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 (51–60)
Kiss Me AgainHi-STANDARD
It’s a heartwarming classic that opens with an unforgettable guitar riff.
“If I grow old and my appearance changes completely, will you still love me the same?” It expresses that slightly anxious yet straightforward question.
It’s filled with a pure, pure wish to “stay by my side forever.” Their unique charm lies in setting such innocent, earnest feelings to a fast-paced, melodic punk sound.
This track appears on the masterpiece Growing Up, released in November 1995.
It’s a song for everyone who, when thinking about the future with someone special, wants to believe in an unchanging love.
Mosh Under The Rainbow IIHi-STANDARD
Isn’t this the live anthem that shines brilliantly in Japan’s punk scene—Hi-STANDARD’s very own? The track is included on the classic album “MAKING THE ROAD,” released in 1999, which sold over 600,000 copies.
After the spoken-word intro, the laid-back beat and guitar riff built on triplets give it a vibe distinct from their other songs.
The English lyrics even say, “Let’s mosh under the rainbow!”—you can practically picture everyone linking arms and jumping together to the easygoing rhythm.
cesspool of shitSLANG
If you’re tired of conventional band sounds—thunderous noise, death growls, and blistering speed—then you need to hear the punk band SLANG.
Their brutally heavy sound blasts away daily boredom and lethargy, with an addictive quality and a trip-like sensation that feels like it hits your brain straight through your ears.
If possible, crank it at live-house volume and feel the vibrations of the sound in your guts.
DREAM OF WORLDRADIOTS
Radiots is a Japanese punk band that has kept running at the forefront, from the underground scene to major festivals.
With powerful beats, fast-paced songs, and catchy hooks and sounds, they make a strong impression as a punk band.
Their hairstyles and fashion are full of elements that punk fans will love, making them a band you can enjoy not only for their music but in many other ways as well.
Classic Japanese punk songs. Recommended popular tracks (61–70)
What should I call this throbbing?wasureranneeyo
Forgotten Leneyo, who debuted in 2008, their third single.
It’s a love song with a simple, straightforward melody line that’s just the best.
The singer asks God about the strange changes happening to them.
They don’t realize it’s the feeling of “being in love,” which makes it super heartbreaking.
By the time they recognize their true feelings, the person they like has already gone far away.
You can also tell their inspiration is surging, as if a new song is about to be born from the thrill of love.
Big Ol’ ClockHi-STANDARD
It is included on THE GIFT, their first album in 18 years, released in October 2017 and a chart-topping hit.
This song is a lyrical mid-tempo number that reins in the band’s signature sense of speed.
Its beautiful choral work and heartfelt ensemble gently embrace the sense of loss symbolized by a gaping hole in the heart and a stopped clock.
On a quiet night when you’re thinking of someone dear, it may stay close to your heart.
It has also been introduced at live shows as “a song we sang for the people of Fukushima,” and you can truly feel the earnest wish for someone reaching you straight on.
Rain ForeverHi-STANDARD
This track, included on Hi-STANDARD’s single “ANOTHER STARTING LINE,” which was released without prior notice in October 2016, features lyrics that liken a stagnant period in life to rain, leaving a deep emotional impact.
It conveys a message that will resonate with many: even though we get discouraged by repeated failures, there are things we gain precisely because there are things we lose.
Hi-STANDARD’s characteristically high-velocity sound rings out as if to sweep away that inner turmoil.
It’s a song with the power to push you forward when you’re feeling down and helpless, or when you’re hoping to take a step toward tomorrow.