| 1 | Japanese pop music, or "J-pop", is an umbrella term for [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin pop music originating from Japan]], which was coined by Japanese media to differentiate itself from Western pop music. J-pop began in the 1970s, but it didn't become mainstream until the 1990s. |
| 2 | |
| 3 | Before J-pop, the most popular genre of Japanese popular music was ''kayokyoku'' ("lyric singing music"), which was influenced by Western jazz and rock 'n roll. A notable movement in kayokyoku in the late 1960s into the early 1970s is the "Group Sounds" movement. Influenced heavily by groups such as Music/TheBeatles, Music/TheByrds, and other such groups, group sounds bands were characterized by their reliance on PsychedelicRock and BaroquePop influenced instrumentation and featured Bishonen lead singers usually, such as Kenji "Julie" Sawada from Music/TheTigers. It didn't include GratuitousEnglish and was popular until the end of the 1980s. |
| 4 | |
| 5 | Another important subgenre is CityPop, which dominated the charts in Japan in the 80s, but fell out of the radar afterwards (But not [[PopularityPolynomial permanently]]). |
| 6 | |
| 7 | As noted by Marty Friedman, ex-Music/{{Megadeth}} lead guitarist who moved to Japan in 2003, is how often there's GenreBusting. Many of the examples listed below would not be thought of as a traditional Top 40 pop act by western standards and even standard idol pop groups have been known to sometimes throw in a twist. Marty himself has played support guitar for Music/MomoiroCloverZ. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | Modern J-pop has several sub-genres and niches, several popular forms including: |
| 10 | |
| 11 | * IdolGenre: popularized in the 1970s, it gained steam in the late '90s and '00s from the success of [[Music/HelloProject Morning Musume]], with many indie groups popping up to fill a niche interest. This led to what was known as the "Warring Idols Period". |
| 12 | * ''Anison'' ("anime song"): Many such songs are often featured in {{Anime}} openings and endings due to alliances between certain animation studios and record companies (i.e. lots of Sony artists have tie-ins with anime produced by Sony). Many voice actors have singing careers as well, with a significant overlap with the IdolSinger genre. Some voice actors may be an IdolSinger as well due to the boom of interest in idol music in the mid-2000s. This also includes Music/{{Vocaloid}}. |
| 13 | * CityPop: A genre of Japanese pop music that is influenced by Western {{Jazz}} and {{Funk}}. It was popular in the late 70s and 80s but faded into obscurity after the economic bubble of the 1990s. City Pop saw a resurgence online thanks to references to it in {{Vaporwave}} and FutureFunk. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | The process of releasing singles and albums is usually the opposite of the way it works in the West: instead of artists releasing albums, then singles from those albums, labels tend to release a steady stream of singles, then compile those (along with other tracks) into albums--sometimes many months after the original singles. This sometimes gives labels/artists the opportunity to create a separate "album mix" of those singles. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | ---- |
| 18 | !!Notable Japanese Pop artists: |
| 19 | [[index]] |
| 20 | * Music/TwoPM [-(primarily a KoreanPopMusic BoyBand who also made their mark in Japan)-] |
| 21 | * Music/{{AAA}} (Attack All Around) |
| 22 | * Music/AbingdonBoysSchool |
| 23 | * Music/AgnesChan (a Hong Kong-born idol singer who debuted in Japan in the 70s) |
| 24 | * aiko |
| 25 | * Music/AikoYamaide [-(the first SingerSongwriter to come out of junior-Idol group Sakura Gakuin)-] |
| 26 | * Music/{{Aimer}} |
| 27 | * Music/AKB48 |
| 28 | * Akeboshi |
| 29 | * AkinaNakamori |
| 30 | * Amiaya |
| 31 | * Creator/AnimeSongCollabo (a very large internet based group) |
| 32 | * Music/{{Anna Tsuchiya}} |
| 33 | * Music/{{angela}} |
| 34 | * Music/AquaTimez |
| 35 | * Music/{{Arashi}} |
| 36 | * ayaka |
| 37 | * Music/AyamiMuto |
| 38 | * Music/{{Ayane}} |
| 39 | * Music/AyumiHamasaki |
| 40 | * AZU |
| 41 | * [[Music/BabyMetal BABYMETAL]] [-(started as straight pop-metal fusion, but became more Prog-Metal)-] |
| 42 | * Music/BeForU |
| 43 | * Music/{{Beatcats}} |
| 44 | * Music/BeFirst |
| 45 | * BENI |
| 46 | * Music/{{BIGMAMA}} |
| 47 | * Music/{{BIS}} |
| 48 | * Music/{{BoA|Korea}} [-(a KoreanPopMusic singer who also has a big presence in the J-pop industry)-] |
| 49 | * Music/{{Butaotome}} |
| 50 | * BXW |
| 51 | * Music/{{Bz}} |
| 52 | * Music/{{Capsule}} |
| 53 | * Music/ClariS |
| 54 | * Music/CrystalKay |
| 55 | * Music/DenkiGroove |
| 56 | * DREAMS COME TRUE |
| 57 | * Music/{{DIVA}} |
| 58 | * ENJIN |
| 59 | * Music/EGirls |
| 60 | * Music/EirAoi |
| 61 | * Music/{{Exile|JPop}} |
| 62 | * Music/{{EXO}} [-(primarily a KoreanPopMusic BoyBand who also made their mark in Japan)-] |
| 63 | ** [[Music/{{EXOCBX}} EXO-CBX]] - sub-unit that promotes in Japan |
| 64 | * {{Music/Faylan}} |
| 65 | * {{Music/FEMM}} |
| 66 | * Music/FlippersGuitar |
| 67 | * [[Music/{{Flow}} FLOW]] |
| 68 | * [[Music/FripSide fripSide]] |
| 69 | * Music/GacharicSpin |
| 70 | * [[Music/{{Garnidelia}} [=GARNiDELiA=]]] |
| 71 | * Music/{{Gackt}} |
| 72 | * GLAY |
| 73 | * Music/{{GRANRODEO}} |
| 74 | * [=GReeeeN=] |
| 75 | * Music/{{Halcali}} |
| 76 | * Happa-tai |
| 77 | ** 2001 - "Music/{{Yatta}}" |
| 78 | * Music/HelloProject |
| 79 | * Music/HeySayJump |
| 80 | * Music/HighAndMightyColor |
| 81 | * Music/Hinatazaka46 |
| 82 | * hitomi |
| 83 | * Music/HKT48 |
| 84 | * Music/HaruomiHosono |
| 85 | ** 1973 - ''Music/HosonoHouse'' |
| 86 | ** 1975 - ''Music/TropicalDandy'' |
| 87 | ** 1976 - ''Music/BonVoyageCo'' |
| 88 | ** 1978 - ''{{Music/Paraiso}}'' (with The Yellow Magic Band) |
| 89 | ** 1978 - ''{{Music/Pacific}}'' (with Shigeru Suzuki and Tatsuro Yamashita) |
| 90 | ** 1978 - ''Music/CochinMoon'' (with Tadanori Yokoo) |
| 91 | ** 1979 - ''Music/TheAegeanSea'' (with Takahiko Ishikawa and Masataka Matsutohya) |
| 92 | ** 1982 - ''{{Music/Philharmony}}'' |
| 93 | ** 1984 - ''Music/WateringAFlower'' |
| 94 | ** 1984 - ''Music/VideoGameMusic'' (with the [[Creator/BandaiNamco Namco]] sound team) |
| 95 | * Music/{{Hyadain}} |
| 96 | * INI |
| 97 | * I've Sound |
| 98 | * Music/{{IOSYS}} |
| 99 | * Music/JAMProject |
| 100 | * Music/JinAkanishi |
| 101 | * JO1 |
| 102 | * Music/JunTogawa |
| 103 | * Music/{{Kalafina}} |
| 104 | * Music/KamenRiderGirls |
| 105 | * Music/KanakoItou |
| 106 | * Music/{{Kanjani8}} |
| 107 | * Music/KanonWakeshima |
| 108 | * KAT-TUN |
| 109 | * Music/KenHirai |
| 110 | * Creator/KenjiSawada |
| 111 | * Music/KenshiYonezu |
| 112 | * Music/{{Ketsumeishi}} |
| 113 | * Kinki Kids [[note]]Their name comes from the part of Japan they came from: the Kinki region.[[/note]] [-(Guinness World Record holders for having [[LongRunner the most consecutive number 1 singles since debut (46 singles)]] and having the most consecutive number 1 singles in Japan)-] |
| 114 | * King & Prince |
| 115 | * Kis-My-Ft2 |
| 116 | * Kobukuro |
| 117 | * Music/KodaKumi |
| 118 | * Koichi Domoto [-(while an idol, he's also known starring in a long running stage musical ''Shock'' for two decades now)-] |
| 119 | * Music/{{Koronba}} |
| 120 | * Music/KyaryPamyuPamyu |
| 121 | * Music/LadyBaby |
| 122 | * [[Music/LisaJapan LiSA]] |
| 123 | * m-flo |
| 124 | * M.O.V.E. |
| 125 | * Mademoiselle Yulia |
| 126 | * Music/MamiKawada |
| 127 | * Music/MamoruMiyano [-(primarily a voice actor but later became well-known for his singing career)-] |
| 128 | * Music/MaonKurosaki |
| 129 | * Music/MarginalNumber4 |
| 130 | * Creator/MarinaHoriuchi [-(she's a JackOfAllTrades but has released several solo songs)-] |
| 131 | * Music/MariyaTakeuchi |
| 132 | * Masahiko Kondo [-(also well known for his involvement in motorsport, both as a racing driver in the late 90's to early 2000's and as the owner of his eponymous Kondo Racing team)-] |
| 133 | * [[Music/MayNakabayashi May'n]] |
| 134 | * {{Melocure}} |
| 135 | * Music/MegumiHayashibara |
| 136 | * MiChi |
| 137 | * Music/MikaNakashima |
| 138 | * Music/MiliyahKato |
| 139 | * miwa |
| 140 | * Momoe Yamaguchi |
| 141 | * Music/MomoiroCloverZ |
| 142 | * Mondo Grosso |
| 143 | * Music/{{Myco}} |
| 144 | * Music/MythAndRoid |
| 145 | * Music/NamiTamaki |
| 146 | * Creator/NanaMizuki [-(primarily a voice actress but later became well-known for her singing career)-] |
| 147 | * Music/NamieAmuro |
| 148 | * Music/NanabunNoNijyuuni |
| 149 | * Naniwa Danshi |
| 150 | * Music/{{Necronomidol}} |
| 151 | * Music/{{Negicco}} |
| 152 | * Music/{{NEWS}} |
| 153 | * Music/NGT48 |
| 154 | * Music/{{NiziU}} |
| 155 | * Music/NMB48 |
| 156 | * nobodyknows+ |
| 157 | * Music/{{Nogizaka46}} |
| 158 | * Music/{{OLIVIA}} (also Olivia Lufkin) |
| 159 | * Music/OneFive [-(an offshoot of Sakura Gakuin, see below)-] |
| 160 | * Onyanko Club |
| 161 | * Music/OrangeRange |
| 162 | * OWV |
| 163 | * Music/ParadoxLive |
| 164 | * Music/{{PassCode}} |
| 165 | * Music/{{Perfume}} |
| 166 | * Music/PizzicatoFive |
| 167 | * Music/PornoGraffitti |
| 168 | * Princess Princess |
| 169 | * Music/ProjectR |
| 170 | * Music/PuffyAmiYumi |
| 171 | * Music/RieFu |
| 172 | * Music/{{ROOTFIVE}} |
| 173 | * Music/SakuraGakuin [-(a Junior-Idol group that produced a disproportionate number of popular entertainers in its 11-year run)-] |
| 174 | * Music/Sakurazaka46 |
| 175 | * Sambomaster |
| 176 | * Music/SasakureUK |
| 177 | * Music/RinaSawayama [- Japanese-British singer born in Japan -] |
| 178 | * Music/{{SCANDAL|JapaneseBand}} |
| 179 | * See-Saw |
| 180 | ** Music/ChiakiIshikawa |
| 181 | * Music/SeikoMatsuda |
| 182 | * Sexy Zone |
| 183 | * Music/ShiinaRingo |
| 184 | ** Music/ShosoStrip |
| 185 | ** Music/KarukiZamenKuriNoHana |
| 186 | * Music/ShikataAkiko |
| 187 | * Shishido Kavka |
| 188 | * Music/ShotaShimizu |
| 189 | * Music/ShoutaAoi [-(primarily a voice actor but later became well-known for his singing career)-] |
| 190 | * SixTONES |
| 191 | * Music/SKE48 |
| 192 | * Snow Man |
| 193 | * SMAP |
| 194 | * SPEED |
| 195 | * Music/{{Sphere}} |
| 196 | ** Creator/AkiToyosaki |
| 197 | ** Creator/HarukaTomatsu |
| 198 | ** Creator/AyahiTakagaki |
| 199 | ** Creator/MinakoKotobuki |
| 200 | * Spontania |
| 201 | * Music/StrawberryPrince |
| 202 | * Music/STU48 |
| 203 | * Music/SugawaraSayuri |
| 204 | * Music/YukihiroTakahashi |
| 205 | ** 1978 - ''Music/{{Saravah}}'' |
| 206 | ** 1980 - ''Music/MurderedByTheMusic'' |
| 207 | ** 1981 - ''{{Music/Neuromantic}}'' |
| 208 | * Music/MariyaTakeuchi [-(started as an IdolSinger but, with her husband Tatsuro Yamashita, became a pioneer in CityPop)-] |
| 209 | * Tempura Kidz |
| 210 | * Music/TheTigers |
| 211 | * Music/TMRevolution |
| 212 | * ''Tomoko Kawase'' (aka Tommy february6 or Tommy heavenly6) |
| 213 | * [[Music/DongBangShinKi Tohoshinki]] [-(primarily a KoreanPopMusic BoyBand who also made their mark in Japan)-] |
| 214 | * TOKIO |
| 215 | * Music/TokyoGirlsStyle |
| 216 | * Music/{{Tsukiuta}} |
| 217 | * Tsuyoshi Domoto [-(although he's gone through stage names such as Tsuyoshi, 244 Endli-x, and his most recent one, ENDRECHERI)-] |
| 218 | * Music/{{Twice}} [-(known mainly as a [[KoreanPopMusic K-Pop]] group, but has 3 Japanese members and consistently releases Japanese versions of their songs plus original Japanese songs)-] |
| 219 | ** 2018 - "Music/{{BDZ}}" |
| 220 | ** Music/MiSaMo [-(A subunit that promotes in Japan and consists of the three Japanese members)-] |
| 221 | * Music/HikaruUtada [- Japanese American singer born in the U.S. -] |
| 222 | ** 1999 - ''Music/{{First Love|HikaruUtadaAlbum}}'' |
| 223 | ** 2001 - ''Music/{{Distance|HikaruUtadaAlbum}}'' |
| 224 | ** 2002 - ''Music/{{DEEP RIVER|HikaruUtadaAlbum}}'' |
| 225 | ** 2004 - ''Music/{{Exodus|HikaruUtadaAlbum}}'' |
| 226 | ** 2006 - ''Music/UltraBlue'' (2006) |
| 227 | ** 2008 - ''Music/HeartStation'' (2008) |
| 228 | * Music/{{UVERWorld}} |
| 229 | * Music/{{V6}} |
| 230 | * Music/{{Winds}} |
| 231 | * Music/X0o0x |
| 232 | * Music/YellowMagicOrchestra (known mainly as a SynthPop group, but were hugely influential on J-pop artists and briefly dabbled in the genre in the waning days of their initial run) |
| 233 | ** 1978 - ''Music/YellowMagicOrchestraAlbum'' |
| 234 | ** 1979 - ''Music/SolidStateSurvivor'' |
| 235 | ** 1980 - ''Music/{{Multiplies}}'' |
| 236 | ** 1981 - ''Music/{{BGM}}'' |
| 237 | ** 1981 - ''Music/{{Technodelic}}'' |
| 238 | ** 1983 - ''Music/NaughtyBoys'' |
| 239 | ** 1983 - ''Music/{{Service}}'' |
| 240 | ** 1993 - ''Music/{{Technodon}}'' |
| 241 | * Music/{{Yoasobi}} |
| 242 | * YUI [-(started as a solo artist, then had a TenMinuteRetirement, only to resurface fronting the band Flower Flower)-] |
| 243 | * Creator/YuiHorie [-(primarily a voice actress but later became well-known for her singing career)-] |
| 244 | * Music/YukikoOkada |
| 245 | * Music/YumiMatsutoya |
| 246 | * Music/YunaIto |
| 247 | [[/index]] |
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