[Japan] A collection of J-pop with a traditional Japanese (wa) vibe and Japanese-style taste

DancerFukkun:)Tatsuki Fukuda
Primarily active in Tokyo, I have experience as a backup dancer for artists, a music video dancer, and a commercial dancer. I continue to work as a dancer while also engaging in article production. After discovering Michael Jackson in junior high school, I began dancing in my second year of high school. Since starting dance, in addition to the J-Pop and Japanese rock I had been listening to, I began exploring Western R&B, rap, alternative music, and other tracks commonly used for dance. In elementary school, I spent three years in a choir, and because I love singing, I often go to karaoke for fun. These days, I enjoy a wide range of music, from Japanese rock and rap to K-pop.
Accompanist / Piano Instructoryuri
Accompanist pianist × piano instructor × web writer. I began piano lessons at age four and, inspired by my piano teacher, decided to pursue music. I went on to specialized music programs in high school and university, where I discovered the appeal of accompanying instrumentalists and singers. Currently, alongside teaching piano, I work mainly in my home region of Aichi as an accompanist for flute, voice, choir, and more. Through lessons, my students often introduce me to trending songs, and my hobby is trying anything on the piano—Japanese and Western pop, commercial jingles, and beyond. Since 2021, I’ve also been active as a web writer, covering music and a variety of other genres.

Many people probably feel that listening to songs with a Japanese (wa) vibe is calming, don’t you think?

Here, we’ve carefully selected and will introduce some exceptional masterpieces that let you feel that “wa.”

We’ve gathered tracks that evoke Japan’s seasons and hometown nostalgia, as well as songs that might not seem traditionally Japanese at first listen but use Japanese-flavored scales like the yo scale (yonanuki).

There are also pieces with classical-style lyrics or sounds that conjure a Japanese atmosphere in various ways.

Some even include intense EDM and aggressive rock tunes.

These are all wonderful tracks that reveal new sides of famous songs and highlight the charms of Japanese music!

Be sure to find a favorite “wa” song that resonates with your heart!

[Japan] A Collection of J-POP with Traditional Japanese/‘Wa’ Vibes (91–100)

O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsSakamoto Fuyumi

Fuyumi Sakamoto – Yozakura O-Shichi

O-Shichi and the Night Cherry BlossomsSakamoto Fuyumi

A signature and blockbuster song by Fuyumi Sakamoto, often performed at the year-end NHK Kōhaku Uta Gassen.

Released as her first single after the passing of her mentor, composer Komasa Inomata, it was an experimental venture that enlisted poet Amari Hayashi to write the lyrics.

The song’s lyrical world—based on the tale of ‘Yaoya Oshichi,’ the greengrocer’s daughter who set fires across Edo in a desperate wish to see a certain man again—is truly one of a kind.

Its up-tempo arrangement is another hallmark.

Please take your time and savor it as you listen!

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Taki no namida pin ku

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Honor in LoveWagakki Band

WagakkiBand / “Honor in Love” Behind the Scenes

Honor in LoveWagakki Band

This song by Wagakki Band evokes a powerful forward-driving energy with the sounds of taiko drums and the conch shell.

Written by vocalist Yuko Suzuhana as the theme song for “SumaPachi Gifū Dōdō!! ~Kanetsugu and Keiji~ 3,” it features the word “katamuki” (tilt), a term symbolic of Maeda Keiji, used strikingly in the lyrics.

Throughout, it conveys a sense of power to carve out the future.

While the band’s appeal often lies in the rich, layered sound that comes from having many members, this track particularly emphasizes a body-shaking rhythm.

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Passing down through storytellingHajime Chitose

Chitose Hajime “Passing Down Stories” Official Music Video

Passing down through storytellingHajime Chitose

Singer Chitose Hajime, who hails from the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Her 2002 release Wadatsumi no Ki became a hot topic as a soothing, healing song.

Among her works known for their high healing effect, the 2005 release Kataritsugu Koto is a track that strongly conveys both a Japanese aesthetic and nuances of folk music.

With its simple melody sprinkled with the exotic atmosphere of Amami folk songs, it’s a piece that reveals deeper richness the more you listen to it!

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In conclusion

Up to this point, we’ve introduced classic Japanese songs that evoke a distinctly traditional, Japanese atmosphere.

Perhaps you’ve discovered a new side to some well-known tracks and found yourself thinking, “The sound of Japanese music really is wonderful.” There are many ways to express Japanese elements—through sound, lyrics, and more.

This article will be updated going forward, so we hope you’ll stop by again.