Well, it’s official — the kings of J-pop have done it again. Snow Man have dropped their fifth studio album, and as a listener (and an unabashed fan), I couldn’t be more excited.

Officially announced on September 8, ONKOCHISHIN was preceded by three pre-release singles that showcased the group’s range and signature flair.

First came ｢TRUE LOVE｣ on October 5, a track that blends Snow Man’s infectious pop sound with a dash of old-school Broadway magic — soft, sweet, and sentimentally lush.

Then came the crazy, sexy, cool ｢BOOST｣ on October 12 — a confident banger that leaned into a harder, more seductive image for the group.

Finally, ｢悪戯な天使｣ (English title: ｢Mischievous Angel｣) arrived on October 25, just before the album’s release.

While I loved the first two music videos, there’s a seductive charm to Mischievous Angel that I wish had gotten its own full-on visual treatment — it’s that good.

Of course, the album also collects some fan favorites from the past year, including:

｢Serious｣ – a spook-tacular thriller that channels the ghost of the King of Pop himself with slick choreography and dazzling effects. It’s mysterious, stylish, and ridiculously addictive.

｢カリスマックス｣ (English title: ｢CHARISMAX｣) – a bold nod to Japan’s PARAPARA club culture of the ’90s and early 2000s, reimagined with modern dance beats and rap elements — pure Snow Man energy.

As always, the unit songs are some of the most enjoyable moments on the album.

｢Symmetry｣ (Hikaru Iwamoto × Tatsuya Fukazawa) has a simplistic sort of sound that lets their vocals mirror and play off one another beautifully. It feels like the opening theme to a lost ’80s cult classic — and I’m absolutely living for it.

｢地球あいしてるぜ｣ (Ryota Miyadate × Daisuke Sakuma) is exactly what you’d expect when the group’s most theatrical and most comical members join forces. The track itself is  great, don’t get me wrong, but the music video steals the show, complete with a Sailor Moon-inspired transformation sequence that’s impossible not to love.

｢サンシャインドリーマー｣ (｢Sunshine Dreamer｣) brings together Raul, Shota Watanabe, and Koji Mukai for a song that bursts with anime-opening energy — bright, catchy, and joyfully over-the-top.

And then there’s ｢ART｣, the surprise standout from Ryohei Abe and my personal bias, Ren Meguro. Their deep, sultry vocals paired with that slow, sensual beat have crafted one of the smoothest (and sexiest) unit tracks Snow Man has ever released. Second only to ｢BASS BON｣ from the 2023 release from i DO ME featuring Raul and Sakuma.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t add how much I also enjoy the English version of ｢CHARISMAX｣

As a long-time fan, I’ve always loved Snow Man’s ability to mix showmanship with sincerity, and ONKOCHISHINcaptures that perfectly. From explosive dance tracks to smooth ballads, every song feels crafted with heart.And as a lover of introduction tracks, I have to say it — the new ｢Nine Snow Charge!!｣ is fantastic. It’s the perfect opener for an album that celebrates growth, nostalgia, and the timeless art of reinvention.

There will be more Snow Man soon so…

Stay Tuned!