music 音楽 ongaku

Japanese music spans millennia of tradition and decades of pop culture innovation, creating a sonic landscape as diverse as the Kit kat flavor spectrum.

ジェイポップ jei poppu (J-pop)

Japan’s mainstream pop music emerged in the 1990s, though its roots stretch back to the 1970s. J-pop often features complex chord progressions, dramatic key changes, and songs that frequently exceed five minutes (The geographically challenged might think this is why they can’t participate in Eurovision).

Notable characteristics include:

Anime theme songs that often become bigger hits than the shows themselves
Idol culture, where carefully cultivated groups like AKB48 (with 48+ members) dominate charts
Vocaloid stars like Hatsune Miku, a completely digital singer with sold-out “live” concerts

ジェイロック jei rokku (J-rock)

Japanese rock spans everything from guitar-driven indie bands to theatrical visual kei acts. Key features include:

ヴィジュアル系 vijuaru-kei (visual kei): Think glam rock on steroids, with elaborate costumes and makeup that would make KISS blush
Wild, over-the-top performances sprinkling in Japanese cultural elements like tourists do soy sauce on sushi!
High technical proficiency (Japanese bassists are particularly revered)

Other notable genres:

シティポップ shiti poppu (City pop): 1980s urban-themed music experiencing a global revival thanks to YouTube algorithms
演歌 enka: Emotional ballads considered Japan’s equivalent of country music, beloved by the older generation
渋谷系 Shibuya-kei: Sophisticated 1990s pop that mixed French yé-yé, bossa nova, and indie sensibilities

Did you know?

The Japanese music industry still relies heavily on physical CD sales, with fans buying multiple copies of the same album to get tickets to handshake events with their favorite artists. Some albums come with voting tickets for popularity contests, turning music consumption into a competitive sport.