you got two of my names wrong 

Don't have a cow, k-dong.

As a DJ of a weekly radio show for 12 years, I've been trying to listen to a lot of new and interesting music generally. Lately, with my studies in Japanese language getting more focused, I've been seeking out a lot of the more obscure and interesting bands I can find in Japan. I'll post for you a list of some highly recommended Japanese bands that  I've been into recently.

The Tenniscoats - amongst the more muted and subtle stuff that I like. Here's a wiki entry on 'em: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenniscoats


Maher Shalal Hash Baz - similar in nature to the above mentioned band. The discordant elements mixed with beauty, it's good... I think: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maher_Shalal_Hash_Baz

Kimitaka Matsumae - This guy has done a variety of video game music and commerical tunes... but he's also got some really "balls out experimental" type stuff that's freaky, weird, and fun to listen to. Looks like the shares up at the Mutant Sound blog are still good for "Anata Wa Kitsune" one of the best places to start if you're looking to see how crazy this guy can get in his music: http://mutant-sounds.blogspot.com/2007/03/kimitaka-matsumae-you-are-fox-1-4-cds.html

Shugo Tokumaru - Back to kinda' the more subtle and folky domains of the first two groups I posted... although his stuff is more polished in sound and has some interesting production incorporating electronic type elements. I'd highly reccomend picking up his album Exit or Night Piece. His MySpace page is here: http://www.myspace.com/shugotokumaru

Halcali - Alright, I gotta' break across genres and post something more "fun" I guess... this is a female hip-hop duo who's music is really catchy and enjoyable. Start with their earlier album Halicali Bacon and go from there, I'd say: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halcali

Rip Slyme - Another Japanese hip-hop group... also really fun sounding music: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_Slyme

The Moools - (pronounced kinda' like "moles" with a drawn out "o" sound... not how you would initially think "ooo" would be pronounced. Yeah, I've butchered this one on the air myself... oh well). Japanese indie band that I've seen play three times in Olympia, WA (where I've been living up till now). They played twice at the Yoyo A Gogo Festival and once at a house show I went to. Really great sound to them. They have a MySpace page here: http://www.myspace.com/moools

Hidari - This is a pretty upbeat and fun sounding indie rock band from the Kansai area of Japan. They incorporate some fun and playful electronic synthy type stuff into the mix. Originally a line up of three Japanese fellows... now it's two Japanese guys and one guy who came from the college I've been attending (The Evergreen State College) and came to Japan on a similar exchange  program as the one I'm going on at the end of the month now. They have a site here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidari

Hi-Posi - A Shibuya-kei style group fronted by Miho Moribayashi. While a few things I've heard by them leave me a little "blah"... generally most of what I hear from them is really great and enjoyable to listen to... so don't give up on them if the first few tracks you hear don't catch you, is what I'm saying. The webite for Hi-Posi is here: http://www.hi-posi.org/

(a note on Shibuya-kei in general) - Mentioning the above band leads me to think it would be good to mention other Shibuya-kei genre bands in Japan. There are too many for me to go into... but I've generally found a lot of music in this grouping of bands that make me really happy. Some of 'em are: Capsule, Takako Minekawa, Plus-Tech Squeezebox, Pizzicato Five, etc... Here's a wiki entry that might explain things more for you: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibuya-kei

Yann Tomita - This man is a genius, plain and simple. Working as a composer and producer of music... he's got some really beautiful, funny, original, and just plain odd releases out there. If you're into weird cutesy stuff his release by The Doopees "Doopee Time" is pretty insane and almost frightening at times. His other cds "An Adventure in Inevitable Chance", "Music For Astro Age", and "Music For Living Sound" are also well worth obtaining for the gems of sound within. I'll post a discogs page here: http://www.discogs.com/artist/Yann+Tomita

Nobukazu Takemura - This guy has some wonderful electronic/experimental type stuff. His stuff also has a sort of wide-eyed childhood innocence to it all. He's the founder of the Childisc label that also puts out some other interesting Japanese electronic artists (like Suppa Micro Pamchop). "Hoshi No Koe" on the Thrill Jockey label is a good place to start with him (that where I started at least). His collaboration with Aki Tsuyuko (another great musician) titled "Songbook" is a fun one to listen to. Wiki page is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobukazu_Takemura

And there you have it... I'll just stop there since that's a lot to focus on at the same time. I will mention... if all the "modern scene" is getting you down... perhaps you could track down some good tunes from older Japanese performers worthy of a listen like Meiko Kaji, The Peanuts, Kyuu Sakumoto, Arai Yumi (aka Yuming), and the like...  Either way, I hope these above suggestions, links, and descriptions are helpful and informative for some of you seeing new and interesting stuff that Japan has to offer!