pretty rad, makes me happy that it has been of use to seemingly many people. However, I have come to realize there's more than a few issues with the chart, as I'm sure others have noticed as well. I've given it some thought and I think it's about time I rework the chart a bit. However, I don't really want to expand much more, there's already 240 albums here and any more than that would be overkill (as if it isn't already) so I'll unfortunately have to be replacing some albums with more worthy recommendations.

Just a few ideas for changes I jotted down in my phone a long while back:
Papaya Paranoia under Punk
Satanicpornocultshop under Electronic
Change Babymetal to Metal Resistance
KOTO under Pop
Ruins under Rock
eX-Girl under Rock
Change Lamp album
Mad Capsule Markets under Electronic, Punk, or Metal

I'm obviously willing to take any other recommendations and make this the best damn Japanese Music Recommendations chart I can until I decide it's not good enough again a year later and I end up making a third version.

Other urls found in this thread:

youtube.com/watch?v=muFEur2eujQ
youtube.com/watch?v=sblEmeU94Cg
youtube.com/watch?v=SmOF8YCkE7k
youtu.be/83N1vY3B1zg
youtu.be/CLoUY1kA4ZY
twitter.com/NSFWRedditGif

Most Japanese music is just blatant rip off and jpop garbage Or sOme pretentious pianist.

that's a really nice chart, i especially liked the noise one. i would add dance classics vol 1 and hanenone, but that's subjective.

Oh, and I've also considered adding a small "Gaijin" section for other popular artists that aren't from Japan but are definitely noteworthy recommendations for anyone interested in Japanese music (examples would be Kero Kero Bonito/Bo en/Helen Love, etc.) but I'm not exactly sure how well this idea would go over with y'all. Thoughts?

I've used this chart a lot to expand my shoegaze taste thanks a lot man

oh, and I don't have this written down anywhere either so I forgot to mention it at all but I definitely think noise rock can be a bit trick to place under either Noise or Rock, so recommendations on fixes for that would definitely be appreciated!

Glad to hear I could help!

Thanks for the recommendations! I could definitely end up adding those. Glad you dig my chart.

Only into city pop here, but I've enjoyed Tatsu's Big Wave soundtrack and Moonglow both more than For You, so I'd replace that one with either suggestion. Also at least swap Hiroshi's Orient with This Boy, Say Goodbye is a fantastic, 9/10 song. Otherwise it's a great chart, hope to see more like it sometime.

Also any love towards Yoshiko Sai or Hako Yamasaki is greatly appreciated, both are fantastic (unless they're already there somewhere since I'm too lazy to read all the names posted).

Dubs of truth

Thanks for the recs. Noted on the Hiroshi change, must have completely missed it while making the chart since it's a compilation. I'll consider changing For You if I see more of a push for such a change. Thanks.

figured I'd post that I've already changed the Lamp album to Koibito He.

also, I might just get rid of the link to the downloads as uploading 240 albums onto MEGA seemed to be a hassle and the link was just hard to get to in the first place. pretty much useless when it's probably just easier to find a download elsewhere.

edits:
KOTO - Platonic Planet added to Pop section
Hozan Yamamoto - Silver World added to Jazz section

will of course continue to make changes, starting up kinda slow but still taking recommendations. aware 4 AM isn't exactly primetime to be asking for help on this lmao

heard some requests to add some Enka music from another source but wouldn't know where to put it, so I might make a small section alongside the small Gaijin section I may add for other shit that doesn't exactly fit under any of the genres already listed to account for all of the other important Japanese music that wouldn't fit elsewhere

Where's Boris - New Album?

I tried keeping this chart down to one album per artist honestly and Boris is one of the only (alongside Capsule) with 2 on the chart. I could add New Album if I see some push for it but iirc last time I made this thread it was a pretty constant battle between Flood, Feedbacker, and Pink.

Personal recommendations for each category would be nice. I don't have time to sift through all this.

I guess I could highlight a favorite or two from each category that's a personal favorite of mine, I just don't really feel like my opinion is of much worth to anyone viewing the list lmao. But if others think this is a good idea then I'll go for it I guess.

I feel like this should be in there somewhere, but it would be a bit odd to have it in rock

remmings would be fine too

I'm probably gonna add a section for stuff that doesn't exactly fit into any of the other sections. Although, this is Post-Rock, so it could go under Rock I guess. Thanks for the rec, will definitely consider adding if I see more push for it.

Hako Yamasaki is already on there under Folk

edits:
added Yoshiko Sai - Mangekyo to Folk
added The Mad Capsule Markets - OSC-DIS to Punk
added Serani Poji - One-Room Survival to Shibuya-kei

also, if I add the Gaijin section then Asobi Seksu and maybe Cibo Matto would go there since they're both stationed in New York. I might also add artist that aren't Japanese that are in Japan and speak Japanese like Jim O'Rourke and such. If that section just sounds like a bad idea then I might not add it.

Seeing that you seem to specialize in Japanese music, I think your opinion is worth more than you think.

I guess so. Again, I'll consider the idea for sure if more people seem to think it's a good idea.

edits:
added Roly Poly Rag Bear to Shibuya-kei
added FACT to Punk
added Satanicpornocultshop to Electronic
changed BABYMETAL to Metal Resistance

should I change Pink to Feedbacker?

>changed BABYMETAL to Metal Resistance

Oh god, why would you do that? Their debut is so much more enjoyable and quirky than MR. MR doesn't sound as 'japanese' anymore.

Had the change requested a bit over the last year or however long. I can always change it back, none of the changes I'm making are permanent, my guy. I'll change it back if people want me to.

Metal Resistance might be the better metal album but their debut is a more enjoyable mix of idol/jpop/metal and some other things. The variety makes it more fun.

I guess that makes sense, I never really thought Metal Resistance was exactly lacking in variety, but I guess the songs where they do try to vary things a bit are the weakest tracks on the album like Meta Taro or whatever, as where on self-titled the more varied tracks were some of the most fun like iine! or whatever. Again, I'll consider changing it back. Want more opinions on this.

Would you consider adding a field recording/sound art section? Japan has quite a few renowned people in this area: Toshiya Tsunoda, Hiroki Sasajima, Aki Onda, Kiyoshi Mizutani, etc.

I don't see any Hiroshi Yoshimura Green. That album is a classic. Japan has a lot of quality new age/ambient.

If I add anymore sections it'll be one for other shit that doesn't fit in the sections I already have and a section for artists that aren't Japanese but would fit snuggly into the chart anyways. So field recording/sound art stuff is definitely a possibility in the section for other shit. I'll probably add that right now. I thought I might just make those both mini sections but I think I'm gonna have to add lots to both so I might just make them 2 new fully fledged sections.

I'll look into this, thanks. Will consider adding if this gets some backing.

Jacks' Vacant World and Sadistic Mika Band's Kurofune are two of my favorite albums of all time man! Also Happy End's albums...they are all fairly good!

Add that, there's also a lot more jazz than this list shows. I think it'd be nice if you added a classical section too...

edits:
Added 2 new sections- first for other shit that doesn't go elsewhere, second for shit that isn't actually Japanese. I'll add the labels at the top of their sections later. I guess it's time to get to work on filling those up.

I'll definitely consider adding these if others agree that they are definitely worth adding. Thanks for the recs!
Yeah there's so much fucking Jazz and iirc when I made this chart initially I kinda rushed the Jazz section. So any recs for what Jazz to add would be greatly appreciated.

For the hole in suoegaze, She Her Her Hers - stereochrome would be my pick; it leans heavily on the Pavement/Modest Mouse style of indie rock, while adding heavy shoegaze elements to give it a great sense of dynamics - kinda like Mass of the Fermenting Dregs.

for right now I have a Shojoskip album there (as seen in this update) but that can always be changed for this album if people want. Thanks for the rec.

also added some shit to the not actually Japanese stuff section and Three Berry Icecream to shibuya-kei where Cibo Matto used to be

Where's LITE reeee.

Should I move Ling Tosite Sigure to Punk instead of having them in Rock?
I actually had plans to add one of their albums (Phantasia) to the Rock section but it must've slipped through the cracks. I'll def add if more people give this the thumbs up. There's a few albums in the Rock section that could probably go anyways.

toe is 4th from top under rock.

edits:
added Helen Love to the not Japanese stuff
moved Ling Tosite Sigure to Punk
replaced Pink with Feedbacker
added LITE to rock

>Essential Japanese Music
It's so westernized that this chart becomes redundant.

there's plenty of music on here that's unique to Japan, if that's what your complaint is. there's entire sections for Shibuya-kei and City Pop. A lot of music from other countries is pretty westernized because that's just the way things are. You could always leave recommendations if there's anything missing that you think would make this chart stand out as more uniquely Japanese.

Where the FUCK is Kid A?

Some classical recommendations could be used for a new section that has been added.

AKFG - Fanclub

I'd put Tentenko under electronic if she's not already there, personally. Chart is good though.

Fanclub over Sol-fa?

I'll consider this if there's others who think this is a good idea. Electronic is full currently but this could be added over something else if there's a push for it.

Where is Fishmans?

under pop, but it's the live album instead of Long Season

personally i liked Fanclub more, but Sol-fa is a good option too. Also SFP - School food is good food

I think I had a School Food Punishment album or EP on the chart before I finalized it but I must've taken it off for something else. Will consider this.

bump

>should I change Pink to Feedbacker?
No. Pink is a great album, and is likeable to many who cant get into boris's more out there stuff.

tsumanne is definitely hard to put, but for some reason i feel it fits to shoegaze and or noise more

>replaced Pink with Feedbacker
Pink needs to be there

Okay noted, I'll change it back to Pink ASAP.

fixed

honestly i think your holding yourself to too silly genres, just make an asortment with genre lists underneath each album

Yeah I've been told this before. Honestly I can't really argue, but I don't think there's any reason to not do it either. I think pretty much every album on here is worth having on here. I don't see the format as a huge negative and I guess it just makes it easier to navigate IDK.

Its useful having the shoegaze column because people often look for that specifically, but a lot of the ones in punk, rock, pop, jazz, are a lot more loosely categorised.

obvious recommendations for the new 'new age / ambient' column:

Toshifumi Hinata - Reality in Love or anything of his on alfa.
Midori Takada - Through the Looking Glass
Aragon - S/T could go in there or where mariah is

This has always been one of the better charts to come from Sup Forums because anything people know that isn't on it is easily found when you look into the shit listed on it.

Needs more new wave/techno pop-rock
youtube.com/watch?v=muFEur2eujQ

You should really have Kashiwa Daisuke in there. Not my favorite release of his but April #02 gets mentioned tooo much in and outside of Sup Forums to not be in that chart.

Also forgot to mentioned Worlds End Girlfriend. Starry Starry Night Soundtrack is a top-tier essential you left out as well. I would play them on electronic even though I would ideally make some sort of classical/modern classical column since the latter is really prominent in Japan right now.

Kinniku shoujo-tai should be somewhere on the list. They're a legend.

youtube.com/watch?v=sblEmeU94Cg

Add superman by wednesday campanella

Shinki Chen is missing and the guy's an absolute legend, too.

Moonriders should be there
youtube.com/watch?v=SmOF8YCkE7k

Also some soundtracks like the akira, ghost in the shell and metropolis osts are great. Honestly you should find a spot for them

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence needs to be up there if theres an OST column

Anything that was in Nagomu Records is worth it.
Tama should also be on the Folk section.

Oh, thank you, didn't see it

Good Lord, that tiny print.

agreed

I kinda feel like Eastern Youth and Ningen Isu should be up there
youtu.be/83N1vY3B1zg
youtu.be/CLoUY1kA4ZY

dude holy shit thank you, i love a ton of these albums, theres so much listening for me. its so hard to find the good japanese shit sometimes

what album do you think is most similar to Orient by Hiroshi Sato? by far my favorite album on this chart

Should add a hentai soundtrack

>Removing Yuzo Kako
Por que?

City pop is the only thing that matters desu

This is OP, just wanted to stop by and say that I'll get back to work on the chart very soon, but I just woke up so that's why I haven't been responding and updating. Thanks to everyone for all of the help and kind words, y'all are wonderful.

>No mention of Acid Mothers Temple

5th under rock

well fuck me

no gross

Well, unfortunately I must've lost the font I had initially used when making this chart so I replaced the genre headers with Tahoma for now until I can find what I used to be using. Finally filled in the genre headers for the 2 new sections, time to get to work I suppose.

it's already under electronic

there's already a Wednesday Campanella album under Hip-Hop, but I could change it to Superman if y'all want.
already have Kashiwa Daisuke under Electronic
already have Worlds End Girlfriend under Rock, could change the Worlds End Girlfriend album tho if people want, I remember there was a bit difficulty deciding on the album to add

Through the Looking Glass is under electronic! Thank you for the recommendations tho

Bumpu

>Japanese music
>every single genre is derivative of western music

why even bother if you're not going to include traditional

Most people listen to music that is derivative of western music, IDK. Give me recs for traditional shit if you want to see more of it on here, I'm certainly not against that.

THIS

noted

quick updated chart

Because Japan is in large a heavily westernized culture, and the reason why ultranationalist right-wing groups are still given light today. You don't really see music released there strictly in traditional roots anymore, it's derivative of western music in one way or another. And as said, people here don't care to actually listen to classical Japanese.

No Takeshi Hosomi stuff?
I personally think some of his album are classic:

the Hiatus - A World of Pandemonium
Ellegarden - Eleven Firecracker.

Good album, but might be to 'Western'-feel.

which album are you even talking about? there's no rules against something being too "western"
thanks for the recommendations, I could definitely add an album of his if there seems to be any interest from others in doing so

A lot of these rock/pop artists incorporate traditional japanese music elements, even unconsciously.
Also, when it comes to electronic music, Japan is at least as important as Germany.

All of it, since Hosomi Takeshi always sing all his song in english. But i still recommend the Hiatus tho. Fun fact: the drummer is from band 'toe'.