Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Following the release of 1st mini-album "Pinky Fluffy", here comes a 2nd one from girl group She's a Rainbow. Featuring members Lin Oberndorff, Kokoa, Mio Amakawa and Nanako Aoyama, the group is produced by Sally Kubota (Wink Music Service, The Scooters, ex-The Phantom Gift, ex-Les 5-4-3-2-1, ex-SOLEIL).

This time again, included are some self-covers of SOLEIL ("Good Bye, Teddy Bear" and "Marine I Love You") and Les 5-4-3-2-1 ("Un-Deux-Trois"), all of which were newly translated to English. Also included are covers of The Rolling Stones' "Gomper" and Eric Donaldson's "Cherry Oh Baby" (also covered by UB40 and The Rolling Stones). The CD comes in a 7"-sized package, with a 16-page photo booklet.

The musicians are Sally Kubota on bass, Hideki "Gen" Hara on drums, Nero on guitar (and other instruments), and Takashi Itani on percussions. The arrangements were done by Sally and Nero. The whole was mixed and mastered by Seiki Satō.

Aside from the links below, those in Japan can also order from the label's online shop Merurido.

On Saturday, April 25, an in-store event will be held at Merurido in Kawagoe (Saitama prefecture) from 13:00, with a mini-live of She's a Rainbow (with percussionist Takashi Itani) and talk time with MC Sally Kubota, followed by an autograph session. To attend, the new release's CD must be either purchased there or brought from home, and an R.S.V.P. must be made via email (places are subject to limited availability). Find details and event reservation instructions here.

Also, a live event will be held on Sunday, May 24 at mona records in Shimokitazawa. Find details and purchase tickets here.

She's a Rainbow "Un-Deux-Trois"

1. Gomper
2. Good Bye, Teddy Bear
3. Un-Deux-Trois
4. Marine I Love You
5. Gomper (Reprise)
6. Cherry Oh Baby

Girls At Our Best ODGB006
Out 4/24, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Have a Nice Day! (Instagram, 𝕏, YouTube) has released a brand new album titled "Cloud Nine", with a catch copy that says "Music for dancing between reality and illusion, despair and hope". The album is available on CD, download/streaming services, but also on Bandcamp digitally at the price you'll name (or even free).

This album is the follow-up to last year's "Dystopia Romance 5.0", of which the series started back around 2016.

Have a Nice Day! "Cloud Nine"

1. Undeterred by the rain
2. Drive
3. ROCKSTEADY
4. Summertime
5. Come Together
6. Still Life
7. Blood
8. Wave
9. Rollin'
10. prayer prayer

ASOBiZM ASBZM-0003
Out 5/1, ¥3000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Bandcamp, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Record Store Day 2026 will be held worldwide on Saturday, April 18. Below is a list of recommended releases coming from Japan. The full list of Record Store Day Japan can be found here. Online sales in Japan should start when the date changes to Monday, April 20, at midnight JST (according to some sources).

The global Record Store Day site is where to find international listings.

3776 "Good Night wa kirai" (7")
3776 「Good Nightは嫌い」

Two Moonriders-related covers by idol 3776 (read Minanaro) a.k.a. Chiyono Ide. The A-side is an early single cut from the upcoming tribute album "Adventures in Modern Recording by Tohru Okada" to be released on April 23. The song "Good Night wa kirai" was written by Tohru Okada (Moonriders) and originally sung by Tsukasa Itō. The B-side is from another Moonriders tribute album, "16 Songs of Hirobumi Suzuki" (released in 2024). Moonriders' keyboardist Tohru Okada passed away in 2023.

A. Good Night wa kirai
B. MR.SUNSHINE (3x7x7x6 Edit)

Narisu Records NARO-3776
Out 4/18, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

TESTSET "All Haze" (12")

The latest album of post-METAFIVE super group TESTSET, featuring Yoshinori Sunahara, Leo Imai (both ex-METAFIVE), drummer Shirane Kenichi (GREAT3) and guitarist Seiichi Nagai (ex-sōtaiseiriron). It was first released last October on CD (CDJapan, Amazon ,HMV) and digitally (, Spotify, YouTube Music). Pink color vinyl.

A1. Dry Action Pump
A2. Vapour Cream
A3. Neuromancer
A4. Enso
B1. Coptic Feet
B2. Deleter
B3. Rabbit Hole
B4. The Haze
B5. Initiation

Warner Music / Jet Set JSLP274
Out 4/18, ¥5000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

The Scooters "Hey Girl / kanashii uwasa" (7")
ザ・スクーターズ 「Hey Girl / かなしいうわさ」

Single cut of two songs from The Scooters' 2012 album "Une Manche et La Belle" (Japanese title "onna wa nando mo shōbu suru"). The A-side "Hey Girl" is a song with music written by Kyōhei Tsutsumi and lyrics by Jun Hashimoto, and the B-side "kanashii uwasa" was written by Konishi Yasuharu (ex-Pizzicato Five).

A. Hey Girl
B. kanashii uwasa

Hotwax Trax SD-564
Out 4/18, ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV

Yuko Ogura "onna no ko ♡ otoko no ko / koi no jumon wa papapipupa" (7")
小倉優子 「オンナのコ♡オトコのコ / 恋の呪文はパパピプパ」

First vinyl edition of Yūko Ogura's 3rd single, first released only on CD in 2004.

A. onna no ko ♡ otoko no ko
B. koi no jumon wa papapipupa

King Record NDS-1069
Out 4/18, ¥2700 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Den Baron "Friends" (12")

New collaboration album by Germany's Den Baron, the solo unit of Sven Keller. Featured are several Japanese artists: Mayumi Ikemizu (Three Berry Icecream), Hideki Kaji, Megumi Mashiro (Hicksville, Modern Choki Chokies, etc.), Osamu Shimada (The Caraway), and Gōta Nishidera (Nona Reeves). Includes a download code.

A1. may monday never come with Martin Nelte
A2. t-shirt day with Mayumi Ikemizu
A3. swedish pop with Hideki Kaji
A4. tokyo by neonlight with Megumi Mashiro
B1. the groove café with Osamu Shimada
B2. dance friends with Gota Nishidera
B3. homerecording (* with Mark Cohen (Digital download only))
B4. monday morning working blues with Per Sunding
(* Because of a mistake, the B3 track pressed is a demo version. The final version with Mark Cohen is included only as a digital download.)

blue-very label
Out 4/18, ¥4000 (excl. tax)
Order: disques blue-very, Tower (Japan only)

Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass "Homecoming" (7")

First 7" release of girl garage punk band Akabane Vulgars on Strong Bypass formed in 2005. These are new recordings of songs that had been played in their shows, such as on their new live album "FUTURE BABIES Live at Shimokitazawa Flowers Loft" (, Spotify).

A. Homecoming
B. 2049 (Imaginal cell ver.)

ABOSB Music AKBN-003
Out 4/18, ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Newest Model "Greatest Hits ~ The Best of Early Soul Flower 1986-1993" (2x12"
ニューエスト・モデル 「GREATEST HITS～THE BEST OF EARLY SOUL FLOWER 1986-1993」

Newly compiled greatest hits album of the pre-Soul Flower Union band: Newest Model. Based on the 1998 compilation "Beast Hits", it was renewed for the 40th anniversary of the band's debut. All singles included are in their original single mix version.

A1. (YOU MUST GO) FEELING FUCKIN' AROUND
A2. EMPTY NOTION
A3. UNDER THE CLOUDS
A4. REVENGE OF SOUL SURVIVOR
A5. STRUGGLING IN THE KOTATSU
B1. LAND OF A MILLION CROSSBREED
B2. MONSTER OF LIGHT
B3. SEALED CHAMBER CALLED CAR
B4. IMPOTENT SYMPTOM
C1. BUGGY & COFFIN
C2. THE FORMALISTS' BLUE
C3. THE BOILING POINT IN PLAUSIBLE TWO'S COMMUNICATION
C4. MASS COMMUNICATION ENFOLDS YOU GENTLY (Part.2)
C5. TEN-YEAR VETERAN'S SUMMIT OPERATION
D1. GET THE KNOWLEDGE, FREE YOUR MIND, RIDE YOUR CYCLE ! (Part.1)
D2. SOUL FLOWER CLIQUE IS THE UNIVERSAL INVADER
D3. THE MOLE AND THE MATSURI

BM tunes XBVN-0031/2
Out 4/18, ¥6000 (excl. tax)
Order: Jet Set, Tower (Japan only)

Ryuichi Sakamoto + Danceries "The End of Asia" (12")
坂本龍一+ダンスリー 「エンド・オブ・エイシア」

Re-issue of the now rare album first released in 1982.

A1. Dance
A2. 2 Rondes
A3. Fa La La La La Lán
A4. Boku No Kakera
A5. Instrumental Motet; In Seculum
A6. Grasshoppers
B1. Pour Ce Se D'Amer
B2. The End Of Asia
B3. L'Entrada Del Ten Clar, Eya
B4. stampitta: Isabella
B5. River

Gearbox Records GB4001RSD
Out 4/18, ¥4909 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Air-Con Boom Boom Onesan (𝕏, Instagram), a.k.a. Konneki, has released a new single digitally! "Inumatian" is a new original with music written and produced by CMJK (Cutemen, ex-Denki Groove), with words written by Konneki. The B-side "The Walk" is a cover of The Cure. Check out the short version music video of "Inumatian" below, and find the single on your favorite download/streaming platform.

Since the release of "Koyou", a remix EP of this song was also released digitally: , Spotify, YouTube Music.

Air-Con Boom Boom Onesan can be seen live on April 26 at event "Scrambled Signal! 2" to be held at Shibuya FS. Details and tickets can be found here.

AIR-CON BOOM BOOM ONESAN "INUMATIAN c/w The Walk" (Download)
AIR-CON BOOM BOOM ONESAN 「イヌメシアン c/w The Walk」

1. INUMATIAN
2. The Walk

SSST
Out now (4/15)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

"Inumatian" (Short ver.)

MEWCATUNE (Instagram, 𝕏), an idol group formed in 2021 in Niigata, has a new double-A-side single out now of which the song "My Stories Slipping Away" was written and arranged by Frenesi (Instagram, 𝕏), of which she explains that the title is an homage to Françoise Hardy's "Ma jeunesse fout le camp". The other song "Kitto Seikai" was written by Daisuke Adachi (of the Kyoto-based group Emerald Four).

The single is available on CD and on download/streaming platforms.

MEWCATUNE can next be seen in Tokyo on Sunday April 12 at Nishi-Eifuku Jam, in an early morning event (starting at 10:50). There are more Tokyo events to follow on April 18 and 19. Find details and check out their full schedule here.

MEWCATUNE "My Stories Slipping Away / Kitto Seikai"
MEWCATUNE 「もう物語なんていらない / きっと正解」
(Japanese title: "mō monogatari nante iranai / kitto seikai")

1. My Stories Slipping Away
2. Kitto Seikai

musictrace MTSKT040
Out now (4/1), ¥1200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Omodaka, the solo project of Sōichi Terada that blends techno and Japanese traditional minyō, has released a new full-length album of 19 songs! Along with some new material, included are also latest mixes of many favorites. Find it on download/streaming platforms, or as a nice-priced CD.

Check out the recent music video of the song "Donpan Bushi" below, and find more to watch on his YouTube channel.

"Bleep. Bloom. Beyond. Omodaka's 35-year techno-folk travelogue--farther down the road. All the post-pandemic digital releases. Early '90s Akiko Kanazawa house-mix echoes. Plus new material--19 tracks total."

On Sunday April 19, Omodaka will plat at Oinari Fest. at Tatebayashi Obiki Inari Shrine in Gunma prefecture, to be held from 11:00 to 16:00. Find details here.

Omodaka "Tinsagu Nu Hana"

1. Ina Bushi (2026 Mix)
2. Dodarebachi (2026 Mix)
3. Donpan Bushi (2026 Mix)
4. Mamurogawa Ondo (2026 Mix)
5. Tinsagu Nu Hana
6. Yosakoi Bushi (2026 Mix)
7. Owase Bushi (2026 Mix)
8. Hokkai Bon Uta (2026 Mix)
9. Gujoh Bushi (2026 Mix)
10. Bisraam (2026 Mix)
11. Lumbini
12. Mogamigawa Funauta (2026 Mix)
13. Oedo Nihonbashi (2026 Mix)
14. Kyoteizincv (2026 Mix)
15. Hohai Bushi (2026 Mix)
16. Cantata no.147 (2026 Mix)
17. Tawaratsumi Uta (2026 Mix)
18. Fortunate 1mark (2026 Mix)
19. BWV 1007

Fareast Recording FER06950
Out now (3/25), ¥1500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

"Donpan Bushi" (2025 music video)

Maika Loubté (Instagram, 𝕏) has released a brand new album, titled "House of Holy Banana". Included are many brand new songs, plus the previously released "Shinsho-volcano", as well as other singles released in advanced such as the title song "House of Holy Banana", "Moshi Moshi feat. butaji", "Vital", "Kingyo-bachi" and "Super Producer". It's available on download/streaming platforms.

Maika will perform a free show this Sunday April 5, in an event at Gateway Park (by JR Takanawa Gateway station) that starts at 14:30 that will also feature a performance by Fumi Kitamura. Details can be found here.

A recent interview (in Japanese) can also be viewed online at otonano.

Maika Loubté "House of Holy Banana" (Download)

1. Vital
2. Super Producer
3. Kumo-no-ito
4. Kingyo-bachi
5. Hagane-no-kishi
6. House of Holy Banana
7. 2089
8. Shinsho-volcano
9. In This House
10. Moshi Moshi feat. butaji
11. Banana Prologue

Water Records
Out now (4/1)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

"Vital"

"Super Producer"

"Kingyo-bachi"

"House of Holy Banana"

"Moshi Moshi feat. butaji"

The song "Not Your Idol" by solo idol usabeni (a.k.a. Beni Usakura), from her latest album "Because my Idol" (, Spotify, YouTube Music), has been remixed by Brazilian trackmaker A-bug (A-bug). Respectful of the original pop tune, the track is updated with hints of future bass and Baile funk.

usabeni has idol event shows planned on April 18 and April 20 at Gakugeidaigaku Maple House (Tokyo), of which details can be found in her schedule. On Saturday April 11, she will also perform with Childish Tones for the release party of the new 7" "Chick Habit feat. Beni Usakura / My Brain Is Happy Sad". The show will be held at Higashi-Koenji U.F.O. Club. Find details at Tokyo Gig Guide.

usabeni "Not Your Idol (A-bug Remix)" (Download)

1. Not Your Idol (A-bug Remix)
2. Not Your Idol

NARUHESON;S
Out now (3/27)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Electronic rock band Owarikarahajimari (𝕏) has released a new song digitally, titled "Kyowamada". This song is the first written by guitarist ALi Sueoka. Check out the short version music video below, and find the full song on download/streaming platforms.

This follows the released of "OWHJ Remixes Vol.1" last year.

An event titled "Owarikarahajimari #2" will be held on Saturday, April 18 at Waseda Sabaco (in Tokyo), also featuring Sigh Society, kmmg, and DJ Kobamy.

Owarikarahajimari "Kyowamada" (Download)
おわりからはじまり 「今日はまだ」

Owahaji Label
Out now (3/18)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music

Music video (short version)

The Pen Friend Club has just released a brand new album, titled "Songularity". This all of the songs are original, and all music is written by the current band members. Plus, it's a double album of a total of 20 songs, making it the band's biggest studio album. Watch the music video of "Lily's Smile" below.

The album is available as a double CD, and also digitally. The Pen Friend Club has just announced that their online shop now accepts international orders. The new album and recent singles, including signed copies, and also previous releases and vinyl, etc., can be found there.

A tour for the release will be held, going to Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. The Tokyo show will be held on April 25 at Shibuya Loft Heaven, and it can also be viewed online (details). Find all show details on the band's live schedule page.

The Pen Friend Club "Songularity" (2CD)

Disc 1
1. Harbinger
2. Got To Be Rock And Roll
3. Never Let You Go
4. Lily's Smile
5. Begin Tomorrow
6. Thelma
7. The National Bird
8. Really Feel
9. Die Alone
10. Merry-Go-Around

Disc 2
1. Grow
2. You're The One 1965
3. In Your Light
4. Breakin' Up
5. Little Life
6. For It's Worthwhile
7. California Again
8. Promise
9. Songularity
10. Be Here With You

Penpal Records PPRD0011
Out 3/18, ¥3800 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Lily's Smile"

Sampler clip