I’m back again to share my top 10 Japanese songs of the year! While interest in my past lists has never been anything special, I still enjoy going back through a year’s worth of music and remembering what it contained. It’s been an interesting year, with some exciting new trends and creative artists I can’t wait to hear more of. My list is a bit more diverse than last year’s as a result, featuring a broader look at the varying types of music coming out of modern Japan. I was extraordinarily lucky to discover these artists, and I feel incredibly delighted knowing I get to share some of them with other people. This list was difficult to put together--and even harder to put in order--but I think I’ve managed to find the ten releases that had the greatest impact on me this year.

I also kept up with my JPOP appreciation thread here on Giant Bomb all year, posting new songs I enjoyed as frequently as I was able. While I still think my ability to accurately describe why I enjoy a song is lacking, I do feel like I came to better understand those things that draw me in, as well as obtained a greater appreciation for the pieces making up any given track. I plan to continue exploring my connection with music into 2016, hopefully coming to learn more about musical composition. Maybe I can eventually reach the point where my words can come even close to describing how a song makes me feel when I hear it. Feel free to stop by and give me some pointers.

Please let me know what you think about my choices if you have the time--or maybe even share some of the Japanese songs that you thought were the absolute best of 2015!

10. I Luv Mary Jane - NOPPAL

I was fascinated with I Luv Mary Jane from the first time I encountered it, having rarely seen drug culture and Japan mix. I found myself going back again and again, addicted to the easygoing sound it had. This song can easily lull you into a trance, its mellow and calming melody enveloping you. It has a unconcerned lazy pace as well, never feeling the need to pick up the speed or change things up. My favorite part is the talkbox-infused chorus, a totally surreal addition to the hazy sounds of the rest of the track. I can’t honestly say that this track has any noteworthy features, but I also can’t deny how totally relaxing I find it; it’s the perfect song to just zone out to, letting the refreshing sounds wash over me.

9. Friday Night Butterfly - BOMI

NOTE: This track doesn’t actually appear online anywhere that I can find. As such, the best I can do is link to the album on iTunes HERE and encourage you to at least listen to the sample. Below is a link to a video of another track from the same album, Monday Melancholy, instead.

Until very recently, I actually forgot Friday Night Butterfly (and the album it’s a part of) even came out this year. I bought it back in January and really enjoyed it but didn’t originally consider it for this list because I thought of it as a 2014 release; lucky for everyone reading this list, that wasn’t the case! I adore the main melody, a simple yet fun guitar riff that hum wonderfully throughout the song. Combined with the pulsating beat and electronic drum fills, it makes for a unique mix of pop and electronic styles. My favorite parts are the two builds--one at the beginning and another near the end--where the instruments slowly come in and layer on top of each other, finally blasting your eardrums with cheerful energy. BOMI’s vocals tie the track together, powerful and impossible to ignore. This is a fantastic, and underappreciated, track.

8. Animation - Young Juvenile Youth

As I’ve gotten deeper into music these past few years, I’ve begun to better understand my musical tastes. One such appreciation is for songs that utilize a minimalist sound: light instrumentation, bare production, and subtle vocals. Animation is a superb example of this style, striking me with both its sound and its music video. Even at its most complex, the composition of this song is very simple: a combination of digital pops, electronic drums, and glitchy distortions. What’s impressive to me is how much the composer does with these sounds, layering them together to create more depth than you might expect. The vocals are excellent as well, haunting and echoey in a way that meshes uncomfortably with the eerie tone. Combine the sounds with the striking--and often incredibly creepy--video and it’s easy to see why this track made an impact on me.

7. Thrill - Band-Maid

It’s a great time to be a rock/metal fan in Japan. There has been a surge of band-focused groups focusing on a sound much more akin to Western styles than the typical visual-kei fare. Out of these groups, Band-Maid is my favorite. Their best track, Thrill, is an enticing promise for the future of this group. Each of the members is clearly skilled in their respective instruments, with catchy guitar riffs, thumping bass lines, and energetic drum fills. Even the vocalist stands out, as she manages to not just sound like a JPOP singer thrown into a group with instruments; her voice really fits in with the music. This song is my favorite of their releases simply because I like its sound the best, particularly the solid bass and guitar solos. I cannot wait to see more of this group in 2016.

Also from Band-Maid: Real Existence, Don't Let Me Down

6. Swallow Maze Paraguay - Koutei Camera Girl

I’m fully aware that I sometimes pick songs for these lists that no one but me understands. Every so often, I just run into something that completely infatuates me, despite its flaws. Swallow Maze Paraguay is a perfect example of this, a track I truly love but one that may not appeal to anyone else. The beat is absolutely fantastic, a remarkably effective trance thrum that made this song one of my immediate favorites. It was this beat that brought me back time and time again, likely making it one of my most-played songs of the whole year. The vocals aren’t the draw, yet they are worth mentioning; the vocalists are clearly amateurs, but their respectable flow and commitment to the style is still endearing. This is a stellar trance track, one that I’m more than happy to draw some attention to.

5. Relax in the City - Perfume

2014 was an off year for Perfume, as far as I was concerned. None of their tracks were particularly memorable. Thankfully, this year was a return to form, with two great releases. My favorite of the two is unquestionably Relax in the City, a overwhelmingly enjoyable track. While I typically enjoy the upbeat songs from Perfume, this track’s soothing sounds are a true delight. It’s the most pleasant song I’ve heard in quite some time, impeccably designed to trigger all of my dopamine receptors. The pure sounds of the chorus always make me smile, no matter how many times I’ve heard the song. The video is a treat as well: gorgeous locations and sets, sweeping cinematography, and heart-achingly adorable performances from the three members. No other song this year made me this uncontrollably happy.

Also from Perfume: Pick Me Up

4. ShibuyaK - Daoko

Daoko is an up-and-coming artist, still only 18 years old but remarkably talented. Her 2013 album Gravity is a master-class of Japanese hip-hop, featuring excellent production and rapping that rivals even Charisma.com’s MC Itsuka. Her newest release, ShibuyaK, is a wild departure from that style, a more mainstream direction that I almost feel bad for liking so much. Holy shit do I love the production on this song. It reminds me of a DDR track from the 90s: a trebely synth line, addictive beats, and pounding industrial sounds at its most intense moments. Daoko’s subtle vocals almost feel out of place at first, not matching the energy of the rest of the track. After a few verses, however, you can see just how superb they are: expertly paced and shockingly faithful to her style, despite the seemingly mismatched tones. After the strength of this song, I can’t wait to see what else she can do.

Also from Daoko: Kakete ageru

3. Medusa - Suiyoubi no Campanella

Resident artist/music aficionado @aurahack is easily the biggest fan of Suiyoubi no Campanella I know, mentioning them (her?) constantly everywhere I turn. I’ve tried each of their releases but could never quite manage to enjoy them. Somewhat ironically, it took the poppiest of their tracks, Medusa, to finally pull me in. This song has a fun, almost playful sound to it, with cheerful pops and voice samples interspersed throughout. KOM_I’s (the vocalist’s) performance is equally enjoyable. Her actions in the video reflect the carefree nature of the song, breaking into a building and dancing around adorably with no guilt for her actions. The vocals are just as spirited, particularly the catchy repetition in the chorus. My favorite part is the final vocal section, where her lyrics layer back over themselves in a mind-blowing conclusion. It’s a sensational track, showing off the strengths of this group while still remaining approachable.

Also from Suiyoubi no Campanella: Napoleon

2. Sainanda Wa - Wata Megumi

It’s electrifying finding complete unknowns in music. Nothing is more exciting than discovering a brand new artist or song you’ve never heard of and building that new adoration. Just as I felt with Yasuha Kominami last year, I was enthralled with Sainanda Wa when I first heard it. This song is chill in a way that I absolutely love. The whole thing has this inescapable tide to it, carrying you along on a wave of delightful bliss. It uses a variety of sounds to great effect, such as the almost xylophone-esque tones that punctuate various parts of the song. Most impressive is how it builds smartly on its production throughout, never quite going back to the same place as you’d expect, like in the somehow even mellower finale. The sharp vocals of the singer fit perfectly as well, flowing masterfully from verse to verse (also, she’s too damn adorable!). This track is unlike anything else from this year, and more people should get to hear it.

1. Luv Pandemic - Towa Tei

Ever since I saw the video for Luv Pandemic, I knew it was going to be at the top of my list come the end of the year. Nothing else managed to leave such an indelible impression on me. This song, and video, are an utterly astounding marvel. Every second of the music video drips with style: the slight fuzziness of the picture, the outfits, the poses of the woman, EVERYTHING. You can practically pause the video at any moment and get an image worth framing and hanging in your house. The song itself is Tei’s finest work to date. The production fits his traditional style but transcends anything he’s created before. It’s put together with the touch of a master creator, using tricks such as the slight distortion on the sound to add to the aesthetic. Add in the catchiest lyrics of the year and you have a song that I can’t call anything other than the best Japanese song of 2015. It’s a stunning example of both electronic music and music video creation.