Tuesday, August 26, 2025

Japanese Mori Musicians: A Newbie's Guide

Today I want to talk about my favorite thing: music!

Like every subculture, people who enjoy mori fashion have always looked for music and musicians that fit the unique feel that mori fashion gives. There are many individual artists, songs, and albums from around the world that fit (and many amazing playlists to listen to!), but a few mori musicians are particularly notable. Here are a few of my personal favorites!

Actual Mori/Natural Kei Musicians

Popoyans



Popoyans is perhaps the most popular mori music group. The duo, cheru and non, wore mori style and even appeared in mori magazines. Their music is a soft folk style, using guitar, harmonizing natural vocals, and glockenspiel to create a unique sound. The duo created two albums together, Zoo and 祝日 (Shukujitsu), and performed until the early 2010s, Their last concert on their archived website appears to be from around 2014 and their website went down in around 2020. I've not been able to find much info on what they went on to do after this, sadly.

You can't find their music on streaming services, but a lot of it is still up on youtube to browse.

Ichiko Aoba



Ichiko Aoba is a solo musician. She has worn mori adjacent styles, and still does even to this day, focusing a lot of her music and visuals on a forest-y feel. Her soft and folksy music focuses mainly around her fantastic guitar skills. She is still active and continues to release amazing music, and is growing in popularity even now.

YeYe



YeYe is an amazing musician who originally self produced her own album! She has often worn mori adjacent fashion throughout her musical career. Her upbeat folk style never fails to bring a smile to my face!

Sachie Hiraga



Sachie Hiraga is a musician who wore natural-esque fashion. She wasn't a mori girl per-say, but her overall vibe fits very well into mori kei. She not as active these days, but is still around making music. Her style is very charming and has a homegrown, stripped down vibe.

Kokia



Kokia (sometimes styled as all caps KOKIA) is an absolute gem. Her music is not only beautiful, but her performing style is so amazing. She was pretty well known for a while even outside of mori circles. Her style is also very mori-like. Her musical style is less folk than most mori musicians, with a more orchestral, natural, and fantasy vibe. She is still actively making music, and unlike other artists her music and style have retained the same feel throughout the years.

Bonus!

A few extras I like! These singers didn't necessarily wear mori, but their music gives major mori vibes!

Mori Sound

Kotoringo


Kotoringo is, in my opinion, the quintessential mori sound! Soft, folksy, cute, they have it all! I can never recommend their music enough.


Gutevolk is another folk singer that got a little recognition for her fun vibes, but not enough in my opinion. She does a great job of pairing a folk vibe with more experimental ideas and sounds that really keep things interesting.

Tenniscoats


An absolute hidden gem of a duo. The fact that they never got more popular makes me so sad. I love their unique sound and the way they play off of each other when performing live. It makes me feel like I just stepped into a forest and the sunlight is shining through the leaves! Such a peaceful vibe. They are still active to this day so I highly recommend checking them out!

Tricolor

Tricolor has long been one of my all time favorite groups. They are a mostly instrumental trio, playing original songs and Irish folk tunes. They play so many instruments, and do so fabulously. I was so lucky to have the chance to see them live before I left Japan, and it is one of my most treasured memories.

Mori Girls

MEG

Do you know MEG? She was a popular model who appeared in a lot of mori photoshoots and magazines! But did you know she had a music career? Her music isn't very mori, more traditional Japanese pop, but it's still fun to listen to!

Mori Ocarina Girl


This isn't really an established musician, but I feel like every mori person should see this mori girl in Shinjuku rocking out on the ocarina at least once their life. She's mori goals, honestly.

Popular with Mori Folk

Cecile Corbel


Cecile Corbel is not Japanese, she's French. But she was incredibly popular for a time in Japan. Her music was even featured in Ghibli movies! Her musical style is a mix of traditional folk songs and fantasy vibes. Definitely a must listen for mori folk!
Who is your favorite mori musician? Have you heard of any of these musicians before? I'd love to hear your mori music recommendations in the comments. Until next time, my deers!

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