Welcome back to Nihongaku Radio, a twice monthly exploration of Japanese (and other Asian) music for a primarily English-speaking audience. It’s been a few years since the last episode due to a whole heap of life. Sometimes, it do be like that. Even when I wasn’t making this show, I kept on believing that life is better when we step outside of what we find familiar and explore a little bit.

So if you’re a long time listener, thanks for sticking around despite an (ahem) extended break. If you’re new to the show, welcome! Each episode of Nihongaku Radio features four sets of music with three songs each. I pop in between sets to tell you a little bit about what you heard before quickly getting out of the way and getting you back to the music. While I tend to focus on Japanese music, I’m not above throwing in the occasional song from other Asian countries. Other than that, expect each episode to contain a wide variety of musical genres, a lot of new stuff, a little old stuff, and a bonus song for good measure.

In this episode, we’ll hear “Mood Adjuster” from Marianne Shinonome, revisit some anime memories with The Pillows, and check in with Korean rockers Galaxy Express.

Want more Nihongaku Radio? Check out previous episodes right here on Nihongaku. Of course, you can also subscribe to the podcast feed via Apple Podcasts.

Nihongaku Radio Episode 57

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“Reincarnation” – Band-Maid (Buy It!)
‘Youth Without Youth” – Galaxy Express (Buy It!)
“Telephone” – BiS (Buy It!)

Break: “Mansion” – DJ Abo + DJ 1-2 (Buy It!)

“A-90” – Oh No Darkness!! (Buy It!)
“Trigger” – Kayoko Kusano (Buy It!)
“Connection” – Rei (Buy It!)

Break: “Case Closed” – DJ Abo + DJ 1-2 (Buy It!)

“Mayonaka no Door” – Yuuri Tanaka (Buy It!)
LIFE feat. bird” – Mondo Grosso (Buy It!)
“Mood Adjuster” – Marianne Shinonome (Buy It!)

Break: “Electric Speed City” – DJ Abo + DJ 1-2 (Buy It!)

“Yuuyami wo Hitori” – Chemistry (Buy It!)
“Taikutsushinogi” – Oreskaband (Buy It!)
“I’m Me” – Chai (Buy It!)

Break: “Spiritual State” – Nujabes (Buy It!)

“I Think I Can” – The Pillows (Buy It!)