Carefully selected Japanese songs with a Latin flavor! Recommended J-POP brimming with exotic vibes
Do you like Latin-flavored music?
Listening to it can make you feel uplifted or sense a sultry atmosphere—there are so many different charms, aren’t there?
Latin music generally refers to music from Central and South America, characterized by a passionate, enigmatic vibe that makes you want to start dancing.
In this article, we’ve gathered J-pop songs that exude an exotic, foreign flair, focusing on Latin-inspired tracks.
Even within Latin music, both the style and the level of energy vary from song to song, so enjoy the differences between them!
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Carefully selected Japanese songs with a Latin flavor! Exotic J-POP recommendations (71–80)
CHA-CHA-CHAIshii Akemi
This song was originally released in 1985 by the Italian dance group Finitzi-Contini, and Akemi Ishii covered it the following year, in 1986.
It became the theme song for the TV drama “Danjo 7-nin Natsu Monogatari” (Seven Men and Women: Summer Story), and this cheerful, Latin-flavored tune became a hit.
Ishii later also covered “Lambada,” which was another hit.
Matsuken SambaMatsudaira Ken
Despite the rather jarring combination of samba and Shogun Yoshimune, it was a song that left a strong impact.
The music video, featuring lots of ladies-in-waiting as backup dancers, is quite entertaining as well.
That said, this is a new kind of entertainment, and people from the home of samba might say it’s something entirely different.
Perhaps it’s similar to how “Fuji-yama geisha” looks from a Japanese perspective.
All the love I haveShiatāburukku
A passionate Spanish guitar reminiscent of flamenco sets the stage, followed by the rhythm section, lead vocals, and backing chorus stoking the song’s fire—“Arittake no Ai.” This track was released in 2000 by the funk band Theatre Brook, who celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2016.
You can especially feel the influence of Latin music in the band’s grooves and vocal style.
Beyond the performance, their emphasis on the “sun” also conveys a Latin sensibility.
It’s a fiery track that makes you want to listen in the height of summer!
Carefully Selected Japanese Songs with a Latin Flavor! Recommended J-POP Full of Exotic Atmosphere (81–90)
Museumkakoimiku
A 2007 classic by singer Kakoimiku, released under the production of Hideyuki Komatsu.
Its use of percussion and harmonic flavor evokes Latin music, making it an incredibly smooth and delightful hidden gem that captures the feeling of an early summer night.
Gardenia blossomWatanabe Tetsuya
At first glance, this song tends to be seen as just a run-of-the-mill kayōkyoku number, but the backing musicians’ performance and arrangement are richly infused with a Latin flavor, and the use of Latin percussion is superb.
Riding on that, Watanabe’s halting, kayōkyoku-style vocals create a striking dual structure with the instrumentation—surely one of the key points worth listening for.
You decided that.Sakamoto Shintarō
A masterpiece included on the first solo album released by Shintaro Sakamoto, the former frontman of the Japanese rock band Yura Yura Teikoku after the band’s breakup.
From the intro’s guitar and percussion, it evokes a Latin flavor, making it a standout track with a sound reminiscent of Latin AOR.
Woman of the Red FlameSazan Ōrusutāzu
The Spanish-style music performed by Southern All Stars feels a bit different from other Latin-influenced songs, doesn’t it? The lyrics are about lesbians, and in terms of sound, Kuwata’s voice and singing style evoke not so much passion as a faint sense of danger and the depths of human nature.
If a song with that atmosphere flows over a Latin groove, there’s simply no reason not to be captivated (lol).
His husky voice enhances the track even more.
And the genius is that even this kind of sound gets turned into pure “Southern” style.
