Songs of Tokyo - Season 2

2x1 - Best Scenes of 2019

January 20, 2020

The first episode of SONGS OF TOKYO in 2020 will feature the BEST SCENE 2019! We will be bringing to you the best performances by 12 artists who made waves last year. Expect to see Johnny's idols, Anisongs and phenomenal music legends. With the Tokyo Olympics right around the corner, SONGS OF TOKYO brings you the latest trends in the Japanese music scene. Don't miss it!

2x2 - WAGAKKIBAND

February 17, 2020

Episode 9 guest WAGAKKIBAND shares their unique sounds with the world! After debuting in 2014, the band has been making waves by combining modern J-pop with traditional Japanese instruments such as the Tsugaru-jamisen, koto, shakuhachi and Wadaiko. Their first album featured Vocaloid covers, and the single "Senbonzakura" became an international hit, with the music video garnering over 100 million views. WAGAKKIBAND toured the US in 2016, and their 2020 concerts will have Amy Lee of the Grammy Award-winning band Evanescence as a guest vocalist. Host Shingo Murakami is fascinated about the diverse backgrounds of each band member. They bring down the house with hilarious incidents related to traditional instruments. Murakami even makes them all sing Shigin poetry! Don't miss WAGGAKIBAND's unique performance!

2x3 - JUJU

March 23, 2020

The 10th episode will feature JUJU. Her sad ballads have brought tears to the eyes of women around Japan. Why is her music so touching? Can it have the same effect on people around the world? She shares stories of her youth with hosts Shingo Murakami and Chiaki Horan, talking about how an inferiority complex since her youth led her to New York. Despite putting her heart into training, she has had her share of obstacles. Even after returning to Japan and making her debut, her songs failed to top the charts. Yet she didn't give up, and a "miracle" came her way. JUJU shares her heartwarming success story and unveils a special medley of her best ballads. The program also talks about "snack bars," something that helped JUJU become a master of cover songs. JUJU explains Japan's "snack bar" culture to international fans and performs a cover of Miyuki Nakajima's "Ito," a song that has also been covered by various Asian musicians.

2x4 - Ame no Parade and Ryokuoushoku Shakai

May 25, 2020

Ame no Parade was formed in 2013 and made their major debut in 2016. With a mix of 80’s pop, indie R&B, and electro house, their music transcends the boundaries of Western and Japanese music. By composing without limiting themselves to conventional band music, they deliver the next generation of pop. The borderless quality of their sound has been garnering attention from Asia and the rest of the world. Ryokuoushoku Shakai, also known as “Ryokushaka,” is a four-piece band from Aichi Prefecture. Formed in 2012, the members are high school classmates Nagaya Haruko (vocal/guitar), Kobayashi Issei (guitar/chorus) and peppe (keyboards/chorus), along with Kobayashi’s childhood friend Anami Shingo (bass/chorus). The music video for their February 2020 single “Shout Baby” has been making waves with over five million views.

2x5 - milet

July 20, 2020

Meet the Rising Star of 2020 J-POP! Appearing next on the show is the rising singer and songwriter milet (pronounced "mi-lay"). Her debut single "inside you" released in March 2019 rose swiftly to the top of digital music charts. milet then went on to release her debut album in June this year, which showcased her distinct voice, brilliant melodies and delicate, emotional lyrics. The album jumped to the top of the charts. She has also done collaborations with big names such as Toru from ONE OK ROCK and MAN WITH A MISSION, and has stirred international fans with theme songs for popular anime series. She is going above and beyond the J-POP genre and is definitely an artist to watch out for. On the show, she performed 4 songs that demonstrated her unique vocals and gave us a peek into the process that goes into creating songs. Watch out for the heartwarming scene where hosts Murakami Shingo and Horan Chiaki get a glimpse of the authentic milet and how innocent she is!

2x6 - BiSH

August 24, 2020

Meet the hottest J-POP group of 2020! This episode features the popular group BiSH. BiSH is a punk band without any musical instruments. 2020 marks their 5th anniversary and this July, they released an album of their greatest hits as well as a new original album. Both jumped to the top of the charts. They have been pushing boundaries with their electric personalities and free form of musical expression, which has given them a growing fanbase both in Japan and abroad. Fans from all around the world - from the Americas to East Asia - have been shaking up the internet with videos of themselves dancing to BiSH. In the program, fans from the UK, US and Sweden share passionate words, moving the group to tears. Hosts Murakami Shingo and Horan Chiaki delve into the unique personalities of each of the 6 members, and learn the secret behind BiSH's international popularity.

2x7 - Suzuki Masayuki

September 21, 2020

This episode features Suzuki Masayuki, the king of love songs! It has been 40 years since he made his debut, and now he's making an international breakthrough as the new face of Anisongs (anime songs). Last year, Suzuki worked on the main theme song for the anime "Kaguya-sama: Love is War," which cast him into the spotlight as the next big face of Anisongs. His second Anisong, "DADDY ! DADDY ! DO ! feat. Suzuki Airi" released in 2020, has been streamed over 18 million times. YouTubers from around the world have been rocking the internet with their covers of the single. The program interviews YouTubers from the US, Mexico, Brazil, Norway, Hungary and Poland who have copied Suzuki's songs. Their enthusiasm for Suzuki's vocals in "DADDY ! DADDY ! DO ! feat. Suzuki Airi" moves the 63-year-old singer, who exclaims "this is probably the happiest moment in my 40 years as a singer." He also performs his hit song "Megumi No Hito."

2x8 - MIYAVI

October 19, 2020

MIYAVI has gained recognition around the world for his unconventional way of playing the electric guitar - not with a pick, but with his fingers and his unique “slap style.” He has done eight successful world tours, performing over 350 shows in 30 countries. He made his Hollywood debut as an actor with the movie Unbroken. Since then, he’s acted in various movies, both in Japan and abroad. He became the first Japanese UNHCR ambassador in 2017. Then in 2020, he also the first Japanese celebrity model for Gucci’s global campaign with their Off the Grid collection. “Samurai Guitarist” MIYAVI is constantly aiming for the next level in the international sphere. As one of Japan’s most promising artists, he’ll continue to blaze trails.

2x9 - Ozaki Hiroya

November 23, 2020

This episode features singer-songwriter Ozaki Hiroya. His father is the late Ozaki Yutaka, a legendary and charismatic singer who rose to fame in the 80's for songs packed with the angst of adolescence. His hits are still popular across Asia. Ozaki Hiroya is carrying on his father's legacy by exploring new music styles. He has recently been in the spotlight for his raw, touching lyrics and modern sounds that reflect his upbringing in the United States. He released his first album this October. Hiroya had always been compared to his father, so how did he overcome his struggles to find his own style? Why did he decide to release his first album at the age of 31? Hosts Murakami Shingo and Horan Chiaki delve into his thoughts and musical career. Hiroya also performs his new hit singles and unveils a cover of his father's song, "I LOVE YOU."

JO1

Songs of Tokyo - S2 - E10