Isao Yukisada’s drama “Kaede” is the latest reminder that in Japan, today’s karaoke staple is tomorrow’s feature film. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/12/25/film/films-based-on-a-song-kaede/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #film #japanesefilm #jpop #isaoyukisada
You know the song. You probably sang along. AiScReam, the group behind the year’s most viral Japanese hit, explains how a question about ice cream turned into a global singalong. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/12/18/music/aiscream-j-pop-youtube/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #jpop #aiscream #youtube
From Mrs. Green Apple and Snow Man to Hana and Kenshi Yonezu, J-pop utilized mixed media in 2025 to create something larger than any one release. But can that diversity fuel global reach? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/12/12/music/mrs-green-apple-hana-kenshi-yonezu-j-pop/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #jpop #mrsgreenapple #hana #kenshiyonezu
I wonder why kind of J-Pop I hate the most. Is it obnoxiously (not) "cute" girls bands, or obnoxiously (not) "cool" boys bands. The music of both kinds is inane, and I wonder if I was as obnoxious as my daughter when I was her age and I used to listen to the hits of the day in my living room in front of my annoyed parents.
She'll grow out of it any day now, right? Right?
⤵️
Iconic musician Yumi Matsutoya sat down with The Japan Times for a rare conversation about AI, memory and her role in creating city pop. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/12/01/music/yumi-matsutoya-ai-music/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #yumimatsutoya #citypop #jpop #yumiarai
For this year’s New Year’s Eve “Kohaku” broadcast, Okinawan rockers Orange Range are back after 19 years, while new-kawaii J-Pop group Fruits Zipper are set to make their debut. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/11/14/entertainment-news/kohaku2025-masaaki-sakai-j-pop/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #kohakuutagassen #nhk #idols #jpop #japanesetv #newyear #oshogatsu #chanmina
Everyone in Japan is streaming the same song again: Kenshi Yonezu and “Chainsaw Man” have brought back the monoculture. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/10/31/music/chainsaw-man-anime-kenshi-yonezu/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #anime #kenshiyonezu #chainsawman #jpop
More than a decade after first performing in Tokyo as part of boy band Exo, Chanyeol is back in Japan, this time for his solo tour and Japanese-language EP. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/10/23/music/chanyeol-k-pop-j-pop-album/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #kpop #jpop #chanyeol
Tokyo’s skyline is changing — and it’s not just office towers. A new wave of arenas is redefining Japan’s entertainment landscape. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/13/japan/society/kanto-arena-boom-basketball/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #society #tokyo #yokohama #bleague #livemusic #jpop #urbanredevelopment
From “Dragon Ball Z” to Fuji Rock — saxophonist Patrick Bartley finds jazz in J-pop, blending anime, Vocaloid and bebop into a second language. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/09/25/music/patrick-bartley-jazz-j-pop/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #jpop #jazz #jmusicensemble #patrickbartley
Forget the late-night headliners — Summer Sonic 2025 belonged to J-pop. Mrs. Green Apple, Hikaru Utada and Hana ruled the weekend. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/08/22/music/summer-sonic-jpop/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #summerfestivals #summersonic #hikaruutada #mrsgreenapple #hana#officialhigedandism #aliciakeys #jpop
J-pop artist Kenshin Kamimura has been found guilty of indecent assault by a Hong Kong court after he harassed a woman who worked as his interpreter at a restaurant earlier this year. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08/14/japan/crime-legal/star-assault-hong-kong/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #kenshinkamimura #hongkong #jpop #idols #sexcrimes
Rise, shine and rave. Summer Sonic 2025 is putting its biggest J-pop and K-pop stars in early slots — with Babymetal, Mrs. Green Apple, aespa and more turning the weekend into an all-day sprint. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/08/13/music/summer-sonic-festival-preview/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #musicfestivals #summersonic #kpop #jpop #sonicmania
Takeru Satoh looks gorgeous playing a tortured genius in “Glass Heart” — a show that sounds great but rings hollow. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/08/07/tv-streaming/glass-heart/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #tvstreaming #netflix #jpop #takerusatoh #yumiyazaki#keitamachida #junshison
The crowds at this year’s Fuji Rock Festival? Massive. Lines? Seemingly endless. But unexpected guest appearances and only-in-Naeba moments made it all worth it. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/08/04/music/fuji-rock-festival-report/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #fujirockfestival #musicfestivals #jpop #kpop #rap #electronica #smash
With younger fans, more diverse acts and rising interest from abroad, Fuji Rock is seeing its strongest turnout in years. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/07/24/music/fuji-rock-lineup-turnout/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #fujirockfestival #musicfestivals #jpop #kpop #rap #electronica #smashcorporation
Need a festival game plan? From Mdou Moctar and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso to Radwimps and mei ehara, here’s who The Japan Times crew is racing between stages to catch. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/07/22/music/fuji-rock-festival-preview/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #fujirockfestival #musicfestivals #jpop #kpop #rap #electronica
At Kawaii Lab, former idol-turned-producer Misa Kimura is putting power in her performers’ hands by giving them more control over their image and sound. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/07/17/kawaii-lab-j-pop-idol-misa-kimura/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #jpop #idols #asobisystem #misakimura #kawaiilab
Cheering for your favorite idol at a concert often involves items such as customized fans with messages on them and identical glow sticks in the colors of the celebrity act. Companies are rushing to offer that and more. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/07/12/music/oshikatsu-merch-expo/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #idols #jpop #oshikatsu #tokyolifestyleweek
The bilingual singer-songwriter delivers her artful blend of jazz and indie pop with quiet confidence. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/06/26/music/mei-semones-animaru-fuji-rock/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #music #fujirockfestival #meisemones #jpop #musicfestivals