Latest J-Pop Releases [May 2025]

Let’s kiss.shounen kizzu boui

Let's kiss.

This track comes from Shonen Kids Boy, an eight-member band known for their poppy, catchy melodies and lively band sound.

Marking their major-label debut, the song portrays the small joys found in everyday life, spun from the authentic perspective of members who all come from the unique background of being working professionals.

It will be released by Nippon Crown on May 21, 2025, with the music video premiering on YouTube the same day at 10:00 p.m.

While rooted in J-pop, the production is captivating for its blend of power and finesse.

It’s a perfect pick for unwinding—whether you’re driving home from work or enjoying a café break with friends.

Make it a love songShio Reira

Reira Shio / Make It a Love Song [Official Lyric Video]

Reira Ushio’s May 2025 single gently portrays the delicate emotions of love, weaving together the tension, anxiety, and tender feelings anyone in love can relate to—resulting in a gem of a track.

The world she expresses through her clear vocal timbre and addictive melody feels like a sweet love story.

Featured on the Sony Music Labels EP “Love Procedures,” the song was also selected as an insert track for ABEMA’s hit show “Kyo, Suki ni Narimashita.

Graduation Edition 2025.” With word choices that resonate strongly with Gen Z and vocals that closely echo the heart of those in love, it’s a song you’ll want to hear in the season of romance.

Building steadily since her major debut EP “No one” in August 2024, her evolving musicality is something you won’t want to take your eyes off.

HEROESNishikawa Takanori

HEROES

Takanori Nishikawa has released a full-fledged rock tune that fuses a high-velocity band sound with an emotional melody.

The song was composed by Sojiro Oki and arranged by seasoned producer Seiji Kameda.

With a powerful message, it’s a track brimming with courage and hope.

Released in May 2025 as his seventh solo single, it was written as the opening theme for the TV anime “A Middle-Aged Man from the Countryside Becomes a Sword Saint.” The single comes in two editions: a regular edition and a limited-time production edition.

The regular edition includes one of eight random trading cards, while the limited-time production edition features a Blu-ray and a digipak with newly drawn artwork.

It’s an ambitious release recommended not only for anime fans but also for music listeners who love band-driven sounds.

PredatorAKASAKI

[AKASAKI] Predator (Lyric Video)

A track by the young singer-songwriter AKASAKI that fuses electronic sounds with rock elements into a dark-pop style, creating a distinctive atmosphere where tension and momentum coexist.

With themes of inner conflict, desire, and the strength to confront them, this striking work is an ambitious piece that showcases the expanding range of his expression.

Released in May 2025, it vividly captures the sensibilities of today’s youth through meticulously crafted production and a resonant vocal performance, making it a perfect song for those who want to face their innermost emotions.

GeGeGe no KitaroAdo

GeGeGe no Kitaro

Ado, a devoted fan of GeGeGe no Kitaro, handled the opening theme in May 2025.

This work perfectly blends a modern arrangement by Maigo Hanyuu (Hanyuu Maigo) of a classic masterpiece with Ado’s bewitching vocals, and it has been chosen as the theme song for the Fuji TV anime series GeGeGe no Kitaro: The Generations of GeGeGe I Loved, airing to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Shigeru Mizuki’s passing.

Ado also participates as a selector for the program, and in the first episode she personally chose Season 5, Episode 4, underscoring her deep affection for the series.

It’s a perfect track not only for fans of yokai, but also for anyone who wants to enjoy a classic reborn with a contemporary sound.