Latest J-Pop Releases [August 2025]

War and the Girl (Prod. Nujabes)ZORN

ZORN / War and the Girl (Prod. Nujabes)

A deeply memorable track by rapper ZORN.

Created for the NHK Special “Songs Woven in a Time of War (Now): PASS THE MIC,” it was released in August 2025.

This collaboration sets rap over a track left behind by the late trackmaker Nujabes, who passed away suddenly in 2010.

The lyrics amplify the unheard voices of people who experienced war, conveying their messages to the present.

The lo-fi sound underscores the weight of the words.

Please give it a listen and reflect on world peace.

XYZAMUGIRI

AMUGIRI「XYZ」Official Music Video

Rapper AMUGIRI, also known for his activities as a member of the YouTuber group Komudot, released his fifth single in August 2025.

Co-produced with DJ dip, it features an addictive beat.

Centered on the theme of “oshi-katsu” (supporting your favorite idols or artists), it vividly captures the excitement of heading to a live show and the charged atmosphere at the venue.

Many listeners will probably find themselves thinking, “I know that feeling!” It’s an energetic track that will supercharge the everyday life of anyone who’s passionately into something.

skyBE:FIRST

BE:FIRST / Sky -1461 days-

This is a song filled with warm messages that gently accompany the ever-shifting emotions unique to adolescence.

It’s a track by the boy group BE:FIRST, produced as the set piece for the 92nd NHK All-Japan School Music Competition in 2025.

The lyrics crafted by producer SKY-HI carefully portray the delicate inner feelings of someone who, trying to act tough, ends up hiding their true self.

Just as rainy days eventually clear, the song affirms your unstable self and gives you the courage to move forward.

When you’re ready to take a new step, it will surely give you a push.

Good for UBoA

BoA ‘Good for U’ MV

BoA, who has served as a bridge connecting the Korean and Japanese music scenes and achieved a million-seller with her 2002 single “LISTEN TO MY HEART,” released a track in August 2025 that’s an irresistibly sophisticated groove.

Its familiar, repetitive melody and cool vocals create an addictive pull.

The restrained structure—eschewing flashy shifts—conveys a self-reliant mood that doesn’t pander in love, giving off a mature, composed vibe.

It’s urban pop that lifts your spirits.

More Berry SummerCUTIE STREET

More Berry Summer

CUTIE STREET is an idol group making waves in the pop culture scene under the banner of “KAWAII.” Released in August 2025, this track is a summer anthem built around the unique concept that “a summer festival begins when you leave home and ends when you return.” It vividly portrays the story of a special day—from the pre-departure excitement, to the heat and thrill of the venue, to the bittersweet afterglow on the way home.

Its effervescent sound and relentlessly positive lyrics will boost your mood not just for summer, but for heading to any event.

Be sure to check out this energetic pop tune!