J Pop Music: What You Need to Know

J Pop music is a genre of music that is relatively new. It is a product of the Japanese music industry and is a blend of Western pop music and traditional Japanese music. If you are a fan of J Pop music, then you need to know about the following five things.

What is J Pop?

J Pop, or Japanese popular music, is a genre that has its origins in traditional Japanese music, but has been heavily influenced by Western pop music since the 1950s. The term “J Pop” was coined in the 1980s as a way to describe the growing popularity of Japanese pop music, and today it is used to refer to any pop music that is produced in Japan.

Though J Pop has been around for decades, it only gained widespread international attention in the 1990s with the rise of teenage idol groups such as Morning Musume and SMAP. These groups were marketed heavily to a young demographic and their success paved the way for other J Pop acts to find success both in Japan and abroad.

Today, J Pop continues to be popular both in Japan and overseas, with many artists finding success in Europe and North America as well as Asia. J Pop acts such as Utada Hikaru, Hikaru Utada, Hatsune Miku, Babymetal, and One Ok Rock are just a few of the many artists who have found crossover success in recent years.

If you’re interested in learning more about J Pop, or if you’re just looking for some good music to listen to, check out our list of essential J Pop songs below.

The History of J Pop

J Pop, or Japanese popular music, has its origins in the Meiji period (1868-1912), when Western music was first introduced to Japan. The first Western musicians to perform in Japan were a military band from the United States, who played at the 1873 World’s Fair in Vienna. Japanese people were fascinated by this new music, and began to import Western instruments and sheet music.

The first Japanese pop song was “Akai Usagi” (“Red Rabbit”), which was released in 1896. This was followed by a boom in popularity for Western music, and by the 1920s Jazz bands were performing in Japan. In the 1930s and 1940s, J Pop developed its own distinctive sound, influenced by traditional Japanese music and Jamaican Ska.

After World War II, American troops stationed in Japan introduced the country to Rock ‘n’ Roll, which quickly became popular with young people. In the 1960s and 1970s, J Pop bands such as Sadaharu Ohno & Happy End began to achieve international success. Since then, J Pop has continued to evolve, incorporating elements of Hip Hop, R&B, Dance, and Electronica.

Today, J Pop is one of the most popular genres of music in Japan, and is enjoyed by people of all ages. Some of the most successful J Pop artists include Utada Hikaru, B’z, Morning Musume,, Arashi,, and SMAP.

The Different Types of J Pop

With the growing popularity of J Pop music, it’s important to know the different types that exist. This guide will help you learn about the different genres and artists within J Pop so that you can find the music that you enjoy the most.

J Pop can be broadly divided into four different categories: pop, rock, electronic, and hip-hop. Within each category, there are subgenres and artists that you may enjoy.

Pop:
The pop genre is the catch-all category for anything that isn’t rock, electronic, or hip-hop. Most J Pop artists fall under the pop umbrella, making it one of the most popular genres of J Pop music. Some popular pop artists include Perfume, Utada Hikaru, and AKB48.

Rock:
The rock genre in J Pop is fairly similar to western rock music. It often features guitars and drums, and has a heavier sound than pop music. Some popular J Pop rock artists include One Ok Rock and Radwimps.

Electronic:
The electronic genre often features synthesizers and other electronic instruments. It tends to have a more upbeat sound than other genres of J Pop. Some popular electronic artists include Capsule and Perfume.

Hip-Hop:
Hip-hop is a relatively new genre of J Pop music, only becoming popular in recent years. It often features rap and DJs, and has a unique sound that sets it apart from other genres. Some popular hip-hop artists include KREVA and Kenshi Yonezu.

The Popularity of J Pop

There’s no doubt that J Pop is one of the most popular genres of music in Japan. But what exactly is J Pop? And what makes it so popular?

J Pop is short for Japanese pop music. It’s a genre that includes a wide range of music, from classic pop and rock to hip hop and electronic dance music. J Pop is often influenced by Western music, but it also has its own unique sound and style.

J Pop artists are some of the biggest celebrities in Japan. They often have lengthy careers, with many releasing new albums and singles every year. Some of the most popular J Pop artists include Utada Hikaru, Arashi, and AKB48.

J Pop is popular among all ages in Japan. It’s common to see young people singing and dancing along to J Pop songs, but the genre also has a large following among older fans. J Pop concerts are often big events, with tickets selling out quickly.

There are many reasons for the popularity of J Pop. One is that it’s simply more accessible than other genres of Japanese music. J Pop songs are usually in Japanese, making them easier to understand for listeners who don’t speak the language fluently. And because J Pop artists often release their music on streaming services like Spotify, it’s easy for fans to keep up with their favorite artists from anywhere in the world.

Another reason for the popularity of J Pop is that it covers such a wide range of styles. Whether you’re a fan of upbeat dance songs or mellow ballads, there’s likely a J Pop artist that you’ll enjoy listening to. And because the genre is always evolving, there’s always something new to discover in J Pop.

Whether you’re already a fan of J Pop or you’re just getting started, there’s a lot to love about this genre of music.

J Pop Artists You Should Know

No discussion of J pop would be complete without mentioning some of the biggest and most influential artists in the genre. Here are 10 J pop artists that you should definitely check out:

1. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is one of the most popular J pop artists in recent years. She is known for her unique style which combines elements of Japanese pop culture with Harajuku fashion. Her music is often described as “kawaii” (cute) and she has a large following among young people in Japan and overseas.

2. Perfume

Perfume is a three-member girl group who are one of the biggest names in J pop. They are known for their catchy tunes and innovative use of technology in their live performances. They have been active since 2001 and have released 6 studio albums, with their most recent album, Future Pop, debuting at number 1 on the Oricon charts in Japan.

3.Morning Musume

Morning Musume is a long-running girl group who are one of the pioneers of the J pop genre. The group was formed in 1997 and originally consisted of 5 members, but has since undergone many lineup changes and now has 13 members. They have released 53 singles and 20 albums, and are currently the best-selling female artist in Japanese history.

4. Utada Hikaru

Utada Hikaru is one of the most successful Japanese artists of all time. She made her debut in 1998 with her single “Automatic/Time Will Tell”, which sold over 1 million copies and made her the youngest solo artist to achieve this feat in Japan. She has gone on to release 9 studio albums, with her most recent album, Fantome, debuted at number 1 on the Oricon charts in 2016. Her musical style varies greatly between her Japanese releases and her English releases, but she is equally popular in both markets.

5 . AKB48

AKB48 is a hugely successful all-female idol group who have been active since 2005. The group currently consists of over 100 members, making it the largest pop group in Japan! They are known for their unique concept of having multiple “teams” which perform at different venues around Japan simultaneously. AKB48 has released 52 singles and 11 albums, with their most recent single, “Angels”, debuting at number 1 on the Oricon charts earlier this year.

6 . Arashi

Arashi is a five-member boy band who are one of the biggest names in J pop. They made their debut in 1999 as part of Johnny & Associates, a highly influential talent agency which also manages some of Japan’s biggest stars such as SMAP and KinKi Kids. Arashi has released 25 studio albums and 51 singles, selling over 50 million records worldwide! Their song “Aozora no Shijyo” (Sky Blue) was used as an insert song for the popular anime series Naruto Shippuden and helped to boost their popularity overseas.

7 . B’z

B’z is a hugely successful rock duo who have been active since 1988! They are considered to be one original driving forces behind Japanese guitar rock music, and have sold over 80 million records worldwide! B’z has released 26 studio albums and 47 singles during their career; their most recent album “PARTICLE LIFE ~inflation~” debuted at number 8 on Billboard magazine’s World Albums chart when it was released last year – making them only the second Japanese artist ever to appear on that chart! 8 . KAT-TUN

KAT-TUN is a six-member boy band who made their debut under Johnny & Associates back in 2006 – they were originally part of another group called Tokio Hotel before being split up into KAT-TUN ahead of their debut release!”Alive” became one huge success after its release reaching both number 1 spot on Oricon Weekly Charts as well as Billboard Japan Hot 100 making them as one successful artist not just only in Japan but also internationally! KAT-TUN has released 13 studio albums so far throughout their career.”Yellow Gold” album became also successful peaking at number 2 spot on Oricon Weekly Charts becoming one eof top selling album by male artist that year! Not just stop there,”Best Of KAT-TUN 2006~2016″‘s success also continued where it became 2x Platinum certification by RIAJ denoting more than 800 thousands copies were shipped within first week after its release making them achieved another milestone throughout their career ! 9 . KinKi Kids

KinKi Kids are a hugely successful Japanese boy band duo consisting Satoshi Domoto eand Tsuyoshi Domoto who made their official debut way back on 16th December 2000 ! Yes you read it right it’s been already 17 years since they’re actively releasing new music materials up until this day!”Their 14th album 『eight』released last 20160330 sold 371k copies within first month itself giving them another huge commercial success!”Their achievements didn’t stop there because according to Oricon Annual Report 2016 they were announced as top selling artist for whole year garnering almost 1 millions copies sales throughout 2016 ! In other words they’re still going strong until this day with no sign slowing down anytime soon ! 10 . EXILE

EXILE isJapanese musical group consisting 20 members coming from different field such specialized dancer/choreographer , rappers , singers ,and even actor/actress ! It was formed back in 01012001 by LDH management agency headed by Hiromasa Oguche himself.”Shining Star”‘s commercial success gave them significant recognition not just only domestically but also internationally where it reached US Billboard Hot 100 chart becoming first Japanese artist ever did so besides remaining inside top 3 spot for 3 consecutive weeks ! Not just stop there ,their successive releases following 『Shining Star』single continued gaining significant commercial successes propelling them into mainstream recognition especially here domestically where all radio stations always playing EXILE’s music nonstop until this day

Why J Pop is Worth Your Time

Though it may be lesser known than other Asian musical genres, J Pop is well worth your time. Short for “Japanese pop”, J Pop first gained popularity in the 1970s, and has since become one of the most popular musical genres in Asia. J Pop artists often incorporate a wide range of influences, from traditional Japanese music to Western pop, making for a unique listening experience.

If you’re thinking of giving J Pop a try, here are a few artists to get you started:

-Utada Hikaru: One of the best-selling Japanese artists of all time, Utada Hikaru has released numerous hits over her 20-year career. Her music often blends elements of R&B, hip hop, and pop, resulting in a sound that is both timeless and unique.

-Perfume: This popular J Pop trio is known for their innovative use of electropop sounds and catchy melodies. Formed in 2000, Perfume has released six studio albums and countless singles, cementing their place as one of the most successful groups in the genre.

-Babymetal: This unlikely group combines heavy metal with traditional Japanese idol music to create a truly unique sound. Since their formation in 2010, Babymetal has attracted fans from all over the world with their energetic live shows and infectious songs.