J-Pop facts for kids
Quick facts for kids J-pop |
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Stylistic origins |
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Cultural origins | Nominally 1980s–early 1990s Japan; Roots traced to the 1960s–1970s |
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Fusion genres | |
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Regional scenes | |
Shibuya-kei | |
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J-pop stands for Japanese pop. It is a very popular music style in Japan. People sometimes just call it "pops." This music genre became famous in Japan in the 1990s.
J-pop has roots in older Japanese music. But it also got many ideas from pop music and rock music from the 1960s. Bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys influenced it a lot. This led to Japanese rock bands, such as Happy End, mixing rock with Japanese music in the early 1970s.
In the late 1970s, new wave groups helped shape J-pop even more. Important bands included the electronic synth-pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra and the pop rock band Southern All Stars.
The name J-pop was first used for Japanese musicians who played Western-style music. This happened after the Japanese radio station J-Wave started. Some say J-pop also came from the Eurobeat music style. Over time, J-pop became a general term. It now includes many other music styles, like most Japanese rock music from the 1990s.
J-pop eventually took the place of kayōkyoku in Japan's music scene. Kayōkyoku was a term for Japanese pop music from the 1920s to the 1980s. The Japanese media created the term J-pop. They wanted to tell the difference between Japanese music and music from other countries. Today, J-pop refers to most popular music in Japan.
The Story of J-Pop
Who Started J-Pop?
Yumi Matsutoya, also known as Yuming, is often called the "mother" of modern J-pop. She is one of the most successful Japanese singer-songwriters. She has been making pop music for a long time.
Almost half of her albums reached number one on the Japanese Oricon music charts. All of her albums have reached the top 10 since her first album, Hikōki-gumo, in 1973. She has sold over 37.8 million copies of her albums and singles.
J-Pop's Big Stars
Some Japanese pop artists are incredibly popular in Japan. Many also have fans in other countries, especially in Asia. They even have fans in Western countries. These artists do not just influence music. They also set trends in fashion.
As of 2016, the top five best-selling artists in Oricon charts history are B'z, Mr. Children, Ayumi Hamasaki, Southern All Stars, and Dreams Come True. Among these five, Ayumi Hamasaki is the only solo artist to hold such a high record.
Images for kids
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Shibuya-kei artist Keigo Oyamada (left) with YMO member Ryuichi Sakamoto.
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A concert of visual kei pioneers, X Japan, in Hong Kong in 2009.
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Mr. Children's 1994 album Atomic Heart sold over 3.4 million copies.
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Namie Amuro (center) performing at MTV Asia Aid in Bangkok, Thailand in 2005.
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Hikaru Utada started her career in 1998.
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Ayumi Hamasaki in London, February 2010.
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AKB48 has been at the top of the Oricon yearly single sales since 2010.
See also
In Spanish: J-pop para niños