Japanese New Wave

Japanese New Wave is a distinctive music genre that emerged in the late 1970s and developed through the 1980s in Japan, mirroring the global new wave movement but with a unique local twist. It is characterized by its eclectic blend of pop, punk, electronic music, and avant-garde influences, often infused with a sense of quirkiness and innovation synonymous with the era's technological boom in Japan. Artists such as SHEENA & THE ROKKETS, Yukihiro Takahashi, and Ippu-Do have been pivotal in shaping the genre, experimenting with synthesizers, drum machines, and a variety of musical styles to create soundscapes that are at once catchy, experimental, and deeply reflective of the socio-cultural zeitgeist of contemporary Japan. This genre seamlessly incorporates both Japanese traditional elements and western musical principles, resulting in a sound that's fresh, vibrant, and distinctly Japanese.

Latest Japanese New Wave Release
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MA TICARICA (2025 Remix)
Single - Released December 25, 2024
Top Artists Spotify Logo
Akina Nakamori
Anzen Chitai
Jun Togawa
REBECCA
Yukihiro Takahashi
PERSONZ
Top Playlists
Tricky – Mixed Race 1 Japanese New Wave artist
Massive Attack Radio 1 Japanese New Wave artist

RecentMusic users are tracking 23 Japanese New Wave artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 446 releases .

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  1. December 25, 2024
  2. September 27
  3. September 27
  4. September 25
  5. July 15
  6. July 7
  7. June 19
  8. June 5
  9. March 27
  10. March 13
  11. February 28
  12. February 21
  13. February 14
  14. January 25
  15. December 27, 2023
  16. November 23
  17. October 3
  18. October 3
  19. July 5
  20. June 21
  21. May 31
  22. March 15
  23. March 15
  24. February 22
  25. February 10
  26. December 21, 2022
  27. September 17
  28. September 14
  29. August 3
  30. July 20
  31. June 3
  32. April 20
  33. April 20
  34. April 13
  35. March 9
  36. March 9
  37. March 2
  38. February 9
  39. January 12
  40. December 17, 2021
  1. September 27, 2024
  2. June 19
  3. February 21
  4. February 14
  5. December 27, 2023
  6. June 21
  7. March 15
  8. March 15
  9. December 21, 2022
  10. September 14
  11. August 3
  12. April 20
  13. April 20
  14. March 9
  15. March 9
  16. January 12
  17. December 15, 2021
  18. October 27
  19. June 23
  20. August 26, 2020