Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Singer-songwriter Machi Akari (Instagram, 𝕏) has released a rocking new EP, and it's produced and also designed by Sally Kubota (Wink Music Service, She's a Rainbow, The Scooters). The release is a collaboration with "Iwashita New Ginger" (in Japanese Iwashita no Shinshōga), a popular brand of ginger and various products. The company has an official museum (almost like a theme park) in Tochigi where official mascot character Iwashika-chan (a pink deer with ginger horns) makes regular appearances. The new songs take inspiration from the unique character. Check out the music videos below!

The full EP is available on CD, which includes exclusive instrumental versions. The four main tracks are also available digitally: (Japan), Spotify, YouTube Music.

This release follows digital single "Tokyo Rhapsody" (, Spotify, YouTube Music), prior to which was released the single "Yokohama Dilemma / boku no umare wa Koriyama" on CD & digitally (, Spotify, YouTube Music).

A special release event will be held on May 23 at the New Ginger Museum in Tochigi prefecture. It's free for anyone to attend, though it's recommended to email to reserve a place. Find details here. Also, on June 6, Machi Akari will also hold a free event where she teaches to dance Bon-odori along to her songs and Bon-odori classics. It will be the third edition of the "Let's Bon Odori in Kamata" series (details).

Machi Akari "iu koto kikan! Iwashika-chan"
町あかり 「言うこと聞かん！イワシカちゃん」

1. iu koto kikan! Iwashika-chan
2. Pink no tsuno de sekai o tsutsuke!
3. Iwashita no shinshoga -Disco New Ginger- (Endless Version)
4. Iwashita no shinshoga -Disco New Ginger- (Short Version)
5. iu koto kikan! Iwashika-chan (Karaoke)
6. Pink no tsuno de sekai o tsutsuke! (Karaoke)
7. Iwashita no shinshoga -Disco New Ginger- (Endless Version) (Karaoke)
8. Iwashita no shinshoga -Disco New Ginger- (Short Version) (Karaoke)

Vivid Sound VSCD9751
Out now (5/13), ¥1636 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Amazon, a onclick="if (window.ga) window.ga('send', 'event', 'OrderLink', 'click', 'HMV')" href="/link/hmvjp/16760944" target="_blank">HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"iu koto kikan! Iwashika-chan"

"Pink no tsuno de sekai o tsutsuke!"

Air-Con Boom Boom Onesan (𝕏, Instagram, YouTube), a.k.a. Konneki, has a brand new 2nd album out now digitally, titled "Air-Con Boom Boom Onesan Universe"! Like her previous, the whole was produced by CMJK (Cutemen, ex-Denki Groove).

All of the music was written and arranged by him, with the exception of "Judo" written/arranged by George (MOP of HEAD) and "Sanagi" by Shintarō Yamaguchi (aka ShinYMG) (𝕏). All of the lyrics were written by Air-Con Boom Boom Onesan herself. Find the album on download/streaming platforms, and also check out the megamix below on YouTube, which features all of the album's songs in order.

Since her first album "Air-Con Boom Boom Onesan Republic" (, Spotify, YouTube Music), she had released singles "Koyou" (, Spotify, YouTube Music) and "Inumatian c/w The Walk" (, Spotify, YouTube Music), both of which contained exclusive covers, and also remix EP "Koyou (Remixies)" (, Spotify, YouTube Music).

AIR-CON BOOM BOOM ONESAN "AIR-CON BOOM BOOM ONESAN UNIVERSE" (Download)

1. AIR-CON BOOM BOOM ONESAN UNIVERSE
2. INUMATIAN
3. Koala San
4. MOBILE BATTERY
5. KOYOU
6. TOSYOKAN
7. Tenshi Ni Nacchau
8. JUDO
9. Ai No Senshi Si Rapli
10. NIJIMASU
11. SANAGI
12. Choose Your Luck
13. Minna Kitene

SSST
Out now (5/13)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Theremin player Machiko Machikado (Instagram) — of unit MACHIKADO (Instagram), a spin-off unit of The Puh (previously known as the putins) — has released a cover of Yellow Magic Orchestra's "Simoon", backed by the band Kuchu Camera (Instagram). Check out the music video below!

A solo show of Machikado will be held on May 9 at Kichijōji Silver Elephant (details).

Machiko Machikado "Simoon on the Theremin (feat. Kuchu Camera)" (Download)
街角マチコ 「SIMOON on the Theremin (feat. 空中カメラ)」

Theremin Daigaku
Out now (4/23)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these pages. Tune in at the times below at https://lafaceb.live.

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.68) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on Fri. May 1, 2026 from 14:30 and 20:30 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: Sat. May 2, 2026 from 3:30 and 9:30

This episode is not archived as-is. Some replays are expected to be aired in the following weeks.

Listen to the Spotify playlist of some of the songs played (according to Spotify availability), or scroll down this page to find music videos and individual songs, and also listen to the narration.

Below is the full tracklist with liner notes, and narration parts you can listen to.

1. Frenesi "Undo-Onchi" (2026)
(Japanese title: フレネシ 「Undo-Onchi」)

First played is the latest single by Frenesi (Instagram, 𝕏). "Undo-Onchi" is a brand new song released digitally in March (Spotify, , YouTube Music). It was written by the Otomesha label owner Itaru Kawashima, who previously wrote the music & lyrics of "watashi no Yes Man" and "Sky Bus Tokyo" (from album "Cupra"), and the lyrics of "Inflation II" (from "Märchen"). "Undo-Onchi" means someone bad at sports or phys ed, which Frenesi claims is her case.

This release followed "Oyasumi luna moth" and "jorei si nai de". This year Frenesi has also contributed new songs to Megu (Negicco) ("Le Bon Vivant") and MEWCATUNE ("My Stories Slipping Away").

Frenesi's official online shop offers CDs and various exclusive goods, and it ships internationally.

🎙️ Listen to Narration I
Presenting: Frenesi, Evenyan Roller Coaster

2. Evenyan Roller Coaster "Do Re Mi Fa de Kyun ♡ to tokimeku ♡ korette koi nano?" (2025)
(Japanese title: イヴにゃんローラーコースター 「ドレミファできゅん♡とときめく♡これって恋なの？」)

Evenyan Roller Coaster (Instagram, 𝕏, YouTube) (also the singer of band Nyaa♡Wave) is a one-of-a-kind idol who often has a new wave twist. From her latest CD-R single, "Zettai ♡ Evenyan Shugi" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), this is the B-side titled "Do Re Mi Fa de Kyun ♡ to tokimeku ♡ korette koi nano?". This song took some inspiration from Shibuya-kei, and it was written by SLF!! (currently of hip-hop unit Love Me Tonight, and previously known for The Lady Spade).

While many of her releases are available on CD-R only, via her online shop or at her shows, she has recently released "Tanzaku CDs" (8cm/3" CDs) for Tanzaku CD Day 2024 ("Sartre de nemurenai") and the Tanzaku CD 37th Anniversary ("Radar Man" (Spotify, , YouTube Music)).

Update (2026/5/5): Several of Evenyan Roller Coaster's singles have now been made available digitally — "My Sweet Melancholy" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), "futsū no onnanoko" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), "Atashi ♡ Imitation" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), and "Zettai ♡ Evenyan Shugi" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) — and also ones of her band Naya♡Wave — "MAYBE ♡ ESPER" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), "Radar Man / Papapiko Nyandroid" (Spotify, , YouTube Music), and "haisha ni ikō! aisha de ikō! (Let's go to the dentist! Let's go in our car!)" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Also keep an eye on her YouTube channel where she recently dropped a cover of My Bloody Valentine's "sometimes".

3. Maika Loubté "Super Producer" (2026)

Maika Loubté (Instagram, 𝕏) has released a brand new album, titled "House of Holy Banana" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). The song "Super Producer", which appears as the 2nd track on the album, is also the latest music video from it. Watch it below!

The album is so far available on download/streaming platforms. Visit Maika's YouTube channel for several more music videos from the album, and also recent live performances, some from her latest solo show held in December where she performed the album in whole before its release.

4. usabeni "Not Your Idol (A-bug Remix)" (2026)

This is a new remix of solo idol usabeni (Instagram, 𝕏)'s song "Not Your Idol", remixed by Japan-based Brazilian trackmaker A-bug (Instagram, 𝕏). Respectful of the original pop tune, the track is updated with hints of future bass and Baile funk. "Not Your Idol (A-bug Remix)" is out on download/streaming platforms (Spotify, , YouTube Music), and there's a video that you can check out below.

The original song "Not your Idol" first appeared on usabeni's album "Because my Idol" released last October (Spotify, , YouTube Music). A CD edition of the album in a special package containing a 28-page photo book is available via usabeni's shop NARUHESON;S (shipping directly only within Japan).

usabeni has a solo show planned in Tokyo on July 5, to be held at Shimokitazawa Live Haus. Find details and reserve here. Also check out her full schedule for more upcoming dates.

🎙️ Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Maika Loubté, usabeni, perfect young lady

5. perfect young lady "Bruce Lee no senaka" (2025)
(Japanese title: perfect young lady 「ブルースリーの背中」)

From the latest album of synth-pop solo artist perfect young lady (SoundCloud, Bandcamp, 𝕏), "PYL 4th Season..." (2025), this is the song "Bruce Lee no senaka". A music video of this song was newly posted on YouTube recently. Watch it below!

The album is available exclusively on Bandcamp. This release followed her first CD album "BEST 2020-2023" which was since also made available on download/streaming platforms (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

6. She's a Rainbow "Good Bye, Teddy Bear" (2026)

Following last year's 1st mini-album "Pinky Fluffy" (2025), a 2nd one from the Sally Kubota-produced girl group She's a Rainbow titled "Un-Deux-Trois" has been released in April. The song "Good Bye, Teddy Bear" is a cover of SOLEIL from the first album "My Name is SOLEIL" (2018). The song has music written by Yumi Okada and lyrics originally by Yuko Iizumi (microstar). This new cover is sung in English, which were translated from Japanese by myself.

The new mini-album is available on CD (HMV, Tower (Japan only), Disk Union), coming in a 7"-sized package with a 16-page photo booklet, or digitally on download/streaming platforms (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

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

7. geno london "manifestes ye-ye" (2025)

Geno London (𝕏) is the band led by guitarist Geno Sato (previously known as Ai Satō of band The Hair). Having been doing several digital releases in the recent year, this one is an original titled "manifestes ye-ye" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). Singer Lemon can also be heard singing backing vocals.

Since then, a new digital single of two songs has also been released in February: "auld lang syne / stop that girl" (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

geno london perform regularly in Tokyo, and will appear at Mods Mayday Japan 2026 on Saturday, May 16, to be held at Top Beat Club in Ogikubo.

🎙️ Listen to Narration III
Presenting: She's a Rainbow, geno london, Dai Nakamura

8. Dai Nakamura "Beautiful Morning (Small Room version)" (2026)

Dai Nakamura (a.k.a. NUBACK, also of Blank Music, BANK and Vacation Three, ex-Arch) has released a new EP of two songs, his second of the "Small Room" series which features a blend of rhythm and acoustic performance. The song "Beautiful Morning" first appeared in its original version on the album "Room, Sea and Me" (2023) (Bandcamp), and it was redone in a differently sounding version with a soothing beatbox rhythm on "Small Room 2" "Small Room 2" (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music).

This release follows the EP "Kon Ya" (Bandcamp). All of these are available on Bandcamp and other download/streaming platforms.

Thank you for tuning in! Information about replays can be found at the top of the page.

Find information about all previous episodes of this radio show right here.

Negicco has released a brand new song digitally, titled "Ghosts". It was written by Kyoto singer-songwriter Cuushe (Instagram) and produced by aus (Instagram).

This song was played suddenly after the end of Negicco's latest show on Sunday, April 26, a show where they came back on stage following a break for the maternity leave of member Kaede.

Negicco have several performances planned in the following months, some in Tokyo, including a concert for their 23rd anniversary on July 20 at Toyosu Pit. Find details and their full schedule here.

Negicco "Ghosts" (Download)

Fall Wait Records FAWA-0037
Out now (4/29)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Cornelius has released a new sudden single digitally, a cōver of Yosui Inoue's "Yumenemi" (song originally released in 1989). Check out the music video below, made by Keigo Oyamada (Cornelius) himself using AI.

On May 5, 2026, Cornelius and Sparks (!) will perform a double-headliner show at SGC Hall Ariake (Tokyo). Details and ticket information can be found here.

Cornelius "Yumenemi" (Download)
Cornelius 「夢寝見」

Warner Music
Out now (4/29)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Dai Nakamura (a.k.a. NUBACK, also of Blank Music, BANK and Vacation Three, ex-Arch) has released a new EP of two songs, his second of the "Small Room" series which features a blend of rhythm and acoustic performance. The song "Beautiful Morning" first appeared in its original version on the album "Room, Sea and Me" (2023) (Bandcamp).

This release follows the EP "Kon Ya" (Bandcamp), prior to which was released "Small Room" (Bandcamp). All of these are available on Bandcamp and other download/streaming platforms.

Dai Nakamura "Small Room 2" (Download)

1. Beautiful Morning (Small Room ver.)
2. 2nd Message

Too Young Records
Out now (4/9)
Sample/buy: Bandcamp, , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

A tribute album for the late Tohru Okada (Moonriders, CTO LAB., Hachimitsu Pie), who passed away on February 14, 2023, has been released. Featuring all-female singers, it consists of all newly recorded covers of songs that he wrote.

The singers include Maki Nomiya (ex-Pizzicato Five), Nanako Satō, 3776, Tama Himeno, Tenorierie, as well as bands Nav Katze, Pyokn and Genius. Performers of the music include Moonriders members and recent live supporting members. Also, the unit CTO LAB. of which he was part performs the music for a song sung by Natsumi Shimazaki (an original Chiroline member, group that he produced). The album was released on his birthday, April 23.

Check out the sampler clip below. The album is currently available on CD only.

Various Artists "Adventures in Modern Recording by TOHRU OKADA"

1. Wedding Song / Seika Iwashita with ROSE-UNLIMITED
2. Try Again / Mikiko Noda with Masahiro Takekawa, Fumihisa Natsuaki
3. shūmatsu no koibito / Nanako Satō with Hirobumi Suzuki, Yūsuke Satō
4. sayonara wa yoake no yume ni / Tama Himeno with Seiichi Yamamoto
5. Beauty Contest / Maki Nomiya with Keiichi Suzuki
6. itoko dōshi / Nav Katze
7. itsu no hi ka Happy End / Natsumi Shimazaki (Chiroline) with CTO LAB.
8. Good Night wa kirai / 3776
9. (Chiroline no) hoshi no negai o / CHAKA with Ryōmei Shirai
10. 9gatsu no umi wa kurage no umi / Wakako Kaku with Life Goes On
11. tochū ni shite ne / Tenorierie with Hideaki Kuroda
12. namida wa kanashisa dake de, dekiterun janai / Pyokn
13. Glass MOON / Genius
14. sora no namae / Tōko Miura with Wataru Sawabe (Skirt)

Headland Records HEAD-0001
Out 4/23, ¥3200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Sampler clip

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"
シーズ・ア・レインボー 「アン・ドゥ・トロワ」

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) ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Sampler clip

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.