Some of the best music collaborations of the year came out of Japan, with artists breaking new ground across genres, borders, and sounds. From unexpected partnerships to reimagined classics and global hits, here’s our roundup of the year’s best music collaborations.
Yuki Chiba x Megan Thee Stallion – ‘Mamushi’
One of 2024’s most talked-about collaborations came from Yuki Chiba and Megan Thee Stallion, whose viral single ‘Mamushi’ bridged cultural and linguistic boundaries with effortless flair. Released in June as part of Megan’s independent debut album, Megan, the track marked Chiba’s return to the international spotlight after retiring his KOHH persona in 2021.
Blending English and Japanese lyrics, ‘Mamushi’ achieved widespread success, topping the Billboard World Digital Song Sales chart and reaching #36 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track’s global reach was bolstered by a viral TikTok dance and a cinematic music video that honoured Japanese cinema, earning the duo the award for Best Trending Video at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The pair’s live performances were equally historic. In July, Chiba made a surprise appearance during Megan’s Europe finale at London’s O2 Arena, while their joint performance at the MTV VMAs in September made headlines as Chiba became one of the first Japanese artists to perform at the iconic event.
HARU NEMURI x Frost Children – ‘Soul Kiss’
Japanese avant-garde artist HARU NEMURI joined forces with New York sibling duo Frost Children for ‘Soul Kiss’, a collaborative EP released on October 4th. The five-track project is a potpourri of hardcore, EDM, post-rock, and pop, that displays two acts’ one-of-a-kind synergy.
The track, ‘Burn’, stands out as a centerpiece of the EP. HARU NEMURI describes the lyrics as reflecting uncontainable emotions during dark moments, while Frost Children’s Lulu recalls writing the song just after Angel recovered from a bizarre spider bite in Berlin. Even the music video, filmed in Japan, embodies the chaos and catharsis of the music, as the trio battle against helicopter-generated winds in a desolate field.
Having first connected during a 2022 tour, HARU NEMURI and Frost Children forged an immediate bond that led to the creation of the EP. With ‘Soul Kiss’, the trio delivers an EP that perfectly exemplifies the collaborative spirit of 2024.
Sam Smith x Hikaru Utada – ‘Stay With Me (10th Anniversary Duet)’
To mark a decade since the release of their GRAMMY-winning single ‘Stay With Me’, Sam Smith enlisted J-pop icon Hikaru Utada for a duet version of the track. The reimagined release celebrates the 10th anniversary of Smith’s debut album, ‘In the Lonely Hour’, a landmark record that has sold over 6 million copies in the U.S. alone.
The collaboration is both musically and symbolically significant. Utada, celebrating 25 years in music with their best-of album ‘SCIENCE FICTION’ and a major tour spanning Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, lent their transcendent voice to Smith’s soulful classic. The duet captures a shared authenticity between the two artists, both of whom have come out as non-binary in recent years. Reflecting on the project, Smith expressed admiration for Utada’s legacy and their shared journey of self-discovery.
Awich x VannDa – ‘6 Years In The Game’
Awich and Cambodia’s rap sensation VannDa paired-up for ‘6 Years In The Game’, a fiery collaboration released on VannDa’s birthday. The track, born out of their shared performance at Tokyo’s RAISE club in 2023, reflects on VannDa’s journey to rap prominence while showcasing Awich’s commanding lyricism and flow.
The collaboration represents a meeting of two of Asia’s hip-hop heavyweights. VannDa, a trailblazer for Cambodian rap, praised Awich for her resilience and impact, calling her an inspiration on the global stage. Awich, in turn, lauded VannDa as a cultural hero.
This collaboration reflected the mutual respect between the two artists while linking the hip-hop scenes of Japan and Cambodia. With its sharp message and undeniable energy, ‘6 Years In The Game’ reinforced their roles as key figures in Asian hip-hop.
BAND-MAID x Mike Einziger – ‘Bestie’
This year, Japanese hard rock titans BAND-MAID teamed up with big names from the west; Mexico’s The Warning on the track ‘SHOW THEM’, and Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger for ‘Bestie’, a single celebrating the joy of friendship and emotional connection. Released digitally on April 17th, the track was co-written by Einziger and BAND-MAID’s rhythm guitarist Miku Kobato, brining together the band’s ferocity with Einziger’s melodic sensibilities.
The collaboration was inspired by Einziger’s admiration for BAND-MAID’s performance at Pointfest 2023, where their set left a lasting impression. Their partnership culminated in Bestie, which Kobato described as a deeply heartfelt project. The band premiered the track live at Incubus’ Tokyo Garden Theater show on May 1st, with Einziger joining them on stage to perform the song.
Beyond the single, ‘Bestie’ is another key point in BAND-MAID’s story, earning them further recognition on the international stage. Featured on their September album ‘Epic Narratives’, it’s an emotional highlight that contrasts with the band’s typically hard-hitting sound.
Yuki Chiba X Everyone – ‘Team Tomodachi’
Yuki Chiba’s ‘Team Tomodachi’ was a movement. Released in February as his first single under his real name, the song became an anthem for unity and camaraderie, struck a chord with Japan’s rap scene and beyond. Produced by Koshy, the track’s simplicity only amplified the accessibility of the track’s its heartfelt message of friendship and community.
The cultural ripple effect of Team Tomodachi has been extraordinary. Sparking numerous remixes, including contributions from major Japanese acts like Jin Dogg, ¥ellow Bucks, and Watson, as well as international heavyweights such as Bun B, Duke Deuce, and even a surprise remix by Will Smith. By May, they had enough remixes to drop an entire 13-track album, a rare feat for a single track.
The song sparked a wave of unofficial remixes from rappers around the world, each bringing their own regional flavor and style. Standouts included versions from Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Timor-Leste, and Tokyo’s all-GALS Remix. Popping off online, these remixes further propelled the track’s viral success, making it as a staple in hip-hop playlists worldwide in 2024.
With ‘Team Tomodachi’, Yuki Chiba has reasserted his place as a major player in Japanese hip-hop, proving that his pivot from KOHH to his real name is not a retreat but a reinvention.
MAH (SiM) x Fame on Fire – ‘Chains (The Tower)’
SiM frontman MAH teamed up with Florida rockers Fame on Fire for ‘Chains (The Tower)’, a track from Fame on Fire’s September release, ‘The Death Card’. The single explores themes of inner conflict and self-doubt, brought to life with a Saw-inspired music video that leans into its grim, claustrophobic atmosphere.
The collaboration grew out of Fame on Fire’s time supporting SiM on their North American tour earlier this year. They recorded the track in Japan, which led to an invitation for Fame on Fire to debut in Japan at SiM’s DEAD POP FESTiVAL. Their performance, which included a joint rendition of ‘Chains’, introduced the band to a new audience and highlighted the chemistry between the two acts.
‘Chains (The Tower)’ is a solid example of how tour connections can evolve into creative partnerships, with MAH and Fame on Fire bridging two heavy music scenes through a shared vision.
MILLENNIUM PARADE x Rauw Alejandro x Tainy – ‘KIZAO’
Led by Daiki Tsuneta, Tokyo’s experimental collective MILLENNIUM PARADE teamed up with Puerto Rican superstar Rauw Alejandro and producer Tainy for ‘KIZAO’. Released on October 18th, the track is a visual and audio celebration of cross-border collaboration, bringing together the infectious rhythms of Latin music with the nostalgic, futuristic flair of Japan’s city pop.
The 3D-animated music video, directed by MILLENNIUM PARADE’s Shu Sasaki, is the cherry on top. Set in the chaotic, fictional KONG TONG TOKYO, it’s like Pulp Fiction grit wrapped in Pixar-style visuals.
Maximum the Hormone x ATARASHII GAKKO! – ‘SHIMI’
Maximum the Hormone enlisted 2024 breakout dance troop ATARASHII GAKKO! for a reimagined version of their 2007 track ‘SHIMI’, featured on the June 2024 CD-only single ‘Ki-Se-I Rush’.
There are few pop centric groups that can keep up with the ferocity of Maximum the Hormone, but ATARASHII GAKKO! had no trouble matching the chaos on this new take on an old classic. From Kanon’s spirited rendition of the chorus to Rin’s shamisen-infused rap and the group’s signature choreography, this unexpected pairing turned out to be a perfect match.
Additionally, those who pick up ‘Ki-Sei-I Rush’ on CD can experience the band’s collaboration with ano for their joint retake of ‘CHUCHU LOVELY MUNIMUNI MURAMURA PRINPRIN BORON NURURU RERORERO’ —try saying that five times fast.
Dua Lipa x Creepy Nuts – ‘Illusion (Creepy Nuts Remix)’
Dua Lipa’s global hit ‘Illusion’ got a fresh twist from hip-hop duo Creepy Nuts in their first international collaboration. Released on July 26th, the remix pairs DJ Matsunaga’s high-octane beats with R-Shitei’s quickfire verses, peppered with clever nods to Lipa’s past hits.
The collaboration kicked off after Lipa’s team took notice of Creepy Nuts’ viral January single, ‘Bling-Bang-Bang-Born’, which blew up on TikTok and cracked the Billboard Global 200. For the remix, R-Shitei wrote lyrics that fit naturally into the world of ‘Illusion’, adding their own spin without losing the original’s essence. Dua Lipa gave the remix her seal of approval, urging fans to check out its fresh perspective.
MNNK Bro. (Takashi Murakami x JP THE WAVY) – ‘Mononoke Kyoto’
MNNK Bro., the collaborative duo of world renowned artist Takashi Murakami and rapper JP THE WAVY, made their debut with ‘Mononoke Kyoto’, released on July 10th. The single, inspired by Kyoto’s cultural and supernatural folklore, was created as the theme song for Murakami’s exhibition, Takashi Murakami Mononoke Kyoto, at the Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art.
The collaboration stemmed from Murakami’s serendipitous encounter with WAVY’s track ‘Pick N Choose’ at his daughter’s dance recital. This led to a creative process that both artists described as intensive but deeply rewarding, blending Murakami’s visual storytelling with WAVY’s lyrical craftsmanship.
Their shared admiration for 1990s anime aesthetics and rebellious cultural energy heavily influenced the project, aligning with Murakami’s encouragement for WAVY to pioneer a distinct Japanese hip-hop identity.
Sheena Ringo x Ikkyu Nakajima (tricot) x AI x Nocchi (Perfume) x ATARASHII GAKKO! x Daoko x Momo (CHARAN-PO-RANTAN) – ‘Hojoya’
Sheena Ringo’s ‘Hojoya’ brought together a powerhouse lineup of Japan’s leading female artists, resulting in one of the year’s most ambitious collaborative projects. Released on May 29th, the album features six standout tracks co-created with Ikkyu Nakajima (tricot), AI, Nocchi (Perfume), ATARASHII GAKKO!, Daoko, and Momo (CHARAN-PO-RANTAN). Each track is paired with a visually distinct music video directed by Yuichi Kodama, all set within a fictional cabaret club that ties together the album’s eclectic themes.
From the jazz-infused swagger of ‘Seija no Koushin’ with AI to the rock-charged energy of ‘Doraichi Dokusou’ with ATARASHII GAKKO!, each song highlights its featured artist while remaining true to Ringo’s unmistakable sound. Notable moments include ‘Hatsu K.O. Gachi’, where Nocchi’s rarely-heard solo vocals are paired with a comedic boxing concept, and ‘Hobo Mizu no Awa’, a flapper-inspired duet with Momo that oozes vintage charm.
By uniting the “7 divas” (including Hikaru Utada) under her vision, Ringo delivered one of Japan’s best pop/rock releases of the year and a fitting celebration of female talent in the industry. The music videos, all available on Sheena Ringo’s YouTube channel, are well worth a back-to-back viewing.
REDLINE DREAM BAND – ‘REDLINE’
The REDLINE DREAM BAND’s ‘REDLINE’ is the loud rock anthem Japan’s heavy music fans didn’t know they needed. Featuring a staggering 29 artists—including MAH (SiM), Masato (coldrain), Jean-ken Johnny (MAN WITH A MISSION), Jesse (The BONEZ), Hiro (SHADOWS / FACT), DAIDAI (Paledusk), and many MANY more—this supergroup single dropped on December 6th, just in time for the farewell REDLINE ALL THE FINAL festival at Chiba’s Makuhari Messe.
Billed as the genre’s ‘We Are the World’ and feeling like Japan’s take on the Roadrunner United project, ‘REDLINE’ lyrically celebrates the unity and resilience of the heavy music community. In the 90-minute documentary REDLINE ALL THE FINAL – END OF THE BEGINNING, which chronicles the making of the track and the REDLINE tour series, viewers get a look at everything from MAH banging out the demo in three days to the chaotic studio sessions with 29 artists, capturing the hustle and heart behind this massive collaboration.
It’s a declaration of love for Japan’s loud rock scene and proof of what can happen when the genre’s finest unite under one banner.
Honourable Mention: Bruno Mars x Don Quijote
In a move no one saw coming, Bruno Mars became the face—and the voice—of Japan’s iconic discount store Don Quijote. The Donki Ikuyo (“Let’s Go to Donki”) jingle, written and produced by Mars himself, dropped in August, turning the chaos of Donki’s neon-lit aisles into an irresistible dancefloor. Mars grooves alongside Donpen, the store’s penguin mascot, in a surreal ad that feels like part music video, part fever dream.
The partnership didn’t stop there. Mars and Donpen teamed up for a limited-edition merch line, featuring the mascot cosplaying as the pop superstar, complete with his signature pompadour and moustache.
It’s a collaboration as quirky as Don Quijote itself. The chain might be the world’s most famous sensory-overload maze of discounts, but this collab? Definitely twenty-four karat magic.
Got any personal picks for the best music collaborations of the year that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
