Formed in 1994 by vocalist, guitarist, and Rolling Stones freak Don Matsuo, Zoobombs channel old-school rock and roll and update it with hip-hop, country, punk rock, dub, funk, and even kraut-rock, all topped off with an overdose-size shot of pure energy. The band hit the Japanese underground circuit… ...

Like Maki Nomiya, Karia Nomoto, Kahimi Karie, and other artists heavily influenced by the collision of French pop, fashion, and other continental touchstones, singer/songwriter Emi Necozawa has crafted a distinctive image based on these reference points that plays just as large a role in attracting fans… ...

hitomi (always in lower case) is a very cute and sexy girl. Oh, and she also happens to sing. Born Hitomi Furuya on January 26, 1976 in Tochigi prefecture, hitomi has been a popular idol singer now for over a decade. But overwhelmingly, it’s her long, tall, curvy frame and flawless facial features… ...

Ken Hirai stands out from the rest of the J-pop pack – literally, since he’s 183 cm tall. He stands out in a musical sense, too, since talented male vocalists like Hirai are almost an endangered species on the Japanese music scene. But what really makes Hirai special is his utterly unique falsetto, which… ...

Born in 1976 to a Taiwanese father and Japanese mother, popular singer Yo Hitoto spent most of her pre-kindergarten life in Taiwan. After the unfortunate death of her father to lung cancer, Hitoto moved back to Japan with her mother and older sister, where the family found solace in music. Tragedy… ...

Shinichi Osawa, operating under the name Mondo Grosso, has established himself as one of Japan’s most innovative and stylish creators of acid jazz, R&B, and house music. A bassist, DJ, remixer, and producer, Osawa began recording music in 1989, releasing his first album, Mondo Grosso, in 1993 on… ...

Maywa Denki is a failed electronics maker and performance art masterpiece rolled into one. Today consisting solely of Nobumichi Tosa, Maywa Denki was originally founded by his father Sakaichi Tosa, who formed the company after a lengthy stretch drawing plans for seaplanes for a company called Kawanishi… ...

Ever since her debut in December 1999 with the million-selling single "Love, Day After Tomorrow", female vocalist Mai Kuraki has been one of J-pop’s most popular artists. Inspired by singers such as Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, Kuraki began making demo tapes while still in middle school…. ...

Jazz-pop diva Mika Nakashima has been one the music industry’s most successful artists since the turn of the century. Appealing as both a pop singer and a "serious artist", Nakashima’s smoky, emotive voice and sophisticated style belie her youth. Born in 1983, Nakashima was committed to becoming… ...

Formed by guitar prodigy Shigeo Naka, The Surf Coasters play an updated style of surf music that draws from obvious sources including The Ventures, Dick Dale and Link Wray, as well as more varied, eclectic influences. Naka got his start in music when he released the single "Let’s Go Tube"… ...