11 Captivating Songs Associated with Japan | Playlist 🎧

1. Shawn Mendes, “Lost in Japan”

💿 Shawn Mendes • 🏷 Island • 📅 2018

“Let’s get lost tonight / Let’s get lost tonight / Baby, you and I can’t seem to get you off my mind.” 🎵 “Lost in Japan” gives 🎙 Shawn Mendes an impressive moment on his 2018 album, 💿 Shawn Mendes. “I could feel the tension / We could cut it with a knife,” the Canadian pop heartthrob sings, continuing, “I know it’s more than just a friendship / I can hear you think I’m right.”

First and foremost, Mendes flaunts his prodigious pipes.  “Lost in Japan” has an alluring pop-soul sound. It’s a groovy, danceable joint, characterized by superb production comprised of cool synths, a robust bass line, and tasteful piano.  The chorus is best part of the record – the celebrated centerpiece.

“Do you got plans tonight?
I’m a couple hundred miles from Japan, and I
I was thinking I could fly to your hotel tonight
Cause I-I-I can’t get you off my mind.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 11 Compelling Songs That Are Totally Lost
🔗 🎧 Japan 🗾: 5ive Songs No. 61 (2021)

2. Jhené Aiko, “Jukai”

💿 Trip • 🏷 Def Jam • 📅 2017

“If anyone should try and find me / Just know I’m where I wanna be.” Hmm, troubling 🎙 Jhené Aiko. Why, you ask? Well, the second track from 💿 Trip is named 🎵 “Jukai.”  What is Jukai? Well, it’s an infamous forest in Japan.  Jukai is another name for The Sea of Trees aka Aokigahara Forest.  The forest is infamous because is known for its high incidence of suicide in Japan.

As you’d expect, “Jukai,” the 🏆 Grammy-nominated R&B singer/songwriter references a trip to the infamous Sea of Trees – in her mind, ‘mind’ you. “I’ve made my way down to the forest,” she sings on the verse, continuing, “Way down to the sea of trees.” Later, she adds, “I tried, but my feet kept touchin’ the ground / … If I died, would it even make a sound in the sea of trees.” Her question is psychologically-driven – thought provoking to say the least.  Even in the literal sense, it runs deep.   The good news regarding Aiko’s exploration of life and death is that she survives the forest and doesn’t surrender her life.

“Okay now, I’m okay now
Alive, alive
Made it out alive, made it out alive
Surprise, surprise, surprise, surprise
I’m out alive.”

3. Bad Bunny, “Yonaguni”

🎵 “Yonaguni” • 🏷 Rimas Entertainment • 📅 2021

“Tell me where you are, that I’ll grab a flight for you / And I’ll go to Yonaguni.” On 🎵 “Yonaguni”, 🏆 Grammy-winning Latin superstar 🎙 Bad Bunny is willing to go to the ends of the earth to find her – she’s the one. As we’ve come to expect from a Bad Bunny record, he has awesome production supporting him.  In this case, 🎛 Tainy and 🎛 Smash David deliver a sleek, warm backdrop.  The beat plays a gargantuan role in the overall success, inciting foot tapping and head nodding. As for Bunny himself, I love the warm, bright tone he sings with.

Additionally, “Yonaguni” thrive off a tuneful melody. Thematically, Bad Bunny focuses on matters of the heart, including sex.

“You kill it with whichever outfit
Baby, you are different
Shorty, has a big butt
Too, too big
And I’ve studied it, I’m graduating now
And I’ll tattoo it on my face.”

While you can read his intentions, by the end, on the outro (performed in Japanese, mind you), he comes right out and says, “I want to have sex today.” The silver lining: “But only with you / Where are you?” All in all, Benito Martinez executes like a champ, and honestly, we’d expect no less.

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 Awesome Songs That Tickled My Fancy: June 2021
🔗 🎧 Japan 🗾: 5ive Songs No. 61 (2021)

4. KYLE, “Ikuyo”

Ft. 2 Chainz & Sophia Black

💿 Light of Mine • 🏷 independent. / Atlantic • 📅 2018

In final preparation of his debut album, 💿 Light of Mine, 🎙 KYLE unveiled the uniquely titled, Japanese-oriented single 🎵 “Ikuyo”. On “Ikuyo,” he gets the assist from rapper 🎙 2 Chainz and trilingual pop/R&B singer, 🎙 Sophia Black. “Ikuyo” is jubilant, fall in line with the type of music and positive vibes exhibited by KYLE.  Ikuyo translates as “let’s go” in English.

Even when KYLE raps over a harder beat or darker production work, he’s proven his ‘buoyant’ personality is unstoppable. On “Ikuyo,” he has a tougher delivery, yet even his amplified toughness is endearing. The crowning achievement is the chorus.

“Ikuyo
I think we got one (Got it)
I put the team up on my back like I’m Marshawn (Marshawn Lynch)
When I asked niggas for help, yo, I got none (No, ha)
When I did this shit myself’s when it got done (Yes).”

Sophia Black is responsible for the unique pre-chorus, which sans translation or Japanese fluency, you’ll have no idea what she’s singing. As for 2 Chainz he’s ‘true to self’ – best taken with a grain of salt.

5. Iggy Azalea, “Tokyo Snow Trip”

💿 Survive the Summer (EP) • 🏷 Island • 📅 2018

“Pinocchio nose drip, Tokyo snow trip / Wake up in Mexico, buenas noches.” Australian rapper 🎙 Iggy Azalea returned in 2018 with 15-minute EP, 💿 Survive the Summer. The EP had its share of moments, such as the song at hand, 🎵 “Tokyo Snow Trip”. On the brief joint, Iggy focuses on drugs (“My dope, the dopest / Fall asleep with the stove lit”) and money (“Hush money in the sofa” and “Came, came in a Benz, not a Focus”). Japan? Not so much.

“Tokyo Snow Trip” features hard-nosed minimal, skeletal production work with a sound intended for the club. Azalea performs this with a whispered approach at times, reminiscing back to 🎙 Ying Yang Twins’ 🎵 “Wait (The Whisper Song)”.  Beyond unorthodox vocal approach, the form is also unorthodox, lacking verses. “Tokyo Snow Trip,” hence, is built on the bridge, pre-chorus, chorus, and post-chorus.  Ultimately, it’s interesting, but devoid of substance – other than drugs of course.  As for the snow, Azalea isn’t talking about the wet stuff that falls from the skies…

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 13 Songs Somewhat Related to Weather
🔗 🎧 Japan 🗾: 5ive Songs No. 61 (2021)

6. Daniel Caesar, “Japanese Denim”

💿 Get You – Single • 🏷 Daniel Caesar • 📅 2016

“I’m bending it over / You’re my four leaf clover / I’m so in love, so in love.” How sweet! The talent of 🎙 Daniel Caesar has never been in question – he’s a terrific R&B singer/songwriter.  Furthermore, Caesar can tout the fact that he’s a 🏆 Grammy winner – deservingly so.  Where things haven’t been as smooth selling for this gifted musician have been non-musical controversies, which have dimmed his star to some degree.  That said, listen to the smooth, neo-soul joint 🎵 “Japanese Denim,” and you’re easily reminded of his marvelous musicianship.

On “Japanese Denim,” it’s all about love.  From Caesar’s perspective, he is taken with her, like he’s never been taken by anyone else (“Never would’ve thought you’d be the one, I got a homie”).  So, where does the denim come into play? “My blue jeans / Will last me all / My life, oh yes.” That’s vague but leave it to the Geniuses to provide awesome insight unveiling the cleverness of the chorus (everlasting fabric, everlasting love, the fit of the denim, etc.). The outro puts a damper on things, depending on how you read into it:

“You don’t even know me
You don’t even know me, yes
I’m hanging from the tree.”

Yikes.  Despite a sadder conclusion, this is a fabulous song.

7. Serj Tankian, “Harakiri”

💿 Harakiri • 🏷 Serj Tankian / Woah Dad! • 📅 2012

“We’re the day birds / Deciding to fly against the sky / Within our dreams, we all wake up / To kiss the ones who are born to die.”  🎙 Serj Tankian has a lot to say on 🎵 “Harakiri,” the title track from his 2012 sophomore album.  First things first, hara-kiri is defined as “ritual suicide by disembowelment practiced by Japanese samurai or formerly decreed by a court in lieu of the death penalty.” The key word is disembowelment, which is both disgusting and incredibly brutal and painful. Sometimes, rather than being called hara-kiri, it’s referred to as seppuku.

Tankian doesn’t get specific about the act of hara-kiri itself on “Harakiri.” He speaks figuratively and metaphorically about the wrongs and questionable beliefs of the human race.  He specifically cites the 2010-11 mass animal deaths of drum fish and blackbirds in Arkansas, making a dual statement about how poorly humans treat mother nature, as well as how poor human nature is in general.  Expectedly, Tankian also criticizes overzealous religious beliefs.

“The drum fish
They bleached themselves in Harakiri
The blackbirds
They fell in thousands from the sky
Their red wings
Streaming down from the higher seas
Deflected by the ground
They crowned the sun.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 11 Songs About Painful, Torturous, or Troubling Ways to Die
🔗 🎧 Songs Centered Around or Referencing Suicide, Vol. 2
🔗 🎧 Japan 🗾: 5ive Songs No. 61 (2021)

8. The Strokes, “Welcome to Japan”

💿 Comedown Machine • 🏷 RCA • 📅 2013

“I didn’t want to notice / Didn’t know the gun was loaded / Didn’t really know this / What kind of asshole drives a Lotus?” That’s a colorful, memorable line, 🎙 Julian Casablancas – gotta love the asshole/Lotus characterization! The line hails from 🎵 “Welcome to Japan” which appears on 🎙 The Strokes’ 2013 album, 💿 Comedown Machine.

Basically, “Welcome to Japan” is about an affair that Julian has with a Japanese woman.  In some ways, he doesn’t want to be ‘that guy,’ but ends up being him anyways.  Come here and go get with me / I wanna see you Wednesday,” he asserts, continuing, “Come on, come on, come over / Take it off your shoulder…” As you might suspect, “take it off your shoulder” can be interpreted sexually, but if you read into the lyrics, it also runs deeper.  Even with the idea aiming towards a hook-up rather than something committed, there’s lots to unpack on “Welcome to Japan.” Supporting this temporary union: “Didn’t wanna flow ya / I didn’t wanna be there for ya.” “Welcome to Japan” is intriguing to say the least! 

9. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, “Sea of Trees”

💿 12 Bar Bruise • 🏷 Flightless • 📅 2012

🎵 “Sea of Trees” is an energetic, rollicking, fast-paced song from psychedelic rock standouts 🎙 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard.  “Sea of Trees” appears on the collective’s 2012 album, 💿 12 Bar Bruise.  That said, even if this three-and-a-quarter-minute joint is set in a major key and sounds happy, you should totally dive into the lyrics and theme.

“Sea of Trees” is named after/associated with the Sea of Trees in Japan, perhaps best known as the Aokigahara forest.  That forest, of course, has become one of the most infamous places on the planet, as it’s known for its high suicide rate.  So, the ‘See of Trees’ aka the Aokigahara forest has earned its most popular nickname, ‘Suicide Forest’ given its unfortunate, high suicide rate. While 🎙 Stu Mackenzie and company deliver a record that doesn’t sound morbid, the lyrics confirm the connection with Aokigahara.

“Oh, hell, I’m feeling underwater
My head is sinking like a stone
And hell, I’m feeling kinda sick
I don’t know what’s the use in it
And when you’re feeling suicidal
Sometimes, you’ve just got to unfold.”

Also appears on 🔽:
🔗 🎧 11 Amazing Songs Associated with Trees
🔗 🎧 Japan 🗾: 5ive Songs No. 61 (2021)

10. 5 Seconds of Summer, “Woke Up in Japan”

💿 Youngblood • 🏷 Capitol • 📅 2018

“I woke up in Japan / Feeling low, feeling lonely / The best I ever had / It was more than half empty.” Although 🎙 Luke Hemmings and 🎙 5 Seconds of Summer claim they woke up in Japan, it seems sus.  Why? Well, 🎵 “Woke Up in Japan” (💿 Youngblood), at best, is a dream, something confirmed on the pre-chorus: “Falling fast, breathing slow / Time is up, the end just a dream.”

Sure, Japan is referenced – that’s where they woke up. That said, place isn’t that important. Any place could’ve been chosen as 5SOS depict loneliness, heart-pounding, and double entendre: “Heart pounding, there’s a noise complaint from room 304.”  A noise complaint, huh? Wonder what in the world Luke is referencing there?  Regardless, Japan seems to be the hip place to reference, and honestly, had 5SOS woke up elsewhere, I’m not sure that the song would be as effective or intriguing.

11. The Vapors, “Turning Japanese”

💿 New Clear Days • 🏷 RT Industries • 📅 1980

“I’ve got your picture / Of me and you /… I sit there staring, and there’s nothing else to do / … I often kiss you when there’s no one else around…” We’ve all been there! One of the most famous songs referencing Japan (sort of) is 🎵 “Turning Japanese” by English new wave band, 🎙 The Vapors.  Interestingly, the meaning of the song created a more sexual narrative than anticipated. The narrative has been debunked.  That said, doesn’t the band deserve the blame for masturbation becoming associated with their song?

“I’ve got your picture, I’ve got your picture
I’d like a million f you, all ‘round my cell
I want a doctor to take your picture
So, I can look at you from inside as well
You’ve got me turning up and turning down
And turning in and turning ‘round
I’m turning Japanese.”

Yes, The Vapors totally deserve the blame! I mean, pictures are potent and incite the mind and the loins.  Furthermore, though debunked regarding the song, turning Japanese is slang for masturbation, and the effect on the eyes.  I’ll leave it that – do what you will with it.  The song, of course, is a classic.  And if he’s lonely, who’s going to deny him some solo fun?  Also, worth noting, there are distinct Japanese music cues in addition to the punk/new wave vibes.