A Playlist of the Coolest Japanese Indie Bands Right Now
After some research, it’s clear that Japan has a thriving indie music scene. There are a multitude of bands that fit within the genre, all with interesting backgrounds and styles. Expand your horizons to include musicians from around the globe with this playlist. There are a few bands directly influenced by well-known English-speaking musicians; some easily recognizable musical parallels will be heard with a quick listen to these artists as well.
The band photographed above is Tendouji. They are featured in this article along with seven other bands that you’re sure to love.
NO BUSES
Named after the Arctic Monkeys song “No Buses”, this band just released their self-titled 2nd LP. Taking inspiration from not only their name, No Buses presents a sound that shows clear influence from the Arctic Monkeys. There are similarities to The Strokes in their music, too. But don’t be mistaken — the band puts their own special taste into the music they release. Though the group is not yet very well-known, they have promise to become a popular band.
No Buses has a memorable sound and aesthetic seen in their music videos. For the most part, they try to portray a visual style reminiscent of the 90s while showing off their modern music. Interestingly enough, the group is dedicated to singing all of their songs to date in English. Definitely worth a listen, I can see No Buses continuing to gain traction with their energetic and welcoming feel.
Connect with No Buses: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | Website
ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
By far the most popular on this list of bands, Asian Kung-Fu Generation has 1.3 million listeners on Spotify alone. The band is recognized as indie-rock because of the genre, not the label they’re signed to. AKFG formed in 1996 while the members were in college. Still active today, their most recent album was released in 2018. One of the most unique aspects of their image comes from their albums’ cover art. Illustrated by Yusuke Nakamura, the art has become the band’s signature look.
In terms of their music, they have a huge discography of ten studio albums and fifteen compilation albums. You will never run out of songs to listen to, and will continue to be impressed by their catchy alt-rock sound. They’ve stated that their influences range from Oasis to Radiohead. AFKG is now able to have an influence on younger up-and-coming bands with their strong presence and exciting music.
Connect with Asian Kung-Fu Generation: Spotify | Twitter | Website
LUCIE, TOO
This newer band, “Lucie, Too”, has released only one album so far. The track “Lucky”, named after the 2018 album, gained some traction for the band with over 1.5 million listens on Spotify. The group named themselves after a song by American indie-rock band Now Now. Their sound is like a softer and slightly more pop version of American female-lead bands such as The Breeders or Sleater-Kinney. Listening to Lucie, Too is an enjoyable experience, and we can expect more from them because they are so new to the scene.
Connect with Lucie, Too: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter
MONO NO AWARE
Indie-pop band MONO NO AWARE has been active since 2017, and has since released four albums. Their most recent album “Ark With A Line” just came out June 9th, 2021. Some of their music has a sound that I recognize as somewhat similar to Vampire Weekend. However, influences can be heard from many genres, even folk. Most MONO NO AWARE songs are feel-good and bouncy, something anyone can enjoy. The light, plucky guitar riffs and effortless vocals make a great combination. This band sticks out as easily accessible to listeners around the world, especially in the summertime.
Connect with MONO NO AWARE: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | Website
TRICOT
Tricot is an all girl band that has earned themselves a spot on the roster of American label Topshelf Records. Since forming in 2010, these women have developed their alternative sound. Tricot’s most recent release, the single “Inai”, is an intricate indie-rock song that changes feel multiple times, yet remains catchy and approachable. The intense, distorted lead and rhythm guitars stick out in a good way. The track is tied together with drummer Yuusuke Yoshida’s tight rhythm and lead vocalist Ikumi “Ikkyu” Nakajima’s flawless performance. This song shows punk influence behind it, and the band’s genre commonly even trickles into that of math rock. With five albums out so far, Tricot has a lot of music to check out.
Connect with Tricot: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | Website
SAMBOMASTER
Sambomaster is a trio that’s been around for a while and therefore gained a substantial audience. Similar to Asian Kung-Fu Generation, they have created a rather large discography since their formation in 2000. Something about this Japanese indie-rock group is enticing; whether it be their unique mix of rock and pop or recurring lyrical theme of love, I can’t put my finger on it. Vocalist/Guitarist Takashi Yamaguchi also has a memorable and strong voice that makes the band as great as they are.
My personal favorite songs are “Kimi No Kirei Ni Kizuite Okure”, which translates to “Please Realize That You’re Beautiful”, and “Kimi wo Mamotte, Kimi wo Aishite”, meaning “Protect You, Love You”. Despite the band’s inclusion of some English lyrics, I read translations for a few tracks to find that their lyrics are typically lighthearted and romantic. Sambomaster is a lovable group that has a catchy sound to the majority of their discography.
Connect with Sambomaster: Spotify | Twitter | Website
CHATMONCHY
This band released a number of cute and catchy songs. Unfortunately, they disbanded in 2018 with their final album being Tanjō. Even though they’re no longer active, Chatmonchy deserves a listen. The three-piece, all-girl band released seven studio albums from 2006 to 2018. With memorable and upbeat tracks, they fit within the indie-rock/pop genre. Vocalist Eriko Hashimoto has a higher register range than wouldn’t seem to match the instrumentals, but it works out better than expected. The members went on to work on solo projects, but their work as a band stands out in the world of Japanese indie.
Connect with Chatmonchy: Spotify | Website
TENDOUJI
Franz Ferdinand-esque band Tendouji just released their 2nd LP, “Monster”, in April of 2021. Not unlike No Buses, most or all songs are sung in English. A song like “Fireball” shows a noticeable Arctic Monkeys influence, too. The band has upbeat, beachy vibes, and they seem to be gaining popularity as they continue to release more music. Just based on the picture above, you can tell Tendouji is going for a colorful, 90s aesthetic. It matches the eccentric sound and emotion they convey. This 2014-formed band has potential, and they have already built up a decent following.
Connect with Tendouji: Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | Website
Contributor: Molly Crerand
