J-Pop Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids J-pop
Stylistic origins	Kayōkyoku dance-pop Hi-NRG electropop synthpop jazz fusion house Eurobeat bitpop
Cultural origins	Nominally 1980s–early 1990s Japan; Roots traced to the 1960s–1970s
Typical instruments	Vocals Vocaloid drum machine sampler synthesizer personal computer keyboard
Fusion genres
Japanese hip hop kawaii metal
Regional scenes
Shibuya-kei
Other topics
Enka Para Para ryūkōka Super Eurobeat Japanese rock

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?
- J-Pop's Big Stars
Images for kids
See also

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.