[October 2025] The latest J-Pop releases. Check out the hottest new tracks!

CocktailA.B.C-Z

A.B.C-Z / Cocktail (Music Video)

“Cocktail” is a track released in August 2025 as the first installment of a three-month consecutive release.

Written and composed by singer-songwriter Anna Takeuchi, it’s marked by a romantic ensemble with a floating, airy feel.

The lyrics depict someone drowning in a love as sweet as a cocktail.

You can’t help but be entranced by the members’ luscious vocals, which convey a fleeting, delicate longing.

Be sure to add this mellow dance tune to your playlist.

tear(s)Marcy

Tears

Released in August 2025, this song is Marcy’s first summer love ballad.

It opens with scenes that evoke dazzling memories of romance, then unfolds in the past tense, tightening your chest as the story progresses.

Like a letter with no recipient, its aimless feelings and the urgency of heartbreak are rendered lyrically.

It’s a sentimental track that stays close to those who want to linger in the afterglow of a bygone love at summer’s end.

Happy birthday to my son.Hirai Dai

Dai Hirai / Happy birthday to my son. (Lyric Video)

Singer-songwriter Dai Hirai, known for numerous hit songs such as “Stand by me, Stand by you.” This work, released for streaming in August 2025, is a heartfelt message song written to mark the birth of his second child.

Built around an acoustic guitar, the gentle sound is exceptionally soothing.

And the words, penned like a letter, carry a father’s straightforward feelings and prayers for the future.

Listening to it on your child’s birthday may remind you anew that the days you’ve shared are irreplaceable treasures.

violetChevon

violet

This is a Chevon track that fuses a grand string arrangement with the emotional vocals of Mayu Taniginu.

The song will be released in July 2025 as the theme for TV Tokyo’s Drama 24 series “10 Things to Do Before 40.” The lyrics portray a shift in feelings—from judging people by appearances and rumors to falling in love after seeing who they truly are.

Its understated yet endearing portrayal resonates with the drama’s narrative and is deeply moving.

It’s a perfect listen when you want to savor the gentle happiness you share with someone special.

usyama

yama『us』Music Video

A mid-tempo track released in July 2025 as the theme song for the drama “The Day of the Kidnapping” starring Takumi Saitoh.

It portrays a serious world view: the pain borne by a girl who has lost her memory and the warmth of human touch she experiences for the first time.

yama’s vocals embody a pure desire to stay close to someone dear.

Gently resonant strings and piano evoke a clear sense of hope amid the bittersweet mood.

Listen to it on lonely nights or when you long for human kindness, and it will surely warm your heart.

Shine in the cruel nightLiSA

LiSA 'Shine in the Cruel Night' MUSIC CLIP

This is a track that powerfully paints the hope that, no matter how deep and dark the night, a bond of trust becomes our guiding light.

Performed by LiSA, it has been chosen as the theme song for the film Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: The Return of Akaza, set for release in July 2025.

With a sound crafted by Yuki Kajiura that weaves weighty orchestration with fierce rock, it is nothing short of breathtaking.

The resolve of the characters—who refuse to yield to a cruel fate and aim for a place beyond hatred—overlaps with LiSA’s soul-stirring vocals to strike straight at the heart.

When you need the courage to face hardship, give it a listen.

skyBE:FIRST

BE:FIRST / Sky -1461 days-

This is a song filled with warm messages that gently accompany the ever-shifting emotions unique to adolescence.

It’s a track by the boy group BE:FIRST, produced as the set piece for the 92nd NHK All-Japan School Music Competition in 2025.

The lyrics crafted by producer SKY-HI carefully portray the delicate inner feelings of someone who, trying to act tough, ends up hiding their true self.

Just as rainy days eventually clear, the song affirms your unstable self and gives you the courage to move forward.

When you’re ready to take a new step, it will surely give you a push.