JPOP! My favorite artists.

1. TUKI

At just 15 years old, Tuki has emerged as a standout talent in the Japanese music scene. Her debut single, "Bansanka," made an impressive entrance, climbing to #1 on Billboard Japan. This achievement has sparked curiosity among music enjoyers and critics of her identity. Who is she?

Despite being a high schooler, Tuki demonstrates extraordinary talent, writing and composing all her songs while balancing her academic responsibilities. Her collaboration with Yuuri has further solidified her presence in the J-pop community, where her music continues to gain recognition. Tuki's live performances also showcase her vocal strength and artistic depth. Tuki is definitely, in my opinion, the future of JPOP.

2. ADO

Ado is a remarkable Japanese singer and songwriter who made her first appearance in 2020 at just 17 years old. Her debut single, "Usseewa," skyrocketed to the top of the Billboard Japan Hot 100, Oricon Digital Singles Chart, and the Oricon Streaming Chart. The track achieved 100 million plays on Billboard Japan in just 17 weeks, making her the youngest solo artist to hit this milestone and the sixth fastest in history. In 2022, her song "New Genesis" became the theme for One Piece Film: Red, topping Apple Music's Global Top 100 chart and solidifying her position as a rising star.

What sets Ado apart is her distinctive voice and her creative live performances, where clever lighting techniques are used to obscure her face, adding a layer of mystery to her persona. Personally, my favorite Ado song is "I’m Invincible," partly because I’m a die-hard One Piece fan. I have read the manga since I was 11.

She will go on a world tour in 2025, and Chicago is one of the destinations. Let me know if you want to go because I’ll be there!

3. Kenshi Yonezu

If you’re a pop music fan with sudden key changes, intricate melodies, and poetic, thought-provoking lyrics, Kenshi Yonezu is an artist you must explore.

Yonezu began his career in 2009, creating Vocaloid music under the stage name HACHI (ハチ). By 2012, he transitioned to using his own voice, and it’s easy to see why his debut made such an impact. With years of production experience already behind him, his music had a polish and depth that set it apart from the start. It didn’t take long for him to establish himself as a leading figure in J-pop, collaborating with top artists and delivering hit after hit. He truly feels like a once-in-a-generation talent.

Every track he releases is a banger, but right now, I’m especially drawn to "Fireworks." Even though it’s more of a summer anthem than a fall tune, it’s nostalgic, and I’m full of it. That said, "Lemon" remains an all-time favorite of mine. No matter how often I listen to it, the emotional depth and stunning melody resonate every single time.

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I’ll save more for next week. I know for anyone into J-pop, these three names might not be new, but their music is so good that I have to introduce them to more people.

Next week, I may write about RADWIMPS (hands up if you went to their Chicago show!), Suda Masaki—an actor also—and King Gnu! This might change if I feel like writing about someone new. Stay tuned!

Btw, this is me every day.