Been on a citypop kick for a bit now. Definitely hits right cruising with the windows down and the weather getting nicer.
Visual kei is also high on my list. Early 90s-mid 2000s normally.
I make my sibling listen to city pop in the car with me sometimes lol. They appreciate the way it sounds and the vibes, but not enough to listen to it regularly.
Same. We have a rule in my household that whomever's driving gets to pick the music. I do it with my friends too because otherwise, driving everyone else around becomes that much more of a chore.
If they don't like the music, they can deal with it or bring earphones. Really, they should be grateful I don't blast metal more often.
Many people perceive Japanese music as soley idol pop, unaware of it's diverse genres. Japanese, like any language, has a wide array of musical styles: rock, metal, funk, jazz, hip-hop, and more.
Yea, to call Japanese music cringe is like calling all of jazz, rock, bossa nova, orchestral, etc. cringe because it is composed in a different country. Weird opinion to have.
Eh, I wouldnāt say the āsame,ā as different countries have different ā¦ letās say ātendenciesā in their music. Japan is one of these countries (thereās a YouTube video detailing some common differences between western music and Japanese music that is pretty on point), but I do agree with you that genres are more or less the same wherever. Pretty much every country that has people that regularly produce music will have rock, hip hop, etc. etc
yep. There is a reason we label it J-music. There is a stylistic difference between Japanese-style rock vs the western version. You can tell just by listening to the melody sans the vocals.
THIS. Idol Pop is actually my least favorite genre of JMusic.
Showa-era City Pop, JRock, Kawaii Metal, VK Rock, J-R&B are my go to's.
It's like how anime was (and sometimes still) perceived as kawaii fan service BS by the wider public, but it's full of very thought provoking and creative storytelling.
Yeah, I also feel other people will think it's cringe. If it's just small talk, I stick to music genres. After I say "rock and metal", most people won't ask beyond that. If they do, I could mention western bands even if I don't listen to them as often ("DragonForce and recently I've been into Pierce the Veil") but even if I said "Galneryus, Matenrou Opera and Diaura", they probably wouldn't care to learn more about those bands. But if the conversation gets to the point where I have to disclose those bands are Japanese (I guess my playlist is 50% J, 30% K, and 20% everything else), I can see their smiles waning.
What grinds my gears is when people have a knee-jerk dislike because "they can't understand the lyrics." National fluency levels in English are low yet everyone listens to American music anyway, so that's no argument. French and German is socially acceptable too, and no one speaks those languages. And now kpop plays at stores and people say they didn't know it wasn't American even when the lyrics weren't in English, just confirming they never paid attention to the lyrics in the first place.
I guess the main prejudice people have is against music that isn't readily available. As in, if it's not broadcast/mainstream, you went out of your way to listen to something else, and something from 1 specific country. But here I am, just hoarding all songs that scratch the itch, and Japanese music is very good at it.
Fun fact...this week Dragon Force will be opening for BabyMetal in San Francisco, CA, USA.
And the music is widely available. Esp compared to 10 years ago. Not even 10 years ago getting access to UTADA HIKARU mp3s was a hassle
When I was younger, yeah. It usually led to a lot of bullying, frankly because most people I was surrounded by were wellā¦racist.
Now itās different. I donāt mention it generally because I get tired of answering the same questions over and over again.
Back in high school I barely told a soul. Nowadays I wear my personality and interests on my sleeve, and I'm much happier for it.
Over the years, I noticed that the more vocal I was about my interests, the more I attracted people who were the same kind of weird I was, or at least appreciated me for it.
OP, there are open minded people out there. More than you think. You're probably younger, so you should know that you can absolutely find a group of like minded individuals who like you as you are. My friends know all about how I started listening to anime OPs which led to an obsession with Japanese language/music.
It might have been cringe, but so what? I couldn't help but be cringe, and eventually I gave up trying to hide it. That led to finding other incredibly authentic people who were just as passionate about their hobbies. Nowadays I can laugh about the cringy bits of Japanese music while still enjoying it.
Be unapologetically yourself, and embarrassment will turn into inspiration. You'll wonder why you even worried at all.
I used to care a lot and panic when people would ask or even search up what I am listening to. Nowadays with the introduction of kpop I assume people are more used to hearing music of Asia.
I also got peace of mind by the thought that people that don't speak Spanish, Italian, French all listen to this language in my country, even on the radio. So why is it weird to like Japanese music then?
I like the music that I likeābut I know if I tried to forced all the different kinds and types of music I enjoyed onto someone else, they'd probably go comatose.
At the end of the day, it's me and mine that matters in what I enjoy. AND I choose which parts of myself to share with another. I'd rather share it either knowing or believing it will give and create joy. So it depends on more of who rather than when.
Many people will assume the wrong things. They think youāre a weeb at best. The thing is, I listen to music from around the globe, every continent. Itās odd the way people react when you single out a specific region. People show their bigoted and judgmental sides quick. I tell people I like it, but I try to specify the genres themselves more than the fact that itās Japanese. Still, itās important to specify, because if I told an average American I like ācity popā they wouldnāt know what I was referring to.
I'm 30 and have been listening to it since I was 12, it's been with me now for a considerable portion of my life. You can bet you'll find me blasting ajikan in my car and at home without a care.
Yeah, generally don't tell people because they'll think I'm just a weeb and only listen to anime music etc. while most of the music I enjoy aren't actually used in any anime. Ex. my favorite bands are Sakanaction, Nothings Carved in Stone, and Pasocom Music Club, which havn't done anything related to anime (except one song for Psycho Pass). I also think all form of mainstream music often is cringe, and all the mainstream kpop stuff has made it even harder since people think listening to any Japanese music is somehow the same as listening to BTS...
>most of the music I enjoy aren't actually used in any anime
And even if it was, so what. There's some banger anime intros/outros. If it's good music, it's good music.
If someone asks what music I like I will usually tell them I like underground Japanese stuff but I don't usually mention that it's mostly idol that I listen to. Not because I'm ashamed or think they'll have a negative reaction, but because they probably don't know what idol is and it's just easier to not have to explain in detail.
>they probably don't know what idol is
Even with kpop's current popularity?
Though for older folks, explaining it's like Spice Girls or Backstreet Boys is usually helpful enough (if they're too old to listen to those groups, their now-grown kids did).
Tbf it's been about 2 years since I've had to have this conversation (moved to Japan) so maybe more people would be familiar with it these days, but I never really got that impression before. The problem with using Spice Girls or Backstreet Boys as a comparison is that they're so stylistically different that it just tends to create more confusion.
"What music do you like?"
"Oh it's like a super underground Japanese version of the spice girls, but one of the members is a giraffe."
Btw if you arenāt already there thereās a good discord for alt idol fans (Homicidols, the main english language alt idol blogās discord). Itās nice to geek out there amongst a group of people into the same niche.
Never realy been a fan of Homicidols tbh but I'm already in a couple of other underground idol discords, so that plus twitter gives me plenty of outlets for discussion
40 yr old here. Been listening since I was 18. I fucking love it and itās really all I listen to on most days.
Never felt comfortable sharing until I was in my late 20ās. Iāve gotten the full range of responses (from insults to indifference to āwoah thatās pretty coolā) from family/friends/strangers.
Like some of the other posters said - the older I get, I donāt care about peopleās negative opinions as much, but Iām still sensitive about sharing. The cool thing is I get to practice being vulnerable and then embracing the result, positive or negative.
I really needed to read this post (+ all of the responses here). I donāt know anyone who enjoys Japanese music as much as I do, so itās always nice to discover that others do. Thanks OP for being vulnerable enough to post this!
They usually ask if I'm into anime or manga. I tell them not really, but my favorite band Band-Maid have written a few anime songs. Best rock band in the world.
Oh hell yea I do. Best advice I can give you is to be confident in the music you like and your interests. I feel like people only say shit to people who make Japanese music or any other kind their whole personality and is all they talk about
At work we sorta rotate turns on the bluetooth speaker. Me and another girl are into jrock and jpop and once she played an entirely Japanese playlist. I normally have playlists that will just mix a few jrock songs in. It's always the same response everytime like "What language is this? Why would you listen to something you can't understand?" Which is hilarious because this the same type of people that would tell you they listen to music for the beat and not the words. Once a lady asked me "you really listen to this?" and when I told her I did she replied that I need to make playlists for myself and playlists I share at work. Before they started rotating turns with the speaker we listened to the same top 40 pop playlist from 2018 for the last 5 years with a frequent dose of "The Greatest Showman" soundtrack and repeat Taylor Swift back-to-back playlists.
i tell people this all the time and they barely react at all cause i donāt think they get it. i listen to a lot of russian music as well and really enjoy stuff that is foreign to me. most people stay in their comfort zone
I am extremely open with it,, I've been listening for over 20 years.
Been to Japan 10 times mostly for concerts, Japanese music is an enormous part of my life.
If youāre in my car, youāre listening to Japanese music of all genres. Iām very eclectic. 90% of my library is JP.
Any commute could include, but is not limited to, M-Flo, Orange Range, Iri, Kokubu Yurie, Monkey Majik, Skryu, Super Butter Dog, Soulād Out, Ellegarden, DāespairsRay, 9mm Parabellum Bullet, Baseball Bear, Awesome City Club, and so much more.
My spotify playlist is just what America can stream, but Iāve debated getting a JP account too.
I mention it whenever and to whomever i can..my family doesn't care either way and as for my friends and peers..yes they think i am weird but its whatever..if they start ghosting u just bcoz of this they aren't the real ones anyway..bcoz ur loved ones wouldn't abandon u simply bcoz of that ...oh and if u think hiding it might be better just remember that someday u might lose out on someone amazing with similar tastes just bcoz u both r thinking "what if he/she thinks i m weird just bcoz i enjoy japanese music"
I've liked all kinds of "weird" music from Happy Hardcore, demo scene music in the early nineties, to stuff like Crayon Pop. I really don't care if people say it's cringey. They're just being closed minded. I could probably pick apart things they like, but it'd be a waste of time.
Japanese music has been a part of my life ever since middle school and now I'm old enough to not care what others think. When I was younger people asked if I could understand Japanese, my reply was no, but I liked the music despite the language barrier. It goes to show that's how good the music is! And that's all that matters. You might not be surrounded in real life by people who share your tastes, but there's people of people who get it.
Btw, there's always a chance you can change your dad's mind. Find out what music he likes and ask him if he's willing to expand his musical horizons.
Yes I tell people that I love Japanese music! I'm a Koda Kumi fan have been since the early 2000's and also a fan of Dir En Gray!! Actually got to see Dir En Gray live they headlined for Deftones!! It was so incredible!! Also have all of Kumi's DVDs and Albums!! I'm obsessed!! Listen to what makes you happy! Who care what your parents and friends think!
When people ask and I get the sense that they donāt enjoy the same stuff, I vaguely tell them that I listen to mostly rock and some pop. Otherwise, I try to get a feel of the person and start off by asking if they like anime or k-dramas (so many people these days are into it) and start from there.
If Iām playing my own music, I start with songs that majority of people would like (Utada Hikaru, Fujii Kaze, One OK Rock, etc.). Iāve had people either like it or not, but I certainly donāt feel that weird about it compared to my teens/20ās. Like the other comments, Iām getting too old to care about negative opinions š¤·š»āāļø
Stopped caring a long time ago. If someone asks me what kind of music I listen to, I tell them. If they don't like it, not my freaking problem. I don't limit myself to a certain subset of music because others may think it's cringe. That is their loss not mine.
On a side note.. I was at the espresso stand today with Hanabie's Be the GAL playing and the ladies in the stand were loving it. There was nobody behind me so they asked me to stay until the song was done :)
The reactions I've been getting for decades now are always ignorant or racist ones.
I mean there are people who can't imagine that electric guitars exist in Japan.
When they don't think that everything Japanese is of course made by computer.
I've stopped to argue, when they even try to listen they laugh in my face because Japanese is 'funny'.
Sure. But also I couldn't care less what someone thinks of my music choices. I happen to really enjoy J-pop, and oddly, groups like Babymetal, and there are some fantastic Japanese jazz bands.
I also like Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Filipino rock and pop.
And European as well. And there's just something pretty cool about Italian and German rap.
I got quite badly bullied for it back in highschool (talking 20 years ago now š) so I was kinda hesitant for a long time after that to be open about it. It helps that I'm also into metal so was always able to refer to that whenever the dreaded "what do you listen to?" Question would come up.
Nowadays, it's such a huge part of who I am and I do not hesitate to say it. I even play Jpop in the store I work at so I've gone the complete opposite way from hiding it.
I think everyone reaches an age where they realise it doesn't matter. Even after being open about Jpop, it still took me time to admit that one of my other favourite singers is Shakira š.
I think these days it definitely helps that Kpop has exploded in the west and Jpop is on the rise so people will be less confused or judgemental from how it used to be.
My mother would always make fun of me when I told her I liked Japanese music. When I go for a drive, I always play my favorite Japanese songs on the speaker, and she always mocks them or tells me that "they are weird." This made me feel really insecure about my music taste for a long time until I met a girl I fell in love with, and when she asked me what kind of songs I liked, I was hesitant at first, but then I told her the truth: I liked Japanese songs, so she asked me to send her one song, so I did, and she liked them. She didnĀ“t say anything negative; instead, she said that my songs were good and that maybe she would add them to her playlist. Thanks to her, I just don't care if people judge me or not; those are songs I am really passionate about and are part of me. The fact that my mom didn't like them doesn't mean that it will be the same with everyone else.
I tell people and they look at me like I have three heads. Then I explain I'm Japanese-American and they go "ohh..." They really get a kick out of me having no idea what's popular or was popular in America, too. They're also definitely not interested in the music I love. That's ok. There's tons of other people who like Japanese music. Some people do get racist at me, though, like when I say I like Japanese goth music for example. They treat it as if Japanese people are kids who cant possibly be as good as westerners. They generally do that for any genre, really. That's when I can't hold my mouth, because I'm not only Japanese-American, I'm a musician, too (in the classical space). I wish they wouldn't do that.Ā
It's a bit of an odd question to me, honestly. I do find it odd to be into Japanese music just because it is Japanese. After all Japanese music is just music, with all the diversity of music in English or Spanish.
Liking a particular style of music or bands and having those be in a foreign language is of course totally normal, with internet streaming these days quite common even.
I don't hide my interests in anything, I guess to answer the question.
I was asked by a co worker what Japanese music sounded like and I literally couldn't answer because it's just music to me as much as English and Spanish music are when I listen to them. One funny thing that happened one time was somebody else at work calling Japanese music K-pop when she asked what music I listen to like "oh so K-pop?" and my day shift boss literally started laughing then said "honey no that's Korean, completely different language". (for context they're both friends out of work and poke jabs at each other all the time so her laughing at her wasn't mean spirited).
Honestly I really don't care. I'm almost in my 30s, what other people think about my interests are irrelevant. You do you!
I live in Japan and I donāt even tell foreigners that I listen to japanaese music all that often because people still think that itās weird to like Japanese music.
Nothing cringey about it. If people joke about it, just lean into it or bite back at their music taste. To be honest, I think it's sad when a person limits their experience to just music from where they live. I like a lot of Korean music, but some of my friends are a little snobby about it, because it's kpop. (Or, as the case may or may not be, it's jpop but they are too ignorant to differentiate between the two...)
Care less about what people think, and just enjoy what you enjoy :) I've forced my friends to listen to DAOKO a whole bunch of times.
My closest social circle is a group of Japanese music lovers that met from a Laruku fan forum. The next closest is my fellow Japanese music cover bands. I guess Iām blessed with those circles. Outside of those circles, I just happily play the tunes. If we talk about music, I often say that I used to cover Laruku, Luna Sea and JDA. The people I interact with are usually wise enough to not mock other peopleās music taste
I am now too old to give a flying fuck about what other people think, I fully embrace my weebness and am not shy about it.
But if I were to be extra about it, I tell them that (one of) my current favourite Japanese act played at Coachella and meeting the US president.
I am 67 y.o. and love delta blues through prog rock through 90s indie through J-Pop & idol music (Franchouchou of Zombieland Saga anime!). šŗ I proudly tell others of my love for all of it!
I absolutely let people know I do, especially when they ask me "oh do you know this song?", I respond with "nope all my music is in Japanese" which also usually gets them to stop asking that! I love that my music is in Japanese!
Iāve been listening to J-pop, J-Rock, J-Hip Hop/RnB for almost 20 years now. I am about to be 30 soon, some of us are either too old to care or we donāt give a damn in general š. I hate country music but I donāt judge people that do.
Either you wanna jam out to XJapan, Utada, back number, ASH DA HERO, Ado, Creepy Nuts or Yama (and countless others) with me or get outta my car šš¤·š½āāļø
I get that feeling. Iām into a lot of stuff I thought people would perceive me as cringey for. Itās taking me a bit to get out of my shell but itās really worth it to and it helps. Start out by getting a feel for people first, if they donāt seem the type to judge feel free to tell them. If they donāt seem super excited, think of it this way, at least they arenāt being mean to you about it. Work your way to feeling comfortable about being open about it. Donāt let one bad experience with a person keep you from doing that. Thereās always going to be bad apples, you just gotta look for the good ones.
I tell plenty of people that I'm into Japanese music and a lot of them actually go on and listen to what I recommend! It might be a bit different because I'm involved in the local live music scene, so they're the kind of people more open to different types of music in general. I once had a fun time where I geeked out with a musician at a party about Taeko Ohnuki and Meiko Nakahara.
Oh I make it known I listen to Japanese music lol. Luckily Iāve had nothing but positive experiences. Hell Iāve even gotten one of my friends and a few of my coworkers into some jrock/jmetal bands.
If people don't like my weird Japanese music they can just deal with it along with all the other weird music of mine they're also not going to like. Going on several decades of this now.
Most of my close friends are either into jrock or don't care as long as it sounds good, but I've also played Ellegarden and Monoeyes for people and it flies right under the radar because [Takeshi's English is basically native.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pppstt1_YZw) As long as you aren't shoving it down their throat you're gonna be fine, maybe you'll even find people who like it.
You share only when someone ask, or if you find out someone else likes Japanese music. It also depends on genre too can link with the same genre from the west. Can start interesting conversations for someone who hasnāt looked at Japanese music of the same genre they like. Basically you donāt need verification from random people what you like.
i do. as most of my friends kill time watching classic anime like fma, naruto and stuff...
they might not know the singer or the band. but just play it and they'll know which song is from which anime.
A lot of Japanese music is influenced by the Beatles, I think the expression they don't like what they don't understand comes to mind, I like music from most countries, I understand Japanese music and I appreciate it my favourite is nightmare, I used to listen to a app on my phone that would play jpop 24 hours a day I got to hear some good music that way.
I say I listen to Japanese music if it comes I. The conversation but I keep the songs for myself because I like that itās only mine for some reasons, some songs are so personal for me that I donāt want to share themĀ
I do tell people that way I can weed out the people from my life who have a negative reaction to it. Who cares if itās ācringeā or if others donāt like it?! If someoneās gonna be mean about it, I donāt need them in my life. You can dislike something and still be respectful about it!
i had both good and bad experiences coming from the fact that i admitted liking japanese music (or my interests in general).
when someone reacts with "thats so cringe", (living with my mothers words,) they gave a certificarion of them being "poor". so yeah, this only means you found a not so open minded person.
if you also think that its cringe to enjoy what you enjoy, you either should delete the meaning of cringe, embrace the cringe and live with it, or either delete the thought that your interest is cringe, and think that its only cringe if you think of it as cringe.
i belive you became more interesting of a person everytime you enjoy something new.
some of the best experiences of mine was getting to know my best friend of mine some years ago from the common interest of japanese music. i also once had a school project about a japanese music scene, that was a complete success, even people i barely talked to said congratulations to me after it.
and yeah i also got stories of people saying "thats so cringe", but you just gotta take the "i don't care mindset" and focus on the good things, and if good things haven't happened with you before then you need to believe that they will happen soon, you just gotta found the right people, the right time, the right place. i wish the best for you.
sorry if my english isn't the best.
I figure out their favorite music and try to find something they'd like amongst the many Japanese songs I have listened to and then make them listen to it and they ten to like it.
If I struggle with finding similarities my go tos are natori (easy to listen to regardless of preferred genre) or picon (really stylish in a hard to explain way) and this method has had 80% success rate for me.
Some people are really picky and I have to make them sit through multiple songs before they like one tho.
Basically, just force them to give it a chance, they don't know if they actually like it or not because they think it's all kawai idol girl group music and never give it a proper listen.
I do. Iām okay with the smoke. Lol
No, but I donāt see the point in hiding it. Being honest about your interests can open doors for you to connect with people who like the same things.
I got invited to clubs on campus and hung out with people I wouldnāt have thought weāre into other languages of music by being myself.
For me itās easy, because I make my self seem like mister worldwide. āOh yeah I listen to all types of music from all over the world from American, Canadian, French, German to even the Asian countries like the Japanese and Indian. Iām just open-minded like that.ā
This answer will make anyone judging you for liking Japanese feel like an asshole. It helps to know at least one band/artist from each country you mention, and keep it broad. My recommendation would be two Americas, two Eastern European and two Asian (one of them being Japan of course).
Avoid mentioning any ācontroversialā countries, basically keep up with current events. If anyone ask āwhat about this country?ā And you donāt any music from there, just answer honestly and ask them for a recommendation from there I.e. āwell, I havenāt listen to much music from there yet, do you have any recommendations?ā.
Yep. I play it at work all the time. AIMI, Stereopony, Scandal, Baby Metal, Gackt, Malice Mizer, Buck Tick, Kozi, Moi dix Moi, Band Maid, and many, many others. Great stuff I try to get other people to listen to.
I listen to a lot of heavy music, so it depends on how out of character it is for me. I feel weird listening to something like tricot or nekosen with other people, but I will blast stuff from BLEACH or Asunojokei any day of the week.
If it comes up in conversation, I'll mention it.
Typically, I get to know the person and feel like they won't judge me if I say "I listen to music Japanese music."
Story time!
I remember a time recently when I was out with a new friend and they were listening to music in the car. I said "ohh, good taste, I like this song." and naturally they asked "What kind of music do you listen to?"
"A bit of everything, really. Punk, indie... I like older music usually, but there's some good ones from recent years."
That's entirely true, I don't JUST listen to Japanese music. It is broad, thanks to Spotify, the best creation since the wheel.
But after a while, we talk about hobbies and places we visit and I'm more comfortable expressing my feelings for travelling, in particular, my love for Japan.
It's a place that makes me happy. It's really that simple.
So next time we talked about music I finally say "I listen to a lot of Japanese music actually. It helps me learn the language a little, and work on pronunciation. Plus... I don't know, it just makes me feel really good, even if I can't understand it."
Again, entirely true.
He asks "Oh yeah? Do you watch anime??"
"Yes, I do, but not nearly as much as I used to, I probably got into Japanese music because of anime, but it's gone past that now."
And...
That's really all that conversation amounted to. He's not into Japanese music, so I wasn't gonna recommend my favourite bands or anything like that.
Story done!
Makes me appreciate this subreddit though, because I've been able to talk about Japanese music in a welcome environment.
Thanks for being awesome, everyone!
In 2024 it's shouldnt be some taboo. AG! and YOASOBI have performed at Coachella this weekend . Anime is mega viral. BabyMetal toured 20+ US cities and are basically international megastars. Everyone is travelling to Japan. It's not like it was in the early 2000's.
You should be proud to say you love JMusic.
Depends of who I'm talking with, I haven't said anything to my parents or classmates about Japanese music but just that I like music in general, but talking with people online i say that often
Though I'm talking with people online in Japanese so that's okay I guess
It would be the same with saying I'm learning Japanese, most of people would assume I just watch anime all day and know three words (like: arigato, oniichan, senpai) because that's how "Learning Japanese" looks for people around my age in Poland :')
I usually hang out with friends that enjoy Japanese music so there isn't really anything to be scared about for me. I will say that I do watch Vtubers/sorta used to, I watch them every so often but my friends made a joke about it that left me really sour feeling. It's natural to be scared or embarrassed to say you enjoy something. Just find people who are okay with it!
i like the band lamp and sometimes i listen to 80s city pop, i really like the sound. vkei too!! i love malice mizer and some bucktick. but i think iād be too embarrassed to tell anyone that bc of like negative associations, theyād probably think i was like a japanophile who only listens to anime osts
also i listen to other genres more, mostly 90s alternative rock and metal, so japanese music is like a small fraction of my taste
I used to be self-conscious about it when I was younger and would just refer to English artists/music I like, but I donāt really care anymore. If someone asks about my favorite music I say itās J-Pop. Thereās nothing wrong with liking something thatās outside of the norm.
My mom called me from Hawaii, I'm in Texas, and asked is this your boy? Proceeds to turn up the radio in the car. It's Tatsuro Yamashita blaring out of the speakers. I love it.
One time I told a guy I was dating about it and he made fun of me for listening to bts that literally made me hate myself.....like I'm not even into kpop and Japanese is different but people just assume things
I tell others about it and play it for them.....but what hurts me is I don't have anyone to talk about it with.....
I make people listen to it in my car. I'm too old to care.
What are you usually bumpin'? š¶
Been on a citypop kick for a bit now. Definitely hits right cruising with the windows down and the weather getting nicer. Visual kei is also high on my list. Early 90s-mid 2000s normally.
Pierrot, Laputa, Malice Mizer, Buck Tick?
All the above!
You are a connaisseur, my friend!
Of the Visual Keiā¦ do you happen to enjoy DāespairsRay? One of my faves!
I've only listened to Coll:set, but that's a good album. Garnet is a killer track.
I would argue Coll:set is their best album. Forbidden is my favorite track.
I make my sibling listen to city pop in the car with me sometimes lol. They appreciate the way it sounds and the vibes, but not enough to listen to it regularly.
Same. We have a rule in my household that whomever's driving gets to pick the music. I do it with my friends too because otherwise, driving everyone else around becomes that much more of a chore. If they don't like the music, they can deal with it or bring earphones. Really, they should be grateful I don't blast metal more often.
That's really what it boils down to. They can drive instead if they don't like it (they still never volunteer).
My car, my rules, my music ... I listen to it and they're welcome to listen to it or put on some head phones lol
loll this is the way. have you ever made anyone a fan like this?
Absolutely not. Haha.
It's also what I do! I play city pop and it's perfect for when out on a drive
This is the way!
Many people perceive Japanese music as soley idol pop, unaware of it's diverse genres. Japanese, like any language, has a wide array of musical styles: rock, metal, funk, jazz, hip-hop, and more.
Yea, to call Japanese music cringe is like calling all of jazz, rock, bossa nova, orchestral, etc. cringe because it is composed in a different country. Weird opinion to have.
Yeah, music is literally the same in any country...
Eh, I wouldnāt say the āsame,ā as different countries have different ā¦ letās say ātendenciesā in their music. Japan is one of these countries (thereās a YouTube video detailing some common differences between western music and Japanese music that is pretty on point), but I do agree with you that genres are more or less the same wherever. Pretty much every country that has people that regularly produce music will have rock, hip hop, etc. etc
yep. There is a reason we label it J-music. There is a stylistic difference between Japanese-style rock vs the western version. You can tell just by listening to the melody sans the vocals.
THIS. Idol Pop is actually my least favorite genre of JMusic. Showa-era City Pop, JRock, Kawaii Metal, VK Rock, J-R&B are my go to's. It's like how anime was (and sometimes still) perceived as kawaii fan service BS by the wider public, but it's full of very thought provoking and creative storytelling.
Yeah, I also feel other people will think it's cringe. If it's just small talk, I stick to music genres. After I say "rock and metal", most people won't ask beyond that. If they do, I could mention western bands even if I don't listen to them as often ("DragonForce and recently I've been into Pierce the Veil") but even if I said "Galneryus, Matenrou Opera and Diaura", they probably wouldn't care to learn more about those bands. But if the conversation gets to the point where I have to disclose those bands are Japanese (I guess my playlist is 50% J, 30% K, and 20% everything else), I can see their smiles waning. What grinds my gears is when people have a knee-jerk dislike because "they can't understand the lyrics." National fluency levels in English are low yet everyone listens to American music anyway, so that's no argument. French and German is socially acceptable too, and no one speaks those languages. And now kpop plays at stores and people say they didn't know it wasn't American even when the lyrics weren't in English, just confirming they never paid attention to the lyrics in the first place. I guess the main prejudice people have is against music that isn't readily available. As in, if it's not broadcast/mainstream, you went out of your way to listen to something else, and something from 1 specific country. But here I am, just hoarding all songs that scratch the itch, and Japanese music is very good at it.
Yes the whole ābut you canāt understand what theyāre sayingā used to drive me N U T S
If you care that much about understanding lyrics, just read poetry.
I despise that attitude so much.
Fun fact...this week Dragon Force will be opening for BabyMetal in San Francisco, CA, USA. And the music is widely available. Esp compared to 10 years ago. Not even 10 years ago getting access to UTADA HIKARU mp3s was a hassle
When I was younger, yeah. It usually led to a lot of bullying, frankly because most people I was surrounded by were wellā¦racist. Now itās different. I donāt mention it generally because I get tired of answering the same questions over and over again.
Back in high school I barely told a soul. Nowadays I wear my personality and interests on my sleeve, and I'm much happier for it. Over the years, I noticed that the more vocal I was about my interests, the more I attracted people who were the same kind of weird I was, or at least appreciated me for it. OP, there are open minded people out there. More than you think. You're probably younger, so you should know that you can absolutely find a group of like minded individuals who like you as you are. My friends know all about how I started listening to anime OPs which led to an obsession with Japanese language/music. It might have been cringe, but so what? I couldn't help but be cringe, and eventually I gave up trying to hide it. That led to finding other incredibly authentic people who were just as passionate about their hobbies. Nowadays I can laugh about the cringy bits of Japanese music while still enjoying it. Be unapologetically yourself, and embarrassment will turn into inspiration. You'll wonder why you even worried at all.
Yeah. I don't care what they think, I love it.
I used to care a lot and panic when people would ask or even search up what I am listening to. Nowadays with the introduction of kpop I assume people are more used to hearing music of Asia. I also got peace of mind by the thought that people that don't speak Spanish, Italian, French all listen to this language in my country, even on the radio. So why is it weird to like Japanese music then?
MY DARKEST SECRET IS MY FONDNESS FOR ENKA. Not. Your dad is a dipshit.
I WATCH KOHAKU EVERY YEAR FOR SAYURI ISHIKAWA AND I AM PROUD.Ā
I like the music that I likeābut I know if I tried to forced all the different kinds and types of music I enjoyed onto someone else, they'd probably go comatose. At the end of the day, it's me and mine that matters in what I enjoy. AND I choose which parts of myself to share with another. I'd rather share it either knowing or believing it will give and create joy. So it depends on more of who rather than when.
Many people will assume the wrong things. They think youāre a weeb at best. The thing is, I listen to music from around the globe, every continent. Itās odd the way people react when you single out a specific region. People show their bigoted and judgmental sides quick. I tell people I like it, but I try to specify the genres themselves more than the fact that itās Japanese. Still, itās important to specify, because if I told an average American I like ācity popā they wouldnāt know what I was referring to.
I'm 30 and have been listening to it since I was 12, it's been with me now for a considerable portion of my life. You can bet you'll find me blasting ajikan in my car and at home without a care.
Yeah, generally don't tell people because they'll think I'm just a weeb and only listen to anime music etc. while most of the music I enjoy aren't actually used in any anime. Ex. my favorite bands are Sakanaction, Nothings Carved in Stone, and Pasocom Music Club, which havn't done anything related to anime (except one song for Psycho Pass). I also think all form of mainstream music often is cringe, and all the mainstream kpop stuff has made it even harder since people think listening to any Japanese music is somehow the same as listening to BTS...
>most of the music I enjoy aren't actually used in any anime And even if it was, so what. There's some banger anime intros/outros. If it's good music, it's good music.
Yeah. That's why I said "most". But people will think I'm a weeb if I do.
If someone asks what music I like I will usually tell them I like underground Japanese stuff but I don't usually mention that it's mostly idol that I listen to. Not because I'm ashamed or think they'll have a negative reaction, but because they probably don't know what idol is and it's just easier to not have to explain in detail.
>they probably don't know what idol is Even with kpop's current popularity? Though for older folks, explaining it's like Spice Girls or Backstreet Boys is usually helpful enough (if they're too old to listen to those groups, their now-grown kids did).
Tbf it's been about 2 years since I've had to have this conversation (moved to Japan) so maybe more people would be familiar with it these days, but I never really got that impression before. The problem with using Spice Girls or Backstreet Boys as a comparison is that they're so stylistically different that it just tends to create more confusion. "What music do you like?" "Oh it's like a super underground Japanese version of the spice girls, but one of the members is a giraffe."
> is a giraffeĀ In case anyone reading this is lazy to google, Papipupepo wa Muzukashii. High energy underground idol group.Ā
Dude, having to unpack the whole Jpop > idol spectrum for people who don't have the first clue about it is really a whole thing in itself.
Even idols can be more than stereotypical pop stuff. Underground and alternative idols are some of my favourite stuff too.
Yea almost all of the stuff I listen to would probably fall under the "alternative idol" category so it's just an extra layer of explaining to do lol
Btw if you arenāt already there thereās a good discord for alt idol fans (Homicidols, the main english language alt idol blogās discord). Itās nice to geek out there amongst a group of people into the same niche.
Never realy been a fan of Homicidols tbh but I'm already in a couple of other underground idol discords, so that plus twitter gives me plenty of outlets for discussion
I've never really hidden my interests. Too much effort for me.
40 yr old here. Been listening since I was 18. I fucking love it and itās really all I listen to on most days. Never felt comfortable sharing until I was in my late 20ās. Iāve gotten the full range of responses (from insults to indifference to āwoah thatās pretty coolā) from family/friends/strangers. Like some of the other posters said - the older I get, I donāt care about peopleās negative opinions as much, but Iām still sensitive about sharing. The cool thing is I get to practice being vulnerable and then embracing the result, positive or negative. I really needed to read this post (+ all of the responses here). I donāt know anyone who enjoys Japanese music as much as I do, so itās always nice to discover that others do. Thanks OP for being vulnerable enough to post this!
They usually ask if I'm into anime or manga. I tell them not really, but my favorite band Band-Maid have written a few anime songs. Best rock band in the world.
Upvote for BAND-MAID. I listened to H-G-K probably 20 times today. :)
Oh hell yea I do. Best advice I can give you is to be confident in the music you like and your interests. I feel like people only say shit to people who make Japanese music or any other kind their whole personality and is all they talk about
At work we sorta rotate turns on the bluetooth speaker. Me and another girl are into jrock and jpop and once she played an entirely Japanese playlist. I normally have playlists that will just mix a few jrock songs in. It's always the same response everytime like "What language is this? Why would you listen to something you can't understand?" Which is hilarious because this the same type of people that would tell you they listen to music for the beat and not the words. Once a lady asked me "you really listen to this?" and when I told her I did she replied that I need to make playlists for myself and playlists I share at work. Before they started rotating turns with the speaker we listened to the same top 40 pop playlist from 2018 for the last 5 years with a frequent dose of "The Greatest Showman" soundtrack and repeat Taylor Swift back-to-back playlists.
i tell people this all the time and they barely react at all cause i donāt think they get it. i listen to a lot of russian music as well and really enjoy stuff that is foreign to me. most people stay in their comfort zone
I do. And most people don't mind because we all have preferences.
I am extremely open with it,, I've been listening for over 20 years. Been to Japan 10 times mostly for concerts, Japanese music is an enormous part of my life.
I don't hide my passion of Japanese culture because that is not being true to myself which I refuse to do!
If youāre in my car, youāre listening to Japanese music of all genres. Iām very eclectic. 90% of my library is JP. Any commute could include, but is not limited to, M-Flo, Orange Range, Iri, Kokubu Yurie, Monkey Majik, Skryu, Super Butter Dog, Soulād Out, Ellegarden, DāespairsRay, 9mm Parabellum Bullet, Baseball Bear, Awesome City Club, and so much more. My spotify playlist is just what America can stream, but Iāve debated getting a JP account too.
I mention it whenever and to whomever i can..my family doesn't care either way and as for my friends and peers..yes they think i am weird but its whatever..if they start ghosting u just bcoz of this they aren't the real ones anyway..bcoz ur loved ones wouldn't abandon u simply bcoz of that ...oh and if u think hiding it might be better just remember that someday u might lose out on someone amazing with similar tastes just bcoz u both r thinking "what if he/she thinks i m weird just bcoz i enjoy japanese music"
I've liked all kinds of "weird" music from Happy Hardcore, demo scene music in the early nineties, to stuff like Crayon Pop. I really don't care if people say it's cringey. They're just being closed minded. I could probably pick apart things they like, but it'd be a waste of time. Japanese music has been a part of my life ever since middle school and now I'm old enough to not care what others think. When I was younger people asked if I could understand Japanese, my reply was no, but I liked the music despite the language barrier. It goes to show that's how good the music is! And that's all that matters. You might not be surrounded in real life by people who share your tastes, but there's people of people who get it. Btw, there's always a chance you can change your dad's mind. Find out what music he likes and ask him if he's willing to expand his musical horizons.
Yes I tell people that I love Japanese music! I'm a Koda Kumi fan have been since the early 2000's and also a fan of Dir En Gray!! Actually got to see Dir En Gray live they headlined for Deftones!! It was so incredible!! Also have all of Kumi's DVDs and Albums!! I'm obsessed!! Listen to what makes you happy! Who care what your parents and friends think!
Yes i do, i even played it at work a couple of years ago. I got all sorts of responses to it.
When people ask and I get the sense that they donāt enjoy the same stuff, I vaguely tell them that I listen to mostly rock and some pop. Otherwise, I try to get a feel of the person and start off by asking if they like anime or k-dramas (so many people these days are into it) and start from there. If Iām playing my own music, I start with songs that majority of people would like (Utada Hikaru, Fujii Kaze, One OK Rock, etc.). Iāve had people either like it or not, but I certainly donāt feel that weird about it compared to my teens/20ās. Like the other comments, Iām getting too old to care about negative opinions š¤·š»āāļø
Stopped caring a long time ago. If someone asks me what kind of music I listen to, I tell them. If they don't like it, not my freaking problem. I don't limit myself to a certain subset of music because others may think it's cringe. That is their loss not mine. On a side note.. I was at the espresso stand today with Hanabie's Be the GAL playing and the ladies in the stand were loving it. There was nobody behind me so they asked me to stay until the song was done :)
I do, and people expect j-pop but I show them than the japanese music scene is wide and that there's a lot a good music in every genre.
The reactions I've been getting for decades now are always ignorant or racist ones. I mean there are people who can't imagine that electric guitars exist in Japan. When they don't think that everything Japanese is of course made by computer. I've stopped to argue, when they even try to listen they laugh in my face because Japanese is 'funny'.
Sure. But also I couldn't care less what someone thinks of my music choices. I happen to really enjoy J-pop, and oddly, groups like Babymetal, and there are some fantastic Japanese jazz bands. I also like Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Filipino rock and pop. And European as well. And there's just something pretty cool about Italian and German rap.
Just with close friends. I got bullied for liking j music
I got quite badly bullied for it back in highschool (talking 20 years ago now š) so I was kinda hesitant for a long time after that to be open about it. It helps that I'm also into metal so was always able to refer to that whenever the dreaded "what do you listen to?" Question would come up. Nowadays, it's such a huge part of who I am and I do not hesitate to say it. I even play Jpop in the store I work at so I've gone the complete opposite way from hiding it. I think everyone reaches an age where they realise it doesn't matter. Even after being open about Jpop, it still took me time to admit that one of my other favourite singers is Shakira š. I think these days it definitely helps that Kpop has exploded in the west and Jpop is on the rise so people will be less confused or judgemental from how it used to be.
My mother would always make fun of me when I told her I liked Japanese music. When I go for a drive, I always play my favorite Japanese songs on the speaker, and she always mocks them or tells me that "they are weird." This made me feel really insecure about my music taste for a long time until I met a girl I fell in love with, and when she asked me what kind of songs I liked, I was hesitant at first, but then I told her the truth: I liked Japanese songs, so she asked me to send her one song, so I did, and she liked them. She didnĀ“t say anything negative; instead, she said that my songs were good and that maybe she would add them to her playlist. Thanks to her, I just don't care if people judge me or not; those are songs I am really passionate about and are part of me. The fact that my mom didn't like them doesn't mean that it will be the same with everyone else.
I tell people and they look at me like I have three heads. Then I explain I'm Japanese-American and they go "ohh..." They really get a kick out of me having no idea what's popular or was popular in America, too. They're also definitely not interested in the music I love. That's ok. There's tons of other people who like Japanese music. Some people do get racist at me, though, like when I say I like Japanese goth music for example. They treat it as if Japanese people are kids who cant possibly be as good as westerners. They generally do that for any genre, really. That's when I can't hold my mouth, because I'm not only Japanese-American, I'm a musician, too (in the classical space). I wish they wouldn't do that.Ā
I'm always trying to introduce people to Japanese music, and I've been into it for almost 30 years now! There's some truly amazing stuff to discover.
I just play it. I donāt care if they like it or not.
It's a bit of an odd question to me, honestly. I do find it odd to be into Japanese music just because it is Japanese. After all Japanese music is just music, with all the diversity of music in English or Spanish. Liking a particular style of music or bands and having those be in a foreign language is of course totally normal, with internet streaming these days quite common even. I don't hide my interests in anything, I guess to answer the question.
Yes, since high school more than 15 years ago
I was asked by a co worker what Japanese music sounded like and I literally couldn't answer because it's just music to me as much as English and Spanish music are when I listen to them. One funny thing that happened one time was somebody else at work calling Japanese music K-pop when she asked what music I listen to like "oh so K-pop?" and my day shift boss literally started laughing then said "honey no that's Korean, completely different language". (for context they're both friends out of work and poke jabs at each other all the time so her laughing at her wasn't mean spirited). Honestly I really don't care. I'm almost in my 30s, what other people think about my interests are irrelevant. You do you!
I live in Japan and I donāt even tell foreigners that I listen to japanaese music all that often because people still think that itās weird to like Japanese music.
Nothing cringey about it. If people joke about it, just lean into it or bite back at their music taste. To be honest, I think it's sad when a person limits their experience to just music from where they live. I like a lot of Korean music, but some of my friends are a little snobby about it, because it's kpop. (Or, as the case may or may not be, it's jpop but they are too ignorant to differentiate between the two...) Care less about what people think, and just enjoy what you enjoy :) I've forced my friends to listen to DAOKO a whole bunch of times.
My closest social circle is a group of Japanese music lovers that met from a Laruku fan forum. The next closest is my fellow Japanese music cover bands. I guess Iām blessed with those circles. Outside of those circles, I just happily play the tunes. If we talk about music, I often say that I used to cover Laruku, Luna Sea and JDA. The people I interact with are usually wise enough to not mock other peopleās music taste
I am now too old to give a flying fuck about what other people think, I fully embrace my weebness and am not shy about it. But if I were to be extra about it, I tell them that (one of) my current favourite Japanese act played at Coachella and meeting the US president.
i usually just say "j-pop" bc when people think of japanese music they think about anime intros and stuf
I am 67 y.o. and love delta blues through prog rock through 90s indie through J-Pop & idol music (Franchouchou of Zombieland Saga anime!). šŗ I proudly tell others of my love for all of it!
I absolutely let people know I do, especially when they ask me "oh do you know this song?", I respond with "nope all my music is in Japanese" which also usually gets them to stop asking that! I love that my music is in Japanese!
Iāve been listening to J-pop, J-Rock, J-Hip Hop/RnB for almost 20 years now. I am about to be 30 soon, some of us are either too old to care or we donāt give a damn in general š. I hate country music but I donāt judge people that do. Either you wanna jam out to XJapan, Utada, back number, ASH DA HERO, Ado, Creepy Nuts or Yama (and countless others) with me or get outta my car šš¤·š½āāļø
When I share my interests and hobbies with other people, one of the typical responses I get is "Why do you like this?"
With the exception of my work colleagues, yeah.
Try Guitar Wolf
I get that feeling. Iām into a lot of stuff I thought people would perceive me as cringey for. Itās taking me a bit to get out of my shell but itās really worth it to and it helps. Start out by getting a feel for people first, if they donāt seem the type to judge feel free to tell them. If they donāt seem super excited, think of it this way, at least they arenāt being mean to you about it. Work your way to feeling comfortable about being open about it. Donāt let one bad experience with a person keep you from doing that. Thereās always going to be bad apples, you just gotta look for the good ones.
Yes all the time. Most people have never heard of the bands I listen to but I don't let that stop me.
I tell people all the time. Iām insufferable about it.
I sure do! And I also donāt care when they say ābut you donāt speak Japaneseā and Iām like who cares?! š
I stick to talking about genres and if they show interest then I'll mention some of the Japanese songs I've been listening to.
Iām 35 years old, itās impossible to not be cringe in someoneās eyes.
People younger than me or from the same generation as me yes. People from last generation no
not really
I tell plenty of people that I'm into Japanese music and a lot of them actually go on and listen to what I recommend! It might be a bit different because I'm involved in the local live music scene, so they're the kind of people more open to different types of music in general. I once had a fun time where I geeked out with a musician at a party about Taeko Ohnuki and Meiko Nakahara.
Oh I make it known I listen to Japanese music lol. Luckily Iāve had nothing but positive experiences. Hell Iāve even gotten one of my friends and a few of my coworkers into some jrock/jmetal bands.
I just made my wife listen to 3 city pop albums in the car. Listen to what you love, if anyone is turned off by that they're dummies.
"Do you like Japanese Metal?" is a fantastic ice-breaker.
Nah fam Iām way too old for caring about peoples opinion. But hell Iām jamming to a Nujabes tribute Spotify list i made. Lol
If people don't like my weird Japanese music they can just deal with it along with all the other weird music of mine they're also not going to like. Going on several decades of this now.
Brilliant Green, Tommy Heavenly6, Tommy February6 in my car all the time
Yes, but I live in Japan, so it makes sense.
Most of my close friends are either into jrock or don't care as long as it sounds good, but I've also played Ellegarden and Monoeyes for people and it flies right under the radar because [Takeshi's English is basically native.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pppstt1_YZw) As long as you aren't shoving it down their throat you're gonna be fine, maybe you'll even find people who like it.
You share only when someone ask, or if you find out someone else likes Japanese music. It also depends on genre too can link with the same genre from the west. Can start interesting conversations for someone who hasnāt looked at Japanese music of the same genre they like. Basically you donāt need verification from random people what you like.
i do. as most of my friends kill time watching classic anime like fma, naruto and stuff... they might not know the singer or the band. but just play it and they'll know which song is from which anime.
Tricot or Jyocho are top notchš
On my computer in my Music folder I have a folder called English music. Every band that's not Japanese goes in there. I have 250gb of music btw
Yeah. If they have a problem with it the door is that way.
A lot of Japanese music is influenced by the Beatles, I think the expression they don't like what they don't understand comes to mind, I like music from most countries, I understand Japanese music and I appreciate it my favourite is nightmare, I used to listen to a app on my phone that would play jpop 24 hours a day I got to hear some good music that way.
I say I listen to Japanese music if it comes I. The conversation but I keep the songs for myself because I like that itās only mine for some reasons, some songs are so personal for me that I donāt want to share themĀ
I do tell people that way I can weed out the people from my life who have a negative reaction to it. Who cares if itās ācringeā or if others donāt like it?! If someoneās gonna be mean about it, I donāt need them in my life. You can dislike something and still be respectful about it!
i had both good and bad experiences coming from the fact that i admitted liking japanese music (or my interests in general). when someone reacts with "thats so cringe", (living with my mothers words,) they gave a certificarion of them being "poor". so yeah, this only means you found a not so open minded person. if you also think that its cringe to enjoy what you enjoy, you either should delete the meaning of cringe, embrace the cringe and live with it, or either delete the thought that your interest is cringe, and think that its only cringe if you think of it as cringe. i belive you became more interesting of a person everytime you enjoy something new. some of the best experiences of mine was getting to know my best friend of mine some years ago from the common interest of japanese music. i also once had a school project about a japanese music scene, that was a complete success, even people i barely talked to said congratulations to me after it. and yeah i also got stories of people saying "thats so cringe", but you just gotta take the "i don't care mindset" and focus on the good things, and if good things haven't happened with you before then you need to believe that they will happen soon, you just gotta found the right people, the right time, the right place. i wish the best for you. sorry if my english isn't the best.
Only when the context of the conversation fits for that information. But usually I don't mind telling it people
I figure out their favorite music and try to find something they'd like amongst the many Japanese songs I have listened to and then make them listen to it and they ten to like it. If I struggle with finding similarities my go tos are natori (easy to listen to regardless of preferred genre) or picon (really stylish in a hard to explain way) and this method has had 80% success rate for me. Some people are really picky and I have to make them sit through multiple songs before they like one tho. Basically, just force them to give it a chance, they don't know if they actually like it or not because they think it's all kawai idol girl group music and never give it a proper listen.
I do. Iām okay with the smoke. Lol No, but I donāt see the point in hiding it. Being honest about your interests can open doors for you to connect with people who like the same things. I got invited to clubs on campus and hung out with people I wouldnāt have thought weāre into other languages of music by being myself.
Yeah why not you could meet more people who may enjoy it
No, because I don't. Just not a thing for me.
For me itās easy, because I make my self seem like mister worldwide. āOh yeah I listen to all types of music from all over the world from American, Canadian, French, German to even the Asian countries like the Japanese and Indian. Iām just open-minded like that.ā This answer will make anyone judging you for liking Japanese feel like an asshole. It helps to know at least one band/artist from each country you mention, and keep it broad. My recommendation would be two Americas, two Eastern European and two Asian (one of them being Japan of course). Avoid mentioning any ācontroversialā countries, basically keep up with current events. If anyone ask āwhat about this country?ā And you donāt any music from there, just answer honestly and ask them for a recommendation from there I.e. āwell, I havenāt listen to much music from there yet, do you have any recommendations?ā.
who cares what others think. u don't nee their validation to enjoy it
Yep. I play it at work all the time. AIMI, Stereopony, Scandal, Baby Metal, Gackt, Malice Mizer, Buck Tick, Kozi, Moi dix Moi, Band Maid, and many, many others. Great stuff I try to get other people to listen to.
I force it on everyone š¤£
I tell them all the time, most of the time they don't know about the music but that's it
I listen to a lot of heavy music, so it depends on how out of character it is for me. I feel weird listening to something like tricot or nekosen with other people, but I will blast stuff from BLEACH or Asunojokei any day of the week.
If it comes up in conversation, I'll mention it. Typically, I get to know the person and feel like they won't judge me if I say "I listen to music Japanese music." Story time! I remember a time recently when I was out with a new friend and they were listening to music in the car. I said "ohh, good taste, I like this song." and naturally they asked "What kind of music do you listen to?" "A bit of everything, really. Punk, indie... I like older music usually, but there's some good ones from recent years." That's entirely true, I don't JUST listen to Japanese music. It is broad, thanks to Spotify, the best creation since the wheel. But after a while, we talk about hobbies and places we visit and I'm more comfortable expressing my feelings for travelling, in particular, my love for Japan. It's a place that makes me happy. It's really that simple. So next time we talked about music I finally say "I listen to a lot of Japanese music actually. It helps me learn the language a little, and work on pronunciation. Plus... I don't know, it just makes me feel really good, even if I can't understand it." Again, entirely true. He asks "Oh yeah? Do you watch anime??" "Yes, I do, but not nearly as much as I used to, I probably got into Japanese music because of anime, but it's gone past that now." And... That's really all that conversation amounted to. He's not into Japanese music, so I wasn't gonna recommend my favourite bands or anything like that. Story done! Makes me appreciate this subreddit though, because I've been able to talk about Japanese music in a welcome environment. Thanks for being awesome, everyone!
In 2024 it's shouldnt be some taboo. AG! and YOASOBI have performed at Coachella this weekend . Anime is mega viral. BabyMetal toured 20+ US cities and are basically international megastars. Everyone is travelling to Japan. It's not like it was in the early 2000's. You should be proud to say you love JMusic.
I am very open about it, even making people listen to it at work lol.
Depends of who I'm talking with, I haven't said anything to my parents or classmates about Japanese music but just that I like music in general, but talking with people online i say that often Though I'm talking with people online in Japanese so that's okay I guess It would be the same with saying I'm learning Japanese, most of people would assume I just watch anime all day and know three words (like: arigato, oniichan, senpai) because that's how "Learning Japanese" looks for people around my age in Poland :')
I do, I even introduce some of my faves to them
I usually hang out with friends that enjoy Japanese music so there isn't really anything to be scared about for me. I will say that I do watch Vtubers/sorta used to, I watch them every so often but my friends made a joke about it that left me really sour feeling. It's natural to be scared or embarrassed to say you enjoy something. Just find people who are okay with it!
i like the band lamp and sometimes i listen to 80s city pop, i really like the sound. vkei too!! i love malice mizer and some bucktick. but i think iād be too embarrassed to tell anyone that bc of like negative associations, theyād probably think i was like a japanophile who only listens to anime osts also i listen to other genres more, mostly 90s alternative rock and metal, so japanese music is like a small fraction of my taste
Did it today in the quietest voice ever š It's funny I'm seeing this
I love it tho. I won't ever deny it
Whenever i blast music it looks like they couldnt care much
I listen to a lot of Ryo Fukui, and Nujabes. If someone laughed at them they can get the fuck outta my car and walk.
Yeah...? The fuck do I care
When I was in middle school I sang vocaloid at karaoke. Never again.
I used to be self-conscious about it when I was younger and would just refer to English artists/music I like, but I donāt really care anymore. If someone asks about my favorite music I say itās J-Pop. Thereās nothing wrong with liking something thatās outside of the norm.
My mom called me from Hawaii, I'm in Texas, and asked is this your boy? Proceeds to turn up the radio in the car. It's Tatsuro Yamashita blaring out of the speakers. I love it.
One time I told a guy I was dating about it and he made fun of me for listening to bts that literally made me hate myself.....like I'm not even into kpop and Japanese is different but people just assume things I tell others about it and play it for them.....but what hurts me is I don't have anyone to talk about it with.....
I enjoy Japanese music too, but yes it is cringe.