pop
SMAP, one of Japan’s most famous pop boy band groups, have announced they will disband at the end of this year.
Not since New Coke has a soft drink lowered the bar of expectations quite like Lemongina and its great taste of topsoil.
From “Shake it off” to “Smooth Criminal”, these Japanese cover songs will definitely have you tapping your toes!
May is almost over and summer is about to kick into high-gear. Business people are slipping into their “cool-biz” outfits, and the air conditioners on the trains are coming on full blast now. Pretty soon you’ll be able to find us all at the beach fanning ourselves while slurping down the finest kakigori money can buy. And what better way is there to go into summer than with some sick new tunes?
That’s right, we’re back with more J-Tunes for you! And today we have one of Japan’s best electronic music producers, Kiyoshi Sugo. If you like dancing, lush melodies, fat basslines, or sick drops, you need to check this out.
It’s been a good few months for weird music videos, hasn’t it? With BABYMETAL, Avril Lavigne, and Die Antwoord all confusing us in good and/or bad ways (seriously, Avril?), it might seem like there’s no room for crazy music left in your head. But you’d be wrong, because today we have for you the most recent offering of the electro-pop-rock band Urbangarde. And the video isn’t just visually striking–the music is guaranteed to get stuck in your head for the next couple of days! It’s a problem we haven’t figured out to solve yet.
Though, we have to admit that we’re not trying very hard.
It wasn’t so long ago that everywhere you looked in Japan there were ads for Korean pop groups, cosmetics and health drinks. More people than ever were snapping up Korean language textbooks and, despite territorial squabbles and a few extreme-right noise makers, Japan was positively leaping on anything prefixed by the letter ‘K’.
Recent reports, however, suggest that all is not well in the K-Pop (Korean Pop music) camp in Japan, with major Korean record label and talent agency S.M. Entertainment reporting losses of more than 70 percent compared to the same period last year. Has the K-Pop bubble finally burst in Japan?







Japanese thug wear from Birth Japan perfect for those breaking bad next year
Hello Kitty Choco Egg figures are an adorable trip through three periods of Japanese pop culture【Pics】
More Than a Capsule Stay: Why Solo Travelers Choose “global cabin Yokohama Chinatown”
This is possibly the coziest train in all Japan thanks to onboard hot spring footbaths【Pics】
Japanese artist creates cat banknote alternative: Kittens on 200 yen
Not a fan of dishwashing? Get yourself an electric, plate-scrubbing robot appendage
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Naked Japanese bathtub drifting 【Video】
Final Fantasy and Shinkansen announce collaboration with in-train audio play, SD art and merch
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Lacquerware supplier to emperor of Japan and Pokémon team up for new tableware
Japan may add Japanese language proficiency, lifestyle classes to permanent foreign resident requirements
Cyberpunk anime meets traditional culture in Ghost in the Shell gold leaf Japanese changing screens
Disillusionment at Tsukiji’s tourist-target prices led us to a great ramen restaurant in Tokyo
7 great places to see Mt. Fuji from without having to climb it
Starbucks Japan releases new zodiac chilled cup drink for 2026
Japan’s otoshidama tradition of giving kids money at New Year’s gets a social welfare upgrade
7-Eleven Japan starts new temporary luggage storage service in over 300 branches
Starbucks teams up with 166-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Horse decorations【Photos】
Tokyo considering law requiring more trash cans following litter increase in heavily touristed area
Nintendo’s Kirby now delivering orders at Kura Sushi restaurants, but not in Japan
Tokyo event lets you travel back in time, for free, to celebrate 100 years since Showa era start
Sanrio theme park in Japan announces plans to expand into a Sanrio resort
Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” are Tokyo’s newest over-the-top ramen innovation
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Japan’s deadliest food claims more victims, but why do people keep eating it for New Year’s?
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
Not a fan of dishwashing? Get yourself an electric, plate-scrubbing robot appendage
7-Eleven Japan’s ramen-cooking robot whipped us up a bowl of noodles【Taste test】
Tokyo’s Tsukiji sushi neighborhood asks tour groups to stay away for the rest of the month
Naked Japanese bathtub drifting 【Video】
Final Fantasy and Shinkansen announce collaboration with in-train audio play, SD art and merch
Do 100-yen hair removal pads do the trick, or leave our reporters the hairy messes they are?
Super-tiny manga that you can actually read are our new capsule toy obsession【Photos】
Woman in Japan accidentally pees herself during live broadcast
Starbucks Japan ready to get Year of the Horse started with adorable drinkware and plushies【Pics】
Beautiful sightseeing boat is a floating tea ceremony venue in east Japan’s best hot spring town
Does Starbucks Japan’s new holiday Frappuccino really taste like a cup of fallen snow?