Classic Japanese albums: must-listen recommendations
In Japan’s music scene, there are countless outstanding classic albums that continue to resonate in people’s hearts across generations.
These masterpieces possess a timeless appeal that transcends trends and never fades.
Perhaps you, too, have an unforgettable album that holds a special place in your heart.
While the value of music varies with each person’s memories and sensibilities, the Japanese albums widely celebrated by many listeners are packed with undeniable charm.
In this article, we’ll introduce carefully selected classic Japanese albums that have been loved across eras and generations.
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Masterpieces of Japanese music: Must-listen recommended albums (1–10)
Tonight is Boogie BackOzawa Kenji
This is the landmark second solo album released in 1994 by Kenji Ozawa, formerly of Flipper’s Guitar.
It was voted the No.
1 Japanese album of the ’90s by music magazines, and many of its tracks brightened living rooms across the country as singles and commercial songs.
Rooted in funk and soul, with dazzling brass and strings dancing through the arrangements, the sound feels like a blissful dream.
Thirty years after its release, a full recreation concert featuring an all-star lineup was held, reaffirming the album’s timeless appeal.
An overwhelming sense of euphoria runs through the whole record, paired with lyrics that capture everyday scenes as if by magic.
It’s an album with a mysterious power: once you listen, even your usual walk home can gleam like a scene from a movie.
Perfect-Sense DreamerONE OK ROCK
ONE OK ROCK’s 4th album, hailed as “a masterpiece of complete awakening and leap forward”! Overcoming the adversity of a member’s departure, this work, created by the newly formed four-piece, plays like a rock documentary that marks their true fresh start.
“Wherever you are” became a massive hit through a commercial and even turned into a wedding staple, showing just how profoundly this album has resonated with people.
Without pandering to any particular crowd and staying committed to the essence of music, that resolve pulses through the entire record—from aggressive sounds to sweeping ballads.
It’s an album that gives a powerful push when you want to trust your own path and move forward.
Give it some guts!!Urufuruzu
A monumental masterpiece that stands as a pinnacle of Ulfuls’ career—one that makes you want to shout from the heart, “I’m so glad I love them!” Released in 1996 as their third album, it became a million-seller and catapulted the band into stardom.
Riding on a soulful, powerful sound, the songs belt out straightforward expressions of love and odes to life with a timeless charm that hasn’t faded one bit.
On tough days, it cheers you on with “Guts Da Ze!!,” and it affirms the feelings you have for someone important.
If you’re looking for a boost from honest, straight-shooting words, this is the album you’ll want to pick up.
Japanese music masterpieces: Must-listen recommended albums (11–20)
Marunouchi SadisticShiina Ringo
This is the enormously famous first album by Ringo Sheena, who made a sensational debut in 1998.
Drawing on a background of rock, jazz, and Japanese pop chanson, her explosive talent on this record sent shockwaves through the music scene in 1999.
Featuring hits like “Kabukicho no Joou” and “Koko de Kiss Shite.,” many listeners likely remember hearing these songs in commercials and TV dramas.
Written largely in her teens, the tracks fuse a precarious raw impulse with an astonishing level of expression that seems far beyond her 20 years.
The jolt that upended the conventions of J-Pop hasn’t faded one bit even today.
For those bored with formulaic music, this might be a record that pierces straight to the heart.
festivalFuji Kaze
Singer-songwriter Fujii Kaze’s second album, which won the CD Shop Award Grand Prize and became a hot topic.
After drawing attention with his piano performances on YouTube, Fujii Kaze quickly rose to the top ranks of artists, and this record is packed with a further-evolved musicality compared to his previous work.
It includes several major tie-in tracks, such as Kirari, familiar from Honda’s VEZEL commercial.
Its groovy sound freely moves between pop, R&B, and funk, lifting listeners’ spirits.
The album’s warm, overarching message—“Love all, serve all”—gently wraps anxious hearts and gives a quiet push forward, like an anthem for life.
Why not listen when you want to add a touch of color to your everyday life?
Teenager ForeverKing Gnu
A landmark album by King Gnu, a band drawing attention for their overwhelming musical sensibility.
One of their key attractions is each member’s exceptional musicianship.
Their groove-heavy performances appeal to connoisseurs, while also weaving in a catchy pop sense that resonates with a wide range of listeners.
This duality—and the balance they strike—is outstanding, and the more you listen, the more it pulls you in.
Their album CEREMONY, released in January 2020, debuted at No.
1 on the Oricon Albums Chart.
It has sold over 500,000 copies and was certified Double Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.
The album includes tracks used as theme songs for TV dramas and films, and with lyrics that truly hit home, it’s sure to become a record that stays by your side in everyday life.
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s album “Attitude” is a work that symbolizes their musical evolution.
Released in October 2019, the album marked a new milestone in the band’s career.
It presents a unique sound that fuses various genres such as pop, rock, funk, and jazz.
As a record that showcases the breadth of Mrs.
GREEN APPLE’s musicality and their experimental spirit, it’s recommended for anyone seeking new musical discoveries.