From the origins of Shibuya-kei sound to the present
Text: mmr｜Theme: Historical background of Shibuya-kei sound, famous records, and changes in equipment
Shibuya-kei sound is a Japanese music movement that spread around record shops and clubs in Shibuya, Tokyo in the early 1990s.It is characterized by a hybrid musicality that reinterprets Western music sensibilities in a Japanese style and incorporates various elements such as pop, jazz, bossa nova, soul, French pop, and electronica.
1980s — Eve (Shibuya style germination)
Historical background
- In the 1980s, Japanese city pop and new wave began to receive acclaim both domestically and internationally.
- Imported record stores such as
CISCO'' andHMV Shibuya’’ brought together the latest sounds from Europe and the United States, and cultivated the musical skills of young people.
Representative masterpiece
Equipment used
- Synthesizers such as Roland Juno-60 and Yamaha DX7
- Early drum machines such as Roland TR-808
- Home recording culture using cassette MTR
Recommended 10 songs (1980s)
| Song title |
Artist |
Comments |
| You are natural color |
Eiichi Otaki |
City pop monument |
| Sparkle |
Tatsuro Yamashita |
Sophisticated urban sound |
| September |
Mariya Takeuchi |
Light AOR pop |
| Telephone Number |
Miki Matsubara |
Masterpieces that have been reevaluated overseas |
| Love Talkin’ |
Tatsuro Yamashita |
Fusion of boogie elements |
| Down Town |
Sugar Babe |
Origin of city pop |
| Sweet Soul Revue (original model) |
Pizzicato Five |
Seeds leading to the later Shibuya system |
| Boogie Woogie Train of Love |
Anne Lewis |
Fusion of dance and songs |
| Twilight BAY CITY |
Junko Yagami |
Popular songs with a jazz feel |
| Sad color |
Masaki Ueda |
The intersection of popular appeal and urban sensibility |
1990s — Golden age of Shibuya style
Historical background
- Pizzicato Five led by Yasuhi Konishi, Cornelius (Keigo Oyamada), and Flipper’s Guitar (Kenji Ozawa + Keigo Oyamada) are representative of the Shibuya style.
- It was featured on “Oricon” and “MTV Japan” and became a major hit.
- Links to overseas club scenes.
Representative masterpiece
Equipment used
- Sampler (Akai MPC, Roland S-760)
- Digital multitrack (ADAT, DAT)
- Typing using Mac + Cubase
Recommended 10 songs (1990s)
| Song title |
Artist |
Comments |
| Sweet Soul Revue |
Pizzicato Five |
A gorgeous number representing Shibuya Kei |
| Baby Love Child |
Pizzicato Five |
Famous songs that are popular overseas |
| Camera Talk |
Flipper’s Guitar |
Fusion of pop and indie |
| Young, Alive, in Love |
Flipper’s Guitar |
Youthful and Western music-oriented |
| Perfect Ray |
Cornelius |
Experimentality and pop feel |
| If You’re Here |
Cornelius |
Futuristic sound image |
| Strong feelings, strong love |
Kenji Ozawa |
The perfect form of Shibuya-kei pop |
| Lovely |
Kenji Ozawa |
Became a national hit |
| Until the world ends |
WANDS (sphere of influence) |
Pop-rock approach |
| Tokyo, Tokyo |
Fantastic Plastic Machine |
Symbolizing Shibuya club culture |
2000s — Post-Shibuya-kei
Historical background
- While Shibuya-kei died out commercially, it influenced electropop by Capsule and Yasutaka Nakata.
- The development of club music, also known as neo-Shibuya-kei, will increase.
Representative masterpiece
Equipment used
- DAW popularization (Logic, Cubase SX)
- Soft synth (Native Instruments, Arturia)
- Laptop DJ Culture
Recommended 10 songs (2000s)
| Song title |
Artist |
Comments |
| More! More! More! |
Capsule |
Synonymous with neo-Shibuya style |
| Sugarless GiRL |
Capsule |
Fusion with electro |
| Beautiful Days |
Fantastic Plastic Machine |
Sophisticated Club Pop |
| Love Is Psychedelic |
Tomoyuki Tanaka |
Shibuya Sound Inheritance |
| Denki Bilibili |
Perfume (produced by Nakata) |
Evolution of Shibuya style |
| Polyrhythm |
Perfume |
Global hit |
| The Sound of Music |
Cubismo Grafico |
Latin and Shibuya Sense |
| Hello |
Capsule |
Neo Future Pop |
| Summer tension |
HALCALI |
Female rap and Shibuya sensation |
| Theme of Love |
Kenji Ozawa |
Symbol of Rebirth and Experimentation |
2010s — Re-evaluation and expansion
Historical background
- It was rediscovered by the internet generation and became a genre overseas as “Shibuya-kei”.
- Revival in parallel with City Pop re-evaluation.
Representative masterpiece
Equipment used
- Ableton Live and soft sampler
- Introducing modular synths
- Digital equipment for live streaming
Recommended 10 songs (2010s)
| Song title |
Artist |
Comments |
| Someday / Somewhere |
Cornelius |
Mature experimentation |
| If You’re Here |
Cornelius |
Delicate acoustic sense |
| Sound of Music |
Towa Tei |
Neo Shibuya sense |
| Happy |
Towa Tei |
Colorful and modern |
| Orphans |
cero |
Neo-Shibuya style band sound |
| Summer Soul |
cero |
Soulful Revival |
| Tokyo Lights |
Dorian |
Modern Shibuya feel |
| Memories |
Metafive |
Fusion of techno and pop |
| Radio |
Metafive |
Sound experimentation |
| Timeless Melody |
Shugo Tokumaru |
Folk-pop inheritance |
2020s — now
Historical background
- The influence of “Shibuya-kei” is attracting attention again in the context of K-POP and city pop reappraisal.
- Expand overseas listener base through YouTube, Spotify, TikTok, etc.
Representative masterpiece
Equipment used
- Home recording/DTM environment assuming streaming distribution
- Software-based production
- Analog and digital hybrid
Recommended 10 songs (2020s)
| Song title |
Artist |
Comments |
| Dream in Dream |
Cornelius |
Harmony of serenity and experimentation |
| Spark |
cero |
Intersection with contemporary jazz |
| e o |
cero |
The height of neo-Shibuya sense |
| Stay |
Towa Tei |
Minimal and sophisticated beauty |
| Ambience |
Dorian |
Neo-city pop inheritance |
| Neon Sign |
Metafive |
Future vision of clubs and Shibuya |
| Ryusei |
cero |
organic groove |
| Future Past |
Cornelius |
Experiments Across Generations |
| Groove Is In You |
Towa Tei |
The boundary between dance and art |
| Nostalgia |
Young indie |
Neo-Shibuya style budding |
Global cultural icon
Shibuya-kei sound was born in the 1990s and became a global cultural icon, and has continued to influence the Japanese music scene in various forms ever since.Currently, it is being reevaluated through the internet generation, and is entering a new phase as it intersects with city pop and K-POP.
