[Japanese Rockabilly] A Spotlight on Japanese Rockabilly Songs and Musicians

Rockabilly is a music genre defined by its sprightly rhythms and an energetic yet cool sound.

Think slapping, grooving upright bass, shout-style vocals, and twist dancing—it’s like the essence of cool distilled into music.

In this article, we’ll be introducing Japanese rockabilly tracks.

Naturally, there are plenty of musicians in Japan who’ve been captivated by rockabilly.

This is especially recommended if you’re just getting into the genre!

Playlist

[Japanese Rockabilly] A Spotlight on Japanese Rockabilly Songs and Musicians
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	Farewell to Youthful DaysMAGIC		A classic 90s rockabilly song that captures the emotions of youth.
2	Hold Me, Crazy NightBLACK CATS		The appeal of rockabilly music from Harajuku
3	Sweet JukeboxThe Biscats		The charm of a cute rockabilly band
4	Blueberry Night HarajukuAono Misaki		A pop, sweet-and-sour Harajuku song
5	Run through the midnightHirubirī Bappusu		1987 single by the Hillbilly Bops
6	Love SpeedwayTHE MACKSHOW		The allure and emotion of purely homegrown Japanese rock ’n’ roll
7	Try again to youBLUE ANGEL		An iconic rockabilly song that gives you courage!
8	Bishibashi Pure Heart!Hirubirī Bappusu		A classic neo-rockabilly song from Harajuku
9	Tokyo RoseNakamori Akina		Akina Nakamori’s first rockabilly song, produced by Brian Setzer
10	It’s All RightSOUL OF LIBERTY		Rockabilly band, popular worldwide
11	Old StreetThe Sugar Nuts		A girls' band from Toyama with bittersweet melodies
12	READY TO ROCKTHE MODS		The soul of rock, THE MODS’ fiery anthem of support
13	I WANT YOU TO BE MY BABYLEARNERS		A rockabilly song that makes you want to dance!
14	IN THE MOONLIGHTShelly		A bittersweet love wrapped in moonlight
15	No Looking BackSPIKE		Fusion of slap sounds and melancholic melodies
16	HeartbreakM-BAND		Cool rock band from Kobe, Yoru no Uta
17	Even though (I/you/they) became stupidThe Pīzu		The Pees formed in 1987 and were active in the 1990s.
18	Set my soul aflameARB		A hot rock soul crying out in loneliness!
19	black jumperTHE NEATBEATS		A classic song that sings of love and passion for leather jackets
20	strippersawada kenji		The allure of Kenji Sawada’s bewitching songs
21	Sad Teddy BoyBLACK CATS		Rockabilly band continues to thrive after reunion
22	Burning BlueMAGIC		MAGIC’s final single, “EAT-MAN ’98”
23	In the seasonal breezeAkiko Urae		Akiko’s “In the Seasonal Wind” chosen as a TV drama’s theme song
24	GOODBYE,I LOVE YOUThe 5 TEARDROPS		Early singles by a rockabilly band
25	CRAZY LAZY NIGHTGRETSCH BROTHERS		Formation of a rockabilly unit, album recording
26	RED-RUM (Dreaming Bell Boy)BLANKEY JET CITY		The captivating songs of BLANKEY JET CITY
27	Rendezvous BeyondTerry&SLANG		Signature songs of a rockabilly fusion band
28	VIRGIN LOVEBLUE ANGEL		A melancholic rockabilly love song of youth
29	Our Rockabilly NightChekkāzu		Achieved No. 1 hit with an 80s CHECKERS song
30	G.I. Bluessasaki isao		Isao Sasaki is the Japanese Elvis Presley.
31	sliced cheeseTHE PEPPERMINT JAM		Rockabilly band THE PEPPERMINT JAM
32	Jelly Roll RodeoTOK¥O $KUNX		A rockabilly song that feels like riding a horse
33	Heisei Paingo!go!vanillas		With an upbeat rock feel and positive lyrics
34	Cat Poemkyatto furamenko dansāzu		A feline-like sense of dash, with captivating rockabilly tracks
35	Virgin MoonYoshikawa Koji		Kōji Kikkawa’s captivating werewolf song
36	The stars know everything.Hirao Masaaki		The famous song by rockabilly singer Masao Hirao
37	WATCH YOUR BACKCHIE HORIGUCHI		A solo track with a compelling, gritty guitar sound
38	Sentimental New YorkKu-rusu Rokabiri Kurabu		Cools' musical activities in the 1970s
39	In Love with RockabillyBirī Morokawa & Hābesuto Mūn		The soulful song of rockabilly singer Billy Morokawa
40	Do You KnowFurantsu Furīderu		Half-Japanese singer Franz Friedel, with a sweet voice
41	DianaYamashita Keijirō		Keijiro Yamashita covers Anka's song
42	Body Rockabillyhimecarat		A rockabilly-style idol song—passionate yet wistful.
43	Your BabyTerauchi Takeshi & Burū Jīnzu		Takeshi Terauchi and the Blue Jeans, representing the electric guitar boom
44	Tonpei’s Hey You BluesHidari Tonpei		Debut song: Tonpei Hidari's 1973 debut.
45	Since I was bornDesumachi Kantai		Asakusa Jinta's self-deprecating and energetic songs
46	Promenade in the RainMikkī Kāchisu to Za Samuraizu		Mickey Curtis, a versatile musician
47	Guns Of SaxophoneTRI4TH		Cool music that fuses rockabilly and jazz
48	I’m gonna cry (boo-hoo).Moriya Hiroshi		Signature songs of 1950s rockabilly singers
49	One-Eyed JackKatsumi Shigeru		Covering famous songs by anime theme song singers
50	Work SongBito Isao		Isao Bito’s famous song—the original is Western music
51	The subway’s last train runs today as well.Inoue Hiroshi		Rockabilly singer Hiroshi Inoue passes away at a young age
52	Black petalsMizuhara Hiroshi		Hiroshi Mizuhara from “Three Hiroshis,” award-winning song