Latest J-Pop Releases [May 2025]

Svveet PeaLET ME KNOW

LET ME KNOW – Svveet Pea (Official Music Video)

LET ME KNOW’s polished modern rock, blending a nostalgic vibe with fresh sensibilities, feels effortlessly pleasant.

This new release from the three-piece band—defined by its sweet, husky vocals—incorporates elements of 80s city pop and Showa-era kayōkyoku, while depicting the arrival of spring and the start of a new romance.

Released on April 23, 2025 as a three-track digital single, it’s a song that showcases their musical evolution.

Their nationwide tour, “Nostalgic Modern III,” is currently underway, with shows scheduled in Fukuoka on June 12 and Osaka on July 26.

A charming track recommended for music fans seeking warmth and nostalgia, as well as those interested in city pop and retro sounds.

Mellow DreamMEGA SHINNOSUKE

Mega Shinnosuke – Meloi Yume (Official Music Video)

This love song, marked by breezy piano rock, showcases Mega Shinnosuke’s signature genre-defying freedom in full.

From the sparse pre-chorus that bursts into a blazing organ to other ear-catching twists throughout, the track is packed with his unique worldview.

Released as a digital single on April 23, 2025, it includes four tracks in total, featuring the coupling song “Kimi ni Nobel-sho” (Nobel Prize for You).

In the music video, which he directed himself, he portrays a “mellow” world set in a park.

With uplifting lyrics that lighten a tired heart, this is a recommended song not only for young people in the midst of their youth, but for anyone seeking a splash of color in their daily life through music.

paraisoTele

Tele | Paraiso – Music Video

The music of Tele, the solo project by Kitaro Taniguchi, captivates with a unique world that blends literary lyrics and a free-spirited sound.

This track appears as the closing song on the album released in April 2025, titled “How to Love Afterimages, or On the Several Unmoored Days We Spend to Accept the Distortions in Ourselves Born Therefrom.” While grounded in J-pop, its delicate melodies—infused with elements of electronica and rock—resonate deeply, making it a culmination of his musical curiosity and expressive power.

It’s a work especially recommended for those interested in nuanced wordplay and emotional expression, as well as listeners seeking new music unconstrained by genre.

How could I possibly know?Vaundy

How could I possibly know?

An emotionally stirring track where a seemingly elusive yet profoundly probing lyrical world intertwines with a grand, dramatic soundscape.

Written as the theme song for the drama “PJ: Air Rescue Wing,” this piece perfectly complements the story depicting Japan Air Self-Defense Force rescue operations, starring Masayo Uchino.

Vaundy’s overwhelming expressive power—his true forte—and his deeply emotive vocals resonate with the heart.

Released digitally in April 2025, this track stands out among the songs he unveiled in quick succession that year.

The lyrics, centered on the mysterious certainties of life and a sense of mission, will gently encourage anyone facing a major challenge or searching for their path.

PAPER MOONA-ko

a子 – PAPER MOON : MUSIC VIDEO

Singer-songwriter Aco from Hyogo draws listeners into a dreamlike realm with her delicate vocals and ethereal soundscapes.

Released in April 2025, this work opens with an intro that highlights her signature whispery voice, unfolding a unique world as if wandering through a dream.

Its distinctive sound, fusing a variety of genres, carries the same allure found throughout her previous releases.

The must-see music video, created by her creative team “londog,” features a striking illustration of the red-haired girl that has become her trademark.

Perfect for quiet nights or reflective moments, this piece is an ideal pick for those with a delicate sensibility.

Blue amberback number

back number – Blue Amber [Theme song for the Kansai TV/Fuji TV Monday 10 p.m. drama 'From the Day I Took You']

The song, titled after the rare blue hue found in amber, was written as the theme for the Kansai TV/Fuji TV Monday 10 p.

m.

drama “From the Day You Took Me Away,” starring Keiko Kitagawa.

Its poignantly beautiful melody line harmonizes perfectly with the weighty story depicting a mother’s revenge after losing her child in a food-related incident.

With lyrics and melodies that are quintessentially back number, the track delicately expresses the complexities of human emotions and inner conflict.

Koichi Tsutaya, known for producing songs like “Takane no Hanako-san,” handled production.

On the digital release day, April 28, 2025, the music video also premiered on the official YouTube channel.

It’s the perfect song for those who want to be left with a deep afterglow—one that stands beside you at life’s crossroads, when you resolve to take action with unwavering determination.

Planetary Romanceimase

[imase] Planet Romance (Official Audio)

Weaving a love story set in space, imase’s new song was released as a tie-in for JACCS’s April 2025 commercial, “I bought the future.” Characterized by catchy synth sounds and a pleasant beat, the track blends a weightless, interplanetary feel with lyrics that sing of the inevitability of love.

Written and composed entirely by imase, the song was edited by ESME MORI, who previously collaborated with him on “NIGHT DANCER.” The commercial memorably features imase himself immersed in crafting the song on his favorite compact synthesizer.

Since his major debut in December 2021, imase has earned accolades including the Japan Record Awards’ Excellence Work Award, and this track reflects his musical growth.

Also performed on the nationwide “imase Hall Tour 2025,” it’s recommended for those anticipating new encounters or seeking the thrill of romance.