Music Jan 14, 2022
What can we expect from J-pop in 2022?
by Patrick St. Michel
Ditch the downer sounds of 2021 for brighter bops, Shibuya-kei and breakout hits via TikTok.
Music Dec 26, 2021
Japan's local idol groups return to stage amid new COVID-19 rules
by Shun Kato
"Idol" singing and dancing acts in Nagoya such as Cool-X, Nanairo Milky Way and OSU are trying to revive close contact with fans after struggling under coronavirus-related restrictions.
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Nov 6, 2021
‘Fanatic’ documentary deals with what happens when your favorite K-pop star breaks bad
by Philip Brasor
A new documentary film titled “Fanatic” explores the world of K-pop fandom. Can it also teach us something about the fans of J-pop stars?
Film / Reviews Feb 10, 2021
‘In Those Days’: Say hello to the fanboy life of days gone by
by James Hadfield
Rikiya Imaizumi’s bittersweet comedy-drama delves into the fan culture that flourished during the heyday of idol collective Hello! Project in the early 2000s.
Stage Feb 13, 2020
Japanese students take idol worship to a whole new level
by Marco Christian
Take a look at the world of Unidol, in which teams of Japanese university students emulate the moves of pop groups in a battle to be the greatest idol copy dance club.
Film | Wide Angle Oct 31, 2019
'Produce 101 Japan' marks the spread of K-pop diplomacy and offers a journey for J-pop
by Patrick St. Michel
As the action on talent competition show 'Produce 101 Japan' hots up, we look at its origins in Korean pop music and the original "Produce 101" franchise
Music | Sound Off May 30, 2019
Rino Sashihara: Can one 'idol' beat the system?
by Patrick St. Michel
An idol group such as AKB48 is designed for members to be easily replaced. The performers existing in these environments constantly get shuffled around and eventually "graduate" — a term used for when they leave. Fans might become attached to a specific member and ...
Film | Wide Angle Apr 18, 2019
Japan to be given a lesson in idol pop with 'Produce 101 Japan'
by Patrick St. Michel
Last week, Japanese talent agency Yoshimoto Kogyo and South Korea's CJ E&M announced a new talent competition TV show for Japan, set to debut later this year. And it's not just another program to fill up the back end of 2019, but will be ...
Music | Sound Off Apr 4, 2019
A look at some of Japan's lesser-known idol-pop players
by Christopher Kunody
I made my first trip to Japan just over 10 years ago to see concerts by Morning Musume and AKB48, two of the country's biggest idol-pop groups this century. What struck me most about the experience was the camaraderie among the fans, it was ...
Music | Sound Off Feb 3, 2019
An idol's fans have the power to make change in Japan
by Patrick St. Michel
Being a fan of any entertainer in 2019 can be a challenge, as scandals both old and new make blindly supporting artists an impossible task. That might be doubly true for Japanese idol-pop acts, who inhabit a corner of the country's entertainment industry made ...
Music Sep 26, 2018
Seiko Oomori: J-pop's reigning rule-breaker
by Patrick St. Michel
Pop music often opts for positivity rather than confronting the uncomfortable, but Seiko Oomori has never really adhered to J-pop norms. "The bad things that happen to you can also be attractive, almost kawaii," she says from one of the upper floors at the headquarters ...
Music Jul 27, 2018
Sally Amaki's life as an animated idol-pop star
by Patrick St. Michel
Though she liked anime growing up, Sally Amaki never thought she'd grow up to be an anime character. After moving from Los Angeles to Tokyo, Amaki tried her luck at voice acting and eventually landed the role of the blond-haired Sakura Fujima, one of the ...