A hidden gem known only to those in the know. A great J-pop/Japanese song.

Riding in a hot-air balloonYano Akiko

Akiko Yano – Riding a Balloon MV (Akiko Yano – Riding a Balloon)

It’s the first track on Akiko Yano’s debut album.

The backing band is Little Feat.

To head to the U.S.

and record at just around twenty years old—she must have had some serious nerve.

The result was this session with a great sense of groove.

If the Earth were a flat plateReoNa

ReoNa “If the Earth Were a Single Flat Board” (NHK “Minna no Uta,” April–May 2023)

A gemlike love song that gently nestles close to the heart, weaving together warmth and wistfulness.

It delicately portrays human relationships on the premise that the Earth is a single flat board.

ReoNa’s translucent vocals further deepen the song’s world.

Released digitally in May 2023 and also broadcast on NHK’s Minna no Uta, this piece features a melody by Tota Kasamura that lingers in the ear, with Kazuya Komatsu’s arrangement enhancing its charm.

It’s the perfect track for reaffirming your bond with someone important or for encouraging someone who needs a lift.

SKY’s the limitboku no ririkku no bouyomi

Boku no Lyric no Boyomi – “SKY’s the limit” Music Video

A hidden gem by the artist Boku no Lyric no Boyomi, loved especially by music fans for his memorable vocals that resonate with listeners and his philosophical lyrics.

It’s a track where his subjective and objective selves are personified and expressed.

pennilessmūnraidāzu

Moonriders Skankin'

It became the theme song for the film The Detective Is in the Bar.

If you’ve seen the movie, you’ll know the worldview matches perfectly.

I was really happy, since I’ve always loved this song.

Reaching the 40-year mark is truly an achievement.

I hope this song will be loved by everyone along with the film.

tomorrowNoda Megumi

Manami Noda – Tomorrow (Official Music Video) [Thursday Theater: Theme Song of “My Treasure”]

Eimi Noda’s new song, written as the theme for the Fuji TV drama “My Treasure,” is a moving ballad that delicately portrays the pain and struggles of life.

Carried by beautiful piano and violin melodies, her clear, translucent vocals resonate deeply.

The lyrics capture attachment to unfulfilled dreams, lingering regrets, and the courage to take a step toward tomorrow, harmonizing perfectly with the drama’s worldview.

Released digitally on October 31, 2024, this marks Noda’s first theme song for a prime-time serial drama.

It’s a recommended track for those standing at a crossroads in life or looking to take a step forward.

Great JaurneyKIRINJI feat. RHYMESTAR

KIRINJI – The Great Journey feat RHYMESTER【LIVE】

Rhymester joined KIRINJI’s live show and delivered a magnificent performance.

It was a successful collaboration precisely because they recognize each other’s talents.

Truly a superb stage.

I’m sure those who attended the concert were filled with euphoria.

TokyoKetsumeishi

Tokyo

The essence of a bittersweet love song.

Set amid the bustle of the big city, it quietly sings—over a medium-tempo melody—of a protagonist who can’t forget the person they left back in their hometown.

Featured on Ketsumeishi’s album Ketsunopolis 4, released in June 2005, this track is unusual for the group, known for their brisk rap-infused numbers, as it minimizes the rap sections to deliver a tender, aching vocal performance.

It’s perfect for anyone grappling with the loneliness and nostalgia of the metropolis, and the unease of a self that’s changing.

A hidden gem packed with emotions everyone living in Tokyo has felt at least once.