I discovered Japanese music around 2006, and was introduced into the world of Kpop since 2011, thus, I have over a decade experience with both sides of music.

I knew since I got into Kpop that it had the potential to go global. High quality music videos, complex and insync dances, catchier songs, and the incorporation of English was something Jpop music rarely had. To add on, Kpop cares highly about visuals and they put out more regular content to connect with fans, so it’s definitely something more people can get into and feel connected to. I write more about the differences between Jpop and Kpop in this article.

Sadly, Jpop has a certain rep. While Japan created the whole idea of idols, they have been dominated by super cute and sweet groups for so long that people can’t imagine there being anything else, or they simply aren’t able to dig deeper. Sadly, that means a lot of groups who could be bigger globally will never get a chance to shine.

If you’re a Kpop fan who is even a little open to idol groups from other countries, definitely check out this list. I have found quite a few groups that I think you would like as they have similar elements and sound to a lot of Kpop groups I’ve heard. You can also find more groups in my Jpop sampler playlists on our Youtube channel.

Be sure to comment below if you found a new group you liked, or feel free to share other Jpop groups that you think deserve a mention!

Boy Groups

JO1

I think out of all the groups I’ve looked through, this one gives the most Kpop vibes.

G-Egg

King & Prince

Hey! Say! Jump

ORβIT 

Snow Man

This group has both a softer pop side and a cooler hip hop side. The Black Gold video gives me serious Call Me Baby (Exo) vibes.

EXILE TRIBE

I guess you can consider Exile Tribe the Japanese equivalent of NCT. They have 19 members in total and have multiple subgroups with their own names.

Sexy Zone

Da-Ice

Yes, these boys made the opening for One Piece. If you’re looking for a happier and positive sounding group, definitely check em out. They got a lot of dance rehearsal videos too!

One N’Only

Girl Groups

It’s a bit harder to find girl groups with Kpop vibes simply because the majority of Jpop girl groups tend to focus on a super cute and girly vibe with a stereotypical Japanese sound. Compared to the boy groups above, they also don’t put as much into their video budget. But here are a few groups I think you may like if you’re a big kpop girl group fan.

BananaLemon

Bananalemon is probably one of the most known Jpop girl hip hop groups despite having very few tracks at the moment. They remind me a bit of 4Minute and 2NE1. I came across their #sorrynotsorry video long ago and even I was surprised Japan had something equivalent to girl crush groups in Kpop. Definitely check them out for some girl power and confidence boosters.

NiziU

This is a Jpop group created under the very popular Kpop agency JYP, who also created Wondergirls, Miss A, Twice, and Itzy. Compared to the other groups, this group definitely has a more Japanese sound and feel focusing on being cute and positive.

CHERRSEE

This group gives me serious Gen 2 vibes. I didn’t notice at first when I added them, but if you listen to the intro of these tracks, you’ll hear the very iconic “Brave Sound”, which means the Brave Brothers (who has helped produce songs for famous Kpop groups like Sistar, AOA, Teen Top, 4Minute and Hello Venus) actually worked on these tracks, thus you can be sure you’ll get that Kpop vibe from them.

E-Girls

Sadly, this group was shortlived despite making big names. While they do have a more traditional Jpop sound, they have the dances and the outfits. I would say they remind me like Kara just a bit with their retro pop sound.

Happiness

With the name, you may be expecting a cuter, peppier group, but instead you got these mature and feminine ladies who are not afraid to put you in your place….but they can also be cute and fun! Their music ranges from a more retro electric beat to hip hop music. Is this girl crush? I could not tell you. Definitely let me know what you think!

ROZE

Fairies

If you’re open to more traditional Jpop sounding groups but don’t want to dive right in, I think Fairies is a great place to start.

FAKY

Faky is prorbably one of the bigger Jpop groups at the moment. They have many slower nostagic sounds, but they also have some great dance bops

Sudannayuzuyully

If you’re looking for a cool retro hip hop girl crush group, here’s your calling. Gives me a feel of 4minute, BlackPink and F(x).

Country Girls

If you’re missing the cuter and pure concepts that groups like Gfriend and Lovelyz left behind when they disbanded, Country Girls may fill that hole in your heart. Sweet and happy songs without the electronic effects that a lot of Jpop songs tend to have. They even got some boogie songs that remind me of Secret’s My Boy.