The "royal road" progression (王道進行, Ōdō shinkō) is to Japan what "the axis progression" is to the Western world. This chord progression comes up time and time again across Japanese music, to the point that to many listeners, the progression has a "Japanese" sound to it.
SOURCES:
The Quintessential VGM Chord Progression: https://youtu.be/tk1tlaVNW5M
Recipe for an anime song: https://youtu.be/oxEbuMlp8K8
The anime chord progression: https://youtu.be/nDaye1j2E4c
Rick Ashtley is a magical girl: https://youtu.be/6VuAS1ksuYI
My own original music is available on Spotify: https://sptfy.com/davidbennett 🎶
And, an extra special thanks goes to Douglas Lind, Vidad Flowers, Ivan Pang, Waylon Fairbanks, Jon Dye, Austin Russell, Christopher Ryan, Toot & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇
SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/davidbennettpiano 🎹
0:00 Introduction
0:45 Japanese examples
2:36 Western examples
4:33 why does it work?
8:35 Piano outro