7 MORE J-POP GROUPS YOU NEED TO KNOW

Don’t know too much about J-Pop? Don’t worry, POP TOKKI has got you covered. People frequently associate J-Pop with classic anime openings, which is entirely correct. Every group portrays J-Pop in a different way, which makes it distinctive to them. POP TOKKI is sure we have an artist listed for everyone’s music preference. Read on as we break down various J-Pop groups and their top song based on Spotify, which you might have heard of. We hope by the end of this series, you’ve discovered a new group to add to your playlist or one of your favorite artists from the list below!

ATARASHII GAKKO!

Atarashii Gakko, consisting of Suzuka, Rin, Mizyu, and Kanon, takes “new school” to a new meaning, quite literally, as their group name translates into “new school.” Blending old school hip hop, funk, and some disco influence, Atarashii Gakko! They perfectly exude these genres in their music. Also, dressed in their iconic sailor fuku outfits adds a classic, recognizable, and youthful look as they represent their Japanese culture. Their overall image oozes cool and crazy vibes, whereas as a group they can be unserious at times to show how much fun they have as a group, performers, and longtime friends, which has captured the hearts of many global fans. Their most notable track, “OTONABLUE,” displays and captures their unique sound as a group, whereas their latest release, “One Heart,” blends old and new school sounds full of soul and high vibes, showcasing what a unique and carefully crafted group they are.

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Psychic fever

Tsurugi, Ryoga, Ren, Jimmy, Kokoro, Ryushin, Weesa, Under LDH Japan, and 10k Records, made their debut on July 13, 2022. Among all the boy groups listed, they carry the most old-school R&B and rap influences within their music and overall fashion sense. However, they do have a lot of dance and club influences within their sound as well, which can be found in their most popular “Just Like Dat” and more so in tracks like “What’s Happenin’.” If you like old-school 90s and 00s hip-hop and R&B, then Psychic Fever is the perfect group for you. Their influence can even be seen in the video below, which emphasizes their choreography and vocals with colorful lighting and only blank spaces.

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IS:SUE

Under Lapone Entertainment, members Nano, Yuuki, Rino, and Rin (currently on hiatus) debut on June 19, 2024. IS:SUE has a sound that differs from the previous girl groups mentioned above; their sound is fueled by dance, rap, club, and heavy beats that influence their mature visual as a group. They also like many of the other groups to sing in both English and Japanese. Their sound is consistent with every single song released, just like with their most recent release, “Shining.” As well as maintaining that mature and cool look individually and as a whole, musically and visually.

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DXTEEN

Under Lapone Entertainment, DXTEEN consists of members Taichi, Ayuta, Koshin, Nalu, Ken, and Shotaro. They debuted back on May 10, 2023, with the classic, cute, and bright J-Pop sound. DXTEEN embodies what listeners think of when we refer to J-Pop. Their entire discography is full of fresh, colorful, and overall enlightening vibes that perfectly complement summer vibes filled with pop, dance, and light rapping. Their most recent release, “Tick Tack,” continues to carry that lighthearted, cute, and fun vibe that DXTEEN exudes through their music and group dynamic.

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ONE OR EIGHT

Classic dance, pop, and hip-hop are what make up ONE OR EIGHT. Under Avex Trax Souma, Mizuki, Tsubasa, Reia, Ryota, Takeru, Yuga, and Neo debut on August 16, 2024. Primarily singing in English, this newer group has already collaborated with big Western artists like Big Sean on their single “Kawasaki.” Their sound definitely can be something heard on Western radio, as it has the feel of Western music influenced heavily by rap, hip-hop, and dance pop that can be heard from their small discography. Particularly in their most well-known album, “DSTM,” which samples the song “Please Don’t Stop The Music” by Rihanna, another well-known Western artist.

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Travis Japan

On October 28, 2022, Kaito (Chaka), Kaito (Umi), Kaito (Machu), Ryuya, Shizuya, Genta, and Noel made their debut under STARTO ENTERTAINMENT as Travis Japan. An easy-going and overall chill vibe is what Travis Japan’s discography provides, with a slight funky indie edge to it. Their most popular single, “Sweetest Tune,” proves just that; however, it adds a flair of pop and dance, still keeping that chill indie vibe. However, their track, “Would You Like One?” retains an indie vibe with a hint of slightly funky alternative pop in its catchy beat and hooks, and they also sing in both English and Japanese. Their music video for “Sweetest Tune,” shown below, creates a colorful and relaxing atmosphere that represents Travis Japan’s sound and vibe.

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HANABIE

Hanabie stands out among J-Pop because of their metalcore-inspired sound and styling, which are classified as Harajuku-core. Debuting in June 2025, under Epic Records Japan, members Yukina, Matsuri, Hettsu, and Chika intermixed classic J-pop sounds, edgy Harajuku styling, and metal, making them unique among what we classify as J-pop. Rather than a group, Hanabie is a band full of women who each play their instruments. “Pardon Me, I Have To Go Now” is their most popular song; though it has a heavy sound, there still is a twinge of cute, well, to some. In contrast to “Pardon Me, I Have to Go Now,” “Tasty Survivor” is less heavy and features an even mix of pop and metalcore.