Japanese rock/pop bands recommended for men

FateOfisharu Higedan Dism

Official HIGE DANDism – Fate [Official Video]

Official HIGE DANDism, a four-piece piano pop band from Shimane Prefecture, began their journey by pursuing a fresh pop sound rooted in the members’ diverse musical backgrounds.

Building on J-pop and pop rock, they blend elements of Black music, soul, and even metal to craft a unique sonic world.

They released their indie album “Love and Peace Are Within You” in 2015 and made their major-label debut in 2018.

Soon after, they provided the theme song for Fuji TV’s prime-time Monday 9 p.m.

drama, quickly rising to prominence.

In 2019, they won Best New Artist Video at MTV VMAJ 2018, and their albums “Traveler” and “Editorial” earned back-to-back Grand Prizes at the CD Shop Awards.

Incorporating technopop elements as well, their music captivates many listeners with its pleasant melodies and distinctive vocals.

Summer IllusionOmoinotake

Omoinotake / Summer Illusion [Official Music Video]

Omoinotake is a three-piece band from Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, taking flight onto the global stage.

With the unique lineup of keyboards, bass, and drums, their sound is strongly influenced by Black music.

They made their major-label debut in November 2021 with the album EVERBLUE on Sony Music Labels.

Their street performance in Shibuya drew over 500 people, and they’ve gained major attention with their songs featured as TV drama themes.

They are close with members of Official HIGE DANDism, and all three were born in 1992, making them a same-year classmates band.

Their appeal lies in clear falsetto vocals and arrangements brimming with an easy, infectious groove, as they continue to pursue a fresh, genre-defying musicality.

They’re a perfect fit not only for R&B fans but also for any music lover seeking something new.

hundreds of millions of light-yearsOmoinotake

Omoinotake | Hundreds of Millions of Light-Years [Official Music Video]

Omoinotake is a three-piece band from Matsue, Shimane Prefecture, known for their distinctive sound strongly influenced by Black music such as soul, R&B, and hip-hop.

Featuring Reo Fujii’s soaring vocals and piano, Tomoaki Fukushima on bass, and Hironoshin Tomita on drums, they’ve drawn attention as a rare guitar-less band.

They made their major-label debut in November 2021 with their first EP, “EVERBLUE,” on Sony Music Labels, and in 2024 provided the theme song for the drama “Eye Love You,” starring Fumi Nikaido.

Even before their major debut, they showcased their abilities with street performances in Shibuya starting in 2017, drawing crowds of over 500 people at their peak.

Expressing Black music through a uniquely band-oriented approach, their sound is recommended not only for traditional rock fans but also for listeners who love R&B and soul.

Rock ‘n’ Roll ShowRC sakuseshon

Rock’n Roll Show

RC Succession is a rock band formed around Kiyoshiro Imawano.

Even people who aren’t music fans have probably heard countless classics from them, led by “Ameagari no Yozora ni” (“In the Night After the Rain”) and “Slow Ballad,” a song beloved and covered by many artists.

They first drew attention in 1972 with “Boku no Suki na Sensei” (“My Favorite Teacher”), and their later achievements are spoken of to this day.

While their music has a broadly accessible ease of listening, it shines with songs that speak directly and simply, set to R&B-inflected rhythms.

Their lyrics, which resonate with that initial spark of youthful impulse—a roguish charm you might find yourself missing—are part of their appeal.

Their contributions to establishing rock in the Japanese language are immeasurable.

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KEI

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Why I’m MeRIZE

RIZE 『Why I’m Me』Music Video

Formed in 1997, the Japanese three-piece rock band RIZE delivers a unique sound that fuses a wide range of genres, including mixture rock, alternative rock, nu metal, and punk rock.

They made their major debut in August 2000 with the release of the album “ROOKEY.” After relocating their base of operations to Los Angeles, they expanded their activities overseas, including a U.S.

tour with Kottonmouth Kings.

In December 2017, they proved their prowess by successfully holding the first Nippon Budokan concert in the band’s history.

With passionate messages and overwhelming performances, RIZE continues to leave a powerful mark on the J-rock scene, offering a moving experience with their heartfelt, high-energy sound.

Not fleetingSUPER BEAVER

SUPER BEAVER “Not Ephemeral” MV (Theme song for the film ‘Tokyo Revengers 2: Bloody Halloween Arc -Decisive Battle-’)

Despite a career with its ups and downs, the four-piece rock band SUPER BEAVER has spectacularly broken through in the past few years.

Of course, vocalist Ryota Shibuya’s exceptional expressiveness and vocal ability are key, but it’s also their songs and live performances—delivering passionate messages to each individual listener—that have earned them the support of many fans.

In addition, they’ve produced numerous tie-in tracks for anime and films, giving them high name recognition even among listeners who don’t usually listen to rock.

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Hane Keisuke

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I don’t want to let go.T-BOLAN

T-BOLAN “I Don't Want to Let Go” Music Video

They made their debut with “Kanashimi ga Itai yo,” but on their first album all the other tracks were self-written, and among them, “Hanashitaku wa Nai” became their biggest hit.

After that, T-BOLAN alternated between releasing songs with driving, up-tempo beats and ballads.

Note that the lyrics of the first verse’s B section differ between the single version and the album version of this song.

It’s a classic you’ll want to listen to with that in mind.