Japanese Music Recommendations?

[Uemarasan]

I haven't been paying as much attention to the J-pop scene this year (personal matters), so I'm going to cop out and ask you guys for help Could you guys recommend some good albums or singles released in 2006? To help you guys out:

1. I don't care what genre of music it is. J-pop, J-rock, visual kei, enka, Okinawan music, shamisen, koto, biwa, Buddhist chants, bring it on

2. Please don't include and Johnny's Jimusho or Hello Project works. I've probably already heard it.

3. Likewise, I've heard most of the hit singles and albums: Ayu, Hikki, B'z, Def Tech, Yui, Koda Kumi. I've also heard Tokyo Jihen, Ken Hirai, Cocco, Chitose Hajime, aiko, Glay, Yuna Ito, Ai Otsuka, Ami Suzuki, Namie Amuro, ayaka, Mika Nakashima, Depapepe, Mr. Children, Exile, Orange Range, Kaela Kimura, Dreams Come True, BoA, K, Crystal Kay, Yuki, hitomi, globe, Tomiko Van, UA, and the Nana stuff.

4. I've only listened to very few male artists and male-fronted bands, so recommend at will!

5. I have trouble finding info about indies, so that's what I'm most interested in.

Best Albums I've Heard This Year:
Home - Angela Aki
Mirrors - Miki Furukawa
Every Single Day - Bonnie Pink

(Note: I have not listened to (miss)understood, Crispy Park, and Cocco's album yet.)

Best Singles I've Heard This Year:
This Love - Angela Aki
Hi Fi Message - Every Little Thing
Tsukiko Amano's singles

[truehappiness]

I recommend that single I posted in Asian Music Downloads.. XD The one by Yifei, Mayonaka no Door. It's got an addicting beat after a few listens, and it's surprising that she's a Chinese actress.. singing in Japanese AND English. It's quite a treat! At least to me ;p

The b-side 'brightly' is okay.. it didn't stand out to me much though.. maybe it'll be awesome to you?

:3 I really don't venture out much beyond the ELT/Ayu boundaries so I can't offer much :<

[hallelujah_united]

I'd recommend the I'm Gonna SCREAM+ and Pray singles, both by Tommy heavenly6. They're rock singles that's more about fun than anything else, not exactly what you'd call groundbreaking.

If you're interested, you could always PM me.

[bulmasman]

Check out anything you can from the band Remioromen. They're new album was released a month or 2 back, and includes Konayuki, one of their best songs

[Mad_Cactuar]

Oh shoot, you listened to Mika, Yuna and Koda Kumi already. I was gonna recommend them... Anyway, I would still say you must listen to Koda's "Koi no Tsubomi ~A Cup Of Milk Tea Bossa Nova Version" and Mika's "LEGEND (Original)".

[elepop]

My favorite this year so far:

SINGLES:
Tommy heavenly6 - Pray
Hayami Kishimoto - PEACH:LIME//SHAKE
Ai Otsuka - Yumekui
Namie Amuro - CAN'T SLEEP, CAN'T EAT, I'M SICK
Koda Kumi - Koi no Tsubomi

ALBUMS:
REMIOROMEN - HORIZON
Every Little Thing - Crispy Park


aiko's new album is coming up soon! I'm sure it's gonna be excellent!

Same for hitomi,

[darkswordz]

Mika's Glamorous sky kick butts

[Halla]

I recommend Shunsuke Kiyokiba's "Believe". it's a new single , just released few weeks ago. I really like it & it's doing pretty well on the oricon charts too.

[LacusClyne]

Nami Tamaki's Specialty
T.M.Revolution's a billion album.

[mi|kshake]

I'd recommend Hyde's Faith album.

mi|kshake~

[AyuGAME]

Matsu takako
UVERworld

[*Petit*]

Try sifow! She used to be an indieartist, but she's now under Avex. Her music is mostly energetic dance music, at times very happy and fun with a twist of summer.

[greggerz189]

Holy crap. You HAVE to listen to Cocco's new album!!!!! Zanxasian is UNBELIEVABLE. it's awesome. I love it so much! Utada Hikaru's ULTRA BLUE would be an okay choice...hm...what else...oh! The OLIVIA inspi' TRAPNEST "a little pain" single!!! That was amazing! And...Ito Yuna's stuck on you single...and BoA's KEY OF HEART. ^__^

[Kikaru]

I'm not sure if you'll find Gackt your taste, but I really enjoyed his redemption single.

[mishidabo]

Rip Slyme - Tokyo classi album and goob job! album
also any album from HALCALI

[Uemarasan]

Hey guys, thanks all for your suggestions! This is a lot to check out

greggerz189 - The reason I haven't picked up Cocco's album yet is because I found Onsoku Punch a bit underwhelming. But she has never disappointed me in the past, so I'll probably give the album a whirl As for Ultra Blue, well, I won't invite any flamings... Hehe.

Kikaru - I love Gackt! And I did like Redemption I forgot to mention that I already heard his stuff this year, along with Rip Slyme (already have Tokyo Classic in my collection).

Glamorous Sky kicks butt, but it kicked butt last year I'm pretty well-acquainted with the Japanese music scene last year, so I'm concentrating on this year's releases.

Thanks again, guys! Your help is very much appreciated!

[drewbilation]

Aiko Kayo's "Dolce" album is very good.

[Sakura_Genki]

Anna Tsuchiya <3