Japanese artists, including Yoasobi and imase, garner attention and success in the Korean music scene

Courtesy of LIVET

Japanese pop music, commonly known as J-pop, is making notable strides in South Korea, with several Japanese singers gaining popularity and achieving significant milestones. In December, J-pop duo Yoasobi held its inaugural solo concert in Korea at Hwajung Gymnasium, drawing an audience of approximately 8,500 spectators. The duo gained prominence with their song "Idol," featured as the theme song for the popular Japanese anime "Oshi no Ko," which went viral on the Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok, inspiring various K-pop stars to participate in its dance challenge. 

▲ J-pop duo Yoasobi / Courtesy of LIVETPrior to Yoasobi's success, Japanese singer imase achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first J-pop artist to enter the Top 100 chart on Melon, a major Korean music streaming platform with over 7 million monthly active users. His 2022 release, "Night Dancer," reached the No. 17 spot, marking the highest-ever rank for a J-pop song on the platform. The song gained attention for its retro vibe and TikTok virality.

The rise of short-form videos and the increasing popularity of Japanese content, particularly anime, are believed to contribute to the success of Yoasobi and imase in Korea. Other Japanese artists making an impact in the Korean music scene include Ado, a female singer who performed at Kintex in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, and Korean-Japanese rapper Chanmina, who held her first solo concert in Korea.

Looking ahead, Japanese band amazarashi and singer Reol are scheduled to perform in Korea on Sunday and March 23, respectively. In April, the popular band King Gnu, fresh from a performance at Japan's Nissan Stadium, will captivate fans in Korea at Olympic Hall in Seoul. Singer-songwriter eill, known for her work on the Japanese version of IVE's hit "After LIKE," is set to visit Korea in April, followed by a performance by rock band SPYAIR in May.

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