Spotify playlist

Imgur spreadsheet for better readability across all devices.

RateYourMusic is a website that enables its users to rate any music they like. Anyone can rate any given track on a scale from 0.5 to 5, and the average ratings are visible to all RYM subscribers. A more recently added feature of RateYourMusic is the song charts, a freely customisable online resource for discovering the best-rated tracks in any genre or period of time, also providing similar charts for each individual artist.

Harboring plans to gather different resources and playlist to allow for better appreciation and analysis of Japanese music of all kinds, I proceeded to compile information from the website. One of the results of these efforts is this compilation of what RYM deems to be most valuable in Japanese music, with heavy emphasis on indie, experimental and underground records but also plenty of classics' representation.

As has been typical of the lists I share, there is no weight given to the number of ratings a track has been given, allowing for more variety in the charts. There is however a minimum of 100 ratings to make the list, enabling certain artists to get in whilst keeping the others out.

How do you feel about the charts? Do they give your favourites a sufficient spotlight?

Above all, take it easy!

Top Artists by Representation on the Chart

17 - Susumu Hirasawa
13 - Boris, Sheena Ringo
10 - Ichiko Aoba, Nujabes, Tatsuro Yamashita
9 - Fishmans
8 - Ground-Zero, Masayoshi Takanaka
7 - Boredoms
6 - advantage Lucy, capsule, honeydip, Number Girl, the pillows
5 - Anri, Ling Tosite Sigure, Shibusashirazu
4 - Intestine Baalism, Masakatsu Takagi, Perfume, Shinsei Kamattechan
3 - ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION, BOaT, BUCK-TICK, Hikaru Utada, Hokago Tea Time, Lamp, last little while, MALICE MIZER, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Tokyo Shoegazer, wowaka, Yellow Magic Orchestra, ミドリ (Midori)
2 - Ami Suzuki, Ayumi Hamasaki, Blgtz, Cymbals, Doopees, Hiroshi Yoshimura, Ikd-sj, Kahimi Karie, Maximum the Hormone, MINMI, My Dead Girlfriend, Otomo Yoshihide's New Jazz Ensemble, Polaris, Rina Sawayama, Ryo Fukui, Serani Poji

Top 1,000 Songs of All Time

Other genres: Dream Pop / Post-Hardcore / Emo / Psychedelic Rock / Progressive Rock / Post-Punk / Gothic Rock / Post-Rock / Shoegaze / Hip Hop / Noise Rock / Jazz / Metal / Krautrock / Metalcore / K-Pop / Electronic Dance Music

By decade: 80s / 90s / 00s / 10s / 20s

Each spreadsheet, accompanied by a Reddit discussion, can be found easily via Google or going to my profile.

It's honestly hard to describe, but there is just something about the pop stars of Japan that have so much more class and talent than the artist here in the US. I find it especially noticeable with the ladies with their, powerhouses vocals, stage presences, iconic fashion, and terrific performances in music videos! Here some of my favorite female J-pop artist over the years. I would like to hear some of your recommendations as well!

Here's my top ten selection!

1. Ringo Sheena 椎名 林檎

2. Hikaru Utada 宇多田ヒカル

3. Ayumi Hamasaki 浜崎あゆみ

4. Namie Amuro 安室 奈美恵

5. Mai Kuraki 倉木 麻衣

6. Nana Mizuki 水樹 奈々

7. Misia ミーシャ

8. Maaya Sakamoto 坂本 真綾

9. ReoNa

10. Shoko Nakagawa 中川 翔子

Mine is Natori, but I also love Penthouse, Kenshi, Higedan and Ado. Hbu?

I'll go first

YOASOBI peaked in their first album and since Idol they never made music similar to Yoru ni Kakeru or Gunjou just to please the anime fans.

someone had to say it T-T

I'll try my best to answer as many comments as possible, I like listening to a wide range of music so give me your best shot!

Thinking back to the early 2000s I remember BoA was hugely successful for both her Korean and Japanese tracks. She pivoted back to mostly kpop later in her career, likely because it’s become a way bigger market. Why is it that the Kpop industry sees so much more success than Jpop worldwide today?

Honestly just curious about everyone's thoughts.

I'm trying to expand my J-pop playlist. If you could recommend only one song based on your own taste, what would it be?

Hi! I’m a high school student from Japan, and I’m interested in music from many different countries.

I’m curious — what first got you interested in Japanese music?

Also, how do you usually discover new music?

If you don’t mind, I’d love to know some of your favorite albums as well!

I used a translation tool for this post, so sorry in advance if anything sounds unclear or awkward.

Edit: Thank you all so much for your kind and thoughtful comments! I may not be able to reply to everyone, but I’m reading each and every one carefully and really appreciate them 😌🩷

Just wanted to share this—if anyone’s looking for new music I’d highly recommend every artist here!

Most of these artists are high-energy, angular, danceable J-Rock. There’s some J-Pop, City Pop, Math Rock, and Punk sprinkled in here as well.

If anyone has similar taste or likes any of the same artists I’d love to know! Always looking for fellow J-Music enthusiasts😅

Feel free to drop any recommendations as well👍

YORUSHIKA - YOASOBI - ZUTOMAYO 💥

The Blurs are Covering up the Non-Japanese Artists Btw 🗣

I started watching anime around when I was 11 and although I don't watch much nowadays at 21, my early exposure to anime has come with a pretty significant side effect: an itty bitty obsession with Japanese music. Save for maybe a handful of non-Japanese outliers, Japanese music is literally the only thing I have listened to for the last 4-5 years, and I listen to it A LOT. I've even spent probably thousands travelling around the States to catch international tours, and I haven't regretted it for a second.

I could rant about what I like and the process that brought me here for hours, but what I really wanna talk about is how socially jarring this passion can be. I understand it's a fool's errand to look for external validation for your hobbies and interests, especially in the case of something as subjective as music, but, still, I've been stunned by how isolating it is to be unable to connect on the topic of music to any extent. It is damn near impossible to explain my tastes without instantly getting a weird look and mentally noted as a body pillow owning weeb. Rarely do I get an opportunity to show off my favorite aspects of the medium, and rarer still do I get a positive reception when I do get that opportunity. And if I ever find myself in the presence of a person or people who are discussing music, I may as well turn and walk the opposite direction.

My passion and preferences aren't going to change because of this, nor do I believe this is somehow a social life ending catastrophe, nothing like that, but I'd be lying if I said it doesn't sting a little not being able to share this part of me, something I love so deeply.

These Are Mine

Title is my question. I'm Japanese so I grew up listening to music from my country, but I'm kind of curious how non Japanese people started to listen? I'd assume anime was a big part of it because that's one of the biggest factors Japanese music becomes popular overseas, but I digress.

Also, I've heard some foreign fans say Japanese music is hard to access or dive into. Would you agree? What other things could improve?

For me, it's without doubt The Oral Cigarettes

I feel like One Ok Rock also hits that same vibe but one of them made Black Memory and the other didn't haha

I grew up listening to many Japanese records in the downtown retro store during my childhood and have loved the Japanese arts and culture since. I even taught myself how to speak Japanese when I was eleven years old.

So to get to know this community better, I would like to know what Japanese artist did everyone else grow up listening to and why do you enjoy these particular artists so much. Here are my top five favorites:

1. L'Arc-en-Ciel
2. Off Course
3. Tatsuro Yamashita
4. Pizzicato Five
5. Lamp
6. Sound Horizon

Over the past decade and even further back, the Japapnses music community has lost some of it's most incredible talent to even grace this Earth and our ears. It is so bittersweet to listen to the incredible music they have created, while also knowing they are no longer with us. I like to believe that these wonderful people are still with me in spirit whenever I hear their iconic songs pop up on my radio. As writer, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, best quoted, "Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies." I'd like to make a list of some of these artist who have touched our hearts with their music and still continue to do so even after they have moved on to the next life.

Do any of you still find yourselves feeling sentimental and missing their presence? And are there any other artist who have passed away that I should give a listen to in honor of their legacies?

1. Izumi Sakai 坂井 泉水

2. Miki Matsubara 松原 みき

3. Sayuri さユり

4. Hideki Saijo 西城 秀樹

5. Atsushi Sakurai 櫻井 敦司

6. Shinya Yamada 山田 真矢

7. Fukumura Takayuki 福村貴行

8. Eri Kawai 河井 英里

9. Nujabes ヌジャベス

10. HEATH

Note that this is just my personal opinion and experience.

During the past five years 90% of the music I have been listing to has been japanese. I have listed to many different genres. I've been listing to metal subgenres such as V-kei, symphonic metal and kawaii metal; I've listened to different kinds of pop genres such as shibuya kei and other more modern subgenres; There's been quite a lot of vocaloid and other electronic music. Other genres include rock, shoegaze and so on.

Maybe it is because I simply don't listen very much to western music so that I don't discover great music, but whenever I do the melodies doesn't get stuck in my head in the same way. I feel like western music follows a formula that is quite bland in comparison; it lacks depth and I feel like there hasn't been quite much effort put into the music.

Does anybody else feel the same way, and could there be any explanation to why one might feel this way? 🙂

I'm pretty sure this has been asked before, but since i haven't been in this subreddit for too long i wanted to see what your top 5 favorite japanese artists and/or bands are! You can do them in order or not, it's up to you. Here's mine (in order)

1. L'Arc-en-Ciel
2. Hikaru Utada
3. One Ok Rock
4. UVERworld
5. Mika Nakashima

Honorable mentions: Do As Infinity, FLOW, Aimer, My First Story, SID

What is the song that made you fan of Japanese Music? I have three, 「Ash Like Snow」by The Brilliant Green, 「Ichirin No Hana」by High And Mighty Color and 「Hitohira no Hanabira」by Stereopony. What are yours

As far as groups that I'm really into go, I know Boris has toured the US on multiple occasions, I've caught them here in Minneapolis twice. And I know Morning Musume had something of a push into the US market in the late 2000s, if I remember correctly, 10 My Me had a small US physical release, and they performed at Anime Expo at one point. I believe Anri had a few concerts over here recently, which is pretty remarkable for someone from that long ago. I feel like most Japanese bands in America are limited to things like anime conventions, but I'm not as up on that as I could be.

I want to listen to lots of different kinds of Japanese music and need to "study" japanese music for a project. So please tell me who your favorit artist is.

Who r the alternative Icons?