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
whaledontsleep
Jun Togawa
REBECCA
Yukihiro Takahashi
Top Playlists
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RecentMusic users are tracking 24 Japanese New Wave artists for new releases, and have access to the full timeline of 492 releases .

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  1. December 25, 2024
  2. September 27
  3. September 27
  4. September 25
  5. July 17
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  18. February 14
  19. January 25
  20. December 27, 2023
  21. November 23
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  23. November 8
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  25. October 18
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  27. October 3
  28. August 25
  29. August 6
  30. July 12
  31. July 5
  32. June 21
  33. June 7
  34. May 31
  35. April 1
  36. March 15
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  39. February 22
  40. February 15