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Collage of Haruki Murakami sitting at the counter of his jazz bar Peter Cat in Kokubunji, Tokyo, with a black cat silhouette and old magazine cuttings about the bar

Music

Haruki Murakami and Jazz: Peter Cat, the Records and the Novels

At 25, Haruki Murakami put off finishing university to open a jazz bar named after his cat. Four years later, a baseball game changed everything....

Music

Japanese Jazz at EFG London Jazz Festival 2026

Shuya Okino closes this year's London Jazz Festiva...

Shuya Okino closes this year's London Jazz Festiva...

Written by: Simon Martin
22 September 2026
Music

Who Composed Sadness and Sorrow from Naruto?

Sadness and Sorrow carries three different compose...

Sadness and Sorrow carries three different compose...

Written by: James Taylor
19 September 2026
Music

Yasuharu Takanashi on Sadness and Sorrow, Girei and His First UK Show

Streaming services credit Sadness and Sorrow to so...

Streaming services credit Sadness and Sorrow to so...

Written by: Simon Martin
19 September 2026

The Sounds of Japan: Exploring Music, Genres & Subcultures

Japan’s music scene is a bold mix of genre-defying sound and cultural storytelling. From the polished pop of J-Pop idols and the nostalgic glow of City Pop, to the experimental edge of Japanese hip-hop, lo-fi beats, and indie rock, the country’s soundscape reflects a culture in constant creative motion.

Our Music section brings you closer to the voices shaping Japan today. Explore features on underground scenes in Tokyo and Osaka, breakdowns of iconic albums, rising artists, and the global reach of Japanese music across anime, gaming, and fashion.

This is your window into a world where sound, identity, and subculture collide—and where Japan’s creative spirit is always turned up to eleven.

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