The incendiary Japanese group who emerged out of late-60s unrest were suspicious of studios so their legacy was long left to bootleg obsessives. But unheard recordings are revealing their lesser-known gifts for melodyBy 1969 student protests were ragin…
Since the regime quashed China’s version of the K-pop industry in 2021, an underground ‘alt-idol’ culture has emerged, championing freedom and experimentationOver the past decade, “idol” culture has turned east Asia into a pop music powerhouse as globa…
Playing a surfboard-shaped axe, Takanaka was a stadium-level artist at home but little known in the west – until YouTube brought him a huge new audienceIn November 2025, Masayoshi Takanaka announced his first ever UK solo gig. Originally slated for Lon…
The pressure to conform in Japanese society made being a punk risky – even before you factor in the flamethrowers. As a new rash of reissues arrives, 80s stalwarts Lip Cream, Death Side and the Nurse recall the thrills and threatsA few short years aft…
The singer posted a photo of the pair smiling cheek to cheek and a video of them eating sushi together while in JapanKaty Perry and Justin Trudeau have launched their relationship on Instagram, after the singer posted a photo of the pair smiling cheek …
Four years after retiring in 2001, the double bassist Gary Karr, accompanied by Harmon Lewis, added a farewell recital in Yokohama.Many years earlier they had been invited to the Japanese imperial palace for tea with the then Emperor Akihito and Empres…
A garbled story of metaverse musicians based on a mobile game leaves its audience little to grasp hold ofEven by the standards of franchise anime that caters to the faithful and drops newcomers in blind, this is particularly incomprehensible. Based on …
(Hermine)The cult Japanese singer-songwriter’s new album, inspired by the Ryukyu islands, is like a powerfully soothing sound bathIn a recent interview with the Guardian, Kyoto-raised Ichiko Aoba stated that she saw herself less as a conventional music…
She sells out large venues, is feted by legends – and adored for her euphoric songs. The remarkable Japanese musician talks about magical islands, sonic sorcery and playing gigs with her eyes shutWhen Ichiko Aoba stood up to perform at London’s St Mart…
After making her name with J-pop hits, the performer went on to win acclaim for film roles including Love LetterMusician and actor Miho Nakayama, best known for her dual role in the successful 1995 feature Love Letter and for her music career in the 19…
Miku is a ‘Vocaloid’ – a holographic avatar that represents a digital bank of vocal samples – and performs sellout tours for thousands of very real mega-fansGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailCountless flowing green wigs risked spontaneous comb…
Goze – women who earned a living as musicians despite sight impairments – are all but forgotten in Japan but Rieko Hirosawa has learned their songsRieko Hirosawa sits on a stone bench outside her home, tunes her instrument and takes a deep breath. She …