By Request: Favorite Japanese Music (Erin)

Hey, this is Erin. I bet you’re all tired of hearing from me, huh? Anyway, this article is about music (duh), more specifically, it’s about the Tofugu writers’ personal favorites. Since Viet is busy (I can only assume) and Koichi is traveling at the moment, you get to hear from me first, haha.

My taste in music is pretty eclectic. I’m usually not into the flavor of the month idol or boy band, though I do have my “pop” moments every so often. Anyway, here are some of my favorite artists:

Ayano Tsuji Ayano Tsuji. If you’ve seen The Cat Returns (猫の恩返し), then you’ll recognize her from the theme song, Kaze ni Naru (風になる). She’s geek-chic, she plays the ukulele, she makes artsy music videos, what more could I want? The ukulele is my favorite part, as someone who grew up with it. She has that simple sort of untaught voice that’s absolutely charming, and consistently so, in all her songs.

 

The Pillows The Pillows. As a professed FLCL fan, how could I not adore The Pillows (their songs were largely featured in the super-cool anime)? They do alternative rock, “alternative” being the key word here. They can be peppy or laid back, irreverent or inspiring, and their lyrics are generally a blend of deep thoughts and random engrish. That’s just the kind of randomness I love in my music.

 

Rimi Natsukawa Rimi Natsukawa. She sings Okinawan folk music, which is might not appeal to everyone, but is really comforting to me. My favorite song of hers is 月の夜 which is more upbeat, a departure from Rimi’s usual ballads. Unfortunately, I lost my Rimi Natsukawa CD last summer, and I’m too broke to buy a new one. So, yeah, if any of you out there have it, please share with me D:

 

M-Flo m-flo. I like this group, comprised of DJ Taku Takahashi and emcee VERBAL, mainly for their collaborations with other artists. My favorite song of theirs has got to be Miss You (or m-flo loves Melody & Yamamoto Ryohei). The really addicting thing about their music is the fact that most of their lyrics are half English, half Japanese, which makes everything really fun to listen to.

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  • Kurisutofa
    Oh my! I love the Pillows! Just a couple years ago, my friend and I got to catch one of their concerts over in San Diego. Truely one of the best experiences I'll remember. Thanks for sharing. ^_^
  • Cody
    The Pillows are so over-rated. The greatest Japanese band, and possibly the best Rock 'n Roll act in history will always be B'z.

    B'z is comprised of world-renowned guitarist Tak Matsumoto, and vocalist Koshi Inaba. They have the highest record sales in all of Asia, and are among the highest-selling bands in the world.

    You can check their music out at http://www.bz-vermillion.com

    They have numerous videos on youtube as well.
  • Faith
    the pillows and m-flo are great!
  • I'll look these up... I desperately need to listen to new songs... Doesn't matter the language. Ayano Tsuji's was alright, how old is it? The Pillows were good. Natsukawa sounds like a pretty good singer. First time I listen to Japanese folk music. I heard Famurueta and Toki no Kawa. The m-flo song was pretty good. Out of all of these... surprisingly Rimi Natsukawa was my favorite. But I think I could listen to m-flo the longest. But that's just from listening to each artist once. Never saw FLCL, I guess I'll check it out since it's only six episodes.
  • Yeah, if you're into zebra-print leotards.

    But then again, maybe you are D: Haha.
  • Kurisutofa
    ..and it's the best 6 six episodes you'll ever watch. haha
  • It's not for everyone, but if you're into randomness, then HECK YES.
  • Onimusha Nosferatu
    "ride on shooting star" is such a fun song. i like how in the end of flcl the scooter moves w/ the music. that m-flo song is addicting. i like the one they did w/ crystal kay too.
  • Kurisutofa
    I can only dream of the day where I can ride a yellow Vespa and whacking people in the head with my guitar... -_-"
  • Sexy Beam
    I like m-flo from back when they had Lisa. Not that they're bad now, but I like them better from then.

    I'd say my personal favorite Japanese musical group would be Every Little Thing, though. Almost every song of theirs seems to be catchy, fun, but not the kind of songs that become overly annoying fast. I think my favorite songs from them would have to be "For the moment", "きみの て", and "Face the change".
  • Yeah, ELT has some pretty good stuff. I think I have a CD with a collection of their remixes.
  • Marc
    I love The Pillows! But in my opinion, Hybrid Rainbow is my favorite song! What's your favorite song from them erin?
  • King
    I haven't been listening to Pillows, hmmmm the comments made me curious to listen later, I love Ellegarden, specially the song "Mr.Feather (an AMV and here's the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2WJGLcrEp4 ) and Missing ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4132g8xsKnQ )". What are your thoughts?
  • nick
    ahhh 'summer time love' was just out when i was in tokyo, it was in loads of adverts but i'm not sure what they were about! I quite like thier jazzy ones on astromantic
  • Ride on Shooting Star~!
  • FLCL is wierd... the fact that I don't know Japanese is not helpful since its so fast and random. It's not bad, though! I didn't say that! But it's just random! Haha. It's good. Random. FLCL=Random. In the end of the episodes I'm like "HUH!?" Yet I get it, but I kinda don't. I'm on episode 5. I don't like watching 500 episodes of Anime or anything(Maybe HEROES) a day. I don't know how these people can just sit there on Youtube or Veoh and watch Naruto or GTO for like entire seasons in one sitting. I like to absorb what I'm watching and make it last. haha. But yeah, just saying FLCL, not bad.
  • Mohakun
    I like the R&B/Soul of Japanese music....and a hint of hiphop...Like A.I. -Story- is a really nice track. uhm whatelse, oh! I have to agree with Erin on M-Flo...they bring HipHop-R&B-Pop in one crazy mix, my favorite song of theirs is LET GO with Yoshika(she's very cute btw) lol....I like Hirai Ken's music, but i was told his gay? could somebody confirm that for me :/ It sort of blew me off a bit, but i still listen to his songs...oh and I like Def Tech but only two tracks HEART BREAKS and INORI featuring Sakura
  • Finished FLCL! NOT BAD! COMPLETELY CONFUSING AND RANDOM! BUT NOT BAD!
  • Onimusha Nosferatu
    what does fooly cooly mean?!
  • ZebraInk
    Uh, in like the first episode, I think they said it meant to fool around with someone, like, to do naughty things with them. Which sorta fits 'cuz 'The Vespa Woman' hits people with her guitar, and if you're a pervert, you get a horn. (That eventually turns into a robot thingy) (Don't question the show, every answer you get just induces more questions). v.v
  • That's what I'd like to know D:
  • Kurisutofa
    Runner's High
  • i really like that m-flo is one of the teriyaki boyz the hole Rip Slyme
    thing id really cool
    i fogot how there all conected but they are.
    the pillows are cool to but i can never find ride on shooting star any where
    speacking of flcl





    fooly cooly.......... makes me wonder ....what it means !
  • Onimusha Nosferatu
    verbal is in the teriyaki boyz. ilmari and ryo-z in the teriyaki boyz are also in rip slyme.
  • nick
    verbal gets everywhere
  • That slut.
  • Gaijin
    Oh, I love Rimi Natsukawa's music, especially when she sings てぃんさぐぬはな. 島歌 is also very nice, she does it even better than The BOOM.

    I also like The Pillows a lot :D
  • Hanako
    NATSUKAWA RIMI!! x3 I love Natsukawa Rimi!! My aunt in Okinawa made me listen to her when we were driving to the beach....I ended up liking her music a lot!

    m-flo is pretty awesome, too!
  • Aeeda
    ZOMG! I am on Tofugu withdrawal syndrome...! When is everyone coming back from holidays! :D I check this site ten times a day but no update... yet :P
  • Haha, well, Koichi's leaving for the mainland again in a couple of days. I told him to get his butt off my couch and write an article, but it's no use D:
  • Pretty enjoyable, but I think since I have such a short attention span, I need my music to be a little more... not "special", but maybe "different" for me to listen to it for long periods of time.
  • Mime777
    I don't know any of them... sorry! My favorite singer is Utada Hikaru. I don't know a lot of Japanese groups/singers, just those who are kindda well known like Ayumi Hamasaki, Asian kung-fu generation, Flow... o, and look for Mizuki Nana on youtube, you'll see, she's so good!
  • grace
    ahhhh too bad too bad --- you don't have any johnny's entertainment boys. MY FAVORITE BOY GROUP UNIT would be ------> ARASHI!!!!!!!! Ohno Satoshi (riida) is my absolute FAVORITE
  • my fav jpop bands are:

    1) Bump of Chicken
    2) Porno Graffitti
    3) Mr. Children
    4) Younha
    5) An Cafe (or antic cafe)
    6) Funky Monkey Babys
    7) Orange Range

    theyre all very good, and i love to practice my pronunciation when singing along with them.
  • Ryohei Kitamura
    MALE:
    The Gazette
    Gackt
    Verbal
    M-flo
    Ryohei Yamamoto
    Rag Fair
    Rip Slyme
    Home Made Kazoku
    Teriyaki Boyz
    V6
    D-51

    Female ^^ :
    Ai Otsuka
    koda kumi
    Aya ueto
    hikaru utada
    ...
  • Kirby
    Hey Erin. If you like Ayano Tsuji, then you might like Suneohair. When I heard the video you put into this blog, it reminded me of Suneohair. Sunehoair is really underrated and my favorite J-pop band out there.
  • Brian
    I'd have to say my favorite japanese music group would have to be the jazz group PE'Z. I'll have to check out the pillows and m-flo as well as all the others, and i have yet to see all of FLCL
  • Kevin
    girugameshhhh
  • NanaTorigawa
    I quickly look thru the comments and your post... and i guess i'm the only one crazy about the boyband Johnny's.. haha*Hide*
    I Just had to say that... hahaha
  • pigsta
    Great Article Erin. Why would we ever be tired of you? You're AWESOME! (^_^)
  • Una
    I like old gothic/new wave/post punk/synthpop groups such as G-Schmitt, Gille' Loves, Madame Edwarada, Buck-Tick, Soft Ballet, Dead End, Der Zibet... Mmm, delicious! ^^
  • あこすたかせゆ
    These are my top favorite J-rock bands:
    The Gazette
    Antic Cafe
    Alice Nine
    Asian Kung Fu Generation
    Chatmonchy
    Stance Punks
    Sambomaster
    Rythem

    but the pillows sound great and so does Tsuji. Oh btw FLCL is cool.
  • koalaraptor
    Amazing list! XD

    'nuff said.
  • Jake
    Ever heard of the Nujabes? Check 'em out. Featured in the anime Samurai Champloo.
  • Alyssa:]
    GACKT[[#1FangirlHere.HahaXD]], The GazettE, Dir en Grey, Antic Cafe, Malice mizer, and Utada Hikaru :D They are my favorite. Its mostly all Visual Kei Crapp :D
  • GJB995
    Good Choice in Anime, It was random and awesom. Wh did they stop it so shart?

    Haruko Iscrazy lol
  • greensky
    i like natsukawa rimi's song nada sou sou.
    and i really like listening masaharu fukuyama's song Tokyo :)
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