Japanese girl bands: recommended popular bands

Saturday Nightnegoto

Negoto – Saturday Night [Live Music Video]

Negoto is a girls’ band formed in Chiba Prefecture in 2007.

They gained attention at the 2008 music event Senkou Riot, which helped spread their name nationwide.

Their charm lies in a sound that, while pop, evokes a mysterious sensation—as if drifting in a soft, airy space.

The vocals by Sachiko Aoyama are gentle and lovely.

Sadly, the band disbanded in 2019.

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Araki Jakkan

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My sniperKino Kohoteru

"My Sniper" Music Video (Short ver.) / Kinoko Teikoku

Kinoco Hotel is a four-piece band formed in 2007.

They’re deeply nostalgic, with a strong Showa-era vibe.

Their concept is meticulously crafted: as their name suggests, all members wear mushroom-style haircuts and play the roles of employees at a hotel called Kinoco Hotel.

I think it’s precisely because this worldbuilding is so solid that they stay unwavering and cool.

Let’s play despairHaruka to Miyuki

Haruka to Miyuki “Despair Pretend” (Official Music Video)

Haruka to Miyuki is a duo consisting of Haruka on guitar and vocals and Miyuki on keyboards and chorus.

The two met in their university music club and bonded over listening to artists like Doji Morita, Ging Nang Boyz, and Nirvana around the same time, which led them to form the unit.

They create alternative works with a unique worldview.

Listening to their songs, it’s easy to see why they cite Nirvana as one of their favorite bands.

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Kado(guchi) Shichigatsu

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Noise Discofurīdamu

Freedom / Noise Disco

Freedom is an indie band from Nagoya’s underground scene.

While they exude an overall psychedelic, mysterious vibe, their songs are pop with a touch of cuteness—a girls’ psych band.

They’re also featured on the compilation CD “Ripple,” which brought together Nagoya’s indie scene and was the talk of the town for a time.

POP STARdekobokudekoboku

DECOBOCODECOBOCO (Rurirori) "POP STAR" MV

Decoboco (pronounced Rurirori) is a girls’ idol rock band formed in 2012.

They can both play instruments and dance, offering a wide range of performances.

They are a group that exemplifies an era in which more idols have taken on the role of performing as a rock band.

Despite being idols, their authentic band sound is exceptionally compelling.

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Murakami Shinpei

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A maiden’s prayer goes da-da-da!Mizutama Shōbōdan

Polka Dot Fire Brigade – A Maiden’s Prayer Goes Da-da-da! (FULL ALBUM)

Mizutama Shobodan, formed in 1978 as Japan’s first all-female punk band, brought a bold vision and originality that sent new waves through the music scene of the time.

Starting with no instrumental skills and building their music purely on passion and energy, they embodied the very spirit of punk.

In 1981 they self-released the album “Otome no Inori wa Daddadda!” which achieved an astonishing 2,000 copies sold.

In 1985 they unveiled the classic “Manten ni Akai Hanabira,” staying true to a DIY ethic.

They performed energetically and consistently voiced social messages, including anti-nuclear activism and women’s festivals.

Highly recommended for anyone who believes in the possibilities of music and seeks free, unbounded expression.

Kiseki RushGIRLFRIEND

GIRLFRIEND / Kiseki Rush MUSIC VIDEO

GIRLFRIEND is a four-member girls’ band from Osaka Prefecture, formed by members of the CALESS Vocal & Dance School Osaka, which also produced SCANDAL.

The song was released as their third single in July 2017 and secured numerous tie-ins with regional high school baseball tournaments, receiving airplay across the country.