For the past three decades, Japan has been a major influence in the world of popular culture. This is especially true in music, where constant artistic evolution has kept their scene fresh. Some might even argue that there are many traces of it in other major music genres, from mainstream pop music, to classical stylings of the world.
Today, from manga to fashion, there is little that is untouched by Japanese popular culture. In music, one of the fastest global trends is that of the Japanese Visual Kei niche. Visual Kei originated from Japanese heavy metal, even though its origins emanated from western goth culture.
Fans of Visual Kei dress up in a mixture of loud or sinister looking outfits. They also deck themselves up in colorful makeup in various depictions of fantasy characters. It is not unlike the better known Japanese cosplay fashion, where followers often crowd Harajuku Bridge on Sunday afternoons.
In popular rhythm and blues which is often the territory of American artistes, Japanese pop musicians have begun to dominate the airwaves. The likes of Koda Kumi and Mika Nakashima have injected mainstream appeal into a music form that previously struggled to make any inroads into Asian airwaves. These musicians are also highly sought after even in the United States.
One of the most famous Japanese pop artistes has been Ayumi Hamasaki. Known more for her chameleon-like abilities in reinventing herself, Ayumi continues to hog the music charts with every new release. Her stage presence and elaborate concerts have been compared to Madonna's, but some critics point to the opposite.
Fans have also provided a boost to the growth of Japanese pop music culture. Their devotion is simply, in one word, amazing. Their passion is reflected in the time and money spent digesting every morsel about the artistes' lives and music. Many fans also aspire to become just like the singers they idolise, which only keeps the scene growing continuously.
Despite the almost blind devotion from fans at times, Japanese pop artistes rarely rest on their laurels. They have no qualms about fusing global music styles with their own. This results in fresh musical ideas that astound followers and fellow musicians worldwide.
Japanese popular music culture will continue to grow from strength to strength. Change is always a byword of their scene, with much stress on being unique and contributing to artistic tendencies. With equal attention paid to mass consumerism, it will continue to generate favor at the same time, ensuring longevity. - 15359
Today, from manga to fashion, there is little that is untouched by Japanese popular culture. In music, one of the fastest global trends is that of the Japanese Visual Kei niche. Visual Kei originated from Japanese heavy metal, even though its origins emanated from western goth culture.
Fans of Visual Kei dress up in a mixture of loud or sinister looking outfits. They also deck themselves up in colorful makeup in various depictions of fantasy characters. It is not unlike the better known Japanese cosplay fashion, where followers often crowd Harajuku Bridge on Sunday afternoons.
In popular rhythm and blues which is often the territory of American artistes, Japanese pop musicians have begun to dominate the airwaves. The likes of Koda Kumi and Mika Nakashima have injected mainstream appeal into a music form that previously struggled to make any inroads into Asian airwaves. These musicians are also highly sought after even in the United States.
One of the most famous Japanese pop artistes has been Ayumi Hamasaki. Known more for her chameleon-like abilities in reinventing herself, Ayumi continues to hog the music charts with every new release. Her stage presence and elaborate concerts have been compared to Madonna's, but some critics point to the opposite.
Fans have also provided a boost to the growth of Japanese pop music culture. Their devotion is simply, in one word, amazing. Their passion is reflected in the time and money spent digesting every morsel about the artistes' lives and music. Many fans also aspire to become just like the singers they idolise, which only keeps the scene growing continuously.
Despite the almost blind devotion from fans at times, Japanese pop artistes rarely rest on their laurels. They have no qualms about fusing global music styles with their own. This results in fresh musical ideas that astound followers and fellow musicians worldwide.
Japanese popular music culture will continue to grow from strength to strength. Change is always a byword of their scene, with much stress on being unique and contributing to artistic tendencies. With equal attention paid to mass consumerism, it will continue to generate favor at the same time, ensuring longevity. - 15359
About the Author:
Ken Oiishi is a music critic specializing in Japanese pop culture. His latest playlists have Hidemi Uematsu as his artist of the year in Japan, with Hidemi's new single Trauma topping the charts.
