The Sound of Japanese Post-Punk

A deep dive into the sounds of Japanese post-punk, this playlist covers everything from the raw energy of early pioneers to the more experimental and genre-blurring acts of later years. With tracks from bands like Aunt Sally, P-MODEL, and Jagatara, it highlights the jagged edges and off-kilter rhythms that have defined the scene since the late ‘70s. There’s plenty of angular guitar work, deadpan vocals, and driving basslines, but also moments of synth-heavy detours and avant-garde textures.

Spanning decades, the selections range from the mechanical urgency of Plastics’ "TOP SECRET MAN" to the shadowy atmospherics of AUTO-MOD and the modern, post-everything stylings of bands like NEHANN and TAWINGS. More straightforward punk influences collide with electronic experimentation, dub echoes, and art rock sensibilities, making for a playlist that showcases not just post-punk’s legacy in Japan but also how newer artists continue to reinterpret the sound.