Luna's Ongaku Go for February 2023!

Picking up where Ken left off and spring boarding into the second month of 2023, it’s that time of the month for February’s Ongaku Go! We at OTY would like our readers to know what was filling our ears for the past month. Each track is available across all digital music streaming platforms, with Apple Music featured on this site.


“(NOT) Remember you” by Ayumi Hamasaki

Ayumi’s first major release of the year, her Remember you album, was a great way to end January and start off February. One of the lead tracks on her latest album, "(NOT) Remember you” has filled my ears since its release. This song features a heavy electronic vibe with powerful lyrics and vocals to match. Ayu’s ear for music is still going strong, as it not only contains a strong electronic vibe, but also some heavy guitar riffs that fit perfectly in the middle of the track. “(NOT) Remember you” sticks with you through and through, leaving you with its catchy beat in your head and wanting to put it on repeat.

“(NOT) Remember you” by Ayumi Hamasaki here and the music below!


“Trigger” by Koda Kumi

Koda Kumi is always a favorite of mine, and her newest mini album WINGS that dropped in late January is no different. “Trigger” is exactly what you want and expect in a Koda Kumi song, dance beats, smokey vocals, catchy lyrics, and a hot chorus. I love how “Trigger” starts off a little slower with a more modern vibe, but with the perfect vocal style with the composition. The verses are my favorite part of this track, as they have this smooth style that just flows perfectly and leads right to the chorus, which has a heavier beat that gives off a more hip-hop-like vibe. “Trigger” brings a good mixture of modern Koda Kumi mixed with all the experience she’s gained over the last 20-plus years.

Check out “Trigger” by Koda Kumi here and the music video below!


“February 14 (feat. Takaya Kawasaki)” by miwa

As February is the month of love due to Valentine’s Day, miwa’s latest track “February 14 (feat. Takaya Kawasaki)” became an addiction with its lovey-dovey lyrics. This was a part of miwa’s latest EP release “Valentine ga Kotoshi mo Yatte Kuru”, “February 14” was the highlight of this track with its beautiful composition giving the perfect love song for the month. Takaya Kawasaki and miwa’s collaboration has a nice balance between both artists. miwa obviously shines, but Takaya Kawasaki’s voice is such a nice treat. I love that both artists have different tones vocally, but they mesh perfectly together.

Check out “February 14 (feat. Takaya Kawasaki")” by miwa here and the music video below!


“Konya mo Dareka to (feat. Manaka Shida) by t-Ace

I always enjoy seeing what t-Ace releases, as he puts out some bangers, and of course, , his digital single from the end of January, “Konya mo Dareka to” with Manaka Shida is that for me. It has a fun Hip-Hop/R&B beat, t-Ace’s vocals and rap are smooth, despite some of the auto-tuning. Manaka Shida and t-Ace have amazing chemistry in this track and blend so perfectly together. The lyrics in “Konya mo Dareka to” are playful and have some truth to them. This is one of those chill tracks that I want to listen to and soak up.

Check out “Konya mo Dareka to (feat. Manaka Shida) by t-Ace here and the music video below!


“Karappo” by AYANE

Ken introduced me to “Karappo” and I have not been able to get enough. AYANE has such a smooth voice that pulls you in, her track “Karappo” is the perfect showcase of that. With its mid tempo R&B composition, AYANE’s vocals flow throughout this track with a steady rhythm, leading you through a story. The verses are just as catchy as the chorus, and the composition is the perfect match with AYANE’s vocal style. “Karappo” is a soothing track as it contains just that right mixture of pop and R&B.

Check out “Karappo” by AYANE here and the lyric video below!


Ken's Ongaku Go for February 2023!

With the love-filled month of February passing us by, that means a brand new Ongaku Go is here! We at OTY would like our readers to know what was filling our ears for the past month. Each track is available across all digital music streaming platforms, with Apple Music featured on this site.


“SPEED AGETE” by SIRUP

I’ve honestly missed putting up SIRUP in my Ongaku Go, with his infrequency of releasing things back in 2022 and I was just prancing out other artists, my love for SIRUP was little found. Produced by the fabulous Chaki Zulu, SIRUP brings his A game with this track. If it’s his hot vocals that he just spits, or the loving relations with the compositions, “SPEED AGETE” is a track that I could find in the running for the track of the year. While I hope that SIRUP will have an album soon, since he is well overdue for one, if his releases are the caliber of “SPEED AGETE” I have no worries for his 2023.
Be sure to check out the track here!


“City Girl” by botakura.

This band has all the things that I absolutely love in a modern pop band, as they really bring all this city pop sound to the forefront. I love the use of the sax that is sprinkled throughout the track that gives the song a bit more ‘umph’ so to speak. Vocalist Siyo's smooth vocals really are what makes this track work overall, and I’ll be keeping my eye on this band just for that. I highly anticipate this band’s first album so I can make a proper Music Corner about them. If even a quarter of their discography is like “City Girl”, I think we will all be in for a treat.

Check out the track here, along with the music video below!


“Window” by Som

Surprise surprise I’ve found another Pop fusion female artist. Her sample size is only relegated to singles and EPs, I absolutely loved what I’ve heard from her. While I might not be able to talk about her in Music Corner yet, Som does a lot of things that I love in a female vocalist. Absolutely amazing minimalist vocals with just trance like compositions is always going to be added in my rotation one way or another. While I’m very excited to see what Som releases next, I’m more highly anticipating what an album set has for her.

Check out “Window” here!


“The Essential of Pop” by Girls Back Teen

Weird band name aside, I instantly fell in love with this project. The whole aesthetic hits all the right buttons for me as that throwback style. The overall average style that they bring is great and just makes me fall in love with its music. While I might see his style not working for everyone, as you can’t really hear his vocals as clearly as you would like, I just think it’s that unique charm that makes him stand out more so. I honestly can’t wait to see what this new style can bring and want to hear more from him even more.

Be sure to check out the track here


“Sweet Trip” by L-Baby

While this is more Luna’s style, I found myself going to this track more and more throughout the month. The vocals that L-Baby does in this release just absolutely work and on top of the non-intrusive or overbearing composition that is common for this genre makes Sweet Trip a number 1 for me. While I’m not sure if L-Baby will stick around in my rotation all too much, I’m thankful to come across this release and hope for more from her in the future.

Check out “Sweet Trip” here!

Gray's Onkagu Go For January 2023

It’s 2023 and it is time to kick off the year with what we’ve been listening to this past January. All the songs featured below and be found on Apple Music.


“Chigau Sojanai” By Masayuki Suzuki

I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it, when we were covering the Kohaku, and Masayuki Suzuki had one of my favorite performances of the show. The composition of this track sticks with you and, I know this sounds silly, but it’s such a cool track. I keep coming back to this song time and time again. I’m so glad he performed for the Kohaku, I’ve become a fan of his.

Check out “Chigau Sojanai” here and the music video below!


“Heart” by Aimyon

Again, this was a Kohaku performance that just captivated me. Aimyon hasn’t always been my favorite, but I’ve always felt she has a commendable charm about her. When I heard her performance for “Heart” I didn’t want it to stop, and I’ve been listening to it ever since. This track is one of my favorites by her, and I can’t wait to see what she does next.

Check out “Heart” here and the music video below!


“Habit” by Sekai No Owari

Okay, yeah I’m pretty late to this song, but again, it’s a performance that I thoroughly enjoyed at the Kohaku, and I keep going back and listening to this track. This release has a distinct identity and I really liked what this was putting down. I can see why “Habit” became a sensation and I’ve enjoyed my time with it.

Check out “Habit” here and the music video below!


“Sorry” by White Jam

This release by White Jam starts a little slow but picks up to be an excellent mid-tempo track. This is pretty standard pop fair, but it’s White Jam and I love this song very much. Everyone here is doing what they do best and I’ve really had a fun time listening to this.

Check out “Sorry” here and the music video below!


“mabuta” by VAUNDY

The latest release by VAUNDY “mabuta” just continues his string of great tracks to come out. I had a lot of fun with “mabuta”. It has an interesting composition that works really well. I think VAUNDY is just getting started, and I can’t wait to see what he does next.

Check out “mabuta” here and the music video below!

Luna's Ongaku Go For January 2023!

Picking up where Ken left off and spring boarding into 2023, it’s that time of the month for January’s Ongaku Go! We at OTY would like our readers to know what was filling our ears for the past month. Each track is available across all digital music streaming platforms, with Apple Music featured on this site.


“Chosen One” by aimi

With the release of aimi’s newest digital single “You Are” in December of 2022, I decided to check out more of her music and discovered her song “Chosen One” which is the lead track on her mini album of the same name. “Chosen One” delivers a heavy R&B vibe with strong vocals, lyrics, and catchy beats. “Chosen One” has lyrics that switch between both Japanese and English with a endearing message that sticks with you. aimi’s vocals are smooth and she flawlessly coordinates her vocals from English to Japanese with ease. “Chosen One” is a track that sticks with you and you cannot stop listening to it.

Check out “Chosen One” here and the music video below!



“Say” by EMI MARIA

I have been following EMI MARIA’s comeback and it has been hit after hit for me. EMI MARIA’s track “Say” is full of R&B chill vibes that gives off the 90s feeling mixed with current beats. EMI MARIA’s vocals are smooth and flow with the beats leading throughout the song. The chorus might not be as catchy as her other tracks but it meshes with versus’ giving off the easy listening vibe. “Say” is a track that makes you want more new music but also makes you want to dive back into EMI MARIA’s musical career thus far.

Check out “Say” by EMI MARIA here and the music video below!



“GOODIE MEMORIES” by Emi Hinouchi

This is a guilty pleasure track and has come back up on my playlists again due to the fact that Emi Hinouchi has started to release a good amount of digital singles more frequently. “GOODIE MEMORIES” is a track that was always on repeat for me - I also remember when it came out in 2008. This song delivers a fun R&B-pop fusion with Emi’s smooth vocals and catchy lyrics that keep you singing along. This is a song that the lyrics have so much meaning to me and seeing that this was recently added to AppleMusic made me happy (despite me owning it physically). “GOODIE MEMORIES” is always a good showcase of Emi’s vocal range and keeps a flowing vibe with the composition.

Check out “GOODIE MEMORIES” by Emi Hinouchi here and the music video below!



“Renegades (Japanese version)” by ONE OK ROCK

With the announcement of their upcoming tour with Muse in the US, it got me to go back and check out their latest album Luxury Disease that released in September 2022. “Renegades” stuck with me with its composition giving a cineamtic vibe (it was used as the theme for Rurouni Kenshin: The Final) and I love the vocal work. The chorus is very catchy and it reminds me of the pop rock phase I went through in High School. The lyrics for “Renegades” pulls you in and is easily relatable and draws you to it.

Check out “Renegades (Japanese version)” by ONE OK ROCK here and the music video below!



“A Revolution” by Love Psychedelico

Every once in a while I listen to artists that I haven’t listened to in a while, Love Psychedlico happened to be one of those and to my surprise, they released a brand new album in October 2022. The lead track, “A Revolution” is fantastic as Love Psychedelico shows that they aren’t over yet and still can rock out. “A Revolution” brings a combination of 80s rock with Kumi’s vocal style and 60s/70s rock with its composition. Kumi’s vocals always make this band so unique to me and their music continues on with its tradition of housing the 60s/70s style which is their inspiration.

Check out “A Revolution” by Love Psychedelico here and the music video below!



Ken's Ongaku Go For January 2023!

Spring boarding into 2023, it’s that time of the month for January’s Ongaku Go! We at OTY would like our readers to know what was filling our ears for the past month. Each track is available across all digital music streaming platforms, with Apple Music featured on this site.


“Every Wish Deserves a Dream” by MISIA

I had honestly fell in love with this song upon listening to it during the Kohaku that it was in instant. The wonderment that is placed throughout this song it just amazing and like I had said during the Kohaku episode, that Disney Magic is just there and can is something that just has to be heard. While I don’t like all of MISIA’s discography, when she hits, she hits hard with tracks just like this.

Be sure to check out the track here, and below!



“Time Capsule” by CRCK/LCKS

Now this is a band I haven’t heard from in a while, but I am so happy to do so as I was worried of disbandment. “Time Capsule” works more as an experience of sound for Math Rock genre more than an actual song as there are little to no lyrics throughout the release itself and the band just has the music speaks. As it is difficult to recommend a song like this to other people, it is something that must be experienced first hand. I for one can’t wait to hear more done by this band and hope more for them in 2023.

Check out the song below and via Apple Music here!


“You” by Ayumi Hamasaski

This is a guilty pleasure more than anything else, I was recommended to listen to this song by someone close to me (not Luna) and I was just moved to tears upon listening. When we did our Artist spotlight I knew ‘You’ was a great song but context matters this time around and it really spoke to me. It was even great enough to move it to my rotations. While I don’t see Hamasaki’s track getting on here all too often, it will be in my rotation a tad bit more than before.

Be sure to check out the music video for “YOU” below, along with the track here!


“STARS” by J SOUL BROTHERS

I had really missed J SOUL BROTHERS as they bring a certain style that their younger brother groups can’t really reach yet. With only one release in 2022, I had missed this more ‘general’ style of what LDH does. It hits all of everything for a group like this with just the right amount of vocal exposure that actually matches the composition and isn’t something that is overbearing. While I do hope this EP it was originally on does mean they have more work planned for 2023, if not then ‘STARS’ was just my sweet release.

Check out the music video for “STARS” below, along with the song here!


“The Price of Freedom” by Takeharu Ishimoto

Due to my brute playthrough of Crisis Core Reunion for Podasarus, this particular song has been on my mind a whole lot. Granted it happened during the most tragic part of that game, I absolutely fell in love with it. In my opinion I would consider it Zack’s theme and I hope that whenever Rebirth comes out we get to hear a more majestic version of it.

Be sure to check out the track here!