Tokyo's Coolest Sound

This is Tokyo's Coolest Sound's own radio show, which is featured on La Face B (Facebook page), an Internet radio based in Montréal (Québec, Canada). It brings you some favorite songs and artists that you've read about in these pages. Tune in at the times below at https://lafaceb.live.

"Tokyo's Coolest Sound" (vol.73) was aired at https://lafaceb.live on Fri. October 9, 2026 from 14:30 and 20:30 (EDT = Montréal/New York).
* Japan time: Sat. October 10, 2026 from 3:30 and 9:30

This episode is not archived as-is. Some replays are expected to be aired in the following weeks.

Listen to the Spotify playlist of some of the songs played (according to Spotify availability), or scroll down this page to find music videos and individual songs, and also listen to the narration.

Below is the full tracklist with liner notes, and narration parts you can listen to.

1. Maika Loubté "Hagane-No-Uma" (2026)
(Japanese title: Maika Loubté 「鋼の馬」)

This is the latest song by electronic artist Maika Loubté (Instagram, 𝕏), titled "Hagane-No-Uma", which translates to "steel horse" (Spotify, , YouTube Music). It's also featured as the theme song for the dystopian movie "honto ni atta hanashi (no hanashi)" that opened in theaters in Japan this month.

Creating the music video for this song, which can be viewed below, inspired the artist to create a mini RPG that can now be played online for free. With a bit of searching inside of the game, some unreleased music can be found. The game can be played within your browser in English or Japanese without requiring you to install anything. Don't miss trying it out, after watching the video!

Also, a full soundtrack of 28 songs the movie's BGM, which has an English title of "F [R] iction" and all produced by Maika, is now available for download/streaming: Spotify, , YouTube Music.

🎙️ Listen to Narration I
Presenting: Maika Loubté, Frenesi

2. Frenesi "Furyō Mannequin" (2010)
(Japanese title: フレネシ 「不良マネキン」)

Next is a song by Frenesi (Instagram, 𝕏), from her album "Märchen" (Spotify, , YouTube Music) released in 2010. The song is "Furyō Mannequin", of which the music video can be seen below.

"Märchen" will be released for the first time on vinyl in December, and can be pre-ordered at HMV, Jet Set, Tower Records, Disk Union, etc. This album also contains the song "Inflation II" which went viral in the recent years, as well as a cover of Cosmic Invention's "Computer obaachan".

Frenesi came back last year after a long hiatus, and has since released new songs "jorei si nai de", "Oyasumi luna moth" (a self-cover of a song written for idol neuchan in 2017), and "Undo-Onchi", as well as writing songs for Megu (Negicco) and MEWCATUNE.

3. Evenyan Roller Coaster "KAWAWAVE" (2026)
(Japanese title: イヴにゃんローラーコースター 「KAWAWAVE」)

Evenyan Roller Coaster (Instagram, 𝕏, YouTube) has just released a brand new song digitally last month, in which she teaches not to ride the wave but to make your own wave, the "KAWAWAVE" ("kawaii" + "wave").

The new song was written by Temma Matsunaga (Urbangarde), arranged by Kei Ōkubo (also of Urbangarde), and features guitar played by Jirō Yoshida (of Evenyan's band Nya♡Wave). Find it on your favorite download/streaming platform (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Evenyan Roller Coaster can next be seen on October 14 at Shimokitazawa Cream for event "New Wave DJ Party vol.1" where she will perform solo and also sing part of the fun New Wave Party Band (details). Her band Nya♡Wave can also be seen on October 31 at Shimokitazawa mona records (details).

🎙️ Listen to Narration II
Presenting: Evenyan Roller Coaster, The February

4. The February "Pitcher" (2026)
(Japanese title: The February 「投手」 "tōshu")

Next is an alternative rock band named The February (Instagram, 𝕏, YouTube), formed of twin brothers, one who sings and plays guitar, and the other who plays bass. This new song titled "Pitcher" (in Japanese "tōshu"), like the position in baseball, was released in June, and that was followed in August with the music video below. The song is available digitally (Spotify, , YouTube Music).

Although The February was formed in summer 2024, the twins were previously also active under the name RiNGO TONE.

5. Den Baron "t-shirt day with Mayumi Ikemizu" (2026)

Den Baron (Bandcamp), the solo project of Germany-based artist Zwen Keller (of band Brideshead), has released this year a new album titled "Friends" for Record Store Day 2026. The album consists of collaborations with other artists, including many of Japan. The song "t-shirt day" is one of those, featuring Mayumi Ikemizu (Three Berry Icecream, ex-Bridge). Other featured artists from Japan are Hideki Kaji (Three Berry Icecream), Megumi Mashiro (Hicksville, Modern Choki Chokies, etc.), Osamu Shimada (The Caraway), and Gōta Nishidera (Nona Reeves).

The album is only available on vinyl (coming with a download code) (disques blue-very, Tower (Japan only)), though it can be sampled on the label's Bandcamp.

Recently, Mayumi Ikemizu is teaming up again with Hideki Kaji, a former bandmate in Bridge, and together they perform music from that band once again as Futari Bridge (a unit with mainly the two of them). On Novermber 3, a 7" of Futari Bridge will be released (HMV, Tower Records), and special live shows will be held for the release on Sunday, December 13 at Haretara sora ni mame maite in Daikanyama (details).

🎙️ Listen to Narration III
Presenting: Den Baron, Perfect Circle Project

6. Perfect Circle Project "I'm allowed to feel" (2026)

Next are two songs from a newly released compilation, "Circle Arts Compilation Vol.1", on the new label Circle Arts Records.

First is a song by Perfect Circle Project, unit of the person who runs the label, Madoka Kimura (who used to have also a band named Perfect Circle). He also participated in the production of several other songs on the album. "I'm allowed to feel" is sung by Akiko K., who also sings in the unit Li Li Radio that's heard on the compilation.

The compilation is available digitally (Bandcamp, Spotify, , YouTube Music) and also on a specially packaged limited edition CD which can be ordered via Bandcamp, at Circle Arts Records' online shop powered by Base and online shop powered by Shopify (all three of these shipping internationally).

7. dahlia "Cobalt Blue Dream" (2026)
(Japanese title: dahlia 「コバルトブルーの夢」 "Cobalt Blue no yume")

A second song from "Circle Arts Compilation Vol.1", this one is by the singer dahlia (Instagram), her first release since the album "Mirror" (2017). "Cobalt Blue Dream" (or in Japanese "Cobalt Blue no yume") was sound produced by Madoka Kimura (of the band Perfect Circle), and takes inspiration from bossa nova, soft rock, Shibuya-kei, etc. with an indie pop perspective.

The CD edition of the compilation includes an exclusive alternate version of this song (and also one of the new song by Saigenji also included on the compilation). The specially packaged limited edition CD can be ordered via Bandcamp, at Circle Arts Records' online shop powered by Base and online shop powered by Shopify (all three of these shipping internationally). Check out the compilation's special site to find out more.

dahlia's album "Mirror" and other previous albums have recently been made available digitally, so look for them on your favorite download/streaming platforms.

🎙️ Listen to Narration IV
Presenting: dahlia, Yuma Koda

8. Yuma Koda "ende (feat. Mei Semones & Yuma Abe)" (2026)
(Japanese title: 香田悠真 Kōda Yūma 「ende (feat. メイ・シモネス & 安部勇磨)」 "ende (feat. Mei Semones & Abe Yūma)")

Tokyo-based artist Yuma Koda has released this month the new album "Amid Kinos", which contains the recent single "ende", a duet featuring Brooklyn-based guitarist and songwriter Mei Semones and Tokyo-based vocalist and guitarist Yuma Abe (of Never Young Beach).

The album is available digitally on Bandcamp and other download/streaming platforms: Spotify, , YouTube Music, OTOTOY. It also features appearances by Jan Urila Sas (jan & naomi, GREAT3), guitarist and producer Takurō Okada, composer-vocalist LUCA (who previously contributed to Ryuichi Sakamoto's async), Julia Shortreed (of Black Boboi), saxophonist Kei Matsumaru, bassist Marty Holoubek, and drummers Shun Ishiwaka and Shinya Fukumori, among others.

On October 28, Yuma Koda will hold a special show at Shibuya WWW, featuring various artists who appear on the album. Details and tickets can be found here.

Thank you for tuning in! Information about replays can be found at the top of the page.

Find information about all previous episodes of this radio show right here.

Konishi Yasuharu (ex-Pizzicato Five) has a pair of solo albums coming up! These two consist of just him singing and playing his guitar, performing many songs of Pizzicato Five's repertory, as well as ones that he wrote for other artists — namely Ino Hidefumi's "Tokyo jōkū 3000 Feet", Tetsurō Yafune's "Do Re Mi" (of which he had written the lyrics but here sings them with different original music by himself), Masumi Arichika's "onna no miyako", atarashii chizu's "chikyū saigo no hi", Karia Nomoto's "dōshite konnani anata ga suki nano darō." (renamed "kesa wa 9ji 45fun ni me o samashita"), and Kyōko Togawa's "kekkon no subete".

Since 2011, Konishi has released three albums as Pizzicato One ("One And Ten Very Sad Songs" (2011), "watakushi no nijūseiki" (2015), "The Night Before: Pizzicato One In Person" (2020)), then in 2022 he discovered joy in performing solo with his guitar, and also in playing songs that he wrote throughout his career. He has also repeatedly performed on stage accompanied by various ensembles, and in 2024 he released under his name the album "Love, Lost and Found". All of this led to these two new albums. It has been 25 years this year since Pizzicato Five disbanded (in 2001).

For those in Japan, the two CDs can be purchased directly from Readymade's online shop where they come autographed (probably for a limited time). They will also be released digitally at the same time, and it has been announced that the two albums will be released on vinyl on December 2, with pre-orders starting mid-October, and that a special set with a bonus 3rd LP will also be sold (source: official site). Those interested should keep a close eye on SNS accounts: Readymade (Instagram, 𝕏) and Pizzicato One (Instagram).

Konishi Yasuharu has been holding acoustic shows every two months at Shimokitazawa mona records, the next of which will be on November 20 (details), and will feature John & Paul and also DJ Naoki Itō (both who appeared on "Paraiso, no ongaku - Coffee House mona records no Hosono Haruomi-san Tribute Album"). His live and DJ schedule can be found in the news section of his official site.

Konishi Yasuharu "ongaku ni wa kansha shiteiru"
小西康陽 「音楽には感謝している」

1. Tokyo jōkū 3000 Feet
2. La guerre est finie
3. Such a Beautiful Girl Like You
4. Serial Stories
5. Do Re Mi
6. onna no miyako
7. face B
8. I Hear a Symphony
9. A world without you
10. chikyū saigo no hi
11. Drinking Wine
12. On the Sunny Side of the Street

Universal Music UCCJ-2265
Out 10/28, ¥3200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Konishi Yasuharu "anata ni wa kansha shiteiru"
小西康陽 「あなたには感謝している」

1. kesa wa 9ji 45fun ni me o samashita
2. kekkon no subete
3. Two Sleepy People
4. T.V.A.G.
5. Magic Carpet Ride
6. The Night is Still Young
7. Triste
8. To Our Children's Children's Children
9. Ma vie, l'été de vie
10. Message Song
11. Gondola no uta
12. A New Song
13. Stars
14. Love Again

Universal Music UCCJ-2266
Out 10/28, ¥3200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: CDJapan, Amazon, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

Singer-songwriter emily hashimoto (Instagram, 𝕏) has released last month a 7" single, of which the title track is her song "kaede", and for B-side a cover of Yasuyuki Okamura's hit song "daisuki". The songs were arranged by Takashi Ogawa of the unit Canvas. The single was mastered by Seiki Satō (microstar). Both songs are also available digitally.

Aside from the shop links below, in Japan the single can also be ordered directly from the label Unchantable Records.

The song "Bonbon", which was co-written by emily and Makoto Kawamoto, has been announced to be coming digitally on October 14. Stay tuned!

emily hashimoto "kaede / daisuki" (7")
emily hashimoto 「楓 -kaede- / だいすき」

A. kaede
B. daisuki

Unchantable Records UCT-067
Out now (9/9), ¥2200 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Jet Set, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.

"kaede"

"daisuki"

Tokyo-based artist Yuma Koda has just released a brand new album titled "Amid Kinos". It's out now digitally on the Tokyo-based label Newhere Records which has also released works by Jim O'Rourke and Eiko Ishibashi.

The album features appearances by Mei Semones, Yuma Abe (never young beach), Jan Urila Sas (jan & naomi, GREAT3), guitarist and producer Takurō Okada, composer-vocalist LUCA (who previously contributed to Ryuichi Sakamoto's "async"), Julia Shortreed (of Black Boboi), saxophonist Kei Matsumaru, bassist Marty Holoubek, and drummers Shun Ishiwaka and Shinya Fukumori, among others.

On October 28, Yuma Koda will hold a special show at Shibuya WWW, featuring various artists who appear on the album. Details and tickets can be found here.

Yuma Koda "Amid Kinos" (Download)
香田悠真 「Amid Kinos」

1. umbra
2. kopfkino
3. images on loan (feat. Jan Urila Sas, Shun Ishiwaka)
4. marthe (feat. Shuhei Kato, LUCA)
5. senari
6. artemisia (feat. Julia Shortreed)
7. nanpō no hito
8. liquorice (feat. Takuro Okada)
9. borrowed light semblance
10. repose
11. amid kino[s] (feat. Kei Matsumaru, Shinya Fukumori)
12. ende (feat. Mei Semones, Yuma Abe)

Newhere Music
Out now (10/2)
Stream/buy: Bandcamp, , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY

Guitarist and singer-songwriter Chie Horiguchi (Instagram, 𝕏) (Learners) has just released a brand new single, titled "Where Is The Hummingbird?". Like for her previous, "Cosmic Highway", she is accompanied by her backband The Desperado Gentlemen. Both the title song and B-side "All My Relations" are originals written by herself.

The Desperado Gentlemen are Kōsuke Miyashita on pedal steel guitar (of Phono Tones), Hiroyuki Kitajima on double bass, and Kosuke Wakiyama on drums.

While the full release can be found digitally on Bandcamp, the title song is also available on download/streaming platforms: , Spotify, YouTube Music, OTOTOY.

Chie can next be seen playing with The Desperado Gentlemen in Tokyo on Friday, October 16 at Top Beat Club in Ogikubo (details & tickets). And then on Wednesday, October 21 she will perform at Shibuya B.Y.G as Chie Horiguchi with Inokashira Chikuondan. Also playing will be Piggy Banks. Find details here.

Chie Horiguchi "Where Is The Hummingbird?" (7"+Download)

A. Where Is The Hummingbird?
B. All My Relations

KiliKiliVilla KKV-196VL
Out now (10/2), ¥2000 (excl. 10% tax)
Order: Bandcamp, HMV, Tower Records (Japan only) ^†, Disk Union
† Tower Records ships directly within Japan only. International orders are available via WorldShopping.