Thread: What Are your Favorite Japanese Artists?

I've been listening to Japanese music for over ten years now and though I don't understand most of the lyrics (but I'm learning), I love it to death. There are days when I just listen to them all day to receive looks of confusion amongst my friends and/or family members, especially when I start trying to say the words. Haha.



These are some of my favorites:
1. Nujabes - a Japanese Hip-hop producer and DJ who is well known for his genre-blending music style that is a combination of cool jazz and soul influence.
2. Ayumi Hamasaki - Hamasaki has been dubbed the "Empress of Pop" due to her popularity and widespread influence in Japan for her J-pop tracks.
3. Utada Hikaru - Utada has three of her Japanese studio albums in Top 10 best-selling albums ever in Japan (#1, #4, #8) and an overall six of her albums, two English-language and one compilation, charting within the 275 Best-Selling Japanese albums list. She is best known for songs like "Simple and Clean" as well as "Passion".

Now, my question is, who are your favorites and why?

SUPERCAR, a nice japanese rock band, google it, I believe you will like them!

I usually don't like Japanese bands, but this one is actually very good. I just started listening to them and I am enjoying them immensely so far, especially the slow Alternative like songs as those are my favorites. Thanks for the recommendation, randallred. :)

I've been listening to 小瀬村晶　Akira Kosemura.

Here's her MySpace page:

Akira Kosemura on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

Here's her debut:



01.Hicari
02.Faire
03.April
04.Would
05.Sign
06.Tale
07.Look
08.Tyme
09.Guitar
10.Venice
11.Ein Lied


Deposit Files

The above link is safe.

Here's another link I found to her second album:

Akira Kosemura.zip - DivShare


She is the owner of her own label Schole, one of Japanese's emerging minimal electronic/ambient label.

Nothing heart stopping or inventive here. It is simply beautiful contemporary electronica; elegant, delicate & warming.


I have also been listening to World's End Girlfriend aka Katsuhiko Maeda. Here's his MySpace page:

world's end girlfriend official MySpace on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads

SUPERCAR, even though they are not exist right now.

I love m-flo. But there are many other great japanese acts.

Mondo Grosso
Boom Boom Satellites
School Food Punishment
Immi
Wise
Delofamilia

^^ They are all great in their own way :)

Japanese artists.... don't even get me started.

Makeup, fake breast, etc -- and girls in the west here are into this. What is wrong with society?

I am quite fond of YUI and Mizuki Nana (thanks to anime of course).

YUI song "Life" has an awesome sound to it I absolutely love the guitar in it.

I've already heard Utada Hikaru. I can't remember the name of the song she was singing, but I think she is good.