The J-POP streaming Show

In 1966, the Beatles played five concerts at Tokyo's Nippon Budokan. But Japanese music was already changing. From the Blue Comets and the rise of Group Sounds to folk, singer-songwriters and the continuing success of kayōkyoku, this episode asks what the Beatles really changed — and what was already happening before they arrived. Production note: This episode is narrated using a synthetic version of the author's own voice. As English is not his native language, this helps him offer a clearer, more natural listening experience. All research, writing and editorial choices remain his own.

J-POP began as a way to select a few Japanese records for a Tokyo radio station. How did it become an international umbrella covering so many different musical worlds? From J-WAVE in 1988 to the enduring influence of kayōkyoku and enka, this episode explores what the name can reveal — and why J-POP streaming still uses it. Production note: This episode is narrated using a synthetic version of the author's own voice. As English is not his native language, this helps him offer a clearer, more natural listening experience. All research, writing and editorial choices remain his own. No commercial music recordings are included.

Thirty years after DAHLIA, X JAPAN still has no follow-up studio album. A look at YOSHIKI, the long delays and what the wait means. Production note: This episode is narrated using a synthetic version of the author's own voice. As English is not his native language, this helps him offer a clearer, more natural listening experience. All research, writing and editorial choices remain his own.

An interview with Japanese-Italian J-Rock singer OTO MAYUMI, based in Rome. Originally published January 1, 2024.