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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.

Playlist

Classic Japanese albums: must-listen recommendations
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastsailing dayBUMP OF CHICKEN
sailing dayBUMP OF CHICKENplay_arrow
A masterpiece album by BUMP OF CHICKEN
2eastNameless PoemMr.Children
Nameless PoemMr.Childrenplay_arrow
Mr.Children 'Shinkai': A dark, weighty masterpiece album
3eastYesterdayOfisharu Higedan Dism
YesterdayOfisharu Higedan Dismplay_arrow
Masterpiece album by Official HIGE DANDism
4eastLinda LindaTHE BLUE HEARTS
Linda LindaTHE BLUE HEARTSplay_arrow
The Blue Hearts’ classic early punk spirit
5eastKaiju no Hanabuta (Monster’s Flower Song)Vaundy
Kaiju no Hanabuta (Monster's Flower Song)Vaundyplay_arrow
Vaundy’s debut album, a masterpiece shining with talent and sensibility
6eastcherrysupittsu
cherrysupittsuplay_arrow
Spitz’s classic 1996 album Indigo Chiheisen
7eastOne Last KissUtada Hikaru
One Last KissUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
Hikaru Utada’s eighth album “BAD Mode”
8eastTonight is Boogie BackOzawa Kenji
Tonight is Boogie BackOzawa Kenjiplay_arrow
Kenji Ozawa's classic solo album
9eastPerfect-Sense DreamerONE OK ROCK
Perfect-Sense DreamerONE OK ROCKplay_arrow
A masterpiece album that marked ONE OK ROCK’s new beginning
10eastGive it some guts!!Urufuruzu
Give it some guts!!Urufuruzuplay_arrow
Masterpiece album by Ulfuls
11eastMarunouchi SadisticShiina Ringo
Marunouchi SadisticShiina Ringoplay_arrow
Shiina Ringo's debut album
12eastfestivalFuji Kaze
festivalFuji Kazeplay_arrow
Fujii Kaze’s 2nd album brimming with evolved musicality
13eastTeenager ForeverKing Gnu
Teenager ForeverKing Gnuplay_arrow
The appeal of King Gnu’s classic album CEREMONY
14eastBlue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLE
Blue and SummerMrs. GREEN APPLEplay_arrow
Expressing the musical evolution of Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s new work
15eastLovely melodySUGAR BABE
Lovely melodySUGAR BABEplay_arrow
A revolution in Japanese pop with SUGAR BABE’s debut
16eastDon’t give upZARD
Don't give upZARDplay_arrow
The Appeal and Characteristics of ZARD's “Yureru Omoi”
17eastUltramarine DaysToukyou Jihen
Ultramarine DaysToukyou Jihenplay_arrow
Tokyo Jihen's 1st album “Kyōiku (Education)”
18eastLemonYonezu Kenshi
LemonYonezu Kenshiplay_arrow
Kenshi Yonezu’s fifth album is original and highly acclaimed.
19eastSTORYWRITERSUPERCAR
STORYWRITERSUPERCARplay_arrow
Album introduction of SUPERCAR “HIGHVISION”
20eastHeroineback number
Heroineback numberplay_arrow
back number 5th album: A Collection of Love Songs
21eastfireworksaiko
fireworksaikoplay_arrow
Aiko’s signature work, “Under the Cherry Tree.” A masterpiece album depicting love.
22eastOh timeHoshino Gen
Oh timeHoshino Genplay_arrow
Gen Hoshino's life-force-brimming masterpiece album
23eastIt hurts.Kiyoshi Ryujin
It hurts.Kiyoshi Ryujinplay_arrow
A second album that expresses Ryujin Sei's inner conflict
24eastI LOVE YOUOzaki Yutaka
I LOVE YOUOzaki Yutakaplay_arrow
Yutaka Ozaki's debut album, Seishun no Sakebi (Cry of Youth)
25eastCan’t Say Anything… Summer
Can't Say Anything... Summerplay_arrow
90s Drama Theme Song Ballad Collection
26eastTo Your TownASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION
To Your TownASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATIONplay_arrow
Asian Kung-Fu Generation masterpieces
27eastShut up.Ado
Shut up.Adoplay_arrow
Ado’s debut major album tops the annual chart
28eastB BLUEBOØWY
B BLUEBOØWYplay_arrow
Introduction to BOØWY’s classic album, BEAT EMOTION
29eastThe strong and fleeting onesCocco
The strong and fleeting onesCoccoplay_arrow
Cocco’s second album: a massively successful classic
30eastFantasistaDragon Ash
FantasistaDragon Ashplay_arrow
Dragon Ash's multi-genre fusion album
31eastno.13ELLEGARDEN
no.13ELLEGARDENplay_arrow
ELLEGARDEN 2nd album masterpiece
32eastfrecklesJUDY AND MARY
frecklesJUDY AND MARYplay_arrow
JUDY AND MARY’s revolutionary masterpiece album
33eastROSIERLUNA SEA
ROSIERLUNA SEAplay_arrow
LUNA SEA’s representative work “MOTHER”
34eastto youMONGOL800
to youMONGOL800play_arrow
MONGOL800’s signature album
35eastParadiseTHE YELLOW MONKEY
ParadiseTHE YELLOW MONKEYplay_arrow
THE YELLOW MONKEY’s masterpiece album SICKS
36easttogether; along with; bothWANIMA
together; along with; bothWANIMAplay_arrow
WANIMA’s second album, released in 2018
37eastENDLESS RAINX
ENDLESS RAINXplay_arrow
X Japan's revolutionary album
38eastRobinsonsupittsu
Robinsonsupittsuplay_arrow
Spitz’s Honey is a masterpiece.
39eastBlack Ships (June 4, 1853, Kaei 6)Sadistic Mika Band
Black Ships (June 4, 1853, Kaei 6)Sadistic Mika Bandplay_arrow
The classic album “Kurofune” by Sadistic Mika Band
40eastfirecrackerYellow Magic Orchestra
firecrackerYellow Magic Orchestraplay_arrow
YMO’s debut work is innovative technopop
41eastFighting Fists, Angry SoulHi-STANDARD
Fighting Fists, Angry SoulHi-STANDARDplay_arrow
Hi-STANDARD’s revolutionary punk album
42eastDragon NightSEKAI NO OWARI
Dragon NightSEKAI NO OWARIplay_arrow
SEKAI NO OWARI's third album
43eastSenbonzakuraWagakki Band
SenbonzakuraWagakki Bandplay_arrow
An innovative debut album fusing traditional Japanese instruments and rock