Classic Japanese punk songs. Recommended popular tracks.
Speaking of punk rock, it’s a music genre that rose to popularity in the 1970s, born as an antithesis to the musical styles of the time.
From those origins, it has continued to be loved in Japan as well, intertwining with various genres along the way.
From the original punk that emerged in Europe and the U.S.
to hardcore punk, melodic core punk, and styles fused with ska and reggae—there’s a wide variety of music that falls under the punk umbrella!
In this article, we’ll introduce many Japanese songs that trace their roots back to punk rock.
Enjoy the simple, straightforward coolness.
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Classic Japanese punk songs. Recommended popular tracks (41–50)
The world calls it love.Sambomasutā
Sambomaster’s smash-hit punk number.
It’s also famous as the theme song for the popular drama “Densha Otoko.” The lyrics are pure and heartrending, and the melody line is filled with a prayer for love.
Most striking of all is the passionate, shouted vocals.
The voice calling for love and peace grips the listener’s heart.
Brimming with life energy, it leaves you feeling uplifted after you listen!
textbookZa Masumisairu
The Mass Missile are a flagship band of “seishun punk,” blasting out raw, straightforward feelings at full volume with an endearingly clumsy honesty.
They’ve long spoken for adolescent boys and given them courage.
They’re the ultimate punk band that belts out huge messages that seem to forgive all your misery and awkwardness—the sweat, the tears, and the uncool parts of yourself.
Artificial flowers laughACIDMAN
Although they’re a rock band, they’re beautifully refined in a good way.
The vocalist’s clear voice resonates in your chest.
Their lyrics are often moving and evoke all kinds of images.
“Zōka ga Warau” became their first major-label single.
This is where they started.
It’s still a staple at their live shows.
Miyakobe Fubukununchaku
Nunchaku, the legendary band from Kashiwa in Chiba that blazed through the ’90s and broke up simply because they were “bored.” Their distinctive, one-of-a-kind sound resembles no other band and is addictive.
I’m moved by their songs—freely released with all kinds of ideas—featuring throat-tearing shouts, heavily distorted guitars, rap, and a generous dose of hardcore elements.
Get UpMONOEYES
A song where Takeshi Hosomi seems to speak gently to the listener.
Having made his mark with ELLEGARDEN and the HIATUS, Hosomi has come full circle to a simple musical style, with a straightforward structure that makes this track very easy to listen to.
The lyrics are entirely in English again, and understanding them reveals Hosomi’s kind personality.
It has a refreshing feel that makes you want to play it on a weekend drive or motorcycle ride, and it has a level of polish that would resonate no matter what country you’re in.
Endless SorrowHEY-SMITH
HEY-SMITH is the first band that comes to mind as a representative of Japanese ska punk.
Their horn section and heavily distorted guitars are a perfect match, and their deep, masterful songwriting seamlessly blends everything from offbeat ska rhythms to ultra-fast two-beat tempos like magic.
Sometimes moody, sometimes danceable, they’re a ska punk band that has fired up festivals of every kind.
bare light bulbtaiyozoku
A song about a friend of vocalist-guitarist Hanao who quit his job after the Great East Japan Earthquake and began studying to become a doctor.
Precisely because of its simple structure, the spoken, conversational phrases carry a powerful weight and really get the words across.
Rather than just giving a simple push from behind, it’s a track that conveys the singer’s own passionate feelings and imparts a fiery strength to the hearts of those who listen.