J-MELO: Season 20
Season 20 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of J-MELO Season 19.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 20 Progress Shield
all at once and Coda Mahiru
Feb 5, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week: all at once (a vocal duo who create lots of anime songs) and Coda Mahiru (a singer-songwriter, model and actor). They're both coming to c
Okayu and TSUKEMEN
Feb 12, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! In the studio this week: Okayu (a singer-songwriter with cover albums including city pop and anisongs) and TSUKEMEN (an internationally active three
FIVE NEW OLD and sajou no hana
Mar 4, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week, FIVE NEW OLD (a four-piece rock band from Kobe) and sajou no hana (an act getting lots of attention for anime theme songs) are coming to
FES☆TIVE and LE VELVETS
Mar 11, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week, FES☆TIVE (a 6-piece idol group who perform mainly in Asia) and LE VELVETS (a 4-piece vocal group with baritone and tenor voices) are comi
Nagayama Yoko and MYTH & ROID
Apr 7, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week: enka singer Nagayama Yoko, who debuted as a pop idol 40 years ago; and MYTH & ROID, who work on themes for internationally successful gam
SKE48 and Tomioka Ai
Apr 14, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week: idol group SKE48, who are marking their 15th anniversary; and Tomioka Ai, who's a university student and a singer-songwriter with an inte
Murasaki and Fragrant Drive
May 5, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week: Murasaki (members: Chisa, who's a voice actor in the "Umamusume: Pretty Derby" franchise, and songwriter Ramseeni); and 7-member idol gro
ICEx and REIKO
May 12, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week: 8-piece dance-and-vocal group ICEx, who've marked a year together in the EBiDAN music collective; and Philippine-born singer REIKO, who d
Kishita Kohshi and BAND JA NAIMON! MAXX NAKAYOSHI
Jun 2, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week: Kishita Kohshi (a guy with great piano skills and a soulful voice) and BAND JA NAIMON! MAXX NAKAYOSHI (a six-piece idol group with a ninj
CANDY TUNE and Inaba Manaka
Jun 9, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week: seven-piece idol group CANDY TUNE, who have a big, young fanbase on social media; and Inaba Manaka, who left Juice=Juice in 2022 to launc
mol-74 and Tamai Shiori
Jul 7, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! In the studio this week: Kyoto-based four-piece rock band mol-74; and Momoiro Clover Z member Tamai Shiori, who launched a parallel solo career in J
TAKANE NO NADESHIKO and Hayashibe Satoshi
Jul 14, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week: TAKANE NO NADESHIKO (a 10-member idol group making a buzz on social media) and Hayashibe Satoshi (a singer who has fans across a wide age
HAGANE and Momoiro Clover Z
Aug 4, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week: four-piece heavy-metal band HAGANE, who've rebooted with new members; and four-piece idol group Momoiro Clover Z, who've worked on many s
SARD UNDERGROUND and Lienel
Aug 11, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for great Japanese music! This week: SARD UNDERGROUND (a tribute band who play songs by legendary J-pop group ZARD); and Lienel (a six-member dance-and-vocal group who
Suzuki Konomi and Yui Nishio
Oct 6, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week: Suzuki Konomi (a great singer who has sung lots of anime songs) and Yui Nishio (a singer-songwriter whose everyday-life lyrics appeal mai
Niihama Leon and KiSS KiSS
Oct 13, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! On the show this week: Niihama Leon (a singer who brings his powerful voice to Showa-era pop) and KiSS KiSS (a super-kawaii female idol group who de
Rei and Ieiri Leo
Nov 3, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for great Japanese music! In the studio this week: singer-songwriter and guitar star Rei; and singer-songwriter Ieiri Leo, who brings a unique sensibility and a great v
BRIDEAR and Matsuura Kodai
Nov 10, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week: BRIDEAR (a five-piece all-female heavy metal band with a growing fanbase in Europe) and Matsuura Kodai (a singer with an astonishingly ve
WONK and Sato Masaki
Dec 1, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for great Japanese music! This week: WONK (a four-piece band with a soulful sound that goes beyond genres) and Sato Masaki (a Morning Musume.'21 alum who's a great sing
Haku. and XinU
Dec 8, 2024 · 28 min
Join May J. for Japanese music! This week: Haku. (an Osaka-based four-piece band praised for their unique lyrics and sound) and XinU (a smoky-voiced singer with a sound that blends