What if I told you that the hottest
trend in Japanese music abroad right now isn't something new, but
music that is over 40 years old? If you clicked on this video, you probably
already know what I'm talking about: Japanese City Pop. Welcome to KonichiValue
and this ultimate musical voyage. Buckle up as we ride a wave of City Pop, the genre that has conquered the
hearts of millions worldwide. Let's rewind to the shimmering Japan
of the 70s and 80s, a time when the nation was basking in economic booms and
technological marvels. Enter City Pop Not just a genre, but an era's heartbeat, mingling
Soul, Funk, R&B, and Disco, capturing the essence of urban, optimistic Japan. The country that
at the time was the world's richest nation. Fast forward to today, and this sound is
more than Nostalgia. It's a lifestyle, a cultural dialogue enjoyed by a generation
that wasn't even born during its inception. From Tokyo skyscrapers to the screens
of global Gen Z and Millennials, City Pop is the new symbol of retro cool. So, how did City Pop come back to conquer the
digital age? Internet platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, with their
bottomless appetite for retro aesthetics, have created the perfect stage
for City Pop's second act. Genres like Vaporwave and Future Funk have played
their part by sampling and remixing these older tunes into something new, often paired with
visuals from classic anime and commercials. Takeuchi's 'Plastic Love', for
example, gained a following when it was paired with Sailor Moon imagery on
YouTube, despite, or perhaps because of, the lack of official sanctions. The Renaissance of City Pop has been brewing for a long time. In fact, the '90s marked a new dawn for
Japan's cultural exports with Anime like Dragon Ball or Sailor Moon and games like
Pokémon or Super Mario crossing the seas, thanks to international broadcasting
and Japanese gaming consoles. In the 2000s, platforms like Tumblr or
Pinterest and other forums diluted the lines, blending Japanese otaku culture
with mainstream pop culture, making City Pop's resurgence a
testament to its timelessness. Yet, this path to global adoration has
been marred by controversy. The unofficial reproduction and uploading of Japanese
content for years was the only window into this cultural richness for international
fans, sparking fierce copyright battles. The introduction of legal streaming services
improved access, but the resistance from industry holdouts like the legend Tatsuro
Yamashita, who shuns popular platforms, highlights the tension between
tradition and digital evolution. In fact, YouTubers that post as little as
a beat from his music might get copyright strikes. To a certain extent, this does make
sense. Japanese people are still the world's largest consumers of CDs, and artists like
Tatsuro still make millions of CD sales. Despite this, the spirit of City Pop thrives,
fueled by a generation that sees no borders in creativity. Millennials and Gen Z, through their
Y2K culture, continue to embrace and reinvent City Pop, turning the page on how we view copyright
and cultural exchange in the digital age. Viral City Pop remixes and video
clips are simply spreading too fast for antiquated artists and
record labels to stop them. Excuse me, what's the most underrated
song of all time? Oh, I got to say, this is what 'Out of Time'
sounds like in Japanese. And hence, this cultural beacon, an echo
of Japan's past, continues to inspire and shape the identity of a generation ever
eager to blend the old with the new. I hope you're riding the City Pop wave
like me. And please, in the comments, feel free to share your favorite track, and
let's keep the conversation going. Like, subscribe, and hit that bell, and let's
keep this wave going one beat at a time. Thanks for tuning in, and until we groove again,
keep those vintage vibes spinning. Sayonara.
