Debut song of a Japanese band from the 80s
Japan in the 1980s was in the midst of a full-blown band boom.
Many people likely started playing instruments because they admired bands like BOØWY and THE BLUE HEARTS.
This time, we’re showcasing a lineup of bands that debuted in the ’80s all at once.
It’s a roundup perfect for a nostalgic look back or for falling in love with them all over again.
- The debut song of a Japanese rock band from the 1980s
- A special feature on classic and hit songs by bands that were active in the 1980s
- Debut song of an 80s visual-kei band
- Classic and hit Japanese pop songs from the nostalgic 80s
- Debut songs by female artists from the 1980s
- Classic and hit songs by nostalgic Japanese bands from the 1990s
- Dawn of Japanese Rock: A Collection of Debut Songs by 1970s Japanese Rock Bands
- [1980s] Debut Songs and Classics by Japanese All-Girl Bands
- Debut song of a 90s visual kei band
- [Nostalgic Classics] Hit Japanese Love Songs from the 1980s
- Top Male Singer-Songwriter Hits of the 1980s: Ranking [2026]
- Nostalgic yet fresh!? Classic masterpieces of Japanese rock from the 1970s and 1980s
- Top 1980s Female Singer-Songwriters: Popular Songs Ranking [2026]
Debut songs by Japanese bands from the 80s (1–10)
The Ugly Ducklingkamaitachi
This is a signature track by Kamaitachi, a visual kei punk rock band formed in Kyoto, often described by the nickname “Hachamecha-kurui” (roughly, “chaotic madness”).
Using a well-known fairy tale as its motif, the song portrays the sorrow of someone mocked and alienated by others, along with a yearning for the beauty hidden within.
Its defiant stance against being judged by appearance and the heartfelt wish to one day be recognized for one’s true self pierce the heart, carried by a raw, aggressive punk sound.
The track was included on their first album, Itachigokko, released in September 1989, and later appeared on the major-label release Hachamecha Kurui as well.
If you listen to it when you feel isolated from those around you, or on nights when you’re determined to stay true to yourself, it’s sure to stir your spirit.
Love Dance HallCHEESE
This power-pop tune epitomizes CHEESE, the girls’ trio that made waves on Tokyo’s indie scene.
Its bittersweet melody and driving 8-beat fill you with excitement just by listening.
You spot someone you like in a lively dancehall, but can’t quite muster the courage to speak—those sweet, frustrating feelings of first love come through on the shimmering guitars and buoyant rhythms.
The track was featured on the classic compilation album “ATTACK OF… MUSHROOM PEOPLE!” released in April 1987, which documented the neo-GS scene of the time.
4:35CORNETS
This is a song by CORNETS, formed in 1986, brimming with a fantastical, fresh charm.
The track is characterized by a delicate, lyrical worldview—like watching a short film.
Set in the quiet before dawn, it portrays pure feelings for someone dear, the kind that tighten your chest with their bittersweetness.
Junko Okuma’s crystal-clear vocals pair exquisitely with the sound.
It’s perfect for a night when you want to sit quietly and reflect alone—the gentle world it creates will soothe your heart.
Included on their first EP, released in 1988.
Debut songs by Japanese bands from the 1980s (11–20)
Echo of the Emeraldsaboten
Cactus, who began their activities around 1981.
This track opens their debut album, Cactus, released in 1982.
Its experimental sound, which makes extensive use of irregular time signatures, is exquisitely combined with a lo-fi performance that carries a certain sense of danger.
Rather than telling a story through lyrics, their approach of expressing a worldview through instrumental timbres and song structure itself must have felt very innovative at the time.
The anecdote that the project began with the idea of performing Erik Satie’s pieces as a band also reveals their artistic sensibilities.
It might be the perfect song when you want to immerse yourself in free-spirited music unconstrained by preconceived notions.
Frustrated Snow Whiteōto shojo dan
An explosive track that hurls a fairy-tale heroine’s pent-up frustrations into the air atop a ferocious sound.
Contrary to its comical title, the vocalist’s searing screams and the breakneck, hardcore performance hit you square between the eyes.
The song appears on the 7-inch single “Frustrated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” released in January 1988.
Its cries, which shatter the image of a princess who merely waits for her prince, feel like a scathing counterattack against stifling social norms.
When you can’t tolerate the absurdity anymore, why not surrender yourself to this sound?
numbersekiri
This track packs a huge punch with its punkish sound and razor-sharp lyrics.
Their debut EP, “Shigella,” was released independently in 1985, and the raw sound distills the primal energy of the members, who were still in high school at the time.
It feels like the atmosphere and vibe of Osaka back then have been sealed into it as-is.
It’s rock that hits you square in the skull—a lasting scar on the Japanese band scene.
GET THE GLORYLAUGHIN’ NOSE
With their distinctive fashion and high-energy sound, LAUGHIN’ NOSE blasted a fresh hole in the music scene of the ’80s.
This track—said to have been born from a melody that came to the songwriter impulsively on a train platform—embodies their very origin.
Its simple, powerful message, “Seize the glory,” strikes directly at the listener’s soul.
Released in December 1983 as the title track of an EP on their own independent label, it paved the way to their later major-label debut album, LAUGHIN’ NOSE, and stands as a true emblem of the band.
The pure energy and passion radiating from this work offer boundless courage—perfect for moments when you want to break through the status quo or share a surge of optimism with friends as you head into the future.