10 Best Ever Japanese Music Albums Selected by Japanese
Do you know what Japanese people choose as the best Japanese albums?
They are albums, some of which are already known worldwide, and some of which are not.
The following rankings were derived from a point-by-point aggregation of multiple rankings created in Japan about the best albums in Japanese music history.
Source: Top 10 Japanese music albums selected by Japanese people (in Japanese)
For non-Japanese music fans or music fans who do not understand the Japanese language at all, the following article is more recommended:
Table of Contents
Ranking of 10 Best Ever Japanese Music Albums Selected by Japanese
Here are links to some of the songs and a brief introduction, along with Amazon links.
#1 “Kazemachi Roman” by Happy End (1971)
Click the image above to go to Amazon.com.
Track #3 “Kaze wo atsumete” YouTube link
Released in 1971, this album is a masterpiece of Japanese rock music. The band Happy End had members such as Haruomi Hosono and Eiichi Otaki.
For more information about this album, see:
Recommended Japanese Albums #1: “Kazemachi Roman” by Happy End
#2 “Kuchu Camp” by Fishmans (1996)
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Track #5 “Night Crusing” YouTube video
Fishmans is not so popular in Japan. However, they are a band that is enthusiastically supported by some music fans, and they have received very high acclaim at Rate Your Music.
For more information about this album, see:
Recommended Japanese Albums #2: “Kuchu Camp” by Fishmans
#3 “THE BLUE HEARTS” by THE BLUE HEARTS (1987)
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Track 12 “Linda Linda” YouTube video
This is an album by a famous Japanese punk rock band.
#4 “Hikouki Gumo” by Yumi Arai (1971)
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Track 1 “Vapor Trail / Hikouki Gumo” YouTube link
This is an early album by Yumi Arai (now known as Yumi Matsutoya), a popular Japanese singer known by the nickname Yumin. This song was used in a Ghibli movie.
#5 “A LONG VACATION” by Eiichi Ohtaki (1981)
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This is a solo album by Eiichi Otaki, who was a member of Happy End. This album is a milestone of Japanese pop music.
Track #1 “Kimi wa Tennen-iro” YouTube video
This song has been used many times in Japan as a commercial song.
#6 “SOLID STATE SURVIVOR” by Yellow Magic Orchestra (1979)
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Track #1 “RyDeen” YouTube video
This is an album by an electronic music band whose members include Haruomi Hosono and Ryuichi Sakamoto.
#7 “Hollow Me/Beautiful” by Yura Yura Teikoku (2007)
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Track #10 “Hollow Me” YouTube video
This is the last album by a three-piece rock band that was highly popular in the Japanese underground music scene.
#8 “SONGS” by SUGAR BABE (1975)
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Track 1 “Down Town” YouTube Video
This is an album by the band that had Tatsuro Yamashita, the king of city pop.
For more information about this album, see:
Recommended Japanese Albums #8: “Songs” by Sugar Babe
#9 “FANTASMA” by Cornelius (1997)
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Track #1 “Mic Check” YouTube video
The album is a mix of various genres of music.
#10 “Kurofune” by Sadistic Mika Band (1974)
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Sadistic Mika Band in UK TV show “Old gley whistle test” YouTube video
This is an album by a Japanese rock band produced by Chris Thomas.
See also: 10 Best Ever Japanese Albums
