Tag - sound-off

 
 

SOUND OFF

J-pop duo Yoasobi performed its 2023-defining hit, “Idol," during the 74th edition of NHK’s “Kohaku Uta Gassen,” giving the show its best moment — and drawing anger from netizens.
CULTURE / Sound Off
Jan 12, 2024
Yoasobi delivered the standout moment of ‘Kohaku.’ Why did some music fans hate it?
The J-pop duo brought artists from J-pop and K-pop together on stage for the night's best performance, but it didn’t take long for negative voices to emerge on social media.
The talent agency formerly known as Johnny & Associates announced it would change its name after acknowledging the long history of abuse company founder Johnny Kitagawa inflicted on young men. The news was followed by the removal of company signage bearing Kitagawa’s name.
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Dec 2, 2023
The entertainment story of the year is long overdue
As entertainment heavyweights Johnny & Associates and Takarazuka Revue are hit by scandals, hope for reform emerges with changing attitudes toward abuse.
Johnny & Associates President Julie Keiko Fujishima (second from right) acknowledged that company founder Johnny Kitagawa had sexually abused agency employees for decades during a press conference in Tokyo on Sept. 7.
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Sep 9, 2023
What’s in a name? A lot of baggage and trauma, unfortunately.
Johnny and Associates' recognition of abuse is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to move forward.
The Gacha Pop playlist on Spotify offers a wonderfully scattered collection of J-pop chart-toppers, long-running favorites and next-generation names, reflecting the global ambitions of homegrown artists.
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Aug 11, 2023
The summer of Gacha Pop
Spotify’s curated playlist encapsulates J-pop’s diverse range, but more than that, it shows how Japanese music travels in the world today.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Jun 24, 2023
A Japanese song on the South Korean charts is more than just a viral moment
As Japan’s imase celebrates the success of his track “Night Dancer” in South Korea, it could be a further sign that relations between the two countries are getting better.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
May 15, 2023
Johnny’s takes steps toward overdue reckoning with its past
Allegations of sexual abuse by founder Johnny Kitagawa have long dogged the talent agency, but times are changing and the company seems to be facing the music.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Feb 25, 2023
Festival organizers hope to woo tourists with Lizzo, Blur and Kendrick
With Japan"s borders back open, major concerts have once again become a staple of the live ecosystem, and Fuji Rock and Summer Sonic are courting tourists to boost the festival industry.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Jan 8, 2023
A love letter to hot springs at music festivals
Getting covered in grime, mud and sweat is an expected part of attending a multiday outdoor festival, but in Japan, hot springs provide a surprisingly liberating dimension to the weekend.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Dec 4, 2022
Ryuichi Sakamoto keeps the music going with a 'profound' concert
The upcoming u201cPlaying the Piano 2022u201d concert will showcase a musician still exploring new horizons while contemplating the finiteness of life.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Nov 13, 2022
Johnny's departures signal growing pains
Though netizens speculated wildly after Johnny & Associates announced the departure of notable figures, the likely explanation is simply that the talent agency is in a moment of transition.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Aug 27, 2022
Online discourse sends netizens into a tizzy over Summer Sonic controversies
Two Japanese groups came under criticism online for seemingly mocking foreign acts during the music festival, even though many of the commentators were nowhere near the real-life scene.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Aug 8, 2022
Fuji Rock's musical acts look to make a bigger splash with livestreams
As streaming becomes the norm for festivals wanting to draw a broader audience, artists are shaping their live performances with the YouTube audience and social media reactions in mind.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Jul 28, 2022
'Sailor-Moon'-inspired group SG5 shows how anime can lift up J-pop
As the music industry opens up to digital realities, the Sailor-Scout-themed pop group and other nascent acts are utilizing anime's popularity to leapfrog into greater consciousness.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Jun 5, 2022
Harry and the house that Hosono built
None other than global pop star Harry Styles takes inspiration from one of Japan's most-talented musicians. The question is, will the West follow?
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Sep 22, 2021
How do you deflect a controversy? Keigo Oyamada blames the media.
Musician Keigo Oyamada cries foul over how he was portrayed in a pair of magazine articles that ended up causing him a job at the Tokyo Olympics.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
May 7, 2021
Can Fuji Rock's all-Japan lineup give J-pop a post-pandemic push?
Fuji Rock has announced an all-local lineup. If done well, it could introduce a wide audience to up-and-coming Japanese talent.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Jun 12, 2020
The summer of our discontent
With the news that this year’s Fuji Rock Festival would be postponed until 2021, summer 2020 became the season of no music in Japan.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
May 8, 2020
Live music needs structural change to survive COVID-19
With footfall having dropped dramatically at Japan's live music venues, many are turning to crowdfunding. But whether this will help mid-sized spaces remains to be seen.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
May 1, 2020
Musicians and DJs fight against COVID-19 closures and learn to live it up online
With gigs off and venues closed, Japanese artists are getting more creative in staging shows for fans staying at home.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Apr 24, 2020
Racking up the views on YouTube with The First Take
There’s nothing complicated about The First Take, and perhaps that’s why it has become an online hit. A notable Japanese musician enters a sparse room, banters with the crew and performs a song in front of a high-end microphone in one take.

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world