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.
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.
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.
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.
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. - 15634
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.
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.
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.
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. - 15634
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.
