RAG MusicR&B-Soul
Lovely R&B and soul

Recommended Japanese soul bands. Popular bands in Japan.

Soul music, a genre born in the United States around 1950.

Developed on a foundation of gospel and blues, soul has grown into one of the major waves that can now be called a global standard.

Naturally, many soul music bands are active in Japan as well.

In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of Japanese soul bands.

It should give you a glimpse into a slice of the Japanese soul music scene.

Be sure to check it out to the end.

Playlist

Recommended Japanese soul bands. Popular bands in Japan.
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1eastStay TuneSuchmos
Stay TuneSuchmosplay_arrow
Formed in 2013, a six-member band from Kanagawa...
2eastBombs are scary.Zainichi Fanku
Bombs are scary.Zainichi Fankuplay_arrow
A seven-member funk band formed in 2007. “Explos…
3north_eastTokyothe Lamb
Tokyothe Lambplay_arrow
The Lamb has recently been a hot topic among music fans...
4south_eastProfilePetorōruzu
ProfilePetorōruzuplay_arrow
A three-member band formed in 2005. The vocalist…
5eastTokyoEmerald
TokyoEmeraldplay_arrow
Emeral is a Ja... that was formed in 2011.
6eastGood day, goodbyeyonawo
Good day, goodbyeyonawoplay_arrow
yonawo is a new-generation neo-... formed in Fukuoka
7east2:10 AM (the next day)Penthouse
2:10 AM (the next day)Penthouseplay_arrow
Penthouse is a six-member group originating from the University of Tokyo…
8eastThe Theme of Sesame OilGomaabura
The Theme of Sesame OilGomaaburaplay_arrow
Gomaabura is a soul ba… based in Tokyo.
9eastPoolMonenai
PoolMonenaiplay_arrow
Monenai has been based in Tokyo since 2018…
10eastkissORIGINAL LOVE
kissORIGINAL LOVEplay_arrow
Formed in 1986. Made their major debut in 1991...
11eastMoonlight BeerhallUdagawa Bekkan Bando
Moonlight BeerhallUdagawa Bekkan Bandoplay_arrow
Formed in 2010, an eight-member band from Shibuya’s Udagawa…
12eastTime is deadMOUNTAIN MOCHA KILIMANJARO
Time is deadMOUNTAIN MOCHA KILIMANJAROplay_arrow
A six-member ins… formed in Saitama Prefecture in 2003
13eastBaby who doesn’t danceodoru! disuko muromachi
Baby who doesn't danceodoru! disuko muromachiplay_arrow
Dancing! Disco Muromachi was formed in June 2012…
14eastTransistor radioRC sakuseshon
Transistor radioRC sakuseshonplay_arrow
RC Succession is led by Kiyoshiro Imawano...
15eastquick sandŌsaka=Monorēru
quick sandŌsaka=Monorēruplay_arrow
Formed in 1992, a nine-member funk band. “...
16eastHeadlightMime
HeadlightMimeplay_arrow
Mime, a Tokyo-based band, has relea…
17eastBaka SurvivorUrufuruzu
Baka SurvivorUrufuruzuplay_arrow
Debuted in 1992, the one and only, Japan’s…
18eastThe Monster of Summertsuru
The Monster of Summertsuruplay_arrow
Formed in 2003, made their major debut in 2008…
19eastFUNKY Oolong TeaSUPER BUTTER DOG
FUNKY Oolong TeaSUPER BUTTER DOGplay_arrow
A five-member group formed in 1994 and disbanded in 2008…
20eastmy juiceZuttodzureteruzu
my juiceZuttodzureteruzu
It’s a funk band formed in 2008. In high school...
21eastDance at Nightfurenzu
Dance at Nightfurenzuplay_arrow
Formed in 2015, a five-member co-ed group, a “Shinsen-kei” ban...
22eastIt’s Who We AreNulbarich
It's Who We AreNulbarichplay_arrow
A five-member band formed in 2016, Nulbar…
23eastGather Round feat. Matzuda HiromuWONK
Gather Round feat. Matzuda HiromuWONKplay_arrow
A four-piece experimental band formed in 2013…
24eastWeekend is a soul bandOmoide Yarō A Chīmu
Weekend is a soul bandOmoide Yarō A Chīmuplay_arrow
In 2009, I belonged to the jazz club at Tama Art University…
25eastAliensKirinji
AliensKirinjiplay_arrow
By the elder brother, Takaki Horigome, and the younger brother, Yasuyuki Horigome...
26eastThe eve of revolutionTempalay
The eve of revolutionTempalayplay_arrow
We are a three-piece band based in Tokyo...
27eastSummer Soulcero
Summer Soulceroplay_arrow
Cero was formed in 2004 by Shohei Takagi and ...
28eastShooting StarPAELLAS
Shooting StarPAELLASplay_arrow
PAELLAS is a Tokyo-based 20...
29eastCruisin’ Cruisin’bonobos
Cruisin’ Cruisin’bonobosplay_arrow
A five-member band formed in 2001. Soul and…
30eastmistakesOvall
mistakesOvallplay_arrow
Incorporating elements of soul, jazz, hip-hop, and more…
31eastpeace & loveLainy J Groove
peace & loveLainy J Grooveplay_arrow
From Kyoto: “Rough Urban Soul in Ja…”
32eastTiger & DragonCRAZY KEN BAND
Tiger & DragonCRAZY KEN BAND
Formed in 1997. This is truly “Japanese-made soul…”
33eastLast numberScoobie Do
Last numberScoobie Doplay_arrow
Formed in 1995, a four-member funk band. 6...
34eastNew Morninghaikarasan
New Morninghaikarasanplay_arrow
Formed in 2006. Influenced by music from the 1960s and ’70s...
35eastTo be happyFLYING KIDS
To be happyFLYING KIDSplay_arrow
A seven-member group formed in 1988 and disbanded in 1998 f…
36eastriskKroi
riskKroiplay_arrow
A talented band that fuses a wide range of genres
37eastcircusshowmore
circusshowmoreplay_arrow
showmore is a sophisticated jazz/R&B sound unit
38eastAbout Apples, Forrest Gump — What It Means to Keep RunningLee & Small Mountains
About Apples, Forrest Gump — What It Means to Keep RunningLee & Small Mountainsplay_arrow
It originally had a band setup, but now...