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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Days (JAZZ-)
Single - Released October 8, 2025

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Akina Nakamori
Guernica
Inu
Ippu-Do
Jun Togawa
Mariah
Masami Tsuchiya
Moonriders
PERSONZ
REBECCA
SHEENA & THE ROKKETS
Saeko Suzuki
whaledontsleep
サンディー&ザ・サンセッツ
Akina Nakamori
REBECCA
Jun Togawa
whaledontsleep
PERSONZ
Mariah
SHEENA & THE ROKKETS
Moonriders
Ippu-Do
Inu
Saeko Suzuki
Guernica
Masami Tsuchiya
サンディー&ザ・サンセッツ