Latest J-Pop Releases [October 2025]

Reach to the heavensMatsutōya Yumi

Yumi Matsutoya – Reach to the Heavens

This piece was written by Yumi Matsutoya, one of Japan’s most iconic singer-songwriters, as the theme song for the drama “When I Was Little, There Was a God,” which began airing in October 2025.

Its nostalgic melody, the harmony that layers her past vocals—recreated with AI technology—with her present voice, and its grand soundscape resonate deeply.

It carries a curious, floating sensation, as if traveling through multiple dimensions.

A gentle autumn song that links the past and the present.

aliveMoriyama Naotaro

Naotaro Moriyama / “Ikiteiru” Music Video

This piece is included on Yumizuruhanoha, one of the two concept albums—Yumizuruhanoha and Yeeeehaaaaw—released by Naotaro Moriyama in October 2025.

It’s a song that gazes into the very source of life.

Built solely around piano and strings, its ambient soundscape gently envelops the tremors and transience of everyday life.

Moriyama’s deep, folk-rooted vocals and lyrical melody resonate in the heart.

It’s a track that quietly stays by your side when you lose your way in life.

Unhappy birthday constructionSakurazaka46

Sakurazaka46 “Unhappy Birthday Syntax” Music Video

The 13th single, “Unhappy birthday Syntax,” released in October 2025, is a track that shines with a dark aesthetic, themed around the loneliness and inner conflict one feels on what is supposed to be a celebratory birthday.

Its ethereal yet unsettling sound brilliantly captures inner turmoil.

The lyrics sharply depict despair and nihilism about growing older.

It also drew attention for being the first time third-generation member Yuu Murai served as center.

Be sure to give this daring idol song a listen.

nomaneRime

RIM – No Money

Released in October 2025, this work is themed around the “fleeting sense of invincibility” that arrives during heavy drinking meant to sever anxiety and despair.

Behind the questions about a future that’s been erased, and the words of refusal—choosing not to love, not to expect—lies an urgent longing to go far away.

I imagine many younger listeners will resonate with its sound, where strangeness and familiarity coexist.

It might be a good listen when you’re feeling worn out by everyday life.

Spurt syndromer10-FEET

10-FEET – Spurt Syndrome (Anime 'Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray' Cour 2 Opening Theme)

This song, released in October 2025 by 10-FEET, a three-piece rock band from Kyoto, was written as the opening theme for the second cour of the TV anime Uma Musume: Cinderella Gray.

Crafted with the image of characters stepping into battle, the track features exhilarating, fast-paced guitar riffs and a dynamic arrangement that plays with tension and release.

The lyrics express—through music—the mental strength and sharpened focus needed to surpass one’s own training records, resonating with anyone sprinting full-speed toward their goals.

It’s a fiery rock tune highly recommended for those who continue to take on new challenges.