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The Best Episodes of Songs of Tokyo

Every episode of Songs of Tokyo ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Songs of Tokyo!

Showcasing Japanese music to the world. Featuring live performances by some of Japan's leading J-POP singers and musicians.

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#1 - Yoshiki Kowai
S1:E14/22/2019
International superstar YOSHIKI treated us to a special performance accompanied by a live orchestra for our first episode. Since his major debut with X (name later changed to X JAPAN) in 1989, YOSHIKI’s music career has been a turbulent 30 years. He talks to host Shingo Murakami about his international endeavors and unwavering sentiments. YOSHIKI composed the single “Anniversary” in honor of the tenth anniversary of Japanese Emperor Akihito’s reign and performed it at Japan’s Imperial Palace in 1999. Now, the original full version will be aired for the first time on television on SONGS OF TOKYO. Don’t miss this stirring tribute to mark the end of an era.
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#2 - Little Glee Monster
S1:E25/20/2019
For our second regular episode, we welcome the girls' chorus group, Little Glee Monster. At an average age of just 19, all 5 members of the group are incredible vocalists and take turns on lead vocals. Known especially for their a cappella performances, they have performed with international superstars like Earth, Wind & Fire, and even members of ABBA have talked about how impressive the group is, words of encouragement that have pushed Little Glee Monster to set their sights on international success. Already, they have performed at events in San Francisco and Shanghai, and last year they embarked on their first ever Asia tour. In this episode of SONGS OF TOKYO, the group shares what drives their passion for music, and they show that passion through exclusive performances. Studio MC Shingo Murakami uses his exceptional ability to connect with artists to get the group to admit to some crazy things that have happened on stage.
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#3 - Ai
S1:E36/17/2019
For our third regular broadcast, we welcome the charismatic singer, AI! In addition to her incredible vocals, her songs also feature powerful lyrics full of positive messages that can pick you up whenever you're feeling down. At the young age of 15, AI left her home prefecture of Kagoshima and flew to America to pursue a career in music, an incredibly difficult challenge that tested the singer's resilience. Our program's host, Shingo Murakami, dives into AI's "story" to learn about the life experiences that helped shape her ability to create such impactful music.In this episode, she performs her megahit "HAPPINESS" with a chorus featuring 100 of her biggest fans from around the world, a performance that blew everyone in the studio away. She also sings the English version of "Story," a track that became a massive hit as the ending theme for the Japanese release of Disney's "Big Hero 6".
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#4 - Hideaki Tokunaga
S1:E47/21/2019
For our fourth broadcast, we welcome Hideaki Tokunaga. Since making his debut in the 1980s, Tokunaga's music has been covered by artists all across Asia, including Jackie Chan as well as popular K-POP artists. This time, we talk to JAEJOONG about the love and respect he has for Hideaki Tokunaga and his incredible vocals. Plus, program host Shingo Murakami gets Tokunaga to open up about how he was able to overcome sickness and continues to put out great music. Join us and treat yourself to a special medley featuring Hideaki Tokunaga's most popular tracks: "Yume o Shinjite," "Kowarekake no Radio," and "Rainy Blue." The performance brought his international fans in the studio to tears! Don't miss it!
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#5 - Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
S1:E58/19/2019
For our fifth broadcast, we welcome Kyary Pamyu Pamyu! Since making her major debut in 2011, the pop icon has completed four world tours and continues to be the icon of Tokyo's kawaii-culture. This time, Kyary will be sharing her kabuki collaboration for the first time on TV! The best parts of Japan's traditional performance art form combine with Kyary's unique pop music to create something brand new. The 9-minute long special medley features Kyary in authentic kabuki wear performing hit songs like "Ninja Re Bang Bang" and "Oto no Kuni," all with the flair of a real kabuki show! You'll understand how Kyary's international fans were utterly blown away by the glamorous mix of cutting-edge pop music and traditional Japanese performance art. During the studio interview, host Shingo Murakami talks to Kyary about her neverending search for originality and her incredible self-producing skills. She also unveils her brand-new track, "KIMIGA IINE KURETARA".
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#6 - TOKYO COOL GIRLS Special
S1:E611/18/2019
Episode 6 features 4 of Tokyo's coolest and most popular female artists of 2019. Sayaka Yamamoto, a singer-songwriter who is blazing new trails for herself after graduating from AKB48, the superstar idol group where Yamamoto was the center position for "365nichi no Kamihikouki," a megahit across Asia. Reol, an emerging pop artist whose music videos have been viewed more than 400 million times, the majority of views coming from outside Japan. Juice=Juice, a Hello! Project group with plenty of experience performing overseas since successfully completing their first world tour in 2015. The episode will also feature the anime song world's new heroine, ASCA. The unique singer with amazing vocals who made a name for herself by performing the opening theme for the anime Sword Art Online. These 4 hot artists join us in the studio where host Shingo Murakami uses his wit and charisma to uncover what makes these artists so unique.
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The 20 WORST Episodes of Songs of Tokyo

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#7 - SixTONES, Snow Man
S1:E712/23/2019
The 7th episode of SONGS OF TOKYO will feature two hot Johnny's groups set to make their CD debut in 2020 in a show called "SixTONES vs Snow Man." SixTONES has been making waves with their single "Imitation Rain," written and composed by YOSHIKI. This six-member group already has an international fan base thanks to their YouTube and social media pages, and are hoping to make it big on the international arena. Snow Man, a group of nine, has already gotten acclaim for their show stopping performances. They started their own WEIBO page in 2019 and have won their newcomers award. They are set to tour Asia in 2020. SONGS OF TOKYO host Murakami Shingo, also a Johnny's member, does a great job of easing their tension and livening up the studio. Tune in to learn more about what makes each member unique.
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#8 - Best Scenes of 2019
S2:E11/20/2020
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!
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#9 - WAGAKKIBAND
S2:E22/17/2020
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!
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#10 - JUJU
S2:E33/23/2020
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.
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#11 - Ame no Parade and Ryokuoushoku Shakai
S2:E45/25/2020
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.
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#12 - milet
S2:E57/20/2020
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!
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#13 - BiSH
S2:E68/24/2020
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.
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#14 - Suzuki Masayuki
S2:E79/21/2020
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."
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#15 - MIYAVI
S2:E810/19/2020
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.
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#16 - Ozaki Hiroya
S2:E911/23/2020
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."
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#17 - JO1
S2:E1012/21/2020
This episode features JO1, an 11-member boy band that debuted March 2020. They've been making waves around the world ever since they clinched the award for Best Asian Artist in MAMA, one of Asia's biggest music awards shows. The 11 members come from various backgrounds and were selected through a grueling process from among 6,000 people who had applied for the auditions. They continue to engage fans with their growth since their debut. Hosts Murakami Shingo and Horan Chiaki shower the members with questions to bring out each of their personalities. Expect plenty of laughs in the talk session! The performance will include "Shine A Light" from their latest album released in November - it was also featured in the MAMA awards show - "Safety Zone," which became a hit among fans for the music video and "MONSTAR," a single that will be shown on TV for the first time. The band fuses the best of J-POP and K-POP, so look forward to a brilliant show!
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#18 - Hirose Kohmi
S3:E11/25/2021
This episode features "Winter Queen" Hirose Kohmi, a songstress who has released hit singles such as "My God blessed Romance," "Where's my snow melting love," "DEAR...again" and "promise." Now, she is in the spotlight for cover songs on her YouTube channel. She accompanies these innovative covers with commentary backed by her musical knowledge and fans rave how they have helped them rediscover the allure of music. In the program, she chats with the 2 hosts while playing the piano, demonstrates the appeal of modern pop hits like King Gnu's "Hakujitsu" and opens up about her thoughts on music and approach to cover songs. She also performs "Pretender" by Official HIGE DANdism, the cover with the most views on her YouTube channel, and "All we need is love" alongside Mayumura Chiaki, who she has performed with in the past. Expect an episode packed with smiles!
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#19 - Sexy Zone
S3:E22/22/2021
Members are Sato Shori, Nakajima Kento, Kikuchi Fuma, Marius Yo, and Matsushima So. In November 2011, the group made a debut with the single "Sexy Zone" and debuted at No.1 on the Oricon weekly ranking, which is the most popular music chart in Japan. Since then, all 19 singles and 8 albums (including the best album) have achieved No.1 on the Oricon weekly ranking. In November 2021, the group will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the debut.
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#20 - Love Live! Series
S3:E33/22/2021
Liella! is a school idol group that appears in “Love Live! Superstar!!,” the latest installment in the multi-media “Love Live!” series. On 7 April 2021, they released their debut single “Hajimari wa Kimi no Sora” along with an animated music video. Nijigasaki High School Idol Club is a school idol group from the multi-media “Love Live!”series. They are featured in the “Love Live! School Idol Festival ALL STARS” game app, which is currently in distribution. They appeared in a TV anime series in 2020, and will have their 3rd concert on 8 and 9 May 2021. Aqours is a school idol group from the multi-media “Love Live! Sunshine!!” series. In 2018, they had their own two-day concert at Tokyo Dome. At the end of the same year, they appeared in the 69th NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen. In 2019, the “Love Live! Sunshine!!” series had its first Asia tour. They will hold their first outdoor concert in their hometown Shizuoka to celebrate their 5th anniversary in May this year.
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#21 - Sakurazaka46
S3:E44/19/2021
Sakurazaka46 is an idol group produced by Akimoto Yasushi. It was formed as the second group in the Sakamichi Series in August 2015 after screening 22,509 audition applicants. The group debuted as Keyakizaka46 with their first single “Silent Majority” on 6 April 2016. In July 2020, it was announced that they would go on hiatus and be renamed. In October the same year, they restarted their activities. They received recognition for their skills and buzz factor, and performed in the 71st NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen.
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#22 - MORISAKI WIN and WGB (WagakkiBand)
S3:E55/24/2021
Born and raised in Myanmar, MORISAKI WIN came to Japan when he was in the 4th grade of elementary school, was scouted when he was in the 2nd grade of junior high school, and started his entertainment career. In 2008, he joined a dance vocal unit and became the main vocalist. While playing various roles as an actor, he was selected as a main cast member in Steven Spielberg's film “Ready Player 1”, making his Hollywood debut. WagakkiBand made their debut in April 2014 with the album Vocalo Zanmai. Their second album Yasou Emaki was released in 2015. It debuted at No. 1 in the Oricon Weekly Ranking and won the Planning Prize at the 57th Japan Record Awards. The band has held dynamic performances both in Japan and abroad, performing at the prestigious Nippon Budokan in less than two years since their debut. They have done a solo tour in North America and are continuing to expand worldwide. In 2018, their 5th album Otonoe won the Album Prize at the 60th Japan Record Awards.
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#23 - Aoi Shouta, Uesaka Sumire
S3:E66/21/2021
WagakkiBand made their debut in April 2014 with the album Vocalo Zanmai. Their second album Yasou Emaki was released in 2015. It debuted at No. 1 in the Oricon Weekly Ranking and won the Planning Prize at the 57th Japan Record Awards. The band has held dynamic performances both in Japan and abroad, performing at the prestigious Nippon Budokan in less than two years since their debut. They have done a solo tour in North America and are continuing to expand worldwide. In 2018, their 5th album Otonoe won the Album Prize at the 60th Japan Record Awards. Uesaka Sumire debuted as a voice actress in January 2012. She made her debut as an artist with “nanatsunoumiyorikiminoumi,” the theme song for the 2013 TV animation Namiuchigiwa No Muromi San. Sumire is a unique voice actress well-versed in various fields such as Russia, Showa era songs, metal rock, tanks, lolita, and professional wrestling. She released her latest single “EASY LOVE” in April 2021.
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#24 - The Best Songs from the First Half of 2021
S3:E77/19/2021
Ms. OOJA was born in Mie Prefecture and serves as the Tourism Ambassador for Mie Prefecture and Yokkaichi City. She has also gained a reputation for cover songs, releasing three cover albums with curated love songs. “Mayonaka no Door -Stay With Me-” was recorded in the album Nagashi no OOJA-Vintage Song Covers, which covers classics from the Showa era (1926-1989). It became a revival hit and reached 1.8 million views in Ms. OOJA’s YouTube channel. Her silky voice is said to have a 1/f fluctuation, which is believed to have a soothing effect on people. Strength and dignity are the underling concepts behind her music and performances, and she works under the motto “this voice will inspire a new you.” Awesome City Club is a three-unit group formed in 2013.The group has two vocals and their music is an eclectic mix of pop, rock, soul, R&B, and dance music that showcases the members’ versatile roots.
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#25 - CRAZY KEN BAND, CHANMINA
S3:E89/20/2021
This episode features 2 artists known for creating tracks that are going viral around the world. Their difference in age, aesthetic and musical style highlight how diverse J-POP is today. CRAZY KEN BAND celebrated their 40th anniversary this fall with their first cover album, featuring some of Japan's most treasured city pop songs. At the show, they perform a cover of "DOWN TOWN" by the legendary Yamashita Tatsuro-led band SUGAR BABE. The program also showcases their signature song, "Tiger and Dragon," and delves into Yokoyama's thoughts on the appeal of city pop. CHANMINA is a noteworthy artist with a huge Gen Z fan base both in Japan and abroad. The 22-year-old singer has been making waves with her signature track "Never Grow Up," a chart-topping single with over 200 million views on YouTube and 150 million hashtag views on TikTok. On the show, she'll be performing her springtime hit "Bijin" for the first time on TV.
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Best Episodes Summary

"Yoshiki Kowai" is the best rated episode of "Songs of Tokyo". It scored /10 based on 0 votes. Directed by Unknown and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/22/2019. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Little Glee Monster".