I want to hear how you got into listening Japanese music!
For me, I can barely remember where it started. I knew about the existance of girlgroups like AKB48 and anison since I was a kid due to my sister being into anime but it never clicked much with me.
But somewhere 2017~2018 I somehow started to listen to Chanmina, who I still like. I have no clue how I got there anymore. Around that time, I also started listening to TeddyLoid and a few others.
2021 was the real turning point. I was mainly listening to Kpop at the time and releases where a bit dissapointing lately. Then Koda Kumi’s Doo-Bee-Doo-Bob got recommended on my YT list and I was hooked. 2 years later she’s my 2nd most-listened artist of all time, with only Bruce Springsteen above her. Having a 20 year long discography really gives you a lot of stuff to listen to 😅.
But it also showed me a whole other side of Jpop that was quite clicking with me. Up beat, high attitude, and not-cute. I got into more singers like Ayumi Hamasaki, Namie Amuro, Mika Nakashima, Tomomi Itano, Faky, Happiness, and more. Jpop has become a common genre I listen too, and a big part of my CD collection.
How about you guys?!
The very first Japanese band I ever listened to was Versailles.
It all started with a random MySpace search, back when I was in high school, which lead me to them. You know, when you find an interesting profile and then one profile leads to another, and boom!
I listened to some of their songs and I was immediately hooked. Thanks to them I got introduced to more bands, I found out about Visual Kei, and then a whole new world appeared in front of my eyes.
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I’m learning japanese, a friend recommended Ado some time ago, started listening for immersion, and it’s just very good.
For me, it was the anime “Beck”. I started watching that, listening to the accompanying soundtrack and fell down the rabbit hole from that point… That was back in '05 😅
Feels old
Honestly it was anime. I don’t know if there was a specific use of Japanese music in anime that did it. I was a pretty casual listener. I might have got more into it with LiSa due to Sword Art Online, Mayn with Macross Frontier, and Maaya Sakamoto with Tamayura.
Yaaaas another Koda Kumi fan!!! <3 I discovered Japanese music around 2003; I got into the FLCL soundtracks by the pillows, and some of the JP DBZ OP/ED themes. Then more anime themes (Naruto, Death Note, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun, Fullmetal Alchemist). Around 2006 I think, I got into Jpop proper through BoA, Koda Kumi, Ayumi Hamasaki, and Namie Amuro. (That’s also how I got into Kpop too, with BoA’s Korean discography) I’ve also delved into Jrock a little through the Gazette, L’arcenCiel, Dir en grey, SADS, Porno Graffitti, and Ellegarden.
Fishmans, because that live is amazing and legendary (probably found it in some comment on some other obscure song on Youtube). And also anime movies from big name studios and directors. I don’t know more than 3 words in Japanese and it’s probably for the best. Easier to enjoy and make up my own lyrics based on the feel I get from a song.
PS. I’d appreciate if more of you used links for the media you mention in comments (to your favorite song if it’s an artist, movie, etc), it’s easier to expand the knowledge by just middle-clicking than copy-pasting, and also easier for those like me that don’t know any Japanese - searching in hiragana / katakana isn’t easy
I’ve added some links! Tried to go for something iconic/representable on my fav list and tried to choose one with MV if possible. Koda Kumi got 2, an iconic one and the specific one mentioned. I skipped AKB48 since I don’t listen to that so I can’t really choose something iconic and representable for their style as well and I don’t want to do them dirty.
Springsteen isn’t Japanese at all, but I added a link for the sake of it.
Also added 2 more artists, because why not.
For me, it was videogame music mainly, especially the soundtracks of the later Final Fantasy games (12, 13, 13-2). These led me to the discovery of Japanese composers. I think the more famous, like ryuichi sakamoto, are well known elsewhere.
I also like Japanese electronic music that got my attention about 20 years ago with the album Flash by Towa Tei. Then came Mondo Grosso and in 2007 (or so) his alter ego Shinichi Osawa.
Nowadays I cannot really name artists or songs as Apple Music suggests music for me that seems mostly made of Japanese electronica, jazz, and instrumental music - and surprisingly fits my taste quite well.
In 2009, I saw a picture of Versailles in Fotolog. I liked the aesthetic and got curious so I went to look for some of their music. Needless to say I loved it, so I went in search of other bands similar to them. I’ve been listening to visual kei since then.
first i’m listening some recommend song from annoucer, like x-japan, raruku, alicenine. , kagrra, gazette, and much more on weekly radio program asian theme song. now im still listening… for very first is samurai-x ost junjouna kanjou. thats it
It’s pretty simple, Toonami was my gateway. I was so impressed by the full length songs featured in anime, little me felt so robbed. The moment I got a personal device that could access the internet, I would just look up Japanese opening songs of shows and games that I liked. I remember listening to Inuyasha OPs on loop on my crappy tablet, those were some good times.
As I grew up this led to me listening to more general artists. Eve, Tuyu, Yorushika, etc. etc. Most of my listening is still composed of JP artists, I don’t think EN music is bad or anything. It’s just a preference for the sound of the language and how it affects the flow and rhythm of their music.
