Who wants to recommend some Japanese pop music

Asa Chang (v. ambient but strangely lovely), Cibo Matto (pop fun), Denki Groove (even popper and even funner, highly recommended), Fantastic Plastic Machine (ditto), Maher Shalal Hash Baz (pastoral and nice), Mika Bomb (rawk but gently), Psydoll (nu-metal), Savavo (silly), Takkyu ishino & Tabito nanao (80's pop).

I have no idea about any of them in detail, I get this stuff off a Japanophile who provides me with all my needs and I'm usually so drunk when he gives me this stuff that I can't remember details for any of them.

also, Hi-Posi, Polysics, Yukari Fresh, Noriko Tujiko, Cornelius obviously, and NobukazuTakemura/AkiTsuyuko and the Childisc people for a playful DSP twist.

also, MiniMoni, Shinohara Tomoe, that Odoru 11 single, and Sonic Dragolgo which are all more "extreme" in their own (usually cute) ways.

im guessing you aren't too interested in j-pop 'proper' so i won't go there.

I was really intrigued by Shiina Ringo's Stem single - is the album more of the same?

Dry and Heavy - Reggae/Dub. Began as a side project for a couple of the guys from Audio Active. They've since surpassed their mentors. Albums are great and the live show phenomenal. They're playing with the Asian Dub Foundation later this month in Japan.

Cornelius - Everything's already been said about this guy.

Boom Boom Satellites - Japan's answer to the Chemical Brothers. Substitute the Chemicals' forays into hip-hop for Jazz and you've got the idea.

The Boredoms - The early stuff was incomprehensible noise. They started writing actual songs though, and they're good!

Pop - Morning Musume, Puffy, Ayumi Hamasaki, Boa, TommyFebruary6, Minimoni, Speed, Namie Amuro, move, m-flo, Mai Kuraki, Chappie

Rock/pop/etc - Chara, UA, Judy & Mary, Bonnie Pink, Brilliant Green, Do as Infinity, Hitomi Yaida, Shiina Ringo, Blanket Jet City, Mr. Children, Dragon Ash, Every Little Thing

R&B/rap - Utada Hikaru, Miss Monday, Soulhead, Heartsdales, Kick the can Crew, East end Yuri, Zeebra, K Dub Shine, Microphone Pager, Rappagariya, Tha Blue Herb

Jrock/visual-kei - L'arc en Ciel, Luna Sea, Glay, X Japan, Gackt, Dir en Grey, Pierrot, Due Le Quartz, Plastic Tree, Siam Shade, Malice Mizer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXhm0K976zk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCeWi_FA1GE

Taeko is great

I'm sure there was a better thread for this, but I've just seen the new Perfume video - the video itself is brilliant, ESP/psychic/parlour magic stuff, cut rhythmically with the track. Song is *very* Westernised, I think it sounds quite Scandinavian in its production, and has completely lost the hyper J-pop edge, but... it is a great pop song. Not linking to the video as it'll probably get taken down, seeing as the record company are extremely precious about leaked material, but if you chance upon it I do recommend it.