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?!
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.