The defining story of J-pop in 2023 focused on the past. The reckoning with Johnny Kitagawa¡¯s history of sexual assault and how his decades-old powerhouse talent agency, formerly known as Johnny & Associates, would move forward towered over the entertainment industry and the headlines. Nothing came close to matching it.
Yet the past 12 months gave us a new generation of artists who not only solidified their position as the country¡¯s premier pop acts but revealed fresh mindsets. The image of J-pop as it existed in the 1990s and much of the 21st century ¡ª when a major agency like Johnny¡¯s could flex its muscle and most companies were wary of the internet ¡ª has ended.
As a result, new possibilities for Japanese artists have emerged in overseas markets. In fact, here¡¯s something I never thought I¡¯d be able to write in a year-end wrap: International interest in Japanese artists is on the rise. In July, American data and research company Luminate shared its . It devoted an entire page to Japanese music, highlighting how quickly it¡¯s growing globally.
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