Shibuya Kei

Shibuya Kei pioneer Cornelius with Ryuichi Sakamoto from Yellow Magic Orchestra

Shibuya Kei (literally “Shibuya Style”) is a sub-genre of J-pop developed in the Shibuya district of Tokyo during the early 90s. Conceptually, it’s a combination of Pop and Electronic elements, where the artists try to combine multiple influences in order to create a well balanced, sophisticated, yet easy listening and mainstream friendly sound. Sometimes Shibuya-Kei is described as a fusion of Pop, Synth-pop, and Jazz.

Pioneers of the genre such as Pizzicato Five, Fantastic Plastic Machine and Cibo Matto used to fuse pop with 60s sonorities and aesthetics in their music videos, while from the 2000s on, the genre turned direction to adopt electronic and 80s influences, represented by groups such as the duo CAPSULE.

Shibuya Kei is generally considered a fresh and thoughtless style, perfect for relaxing in a nice day. Really.

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Pizzicato Five

Recommended Albums: On her Majesty’s Request / Overdose / PIZZICATO FIVE
Recommended Songs: Action Painting / Groovy / A Message Song
Best PVs: The Audrey Hepburn Complex / Tout va vien / It’s a Beautiful Day
Website: http://columbia.jp/~pizzicato/
Social: /
Year: 1985 – 2001 (Disbanded)

Cibo Matto

Recommended Albums: Viva! La Woman / Stereo * Type A
Recommended Songs: Moonchild / Sci-fi Wasabi / Sugar Water / Know your Chicken
Best PVs: Sugar Water
Website: http://yeahbasicallycibomatto.com/
Social: https://twitter.com/CiboMattoCiboMa | https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCiboMatto
Year: 1994 – Active

Fantastic Plastic Machine

Recommended Albums: The Fantastic Plastic Machine / Luxury
Recommended Songs: Different Colors / DAREMOSHIRANAI / Without You
Best PVs: FPMB: Fantastic Plastic Machine Best
Website: http://www.fpmnet.com/
Social: /
Year: 1988 – Active

Cornelius

Recommended Albums: The First Question Award / Fantasma
Recommended Songs: Perfect Rainbow / Moon Walk / Star Fruits Surf Rider
Best PVs: Point of View Point
Website: http://cornelius-sound.com/
Social: https://twitter.com/corneliusjapan | https://www.facebook.com/corneliusofficial?fref=ts
Year: 1991 – Active

Kahimi Karie

Recommended Albums: Larme de Crocodile / K.K.K.K.K.
Recommended Songs: Good Morning World / When you close your eyes / Tilt / Lost in a Paris Nightclub / Sleepwalking
Best PVs: Good Morning World
Website: http://www.kahimi-karie.com/index1.html
Social: /
Year: 1990 – Active

Capsule (Also Electronic/EDM)

Recommended Albums: Nexus 2060 / Flash Back / Fruits Clipper / Player / CAPS LOCK
Recommended Songs: Kamisama no Utagoe / The Music / More! More! More! / Sugarless Girl / Tokyo Smiling / CONTROL
Best PVs: Sugarless Girl, CONTROL
Website: http://capsule-official.com/
Social: https://twitter.com/CAPSULEOFFICIAL | https://www.facebook.com/CAPSULE.OFFICIAL
Year: 1997 – Active

Nagisa Cosmetic

Recommended Albums: Nagisa Cosmetic
Recommended Songs: Cosmetic Happy / Life Balance / I am computer
Best PVs: /
Website: /
Social: /
Year: 2004 (Disbanded)

Cubismo Grafico Five

Recommended Albums: Tout! / Double Dozen
Recommended Songs: Blissful / Fairytale of Escape
Best PVs: Chukit
Website: http://www.cbsmgrfc.net/
Social: https://www.facebook.com/cubismograficofive
Year: 1999 – Active (Previously known as “Cubismo Grafico”)

COPTER4016882

Recommended Albums: 2D2D
Recommended Songs: Philosophy and Gossip / Amy / Truth
Best PVs: Light
Website: /
Social: /
Year: 1999 – Active