Make Believe Bonus: Five Extra Japanese Albums Of 2023

A More Rounded View Of The Year That Was

I published Make Believe Melodies’ Favorite 100 Japanese Albums Of 2023 last week, but there’s a handful of albums that didn’t make the cut worth highlighting, whether for being oh-so-close to making the official list or just because of what they say about contemporary Japanese music. Here’s five more important albums from the year.

Vaundy — replica

Vaundy’s replica isn’t so much one of J-pop’s best albums of the year, as much as a blueprint to understanding the nation’s contemporary landscape.