Interview with Kiara Takanashi: Talking "Perfume", her time as a VTuber, and her idol music roots | scrmbl
Kiara Takanashiโs latest song โPerfumeโ served as a chance for the ...
2025 marks Kiara Takanashi's 5th anniversary as a prominent figure in the VTuber space, and she's not slowing down in the least.
@mbmelodies.bsky.social sat down with her to discuss confidence in her music, her VTubing career, and her idol roots.
02.07.2025 15:40 โ ๐ 13 ๐ 7 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0
OK let's talk about it: Breaking down NENE's diss track to Chanmina | scrmbl
A good diss track gets right to the point, and rapper NENE wastes n...
The music highlight of the week in Japan? A rap beef getting at the ever-present tension between hip-hop and pop. Broke it down over @scrmbl.com www.scrmbl.com/post/nene-ch...
27.06.2025 15:23 โ ๐ 7 ๐ 2 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 1
Setting sail: Haruomi Hosono's Tropical Dandy at 50 | scrmbl
Haruomi Hosono created a global hodgepodge of sound on 1975โs Tropi...
"Tropical Dandy" marked the moment Haruomi Hosono's artistry and worldview truly set sail. Wrote about it upon its 50th anniversary for @scrmbl.com www.scrmbl.com/post/haruomi...
27.06.2025 04:43 โ ๐ 10 ๐ 5 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
OK let's talk about it: Breaking down NENE's diss track to Chanmina | scrmbl
A good diss track gets right to the point, and rapper NENE wastes n...
Rapper NENE takes a swing at Chanmina with her new diss-track "Owari," while calling out the state of the music industry in the process.
@mbmelodies.bsky.social breaks down the beef to get to the real meaning behind it all and show how history repeats itself.
26.06.2025 15:49 โ ๐ 13 ๐ 7 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 1
Why are idol fans throwing hands at the track?
A recent Fruits Zipper fan frenzy stirred online criticism, raising questions about the line between passion and obsession in J-pop idol culture.
A moment of idol mania or a fandom gone too far? A recent Fruits Zipper fan frenzy stirred online criticism, raising questions about the line between passion and obsession in J-pop idol culture.
26.06.2025 05:05 โ ๐ 6 ๐ 3 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 1
oh wow, the Young Posse algo city pop turn
24.06.2025 22:45 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0
Letโs talk about it: The curious case of Seiko Matsudaโs western crossover | scrmbl
The history of Japanese pop is littered with attempts at crossing o...
Seiko Matsuda boasts one of the weirdest attempts at a US crossover in Japanese music history. I detailed it for @scrmbl.com, from Wahlberg collaborations to "King Of The Hill" cameos www.scrmbl.com/post/lets-ta...
24.06.2025 03:07 โ ๐ 3 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0
Make Believe Melodies For June 23, 2025
*pigeon cooing sound*
This week's roundup focuses on the debut album from iVy, plus an appreciation of Kenshi Yonezu's 2025 and an album prominently featuring animal sounds mbmelodies.substack.com/p/make-belie...
23.06.2025 22:55 โ ๐ 3 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
scrmbl selection June 20, 2025 - AQ, Summer Eye, yama, and more | scrmbl
Despite the ease of access that streaming has brought to the distri...
It's time again for our weekly playlist update!
New tunes on the lineup this week from:
AQ
CHINESE HOODIE
Romanesco Roman
Summer Eye
THE LUV BUGS with Uztama & e5
yama
20.06.2025 15:27 โ ๐ 6 ๐ 2 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
The Hitobito's Megan and Ben uncover the real Japan, one video at a time
The couple moved to Japan to be teachers. Now, their YouTube clips are viewed by millions.
From stolen umbrellas to housing mishaps, the YouTube coupleโs honest take on everyday life in Japan is a hit with millions.
19.06.2025 10:42 โ ๐ 15 ๐ 3 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 1
The Hitobito's Megan and Ben uncover the real Japan, one video at a time
The couple moved to Japan to be teachers. Now, their YouTube clips are viewed by millions.
Megan and Ben grew up on J-vloggers. Now, they've taken on the role of offering a look into Japan for the short-form-video generation, with uploads regularly attracting millions of views. Talked to them about their journey, virality & AI gloop @japantimes.co.jp www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/06...
20.06.2025 02:33 โ ๐ 4 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
it is wild revisiting and realizing "oh what a mess"
20.06.2025 14:05 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Make Believe Bonus: Put It On Ice, Bitch, Dr. Pepper
My Failed Attempt To Interview CL A Decade Ago
Ten years ago, I spent five months trying to land an interview with CL ahead of her big US push for Pitchfork. It went awry. For premium subscribers, a reflection on this time mbmelodies.substack.com/p/make-belie...
20.06.2025 12:39 โ ๐ 6 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0
The Hitobito's Megan and Ben uncover the real Japan, one video at a time
The couple moved to Japan to be teachers. Now, their YouTube clips are viewed by millions.
From stolen umbrellas to housing mishaps, the YouTube coupleโs honest take on everyday life in Japan is a hit with millions.
20.06.2025 01:03 โ ๐ 22 ๐ 4 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
The Hitobito's Megan and Ben uncover the real Japan, one video at a time
The couple moved to Japan to be teachers. Now, their YouTube clips are viewed by millions.
Megan and Ben grew up on J-vloggers. Now, they've taken on the role of offering a look into Japan for the short-form-video generation, with uploads regularly attracting millions of views. Talked to them about their journey, virality & AI gloop @japantimes.co.jp www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/06...
20.06.2025 02:33 โ ๐ 4 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
yeah that revelation hits hard every time lolz
20.06.2025 01:18 โ ๐ 1 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Letโs talk about it: The curious case of Seiko Matsudaโs western crossover | scrmbl
The history of Japanese pop is littered with attempts at crossing o...
While there have been many attempts from Japanese artists to cross over into English markets, few have been as wild or long as Seiko Matsuda's.
@mbmelodies.bsky.social gives a look at the many times she tried to break out internationally over the years.
19.06.2025 14:24 โ ๐ 20 ๐ 6 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 1
Haruomi Hosono on the Music That Made Him
For over 50 years, the prolific Japanese composer, producer, and songwriter has shaped and shifted almost every corner of music: classic rock, J-pop, film scores, jazz, exotica, electronica, house, lo...
Interviewed the big dog himself, Haruomi Hosono
pitchfork.com/features/5-1...
18.06.2025 18:59 โ ๐ 79 ๐ 15 ๐ฌ 3 ๐ 1
Make Believe Melodies For June 17, 2025
Choose Life
this week's round-up features a world's end girlfriend song coming with rules...and much more! mbmelodies.substack.com/p/make-belie...
17.06.2025 05:39 โ ๐ 3 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
ใๆไธๆฅๆจน vs SMAP๏ผใ
ๆไธๆฅๆจนใๅคงๅฅฝใใงใใๅฝผใฎไฝๅใฏใปใจใใฉๅ
จใฆๆๆใใฆใ่คๆฐๅ่ชญใฟ่ฟใใฆใพใใๆจๅนด่ฉฑ้กใซใชใฃใใ1Q84ใใฎ็ถ็ทจใๆฅฝใใฟใงใใใใจใซใตใฌใ ่ณใฎๆ่ณๅผใงใฎใๅฃใจๅตโฆ
From a post I saw on Twitter: We know people get precious about The Beach Boys and Pet Sounds, but who knew Haruki Murakami was one of them, and got into a minor tiff with SMAP fans when he criticized the group for parodying the cover of Pet Sounds for one of their EPs?
ameblo.jp/krazykoolkat...
15.06.2025 14:56 โ ๐ 3 ๐ 2 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0
scrmbl selection June 13, 2025 - Bonjour Suzuki and RinRin Doll, Guchon, Lilniina, and more | scrmbl
Despite the ease of access that streaming has brought to the distri...
Friday means it's time to update our scrmbl selection playlist with fresh picks!
This week's additions include excellent new tracks from:
Bonjour Suzuki & RinRin Doll
Guchon
Lilniina
Rirugiliyangugili
T.M.P
The Whoops
13.06.2025 20:17 โ ๐ 6 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 1
I mean Especia....that's a whole other level right there...
14.06.2025 12:43 โ ๐ 0 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Make Believe Mailer #144: Anymal Magnetism
Revisiting The Album That Kinda Derailed Suchmos
Suchmos at one point looked like the future of Japanese music...then they were on hiatus. A week ahead of the band's live reunion, I revisit the sprawling, messy album that to this point was the project's last mbmelodies.substack.com/p/make-belie...
13.06.2025 13:02 โ ๐ 6 ๐ 1 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 2
Make Believe Bonus: LaLa Arena Tokyo Bay
Lost In The Mall
For premium subscribersโฆI saw the future of arenas in Japan by going to LaLa Arena Tokyo Bay (and the connected mall) mbmelodies.substack.com/p/make-belie...
11.06.2025 14:40 โ ๐ 3 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Make Believe Melodies For June 9, 2025
Always Buy The Ironic Merchandise, You Never Know When It Will Be Gone!
perfect young lady returns with a new "SEASON" that's as bonkers and beautiful as those before them. Plus, more new Japanese music in this week's round-up mbmelodies.substack.com/p/make-belie...
09.06.2025 15:56 โ ๐ 5 ๐ 2 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
two random observations revisiting this one
1 funny realizing J-pop has actually flipped and there's a "monocultural" band right now...Mrs. GREEN APPLE, everywhere even if you don't realize it
2 The way many react to Morgan Wallen dominating US charts is how many here reacted to AKB (repulsion)
07.06.2025 15:36 โ ๐ 6 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
Make Believe Mailer 17: Chart, Beat
Billboard Confusion And Post-Oricon Life
picking up on some rumblings online about the state of Western charts and their general usefulness in the 2020s...perhaps the States and beyond is approaching its own "oh Oricon is useless" moment mbmelodies.substack.com/p/make-belie...
07.06.2025 15:31 โ ๐ 3 ๐ 0 ๐ฌ 1 ๐ 0
Bandcamp spotlight May 2025 - KOM_I and Foodman, punipunidenki, Submerse, Moon In June, and more | scrmbl
Every month, scrmbl highlights some of the most noteworthy releases...
Bandcamp Friday may be skipping this month but that won't stop us from spotlighting some of May's best releases on the platform, including new music from:
Inuha
seaketa
KOM_I & Foodman
punipunidenki
Carfax
IDATEN
Submerse
and more!
06.06.2025 22:17 โ ๐ 9 ๐ 3 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 0
scrmbl selection June 6, 2025 - Airi Suzuki, FARMHOUSE, Yuki Chiba, and more | scrmbl
Despite the ease of access that streaming has brought to the distri...
It's that time of week again for us to update our playlist with some choice new music!
This week's additions include new songs from:
Airi Suzuki
FARMHOUSE
Penguinrush
XAMIYA
Yuki Chiba
Yuta Orisaka
06.06.2025 16:19 โ ๐ 6 ๐ 4 ๐ฌ 0 ๐ 1
Music-Blog Writing Hobbyist
39 - he/him - Detroit, USA
I review the daily female Jpop MV releases in a top 3 format!
Includes live, cover & dance videos.
Must only have 1 song and be from an official channel.
โห.เผ
๐ฒ๐ฝ
1/2 miffy โใ
chicago ๐ nyc
dreamcast forever
music enjoyer + sometimes collector
. โข ยฐ โ
i am mostly thinking about tsuyoshi domoto
Professional music industry translator. I translate Japanese lyrics into English for fun on my website! https://kmnbt.notion.site/KMNBT-Translations-c6b2f85978d64603b74b3cd6e466e7f1
Bandcamp is an online record store and music community where passionate fans connect with and directly support the artists they love.
he/him
writes about Japanese art at: https://www.tsundokudiving.com/
sometimes freelances too
๐living in tokyo
japan travel ideas + daily life ๐ฏ๐ตโจ
๐ my japan vlogs: youtube.com/sharlainjapan
๐ my stationery shop: nekonekopost.com/shop
๐ก my tokyo airbnb: https://www.nekonekostays.com/en/neko-neko-home
Je photographie, je traduis (jp/en โ fr), j'รฉcris vite fait 2-3 trucs, et des fois je bois du cafรฉ ๐ธ๐๐โ๏ธ
Jack of all trades | Established nerd | Honorary mayor of Meguro-ku || TV & movies #troplongpasvu, Japan, shitpost & random babbling. (Pp by Grillaum)
living in Tokyo / support bassist for some bands / I have a lil blog about the tokyo music scene. if you like music too, come chill!
๐ โฌ โ.๐งโโพโโบโ๐ธ
ใใซใจใฏใทใใใ
officialgf.com
A project to celebrate and promote loud, indie, alternative, and underground idols and their music. Pay attention: Amazing things are happening. www.homicidols.com
ๅฝๅ
No.1ใฎๆ
ๅ ฑ้ใ่ชใ้ณๆฅฝใใฅใผในใตใคใใ
ใณใใใฏใใฟใชใผ๏ผ @comic.natalie.mu ๏ผใใ็ฌใใใฟใชใผ๏ผ @owarai.natalie.mu ๏ผใๆ ็ปใใฟใชใผ๏ผ @eiga.natalie.mu ๏ผใในใใผใธใใฟใชใผ๏ผ @stage.natalie.mu ๏ผใใใใใฆใฉใใใ
Exploring creative communities in Korea since 2012 through events, festivals, magazines, podcasts, exhibitions, video, and more.
Currently โก๏ธ Interview series on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@philipsbrett
Opinion editor @NikkeiAsia. Brit in Tokyo. No Pulitzers etc. DMs open. Tips and pitches to andrew.sharp@nex.nikkei.com ๅๆไธไบ
the pro-grade game composer chick he told you Not To Worry About๐
โจ
fil-am working in JP gamedev๐พ
music with SEGA / KONAMI / CAPCOM / SNK & more๐ถ
1st place famicompo trophy nabber, 4x๐๐๐๐
chibitech.bandcamp.com
๐๏ธ: @tibiteku.bsky.social
pfp: happymappyart
I skeet about stuff and blog sometimes. Portfolio: https://awescott.carrd.co/ Bylines: Crunchyroll News, Yatta-Tachi, Comics Beat/KComicsBeat, Anime Herald, startmenu. Also: /Film, ANN, Anime Feminist, Unwinnable Exploits. Tweets+opinions are my own.
journalist! newsboi for POST Wrestling, owner of the Knockdown Daily newsletter. formerly Bloody Elbow, The Eyeopener, other cool places
posts about: wrestling, music, MMA, sports, world news, obscure obsessions. jackwannancanada@gmail.com he/him