No exploration of Japanese music would be complete without a dive into the world of J-Pop. Short for Japanese popular music, J-Pop is hard to define. It encompasses a wide breadth of genres and artists.
So, in order to get a handle on it all, we looked to Chiaki Horan. Horan was one of the hosts for Songs of Tokyo, the television series made by Japanese public broadcaster NHK. Musicians in the Japanese music scene would come on Songs of Tokyo to showcase their talents, so Horan has no shortage of song recommendations.
We met up with Horan at NHK headquarters in Tokyo and asked her to share five songs that showcase the variety within J-Pop and to tell us about Songs of Tokyo. "アイドル" by YOASOBI Horan had to kick off her list of recommendations with an anime song because the genre is among the most popular. Unlike in the U.
S., where most animated content is geared toward kids, Japan creates a plethora of anime for people of all ages. Horan says getting a song featured on a popular anime can be a huge breakthrough for J-Pop artists.
This song by YOASOBI, which translates to "Idol," served as the opening theme for the anime Oshi no Ko. "Chessboard" by OFFICIAL HIGE DANDISM This band is one of the best Japanese rock acts at the moment, says Horan. While "Chessboard" is not among their biggest hits, it's one of her personal favorites.
She also recommends bands like 10-FEET, Radwimps and Mrs. Green Apple. "NIGHT DANCER" by imase Horan describes this track as the strain of .