Tokyo's Coolest Sound

Evenyan Roller Coaster (Instagram, 𝕏, YouTube) has just released a brand new song digitally, titled "KAWAWAVE" ("kawaii" + "wave"). Check it out on your favorite download/streaming platform!

The new song was written by Temma Matsunaga (Urbangarde), arranged by Kei Ōkubo (also of Urbangarde), and features guitar played by Jirō Yoshida (of Evenyan's band Nya♡Wave).

Evenyan Roller Coaster can be seen singing in Nya♡Wave on September 22 at Shimokitazawa Rokudemonai Yoru (details & tickets), and on October 31 at Shimokitazawa mona records (details).

Evenyan Roller Coaster "KAWAWAVE" (Download)
イヴにゃんローラーコースター 「KAWAWAVE」

Evenyan Roller Coaster
Out now (9/5)
Stream/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Halcali (Instagram, 𝕏, YouTube), who have always been a regular on Tokyo's Coolest Sound since the site's very start, are officially back after a 14-year hiatus! Today a brand new earworm song titled "Guin Guin Guin" was released digitally, and is also being featured on kids TV show "Synapusyu" (TV Tokyo) for the month of September. The new song is written and produced by O.T.F like in the good old days! Watch the TV show's segment in the video below, and find the song's single on your favorite download/streaming platform.

Following their song "Otsukare Summer" suddenly going viral last year on TikTok and recently going over 10 billion plays, this year Halcali has made a surprise come-back performance on YouTube channel "The First Take" showing they still had their rap skills. They have also made a performance at the Summer Sonic 2026 festival in August, and they're also set to appear at Koyabu Sonic 2026 on September 22. Their first album "Halcali Bacon" was also re-issued on CD (CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower (Japan only)) and vinyl (Amazon, HMV, Tower (Japan only)).

Welcome back Halcali, and here's looking forward to hopefully more new music!

HALCALI "Guin Guin Guin" (Download)

1. Guin Guin Guin
2. Guin Guin Guin (HALCA Only Version)
3. Guin Guin Guin (YUCALI Only Version)
4. Guin Guin Guin (Instrumental Version)

TTM Records
Out now (9/2)
Stream/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music

Milk Talk (Instagram, 𝕏, Bandcamp) has recently released a brand new song titled "Milk and Honey". Check out the music video below!

Milk Talk also released earlier this year a song titled "Funkin Me Up", which is a remake of Minoru "Hoodoo" Fushimi's 80s track "In Praise Of Mitochondria". The two songs were released as a 7" and digitally, available on Bandcamp and on download/streaming platforms.

They also had a song titled "Enchanting Stranger" featured in the game "Forza Horizon 6", and included on its original soundtrack: , Spotify, YouTube Music.

Milk Talk "Milk and Honey" (Download)

Inaka Disco
Out now (8/5)
Stream/buy: Bandcamp, , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

xiangyu (𝕏, Instagram) has released a new song, titled "PERORI!" and about eating yakiniku. The track is produced by Gimgigam (𝕏, Instagram). Find it on your favorite download/streaming platform.

A release party will be held on September 29 from 18:00 at Shimokitazawa Spread (details & tickets).

This is xiangyu's 2nd new song this year, following "kekkyoku shari" (music video).

xiangyu "PERORI!" (Download)

Kujaku Club TRHG-1374
Out now (8/28)
Stream/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Hokkaido singer-songwriter Shima Hitachi (Instagram, 𝕏) has just released this week a new EP titled "Mental Health - Taion", on the label COMPLEX (ran by ayU tokiO). Shima Hitachi sings and plays guitar and also several other instruments (drums, bass, keyboards and programming), while the recording also features friend musicians and live band members from Hokkaido and Tokyo. The whole was recorded, mixed, mastered, directed and produced by ayU tokiO.

The EP is available on CD and digitally. Tower Records is still giving away a CD-R of demo takes (at time of writing). Also, the CD is available in Japan directly from the label's online shop where it comes with a different CD-R of a cover of ayU tokiO's "Star Call". A third CD-R of live performances can be obtained by buying the CD at shows.

A release party will be held on Saturday, September 12 at Shimokitazawa Basement Bar, featuring a band set (details & tickets). Doors open at 12:00 and the show starts at 12:30. When the CD is purchased at this event, all three CD-Rs above will be given.

Shima Hitachi "Mental Health Taion"
志摩陽立 「メンタルヘルス・体温」

1. Mental Health - Taion
2. Meiryo kinmirai
3. Kasurikizu
4. Joule ~Kaiteki Na Seikatsu~
5. Under the Surface
6. Syumatsu Soukanzu

Complex AICP-055
Out now (8/26), ¥2500 (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.

"Joule ~Kaiteki Na Seikatsu~"

Maika Loubté (Instagram, 𝕏) has just released a new song titled "Hagane-No-Uma" (meaning "the horse of steel"). It's the theme song for the upcoming dystopian movie "honto ni atta hanashi (no hanashi)" that will open in theaters in Japan on October 2, for which Maika also made the soundtrack. The new song was written by Maika, and co-arranged with Sountrive. Check out the music video below, which was directed by Maika herself.

The jacket was designed by nyoro2s — who also designed the cover of Maika's latest album "House of Holy Banana" (, Spotify, YouTube Music) — and it's a photo of an actual horse toy and a clay doll of a girl (the latter is a creation by sleepycat.studio).

Recently Maika Loubté was also featured in the TV commercial for Brain Sleep Pillow, of which she also made the music. It can be watched on YouTube.

Maika Loubté "Hagane-No-Uma" (Download)
Maika Loubté 「鋼の馬」

Water Records
Out now (8/26)
Stream/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Veg (Bandcamp, Instagram, 𝕏), a 3-piece rock band formed in 2021 in Tokyo, has released a brand new EP last month. Included is the song "Here Again" of which there's a studio live session video that can be watched below. This release follows their first album "Adrift in Time" (2025).

The CD edition includes a bonus track of a live performance of "Here Again".

Veg has a solo show planned on September 6 at Shimokitazawa Three, titled "Estuary" (details). The CD EP will be sold at the show, and there's word of a special present for all attendees.

Veg "Circle 1"

1. Here Again
2. Superstar
3. Woven in Waves
4. Shine
5. Lune Orange
6. Here Again - Live (Bonus Track)

Veg VEG-003
Out now (7/8), ¥2091 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Here Again" studio live session

Tokyo Killer (Instagram, 𝕏), the instrumental rock band led by guitarist Keme (also of Piggy Banks), has recently released a brand new song digitally. Titled "Mount", it is available on download/streaming platforms. It had been almost 7 years since latest album "Boom Go!!" (2019).

A release in-store event will be held on Thursday, August 27 at Ultra Shibuya. To attend the event, one needs to buy a T-shirt or special ticket (the latter which comes with an exclusive CD-R, a set of 3 badges, a collaboration drink and print club stickers).

Tokyo Killer also has an upcoming show on Sunday, September 13 at Shibuya BYG, and will feature special guest guitarist Shigeo Naka (The Suft Coasters) (details).

Tokyo Killer "Mount" (Download)
トーキョーキラー 「マウント」

Tokyo Killer TKKL-DIGI-001
Out now (7/24)
Sample/buy: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Towa Tei has a brand new album, titled "ZAMBIENT", coming on vinyl this month! It's his 14th album, and the follow-up to "AH!!" (2025). Featured musicians include Bose (Scha Dara Parr), Yumiko Ohno (Buffalo Daughter), Hiroshi Takano, Yūta Hosono and Oto Fukuhara (both of Chappo), Kashif, Amaiwana, and more.

The song "Nothing Else 2" is a remake of "Nothing Else" which was released on 7" last year (Tower, , Spotify, YouTube Music), though the new version now features rap by Bose. Also included is recent single "The Source" (see its music video below) available on vinyl (find the release info below) and digitally. Both the album and single come on clear vinyl. Note that the full album will be released digitally later on September 25.

A new suprise "The Source (Mermaid Dub)" is also being released digitally today August 17: , Spotify, OTOTOY.

Towa Tei "ZAMBIENT" (12")

Z1. TOUCH
Z2. NOTHING ELSE 2
Z3. HEY!
Z4. THE SOURCE
Z5. ALA & MOANA
Z6. DAPPLED SUN
ZZ1. GANG AVOCADO TEAM
ZZ2. MOSAIC
ZZ3. PERSIMMON & KOMATSUNA KIMCHI
ZZ4. KATABUI
ZZ5. DEW MARIMBA TOUR
ZZ6. THE PEARL & OYSTER

Mach Beat MBLP-2601
Out 8/21, ¥5000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Towa Tei "THE SOURCE" (7")

A. THE SOURCE
B1. ONE SECOND COUNTS
B2. MISTAKES ARE MADE TO HAPPEN

Mach Beat MBEP-2601
Out now (7/1), ¥2100 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"Nothing Else 2"

"The Source"

First released on CD last December, this tribute album to Haruomi Hosono supervised by Konishi Yasuharu (ex-Pizzicato Five) is finally being released on vinyl.

Included are covers of Hosono's works, mainly performed in the spontaneous style of a musician playing an instrument and singing. There are also a few live performances, plus a previously unreleased demo take by Hosono. The album takes its name from the regular event "Coffee House mona records" held every two months at mona records in Shimokitazawa and organized by Konishi. In March 2025, Hosono had made a special appearance and performed with his guitar for the lucky crowd of the packed small venue.

Update (2026/8/22): From the release date of the vinyl edition, the album is also available digitally: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY.

Various Artists "Paraiso, no ongaku - Coffee House mona records no Hosono Haruomi-san Tribute Album" (12")
オムニバス 「はらいそ、の音楽 コーヒーハウス・モナレコーズの細野晴臣さんトリビュート・アルバム」

A1. Ballade of Aya / Ino hidefumi
A2. Shin Shin Shin / Kaneda Kouhei (The Love Ningen)
A3. Fūraibō / Konishi Yasuharu
A4. Tokyo Shyness Boy / Wataru Sawabe (Skirt)
A5. Hong Kong Blues (Live At Mona Records / 2025.03.28) / Haruomi Hosono
A6. Natsu Nandesu / Masahiro Naoe
A7. Fukuwauchi Oniwasoto / Tetsurō Yafune
B1. Owari no Kisetsu (Live At Mona Records / 2025.03.28) / Konishi Yasuharu
B2. Paraiso / John & Paul
B3. Shimendōka / Naoki Itō
B4. Koiwa Momoiro (Live At Mona Records / 2025.03.28) / Haruomi Hosono
B5. Koiwa Momoiro / YOSSY LITTLE NOISE WEAVER
B6. Liebesträume (Demo Version) / Haruomi Hosono

Ultra-Vybe VBCD-0127LP
Out 8/19, ¥4500 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Play-Asia, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Playlist of sampler clips