Latest J-Pop Releases [May 2025]

sunny spotberry meet

berry meet / Hidamari [Music Video]

This is a song by the three-piece band berry meet, whose melodies and gentle sound wrap you in warmth like spring sunlight, prompting you to pause in your daily life and recognize what’s important around you.

It’s a track where pop, vivid melodies, a warm, sentimental vocal, and perfectly blended male-female harmonies come together exquisitely.

Included on berry meet’s album “Daydream, Words Tied into a Bouquet,” with which they will make their major-label debut on July 8, 2025 through Universal Music, the song was released early on April 23, 2025.

It also received its first radio airplay on FM802 on April 19, drawing attention.

Give it a listen when you want to spend a peaceful moment or are seeking music that stays close to your heart.

Its warm yet powerful message, which reaches listeners across a wide range of backgrounds, is sure to gently embrace your heart too.

The 1muque

muque – The 1 (Official Music Video) [TV Anime 'ONE PIECE' Ending Theme Song]

Characterized by drum and bass–driven, exhilarating beats, muque’s music masterfully fuses emotional chord progressions with meticulous arrangements.

Centered on the theme of confronting one’s own strength, this work expresses the power discovered through experiences and connections with friends, delivering a deeply resonant, positive message to listeners.

Released in April 2025, the song was chosen as the ending theme for the TV anime One Piece: Egghead Arc, marking muque’s first anime tie-in.

With its propulsive rhythms and emotionally rich vocals, it’s the perfect track for moments when you want to feel motivated or fire yourself up.

Heartbreaker (I fell in love with a cowgirl)Hirai Dai

Hirai Dai / Heartbreaker (I fell in love with a cowgirl) (Lyric Video)

This refreshing pop tune incorporates elements of country music and captivates with a bittersweet love story set in a Western-inspired world.

It portrays the complex feelings of a man who falls for a free-spirited cowgirl, and features the light, breezy rhythms and pleasant melodies characteristic of Dai Hirai.

Released on April 23, 2025, the track launched as the first installment of a consecutive release project leading up to Dai Hirai’s beach festival, “HIRAIDAI presents THE BEACH TRIP 2025.” A portion was pre-released on TikTok, quickly gaining buzz as a song to watch.

It’s perfect for seaside drives, gatherings with friends, or any moment when you want to feel liberated—or when you want a song that resonates with a bittersweet crush.

HAPPYKazuyoshi Saito

Kazuyoshi Saito – HAPPY [Lyric Video]

A new song by Kazuyoshi Saito, written as the theme for the new nationwide Yomiuri TV/Nippon TV program “Saturday LIVE News Zigzag,” is drawing significant attention.

Blending a warm melody with lyrics that resonate deeply, the track expresses the importance of considering things from multiple perspectives in today’s information-saturated society.

Released digitally on April 23, 2025, the song embodies Saito’s empathy with the show’s concept that “the road to the truth is not a straight line.” Airing every Saturday with Yukiyoshi Ozawa as navigator, the program is notable for its commitment to exploring the news from diverse angles.

It’s a song that stands by those overwhelmed by daily information and offers hope—be sure to give it a listen.

Cannot stop the queue!CUTIE STREET

[MV] CUTIE STREET "Can't Stop at the Queue!"

This high-energy pop tune, bursting with a sense of speed, grabs listeners’ hearts in an instant! It’s a CUTIE STREET track released in May 2025.

In July, it was also put out as a double A-side single CD together with “Chikyuu Makeup Keikaku.” The song made its debut at their first one-man live in Osaka in March, accompanied by the members’ deadpan para-para dance, which became a hot topic.

With the pedal to the metal, the lyrics carry an impressively positive message.

It’s perfect for anyone who wants a boost to power through each day or needs a push to take on something new.

On the ShoreDef Tech

Def Tech – On the Shore【Official Music Video】

Released in May 2025 as the lead single from the album “4ELEMENTS,” which commemorates their 20th anniversary.

Its gentle melody blends with a very soft sonic texture to create a soothing atmosphere.

While rooted in Def Tech’s signature Jawaiian Reggae style, it feels more refined than ever.

The lyrics, which emphasize the importance of accepting yourself as you are, are also striking.

It might give you the strength to start moving forward again when you’re worn out from work or relationships.

Midsummer MomentRYUSENKEI

RYUSENKEI – Summer Ray (Official Music Video)

It’s a summer song with a comfortable city pop sound.

It’s a work by RYUSENKEI, released in May 2025.

Coming about a year after the album “Illusion,” its mellow, refreshing tones vividly paint summer scenes.

The relaxed rhythm beautifully complements Sincere’s clear, translucent vocals.

Perfect for moments when you want to feel liberated, like a summer drive or a stroll by the ocean.