Japan pop culture has seeped into the global mainstream consciousness over the past thirty years. This cannot be more evident than in the pop music scene. Japanese artistes have continued to evolve to generate fresh ideas, with this influencing other music styles over time.
Music is not the only facet of Japanese culture that has fostered strong global following. Anime has an overriding Japanese presence, while fashion has seen a growing market share from their designers. The most unusual mix of music and fashion that is Visual Kei is a classic example of how Japanese pop music culture has seeped into mainstream consciousness.
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.
Japanese hip hop has also grown in popularity and influence. Even established American hip hop artistes have taken to their unique stylings. It is now a common occurence for artistes of the genres from both sides of the Atlantic to come together and churn out hit singles. It is testimony to how the Japanese pop music culture has taken something outside their roots and turning it into one of their own.
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.
The intense loyalty exhibited by Japanese pop music fans has been a huge factor in its longevity. Fans often devote themselves totally to their favorite artistes. They spend significant amounts of money not just on CDs, but concert tickets and memorabilia. Some of them even dedicate themselves to looking and living just like their idols, such as Visual Kei fanatics.
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.
With a mixture of originality, uniqueness and a growing fanbase, Japanese popular music culture is likely to grow stronger. There is strong national pride too in their own art forms, with music being paid particular attention. While saying that it will dominate the world would be an overstatement, it might not be surprising to see more Japanese pop music becoming more common in the most far reaching places. - 15478
Music is not the only facet of Japanese culture that has fostered strong global following. Anime has an overriding Japanese presence, while fashion has seen a growing market share from their designers. The most unusual mix of music and fashion that is Visual Kei is a classic example of how Japanese pop music culture has seeped into mainstream consciousness.
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.
Japanese hip hop has also grown in popularity and influence. Even established American hip hop artistes have taken to their unique stylings. It is now a common occurence for artistes of the genres from both sides of the Atlantic to come together and churn out hit singles. It is testimony to how the Japanese pop music culture has taken something outside their roots and turning it into one of their own.
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.
The intense loyalty exhibited by Japanese pop music fans has been a huge factor in its longevity. Fans often devote themselves totally to their favorite artistes. They spend significant amounts of money not just on CDs, but concert tickets and memorabilia. Some of them even dedicate themselves to looking and living just like their idols, such as Visual Kei fanatics.
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.
With a mixture of originality, uniqueness and a growing fanbase, Japanese popular music culture is likely to grow stronger. There is strong national pride too in their own art forms, with music being paid particular attention. While saying that it will dominate the world would be an overstatement, it might not be surprising to see more Japanese pop music becoming more common in the most far reaching places. - 15478
About the Author:
Ken Oiishi is a journalist covering Japanese pop music. Hidemi Uematsu is the latest artiste that has been given rave reviews by Ken, and Hidemi Uematsu new songs are rated on his site.
