Kitaro, who has won both a Grammy and Golden Globe Award, enjoys global acclaim within the New Age world, his Matsuri album being one of his best sellers.
Yosakoi dance style is an energetic performance that features synchronized choreography and call and response shouting, as well as wooden handclappers known as naruko for clapping and clapping with wooden hand clappers called naruko. At its finest, performances combine traditional Japanese folk songs with modern music to produce captivating results.
Yosakoi
Yosakoi, or Yosakoi Festival Dance, is an engaging Japanese festival dance with traditional costumes and music that has gained worldwide popularity as it becomes an integral part of international festivals. Yosakoi dancers must move forward while using wooden clappers known as naruko to scare birds away from rice fields in Kochi Prefecture using small wooden clappers known as naruko; its simple rules dictate they use them while using drums, batons and fans; dance teams often add their own distinct flair into their performances and the performers are highly synchronised!
Takemasa Eisaku’s Yosakoi song, “Uzumaru,” was composed by its founder to share Yosakoi’s energy, smiles and joy with people regardless of age or gender. Uzumaru members aim to enthrall audiences while giving voice to their dancing hearts through Uzumaru performances at festivals across San Jose Japantown as well as tours throughout America.
Tokyo-raised DJ Loci (who uses she/they pronouns) is a regular in the clubbing scene in Tokyo. Their selections span Cantonese rock to ghetto house music; yet she remains focused on dancefloor performance. Most recently they launched project Evanora:unlimited in Tokyo alongside their fellow DJ Senpai Lil Mofo.
SAMO, another Tokyo-based DJ with global reach, excels at bassweight music while keeping dancefloor dynamics in mind. Her energetic sets will ignite any dance floor; and she has become a staple at local venues like Shelter in Tokyo.
Hikam and Hana Watanabe have made waves in Tokyo’s electronic music scene under the moniker 4ngel Kidz, creating an eclectic sound rooted in Tokyo’s 90s Shibuya-kei sound that combined jazz, house, pop, electro, and techno sounds. Already they’ve performed at clubs and festivals across Japan while their debut EP landed on Bristol-based experimental producer Mor Elian’s label Mor Elian; their album will be out by October 2019 featuring both modern and traditional Japanese music and dance elements!
Odori
Traditional Japanese dance, or odori, has a rich tradition dating back centuries. Accompanied by musical instruments such as the three-stringed lute played with plectrum (shamisen), as well as hand-held hourglass drums such as tsuzumi drums played hand-held by musicians with plectrums (tsuzumi), different regions have their own dances and music styles that come to life during performances of this vibrant art form. Festivals such as Obon in August provide opportunities to witness local odori performances first-hand!
Japan is home to dance music that is heavily influenced by cultures from around the globe, creating its own distinct brand of electronic dance music that is widely loved worldwide. Many DJs from Japan incorporate elements from both traditional Japanese instruments and modern synthesizers into their sets for added cultural authenticity that keeps audiences interested. This genre offers something exciting for fans around the globe!
Japanese dance music has recently grown increasingly popular worldwide. The genre’s upbeat melodies and energetic beats can be found anywhere from Japan to America and other parts of the globe, often drawing inspiration from traditional instruments such as the koto or shamisen for its rhythms.
One of the most fascinating developments in Japan’s dance music scene has been the rise of female DJs. While only men were permitted to spin records in clubs until recently, women have increasingly taken up DJing duties, using their unique tastes and influences to make an impressionful impactful club scene impactful and unique; thus creating their own subculture in Japan’s dance music community.
Japanese DJs are taking their talents across international waters. Beijing-raised DJ Loci (she/they pronouns) has made waves in Tokyo’s clubbing community with her eclectic sets spanning Cantonese rock to gqom music; she is also a resident at Ether party series known for her amazing mixing abilities.
Hikam and Hana Watanabe of 4ngel Kidz is another Tokyo-based DJ duo who offer an eclectic array of styles from ambient trance to straight techno and drill music, playing across the country while supporting artists from around the globe.
J-Pop
J-Pop music fuses traditional Japanese styles with innovative technologies, blending high-pitched vocals and dance beats with elements from Western music such as chord changes and more complex song structures. J-Pop draws its inspiration from many sources including rock and jazz while still featuring traditional Japanese elements that reflect pop culture elements.
Although many J-Pop artists have become international stars, which ones stand out depends on whom you ask. Some consider commercial success the ultimate indicator, while others prize longevity and innovation as equally vital elements. Either way, many top J-Pop acts have strong followings in Western countries such as Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Namie Amuro and Babymetal are just three names that come to mind.
Popular artists owe much of their success to their ability to connect with audiences with music and unique visuals. Female artists typically wear clothing inspired by kawaii (cute and childish). This trend gives female artists an anti-establishment edge while providing more conservative Western dress codes with something of an anti-establishment edge.
As Japanese artists were historically limited to using vocalists as musical instruments, electronic devices such as synthesizers have expanded the music industry with additional instruments – especially guitars and drums – leading to new genres such as rock and techno being created.
Following World War II, US troops introduced Japan to various Western musical genres and helped develop the Kayokyoku genre; an amalgamation of Japanese compositions with Western styles that would eventually evolve into what we know today as J-Pop music.
Hamasaki Ayumi, Kuraki Mai and Ami Suzuki are three of Japan’s most well-known solo female singers. Girl groups such as Morning Musume and Arashi have enjoyed similar success; both groups sold millions of albums worldwide during their careers and maintained large followings across radio stations and television shows in America and Europe.
K-Pop
K-Pop, or Korean Pop music has quickly become one of the most beloved forms of musical entertainment in Japan. This genre consists of traditional and modern instruments combined with catchy lyrics written in Korean; dance routines featuring high energy moves; catchy lyrics written specifically for each artist by translators, and catchy choruses that include catchy choruses called pointeu anmu that are visually addicting; this has even inspired people posting their own versions on TikTok and Twitter!
K-Pop music has gained worldwide acclaim due to its distinctive Korean language lyrics. Some popular K-Pop songs include Psy’s “Gangnam Style,” Super Junior’s “Sorry Sorry,” and Blackpink’s “DDU DU DDU DU,” all which have become global hits due to their catchy melodies and eye-catching choreographies.
Many of the biggest K-Pop bands release Japanese versions of their songs to demonstrate their interest in expanding their audience in Japan; BTS stands out in particular, where Japanese releases have proven particularly successful.
Bloom, their inaugural full-length Japanese album released in 2018, showcases many of their hit songs in both languages. It proved a massive hit. Additionally, its Japanese edition included an exclusive live recording of “Fancy,” wherein vocalists really shine and bridge breakdowns provide opportunities for dancing!
BTS’ song “Eat You Up” was another big Japanese hit. With its powerful beats and catchy melody, this K-Pop classic inspired thousands to dance along. Additionally, its lyrics champion individuality and self-expression. This was one of their most iconic K-Pop tracks that contributed greatly to their rise to stardom.