Round Table creates a sound that is the musical equivalent of a perfectly curated vintage boutique. It is bright, stylish, and deeply informed by the 1960s and 70s soft rock and bossa nova, yet it feels unmistakably modern. The interplay between Katsutoshi Kitagawa's rhythmic guitar work and Rieko Ito's elegant keyboard arrangements creates a foundation that is both technically impressive and instantly accessible.
What sets them apart is their mastery of the 'Shibuya-kei' aesthetic, blending a cosmopolitan, crate-digger sensibility with pure pop craftsmanship. Their collaboration with vocalist Nino added a layer of ethereal, whisper-soft sweetness that became iconic within the anime community, turning complex jazz-pop structures into earworms that feel like a warm embrace.
Start with the album 'Big Wave ’72' for their quintessential early sound, or dive into the 'April' album if you want to experience the peak of their collaborative magic with Nino. It is music for people who want their pop to be smart, sunny, and slightly nostalgic.
Round Table is a Japanese pop band known mostly for their anime soundtracks. The band was formed in 1997 with Katsutoshi Kitagawa (vocals, guitar, and bass guitar) and Rieko Ito (vocals and keyboard) as band members. In 2002, Nino joined as a guest vocalist. Nino provides the main vocals for the songs while Kitagawa provides backing vocals. Since then their songs have often been credited as ROUND TABLE featuring Nino. The name of their fifth studio album overall and first featuring Nino, April, came from Nino's birth-month. The album contains their hit single that is most popularly known in the Anime demographic, "Let Me Be With You", as it was used for the opening song for the 2002 adapted anime television series Chobits. On October 13th, 2025, Nino performed with ROUND TABLE for the first time in 13 years at a concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of Aria the Animation.
Shares chamber pop, indie pop (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, orchestral arrangement (production style)
Shares chamber pop, jazz fusion, synth-pop (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, hi fi (production style)
Shares chamber pop, synth-pop, indie pop (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, hi fi (production style)
Shares studio polished, analog warmth, orchestral arrangement (production style); indie pop, chamber pop (subgenres)
Shares indie pop, chamber pop (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, orchestral arrangement (production style)
Shares joyful, playful, nostalgic (moods); indie pop, chamber pop (subgenres)
Shares chamber pop, synth-pop, indie pop (subgenres); summer, sunday morning, coffee shop (atmosphere)
Shares indie pop, chamber pop, synth-pop (subgenres); breathy, gentle, harmonized (vocal style)
Shares chamber pop, synth-pop, indie pop (subgenres); studio polished, analog warmth, orchestral arrangement (production style)
Shares coffee shop, summer, rooftop (atmosphere); joyful, playful, nostalgic (moods)
Shares shibuya-kei, bass, trumpet, sunday morning (signature)
Shares shibuya-kei, sunday morning, chamber pop, orchestral arrangement (signature)
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