scrmbl contributor Patrick St. Michel runs an email newsletter called Make Believe Mailer, an offshoot of his long-running blog Make Believe Melodies. Every week, he shares essays and round-ups of new Japanese music, from J-pop to independent releases, including albums that might have flown under listeners' radar. Here are some of the highlights from the past month, shared with readers of scrmbl.

CHITAA — Youngirl

It takes just over 20 seconds for a bunch of trauma-induced anxiety to spill out of CHITAA’s Youngirl EP. “2020 new virus / COVID-19 / I’m close to 18 / where the fuck is my teen dreams?” And with that we are off into the void that is Japanese adolescence in the 2020s over a fittingly nervous drum ‘n’ bass foundation, fitting for something so jittery about everything. The young artist herself zips and pogos through it all, Skip-It-ing between English and Japanese to compare her uncertainty over the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (which end in 2030…had no idea!) and explaining what gives her the ick. This debut EP offers a showcase of her vocal loopiness, from the Hyperpop-indebted warp of “Kiss Ei Chuu” to the rap-sing emo on closer “Bluevery Pie.”

CHITAA’s nerves about growing up, though, are what power this Youngirl. The fidgety nature of the music works as a compliment with the lyrics’ uncertainty, a kind of inability to sit still making opener “Shesaw” and “Kiss Ei Chuu” more than simple dopamine injections. Her ability to adjust the music for something fitting the lonely “Beer” and the more rock-leaning closer, that one being the most outright downer moment here. Even when she embraces positivity and optimism on “PedOn,” her call for a life without constant stress sounds on the verge of a breakdown. That’s just the human condition, captured fantastically here. Listen above.

safmusic — Slide And Escape [Deluxe]

Hyperpop-ish artist safmusic isn’t afraid to puff out his chest — he named his last album MASTERPIECE — but melancholy sits at the center of everything he does. New album Slide And Escape digs into the downer depths lyrically, with breakups and lost connections coloring the mood here (“u married” turns to pop-punk to scowl at someone else getting hitched, while you might not even need to hear a single woozy note or declaration of “I’m fading before you” to pick up on the vibe of “slow&sad”). Yet despite clearly going through some relationship woes, safmusic remains chipper when it comes to playing around with a bunch of sonic ideas, from a greater emphasis on Warped-Tour-adjacent rock to dabbling in R&B strolls to experiments in manipulating his voice even further. He’s earned the right to stunt, even if he does so with a frown on his face. Listen above.

Dr.Anon — second opinion

In the recent history of Japanese “internet” music, rap/hyperpop trio Dr.Anon is one of the most influential acts for this corner of the country’s music. The trio of e5, HAKU and ponika (now killwiz) emerged as solo acts at various points before the pandemic, but came together to form this project which allowed each one to flex their own vocal abilities over music at times tumbling and others euphoric. The group’s sound and attitude seemed telling of where the nation’s underground would go, while the individual members have each gone on to release fantastic solo work too. To do that, though, Dr.Anon took a break.

With second opinion, they get back together to revisit the tag-team thrill of earlier releases but also as an opportunity for each member to check where they are in 2026. This EP functions more as a collective release, with some songs just featuring a solo member doing their own thing over a beat, not far removed from individual solo work. Yet the best moments are when all three hop on a song together to whizz around together, revealing an energy only capable with friends (“Dr.Anon Cypher”). It’s those moments that really show where they’ve come from…and what the trio still provides for one another. Listen above.

Acid Pink — DPGK

Acid Pink — fronted by genre-smasher Shirome, which is my gateway into this project — bill themselves as making "POP MUSiiiiiiiiiC" but there’s a very clear rock energy running through the DPGK EP, even if it is buried under rave-out electronics and Jersey Club squeaks. This is a fusion of the club and live house…so, Loft in Shinjuku, turned into a listening experience…featuring Skittles-bright dance-pop with guitars shredding across on “By Your Side” and a hyperactive garage band energy guiding the opening “Orutanatai MU.” Perhaps its the subversive edge that makes me associate it with rock so much. Listen above.

Manaka — Pretty Machine Gun II

There’s a stretch early on Pretty Machine Gun II aimed at showcasing rapper Manaka’s star potential. From the breezy vibes of “Summer Time” with fellow viral MC DADA into the jumproping lyricism of “Going” with upstart Litty to the on-trend sound of “Look At Me Now” courtesy of producer kimj, this is a run meant to establish her bonafides as a big-stage name, and she’s certainly trending that way. Yet the rest of this release shows depth that shouldn’t be ignored either, with most of it being constructed by LIL SOFT TENNIS. Together, they create sashaying R&B come-ons (“Drip On My Body”) and dizzier rumbles inching towards experimental pop (“Game for Girl”). It’s those moments that really hint at the potential she has to be a force. Listen above.