Monthly Listening: June 2022

This month's round-up of great new Japanese releases from chelmico, Nerd Magnet, Tohji and more

Hi! This is June’s Monthly Listening list, a quick rundown of new Japanese albums I checked out this month that I enjoyed. You can browse past Monthly Listenings in the archives.

I apologize this Monthly Listening comes late. It’s been a bit of a hectic week here at the This Side of Japan HQ with me trying to wrap up a writing assignment for another publication while juggling the scheduled issues of the newsletter. The even months get really busy toward the end with the Idol Watch issue also needing to be finished. Everything is all caught up now, and I can’t wait to share with you what I’ve been working on—yes, it’s Japanese music-related so I’ll link it whenever it goes live.

I have a treat for this issue since it is the half way point of the year: here is a list of my 50 favorite Japanese songs of 2022! (Idol songs got a separate list here.) You can also check it out as a Spotify playlist here.

Here are the new releases that I enjoyed in June. Happy listening!

The Candace 1 by The Candace

indie rock / idol | ► “evening”

gokigen by chelmico

hip hop / rap | ► “Meidaimae”

Koko De Mita Yume No Hanashi by Eisei To Karatea

indie rock / idol | ► “Daydream”

Jikyuu 5000 Chou En by Haruko Tajima & Bailefunk Kakeko

rave / hyperpop | ► “Jikyuu 5000 Chou En”

FINAL EP by Hoach5000

indie rock | ► “Paper Bag”

I’m Still Here by Nerd Magnet

power pop / pop punk | ► “Your New Favorite Band”

Aimaimu by Penguin No Yuuutsu

indie rock | ► “Ochiru”

Maiwai by SAKA-SAMA

new wave / idol | ► “Lilac Rendez-vous”

t-mix by Tohji

rap / hyperpop | ► “Super Ocean Man”

Are U Romantic? EP by UA

R&B | ► “Binetsu”

VVARP by VaVa

hip hop / rap | ► “tAtu”

5-Way Split by Various artists

post-hardcore / skramz | ► “Migi To Gainen Wa Kaseki No Hazudatta” by kallaqri

GAMA by Yurufuwa Gang

hip hop / rap | ► “Madras Night Part 2” ft. Chinza Dopeness

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