Latest J-Pop releases [December 2025]

USD feat. NENEKid Fresino

KID FRESINO – USD feat. NENE (Official Music Video)

A track by KID FRESINO that reconstructs the beat—together with Shokuhin Matsuri—using Denki Groove’s “Upside Down” as source material.

Released in December 2025, this ambitious work translates the dynamism of dance music into a contemporary hip-hop sensibility.

KID FRESINO’s dry, monologue-like delivery intersects with NENE’s razor-sharp flow, yielding a piece that contemplates the same motif while conveying different temperatures.

A must-listen for anyone seeking a music experience that transcends genre boundaries.

Snow Song – yukiutaMyuk

Myuk – Snow Song – yukiuta (Music Video)

Myuk is a music project that began in 2021 as the solo project of singer-songwriter Miyu Kumagawa.

Released in December 2025, “Yukiuta” was created with inspiration from the Japanese folktale The Crane’s Return of a Favor.

Its lyrics, interwoven with archaic language and centered on the theme of parting, leave a strong impression.

The folk-like melodic turns and acoustic resonance delicately portray the quietly deepening emotions within a snowy landscape.

It’s a song that gently stays close to the hearts of those who have experienced a farewell with someone dear.

brand-newSaucy Dog

Saucy Dog “Massara” Music Video (“radiko 15th Anniversary Brand Movie Tie-in Song”) <9th Mini Album “Curry Rice” to be released on 2025.12.17>

A song by the three-piece rock band Saucy Dog.

Chosen as the tie-in track for radiko’s 15th anniversary brand movie, it’s included on their 9th mini-album “Curry Rice,” released in December 2025.

The lyrics, which capture the moment of letting go of hesitation and taking a first step forward, are written in tangible, down-to-earth language without excessive metaphor, offering comfort to listeners in their own everyday lives and decision-making moments.

It’s a rock tune that affirms the feeling of a fresh start.

Reverse MoonTAK

[MV] TAK – ‘Reverse Moon’ feat. asmi

This song delicately paints emotions swaying between night and morning with intricate sound design.

Created by Korean music producer TAK, featuring singer-songwriter asmi, it entrusts the wavering feelings between loss and rebirth to the image of a “reversed moon.” The moment when the urge to cling to a crimson-stained night intersects with the will to step into a blue morning is rendered three-dimensionally through precise sonic craftsmanship.

And asmi’s gentle yet resolute vocals are simply wonderful.

It’s a track you’ll want to play on sleepless nights.

ShareYU-KI

YUKI『Share』

This piece was written as the theme song for the theatrical anime “Those Who Steal This Book,” released on December 26, 2025.

Its radiant ensemble of strings and horns creates a soaring sense of immersion, drawing you into the world of the story.

The lyrics express a desire to cherish those fleeting moments when paths cross, even if we can’t fully understand one another—an idea that resonates with YUKI’s own words that the immersive experiences of reading and music are alike.

It’s the perfect number for times when you want to feel a connection with someone.

What I choseYuika

What I Chose / “Yuika” [Music Video]

Released in December 2025, this work was written specifically for a nationwide Zepp tour and was previewed live before its official release.

The lyrics, which strikingly explore the idea that if everything were a fate we chose for ourselves, perhaps life would feel a little easier, leave a strong impression.

Centered around acoustic guitar, the warm sound seems to deliver the words directly and conveys Yuika’s resolve to have chosen singing as her weapon.

If you’re feeling uncertain about life’s choices, give it a listen.

pickleskocchi no kento

Pickles / Kocchi no Kento MV

It’s an uplifting song that vividly portrays the feelings of young people at work.

Written as a tie-in for McDonald’s Japan, the track carefully captures the anxiety and nerves of a first job, as well as the process of gradually finding your footing.

It carries the message that youth isn’t only about school events or romance—those hours spent mastering the speed of dishwashing at a part-time job are just as much a part of youth, a sentiment said to be drawn from the artist’s own experience.

The lyrics, set to a lively pop sound, never feel preachy; they gently affirm moving forward even while you’re still unsteady.

It’s a song I especially recommend to anyone feeling nervous as they head into a new chapter of life.