Gather ’round folks—it’s Awards day!

Alright, everyone, you know what time it is—the annual Recommendation Roundup Awards are back! I’m super glad you could make it, and I hope you’re just as hyped for what’s in store as I am. So, find yourself a comfy spot, settle in, and we’ll be kicking things off in just a bit.

For those who might be new around here, the Roundup Awards is a little something special I do at the end of each year, taking the place of the usual Monthly Recommendation Roundup held at the end of each month. It’s my way of celebrating all the incredible Japanese music I’ve had the pleasure of sharing with you here on the blog. Think of it as my own personal awards night, where I spotlight the songs, bands, and artists that really stood out to me this year. Of course, this is all just for fun, and no disrespect is meant toward those who don’t get a mention tonight. The picks are purely my own, so if you’ve got your own favorites, I’d love to hear about them in the comments! 🙂

This year, we’re working with a pool of 110 songs featured throughout the Roundups as per our usual, and those form the foundation for tonight’s awards. Just a heads-up: only these songs were eligible for consideration, so if you’re wondering why a particular track or artist didn’t make the cut, that’s probably why. We’ve got fifteen awards to hand out tonight, spread evenly across three categories: song awards, album awards, and artist awards, followed by two “special” awards, after which we’ll also do our final tally for Season 2 of the Spotify J-Music Playlist Draft. Quite a lot in store for us tonight, and I hope you’re as excited to get to them as I am.

If you joined us for the 2023 Roundup Awards, you might recall that we handed out “Golden Maya” stamps to our winners. Well, this year, we’re stepping things up! The winners of tonight’s awards will (in spirit) be taking home this shiny Golden Maya trophy—a fun little prize they can proudly flaunt however they see fit. What do you guys think? Let us know in the comments!

This comes to us courtesy of my good friend @JellyBeam_Ji, who has solely been the one in charge of most of the artwork that you’ll find here on the blog, and to whom I would like to offer my sincere thanks for everything they’ve done for me and the Roundup this past year. If you’ve got any creative projects in mind, I highly recommend checking out their work. You can find them here!

I also want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you who’ve been following me and the Roundup for as long as you have. It’s a real privilege to share this journey of exploring and discovering Japanese music with all of you. I can only hope it’s been just as fun (if not more so) for you as it’s been for me. I know you guys already know this, but you all are the absolute best—thank you for being here!

And with that, once again, it’s time to dim the lights—the Roundup Awards begins… now!

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＊＊＊BEST PV＊＊＊
WOOT! [June 2024]
by RYUTist

Our first award of the night is for what I thought was the Best PV among those we featured on the Monthly Recommendation Roundup—and it goes to WOOT! by RYUTist! As much as I love a good animated video (which are usually strong contenders for this award), I’m also a sucker for single-take PVs like this one from RYUTist. What really sells it for me though is the jovial energy the girls bring to the screen through their dancing and demeanor. Their enthusiasm radiates with every dance step, and it’s clear they’re genuinely having fun the entire time. What I especially appreciate is how the video remains simple yet incredibly creative, particularly with how the scenery develops throughout. It starts in what seems like the back of an unassuming warehouse, but as the song progresses, the surroundings shift purposefully, leading to a proper stage setup by the end. This gradual transformation fits beautifully with Shibata Satoko’s lovely composition, which itself builds steadily from start to finish. The result is a wholesome, heartwarming PV that feels like the perfect accompaniment to the song. Honestly, I couldn’t have chosen a better pick to kick off tonight’s festivities.

Runner-Up – bugs by にしな (nishina) [February 2024]
One of the most unhinged that I’ve seen this year—and I love it for that reason.

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＊＊＊BEST LYRIC＊＊＊
いつの日か君に、/itsunohika kimi ni [October 2024]
by 朝4時 (asa yoji)

If you follow me in any capacity—whether here on the blog, my newsletter, or on X where I occasionally share glimpses of my real-life activities—you might know that I visited Japan this year, mainly to check out live music in Tokyo (read all about it here if you haven’t yet!). It was a trip full of unforgettable memories, but only a few stand out quite like the night I attended Asa Yoji’s one-man live event. I’ve mentioned it before when I featured Itsunohika kimi ni, in the Monthly Recommendation Roundup, where I talked about hearing the track before its official release when she performed it during her encore set. At the time, the song’s lyrics really hit home for me. Specifically, when she sings itsu no hika mou ichido deatara (“If I see you one more time, one of these days”), it stirs up all sorts of emotions and thoughts inside me. Will I ever hear her sing this song live again? Will I ever have this same experience again? Will I ever take another trip like this? I remember feeling all of this as I stood there, watching her play her guitar, a bittersweet mix of melancholy knowing the performance was nearing its end, yet holding onto a glimmer of hope that maybe one day, I’d hear that song in person once more. Itsunohika kimi ni, and its lyrics always bring me back to that night—and that’s why it’s this year’s recipient of this award. You can check out kimonobeat’s English translation of it here!

Runner-Up – 文学講義/bungakukougi feat. 相沢 (aizawa) by 水槽 (suisoh) [June 2024]
Really like the back and forth using literary references here.

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＊＊＊BEST INSTRUMENTATION＊＊＊
Sigh Sigh [February 2024]
by キトリ (kitori; “Kitri”)

Our next award is for Best Instrumentation, which, as the name implies, recognizes a song that I felt delivered the most exceptional display of arrangement, composition, and overall instrumental mastery—and this year, the award goes to Sigh Sigh by Kitri! When I first featured this song on the Monthly Recommendation Roundup, I mentioned how listening to Sigh Sigh feels like experiencing an auditory theatrical play, and my thoughts remain unchanged ten months later. At 13 minutes long, the track gives the sibling duo Mona and Hina the freedom to explore and craft an entire cinematic experience, and they take full advantage of that opportunity. The structure of Sigh Sigh mirrors that of a theatrical play, complete with exposition, rising action, climax, denouement, and resolution. These narrative beats are brought to life through distinct instrumental arrangements, each contributing to the song’s progression and emotional weight. The constant through line in this musical journey is the sisters’ impeccable piano and keyboard work, which serves as the glue binding the song’s many sections together into a cohesive whole. Utterly breathtaking and nothing short of deserving, Sigh Sigh is the clear standout for this award.

Runner-Up – blan_ by Arika [June 2024]
Lovely acoustic guitars that pivot to an emphatic electric guitar solo. Insane.

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＊＊＊BEST VOCALS＊＊＊
遊泳禁止、天ノ川/yuuei kinshi, amanogawa [July 2024]
by チョーキューメイ (choukyuumei; “ChoQMay”)

We were all truly blessed to have been witness to some absolutely stunning voices here at the Monthly Recommendation Roundups, as is always the case every year of course, owing to the many talented singers whom I’ve had the utmost pleasure in featuring each time out. However, for this year in particular, not a whole lot come close to vocalist Urara’s heartful performance of ChoQMay’s Yuuei Kinshi, Amanogawa—our 2024 recipient for the award for Best Vocals! The track itself isn’t particularly technical—it’s actually quite the opposite, being a fully acoustic arrangement, though I do think that tangentially that’s what made Urara’s singing shine even more than they already tend to do on a ChoQMay song. I’ve long said this about the way she sings, but Urara’s voice is just such an instrument in the way she utilizes it with all the melodic bends and breaks that she does. And with so much “room” and space in the arrangement to work with, her voice in turn is able to resound deeply, sending shivers down my spine every time I listen to it. I love just closing my eyes whenever I play this track as when I do I’m transported immediately into the very field she’s in both with her resonant singing, as well as in how intimate the recording of this song is—which, to my knowledge was done in a single, unedited take, as evidenced by the ambient noise of chirping birds that can be heard midway through.

Runner-Up – dust by Sagiri Sól [June 2024]
Her voice just carries soooo well.

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＊＊＊MOST PLAYED SONG OF 2024＊＊＊
nevermind [July 2024]
by muque

Our final song award before diving into the album categories is for my Most Played Song of 2024. A quick note on how this award works: it’s only open to songs featured on the Monthly Recommendation Roundup at some point this year. That means if my most played song of the year, according to Spotify, wasn’t part of a Roundup, it’s ineligible for the award. And that’s exactly what happened this year—my actual most played song, Teardrop In The Sea by muque, wasn’t included in a Roundup and is therefore disqualified. To determine the winner in cases like this, I simply move down my top-played songs list until I land on one from the Roundups. And the winner is—wouldn’t you know it—nevermind (also by muque)! No harm done, though, as this still gives muque a well-deserved award for their efforts. Honestly, it’s just a testament to how much I’ve been listening to them this year, with multiple songs of theirs making it onto my top list (but more on that later 😉). As for nevermind, it’s really no surprise why I’ve played it so many times: like much of muque’s music, it’s effortlessly repeatable. The song perfectly embodies the band’s infectious energy—just like in its PV, where Asakura’s presence feels like it’s right in your face, her vocals invading your ears with the band’s mind-numbingly sensational melodies. By the time it’s over, you’re already itching to hit replay.

Runner-Up – Our Song by ExWHYZ [June 2024]
OoOoOOooOoooOoohhh~ Can’t get enough of it.

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＊＊＊FAVORITE SINGLE OF 2024＊＊＊
晴る/hareru
by ヨルシカ (yorushika)

As some of you might remember, I’ve been pretty critical of Yorushika ever since the release of their fourth studio album, Gentou, last year—not so much for the musical direction they’ve taken, but more for their overall approach to artistry. Specifically, I’m referring to the decision by n-buna, suis, and their team to withhold certain songs from streaming platforms, making them accessible only through a physical copy of the album. That aside, I can still objectively say that n-buna and suis have consistently maintained a high level of quality in their music. Perhaps too consistent for some—something n-buna has touched on in the past, whether in reference to himself or otherwise, when talking about the concept of “self-plagiarizing.” That might explain why Hareru feels like such a departure from his usual style. Different doesn’t always mean better, of course, but in this case, it’s a refreshing change. It’s what made Hareru stand out to me as one of their most memorable tracks in a long time—and my pick for Favorite Single of 2024! Yorushika has come a long way since their early days, and it’s exciting to see them still experimenting and pushing their boundaries, as they did so effectively with this track.

Runner-Up – ブルーナイトダーリン/blue night darling by 明透 (“ASU”)
ASU and maeshima soshi is quite honestly a dream-come-true pairing.

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＊＊＊FAVORITE EP/MINI-ALBUM OF 2024＊＊＊
A Million More
by reina

If you’ve been following the J-Music Exchange/Rate, you probably already know that this is Al from Omunibasu’s favorite release of the year. And if you’re familiar with our album review series, you’ll also know that it’s tradition for Al and me to review each other’s favorite albums. As such, I’ve already written a more in-depth analysis of reina’s A Million More, which you can check out at your leisure here. That post paints a clearer picture of why this EP also happens to be my pick for Favorite EP/Mini-Album of 2024! Deciding on a winner in this category wasn’t easy for me, as there were quite a few standout EPs and mini-albums this past year. But the fact that A Million More came out way back in February and is still in my heavy rotation speaks volumes about what this release does so well. Huge credit goes to producer Kota Matsukawa, who really nailed it here, building on the momentum of reina’s debut album from the previous year. Together, they’ve delivered another excellent showcase of reina’s artistry. I fully expect them to pull off a hat trick next year with yet another killer release—and if they do, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them back in the spotlight for the 2025 awards show.

Runner-Up – blue night by Chilli Beans.
Thr Beans are so back.

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＊＊＊FAVORITE ALBUM OF 2024＊＊＊
Dungeon
by muque

This should come as no surprise to anyone who’s even remotely familiar with me or my writing this past year—whether through the Monthly Recommendation Roundups, my Substack newsletter, or even just my posts on X. Especially considering I was already speculating about this release back in March, well before it became official. At the time, I made an educated guess about a potential album in the works after noticing that muque decided to give one of their hit songs a PV more than a year after its original release. Turns out, I was right on the money when Dungeon was announced. What I didn’t anticipate, though, was just how much I’d end up enjoying this album. Of course, I already knew I was going to like it to some extent, given how much I’ve been a fan of their music leading up to this point. But even though I was familiar with most of the tracks going in, Dungeon still completely and utterly blew me away—making it an easy choice for my Favorite Album of 2024. The original tracks added so much depth to the album and more than held their own alongside songs I already loved. The result? An incredibly replayable record that I honestly don’t see myself getting tired of anytime soon. Speaking of the Exchange/Rate, as with earlier, you can check out Al’s thoughts on it here too!

Runner-Up – pointillism by 明くる夜の羊 (akuruyo no hitsuji)
In a another world, this album wins the award

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＊＊＊SLEEPER RELEASE OF 2024＊＊＊
思惑/omowaku
by Quw

This year, we’re introducing a brand-new award to the lineup, taking the place of Favorite Album Art of 2024—it’s the Sleeper Release of 2024. As someone who spends a good chunk of their free time checking out new Japanese music releases, this year more than ever thanks to the launch of the J-Music Advance Party over on Substack (if you haven’t yet, please consider subscribing!), I’ve become more attuned to which albums gain traction and which seem to slip under the radar. This award is my way of shining a spotlight on the latter—releases that might not have gotten the attention they deserve and giving them their due—like the inaugural recipient of this award, Omowaku by Quw! Quw is a unit I only discovered recently, despite their already-impressive catalog of EPs and singles—all of which had somehow managed to fly under my radar. Their first full-length album was on the verge of doing the same, but I thankfully stumbled across the band this year, and Omowaku right along with it. If Quw is as new to you as they were to me just a few months ago, I highly encourage you to give this record a spin. I guarantee you’ll feel exactly how I did when I first heard their music: a bittersweet mix of awe and regret, wondering how I’d managed to miss out on something this special for so long.

Runner-Up – EMPT MILE by TEMPLIME
I’m honestly perplexed that this album didn’t take off during its first week.

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＊＊＊FAVORITE BLIND PICKUP OF 2024＊＊＊
愛の産声、哀の鳴き声/ai no ubugoe, ai no nakigoe
by Leina

The Favorite Blind Pickup of 2024 is one of my favorite awards to give out each year. There’s something incredibly exciting about randomly picking up an album, for whatever reason, and then spending the next several minutes immersed in pure bliss, discovering a new artist or band to follow. That’s exactly how I felt after listening to Ai no Ubugoe, Ai no Nakigoe by Leina, this year’s winner! Now, to be fair, I had listened to a couple of Leina’s songs prior to the release of this album back in September, so I was somewhat familiar with her music—but not enough to consider myself a dedicated fan. One day, though, Ai no Ubugoe, Ai no Nakigoe randomly popped up in my Spotify album recommendations, and without thinking too much about it, I decided to give it a spin to check out what she had been up to since I last heard from her. And let me tell you, I was speechless. I was so impressed with what I heard, but equally disappointed in myself for not following her music more closely. Leina’s a phenomenal singer-songwriter, and this album absolutely solidifies that fact. I’m so glad I gave it a chance when I did.

Runner-Up – 反抗期/hankouki by komsume
Instant fan.

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＊＊＊BEST PROSPECT OF 2024＊＊＊
NEK!

The award for Best Prospect of 2024 is probably the easiest one for me to use as an opportunity to spotlight an indie band or artist that I really like—a way to show just how much of a fan I am. However, historically on the Roundup Awards, I’ve made it a point to give this award objectively to artists who I genuinely believe have bright futures ahead of them, regardless of how much I personally listen to their music. As a quick reminder, here are the past recipients of this award: adieu (2019), yama (2020—kinda wild in hindsight, not gonna lie), Yagi Kairi (2021), SennaRin (2022), and Mulasaki Ima (2023—still my favorite pick considering how much success she’s had this past year). All this to say, I don’t have to be their biggest fan to recognize potential when I see it. That being said, it’s hard not to see the latent star power in a band like NEK!. They have the look, the personality, and—most importantly—the sound to take them far. Don’t let their youth fool you—they’re only going to get better from here, and they have the benefit of time on their side. Without a doubt, one of the best debuting bands of the year, and as such a more than proper recipient of this award.

Runner-Up – Aooo
Welcome back, Ishino Riko.

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＊＊＊MOST IMPROVED BAND/ARTIST OF 2024＊＊＊
chilldspot

The award for Most Improved Band/Artist of 2024 was, without a doubt, the hardest one to decide this year. Not because there weren’t any bands or artists that improved greatly—there were certainly quite a few who did (Fujikawa Chiai and Wez Atlas come to mind)—but many of them didn’t appear in the Monthly Recommendation Roundups this year. On top of that, most of the bands and artists I did feature were, in my opinion, just as consistently good as they’ve always been. Or so I thought. At this impasse, I decided to revisit my thoughts on some of the featured bands and artists from the past eleven months. That’s when I noticed a potential gap in my observations. You might recall that for the September Roundup, I chose to focus on bands and artists I saw during my trip to Japan, rather than those releasing new music at the time. One of those artists was chilldspot, who had just dropped their fourth EP, echowaves, that month. After listening to it, I specifically noted that the band sounded even better than they had before—something I also realized I’d said about them last year when they won this very same award (lol). But I stand by it. chilldspot continues to level up, and their growth is undeniable. So, let it be known that they are now the first-ever two-time artist award winner in the history of the Roundup Awards. Bravo!

Runner-Up – Hakubi
From Playlist Draft to the Roundup Awards—you love to see it.

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＊＊＊MOST PROLIFIC BAND/ARTIST OF 2024＊＊＊
muque

In last year’s Roundup Awards, I mentioned how the award for Most Prolific Band/Artist of the Year—the one given to the band or artist who appears the most on the Monthly Recommendation Roundup—always surprises me. Despite being the one who decides which bands or artists to talk about each month (XD), I never really know who the winner will be until I finalize the awardees at the end of the year. A big part of that is because I don’t keep mental notes of how many times I’ve already featured a particular band or artist. It’s not intentional; I just lose track, given how much Japanese music I discuss every month across the different series I run here on the blog and now on my Substack newsletter as well. This year, however, it was glaringly obvious that the winner was going to be none other than muque. With an unprecedented seven (yes, seven!!!) appearances on the Monthly Recommendation Roundup, they’ve set a record I doubt will be broken anytime soon. What’s even crazier is that if muque had dropped a PV for a song other than jabber (which I’d already talked about previously) in November, I’m pretty confident they would’ve made it to eight. Unreal. But honestly, it’s just a testament to how much I’ve been listening to this band throughout the year.

Runner-Up (tie) – CLAN QUEEN and 朝4時 (asa yoji) (3)
Yeah… Not even close (lol)

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＊＊＊FAVORITE DISCOVERY OF 2024＊＊＊
朝４時 (asa yoji)

Discovering Asa Yoji was nothing short of serendipitous. It all started when I was planning my trip to Japan and browsing for shows to attend as I’ve repeatedly mentioned. I stumbled upon her name and decided to see her perform on a whim, despite knowing absolutely nothing about her or her music at the time. Fast forward a couple of months, and there I was, standing right in front of the stage, watching her perform live. If you’d told me a couple of years ago that such a series of events would unfold, I probably would’ve thought you were messing with me. And yet, it all happened—and it made my trip that much more special. If I hadn’t taken the chance to attend her show, despite having never heard her music before, I wouldn’t have been there that night. I wouldn’t have this beautiful memory that I now hold so dear. The fact that my experience with Asa Yoji came down to a willingness to listen “blindly” and embrace the unknown perfectly captures what this award for Favorite Discovery is all about. In many ways, it also embodies the spirit of the Roundup itself, as I remind myself every year when it’s time to hand out this award.

Runner-Up – sanetii
The husky got to me.

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＊＊＊BAND/ARTIST TO WATCH OUT FOR IN 2025＊＊＊
ブランデー戦記 (brandy senki)

Something happened to Brandy Senki between their 2023 EP Jinrui Metsubou Wonderland and 2024’s Akuyumu no you na isshuukan. I don’t know what exactly sparked the transformation, but whatever it was, it unlocked something in them that wasn’t there before. They came out of that nearly year-long gap looking—and even sounding—like a completely different band. I often talk about how bands and artists need time to find their groove before they truly take off. We’ve seen it happen with acts like chilldspot and Hockrockb, and now it seems to be Brandy Senki’s turn. Fresh off the heels of their latest EP, which I think turned a lot of heads (mine included), they’ve made a strong case for their reinvention. If the goal of Akuyumu no you na isshuukan was to showcase their new identity, I’d say they nailed it. I might’ve tried to predict an album in their near future, but the band beat me to the punch by announcing one for next year—complete with a nationwide album release tour slated for early to mid-2025. And if that wasn’t promising enough, they’ve also secured a TIE UP WITH ADIDAS. Brandy Senki is riding an incredible wave of momentum right now, and for that, they’re undoubtedly our Band to Watch Out For in 2025!

Runner-Up – リュベンス (rubens)
Household name in the making.

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＊＊＊2024 ROUNDUP STANDOUT AWARD ＊＊＊
muque

The Roundup Standout Award is a brand-new addition to our “Special Awards” category, and as the name suggests, it goes to the band or artist who stood out the most among all the standout awardees here tonight. In essence, it’s an unofficial recognition for the band or artist who “won” the most awards across the three award categories. This year, the choice is clear as day, and it’s of course none other than muque. With a total of three awards—one from each award category—they’ve essentially pulled off a clean sweep, and it’s a well-deserved one at that. In many ways, 2024 has truly been muque’s year. Beyond their success in the Roundup (huge honor, I know, lol), they’ve been making waves with their debut full album, an impressive level of activity, and the culmination of it all: their first one-man live concert tour. I feel incredibly lucky to have witnessed their rise firsthand, especially as another band I discovered not too long ago and had the privilege of seeing live. What’s even more exciting is that I don’t foresee my love for this band waning anytime soon, which is something that occasionally happens when bands transition to major record labels. Whatever they’re doing over at ASAB, they’re definitely doing it right in that regard. Congratulations to muque on an amazing 2024! Here’s to an equally incredible 2025.

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＊＊＊LIFETIME ROUNDUP APPRECIATION AWARD＊＊＊
aioi

aioiさんたちへ、
私の旅行を特別なものにしてくださって、本当にありがとうございました！
これからもずっと応援しています！
またいつかお会いできるのを楽しみにしています！

This “award” is a deeply personal one for me. It’s my chance to give an extra special shoutout to a band or artist who made a meaningful impact on me over the past year. Sometimes, it’s for something they did specifically for me—like when BURNABLE/UNBURNABLE graciously provided me with their concert audio just because I asked. Other times, it’s a treasured moment, like getting an autograph from one of my favorite artists, as I did with Myuk. This year, in a wonderfully fortuitous series of events, my encounter with aioi managed to include both. I had the absolute pleasure of attending one of their live shows during my trip to Japan, and during the intermission, I somehow mustered up the courage to chat with them. To my surprise, they were thrilled to learn that a foreigner was listening to their music, which led to this photo (yes, the one in the hat is me, lol). But that wasn’t all. I bought one of their EPs, which they very kindly signed for me, and just when I thought they had already done more than enough, they also handed me the setlist from that night’s performance as a keepsake. It was an incredible moment that I’ll never forget. Thank you, aioi, for giving me such a memorable experience to cherish. Here’s to your continued success—and to hopefully crossing paths again someday!

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Here it is, the moment all you Draft followers have been waiting for! Presenting the final drafted playlist for Season 2 of the Spotify J-Music Playlist Draft!

I’m excited to share that Spotify has just managed to scrape by and hit our Score to Beat for the season—this time landing right at 101! A round of applause for everyone’s favorite music streaming service is definitely in order!

Here’s a breakdown of all of this year’s Draft weeks:

Spotify managed to hit 101 out of the 130 songs available for drafting—a pretty impressive feat when you think about it. Truth be told, though, it almost fell short if not for the final two songs on the Wait List pulling through at the last second. Talk about a nail-biter of a season!

Spotify managed to hit 101 out of the 130 songs available for drafting—a pretty impressive feat when you think about it. Truth be told, though, it almost fell short if not for the final two songs on the Wait List pulling through at the last second. Talk about a nail-biter of a season!

With the Score to Beat now officially set at 101, Spotify’s got its work cut out for it next season. Given how much it struggled to even get here this time, I can’t help but wonder—could this be the breaking point? Guess we’ll find out together when the Playlist Draft kicks off again next year!

＊＊＊2024 DRAFT SEASON 2 CHAMPION ＊＊＊
whaledontsleep aka くじら (kujira)

Just like last year, I want to take a moment to shine a spotlight on the band or artist who truly stole the show in this past season of Playlist Draft. And honestly, I can’t think of anyone more deserving than whaledontsleep. They pulled off an absolutely incredible run, going 7 for 7 in Draft week picks—meaning every single time one of their songs was eligible, it got drafted. Seven really is the magic number tonight, huh? What’s even wilder about this streak is that it’s technically still active, with no breaks in their chain of consecutive Draft week selections. Here’s hoping they can keep the streak alive in Season 3. For now, though, huge congrats to whaledontsleep for claiming the title of Draft Season 2 Champion!

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To wrap up today’s festivities, allow me to present 2024 Rounded Up—a playlist that brings together all of my “Must Listen” tracks from this year’s Monthly Recommendation Roundups. Just a quick reminder: at the end of each Roundup, I pick out two songs that I think you should definitely check out if you didn’t get a chance to listen to everything—one from the returning bands/artists and one from the new features. And much like last year’s Rounded Up playlist, this one serves as a perfect little summary of the awards show we just had. You’ll notice that muque makes the most appearances (lol), and almost all of the bands and artists we gave special recognition to are in there too. It’s something to keep you company as you head out 😉

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a wrap!

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I know I’ve already said it, but I want to thank each and every one of you who made it out here, especially if you’re still here reading this postscript. I truly hope it was worth the time you spent—your support means the world!

Now, I’d love to hear from you all: what do you think of this year’s award winners? Drop your thoughts in the comments! And if you were to hand out any of these awards to bands and/or artists you think also deserve them, who would you choose and why? Feel free to share your picks and thoughts down there too!

Before I let you all go, just a couple of quick things: speaking of sevens, the Monthly Recommendation Roundup will be back for its seventh year in 2025! If you’ve been sticking around since the very beginning, you are truly wonderful, and I’ll once again be in your care as we dive into another year of discoveries 🫡

Your go-to spot for Japanese music album reviews is here to stay, as J-Music Exchange/Rate will also be back next year! Al and I wrapped up another year of reviews with our annual end-of-year special, where we each talk about our Favorite Album of 2024. You just saw me crown muque’s Dungeon as my favorite which, as I mentioned, shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone at this point (lol). Head over to the Omunibasu Substack to see what Al thought of it! And of course, I had the chance to talk about Al’s favorite release of 2024, A Million More by reina, which you can check out here if you haven’t yet. Massive thanks to Al for once again accompanying me for what’s been yet another solid year of album reviews. Here’s to you my dude 😁

The J-Music Spotify Playlist Draft will be coming back in 2025 as well for another season! With this year’s final tally locked in, the hurdle’s just been raised a notch higher! Can Spotify handle the pressure next season? Stay tuned to find out!

Some of you might remember that I wrapped up last year’s Roundup Awards by hinting at a potential Substack-related side project in the works. For those who missed it, we launched the J-Music Advance Party back in January of this year over on my Substack newsletter, where I talk about upcoming Japanese music releases that I’m personally excited about. The series has been running on a regular monthly schedule, and I’m happy to announce that it’ll be continuing into 2025 as well. If you haven’t already, make sure you’re subscribed—it’s 100% free!

While we’re on the topic of Substack newsletters—last, but certainly not least, I had the privilege of contributing once again to the This Side of Japan Substack newsletter this year, all thanks to the fantastic Editor Ryo Miyauchi, who kindly invited me to be featured in their publication. For a special issue focused on music in anime, I wrote about my personal journey of discovering music through anison and how that ultimately helped shape my current passion for Japanese music. You can give it a read here! I also had the chance to share my Top 10 Japanese songs of 2024 as part of their Best of 2024: Friends List. It was an amazing opportunity to talk about Japanese music outside of my own platform, and without a doubt, it’s one of the highlights of the blog this year. A huge thanks to Ryo for making it all possible!

I think that wraps it all up! 😅

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, and I can’t wait to see you all again in 2024.

For the final time this year: Happy Listening! Catch you in the new year!