The hottest song now in Japan is undoubtedly "Dango 3 Kyodai," which humorously depicts the story of three dumpling brothers. Though originally composed for a children's TV program, the song appealed to adults as well, and 3 million CDs have been sold so far.
The charm of the funny lyrics is undeniable, but at the root of the song's success is the tangolike melody. Alongside ballroom dancing, tango has enjoyed immense popularity the past few years.
Spurring the boom was last year's 100th anniversary of a treaty of commerce and friendship between Argentina and Japan. To commemorate the event, a stream of tango musicians and dancers have visited Japan, and tango-related publications and CDs (such as those of the late tango composer Astor Piazzolla) have seen brisk sales.