Looking back at the most influential Japanese songs of the 2010s
Given how Japanese music takes time to receive widespread recognition, what gems would the kids of the 2040s unearth from the decade that just passed?
Arashi tapped as Japan goodwill envoys to China ahead of Tokyo Olympics
The government said Wednesday that it has tapped popular Japanese boy band Arashi as a goodwill ambassador to promote cultural and sports exchanges with China ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. During his stay in China from Monday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told ...
The dawn of a new era and a change in J-pop
2019 brought changes to Japan's pop scene, including established acts finally embracing the internet as a way of reaching fans
Through scandal and stellar sales, AKB48 dominated the past decade in Japan
Do you know the songs? "Heavy Rotation," "Gingham Check," "Ponytail to Shushu" .... Even if you don't, you're likely aware of the sales model that AKB48 has exported to the rest of the world.
'Produce 101 Japan' marks the spread of K-pop diplomacy and offers a journey for J-pop
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
Chanmina's 'Never Grow Up' delivers pop hooks and hip-hop heartache
The J-pop world could use a few more artists like Chanmina. In the leap from high-school MC battles to the commercial mainstream, she has managed to hone her pop appeal without sacrificing her swagger. Anyone who calls their debut single "Fxxker" isn't trying to ...
'Hikaru Utada Laughter in the Dark Tour 2018': An online offering that nails the live experience
Japanese pop star Hikaru Utada's 2018 "Laughter in the Dark Tour" marked her first jaunt around the country in 12 years. The seven-city tour became one of the year's most anticipated tickets, culminating in a Dec. 9 performance at Chiba's Makuhari Messe coinciding with ...
Rino Sashihara: Can one 'idol' beat the system?
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 ...
Junnosuke Taguchi, ex-member of Japanese boy band Kat-tun, arrested over marijuana possession
Junnosuke Taguchi, a former member of Japanese all-male idol group Kat-tun, has admitted to possessing a small amount of marijuana, investigative sources said Thursday. Taguchi, 33, was taken into custody Wednesday with his partner, Rena Komine, 38, a former actress, for allegedly possessing a few ...
Heisei offered a number of lessons J-pop artists should learn from going into the Reiwa Era
The past year in Japanese pop has felt like one big musical revue devoted to the Heisei Era (1989-2019), with TV shows reflecting on the biggest hits of that period. Now that Reiwa has finally started, the cultural discourse can turn to figuring out ...
Ex-AKB48 idol Minami Takahashi gets married on Day One of Japan's Reiwa Era
Singer and TV personality Minami Takahashi, a former member of Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48, ushered in the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito and the Reiwa Era by getting married on Wednesday, her agency said. "I decided to move forward with a new family at the ...
Japan to be given a lesson in idol pop with 'Produce 101 Japan'
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 ...
