10 Surprising Facts About Japanese City Popular Icons

City Pop is more than just a sleek synthesis line, driving along the seafront expressway or on a rainy night with neon lights in Tokyo. It is a musical style that captures the essence of a particular moment in the late 1970s and 1980s Japan: an era shaped by economic prosperity and cultural transpollination. Although the term “urban pop” at that time was not widely used (the radar of many in Japan today), the sound has quietly established a global follower in recent years.

In addition to the genre’s delightful baseline and earworm chorus, there is a fascinating network of stories that rarely draw attention to. Some artists abandoned the instant classics and disappeared. Others lead dual life – as professional wrestlers, authors or actors. There is an unexpected connection with Pokemon, Nintendo and even Titanic.

Here are 10 little-known facts about iconic stars in the urban pop genre. How much do you know?

Image courtesy of Daily Shincho Inc

#10: Mariya Takeuchi and Tatsuro Yamashita are Powerful Couples of City Pop

Obviously, if not mentioning the iconic, defined song “Plastic love“The role of Mariya Takeuchi, essentially taking the rebirth of the genre as an international phenomenon when the track was re-uploaded to YouTube.

Takeuchi Married this Tatsuro Yamashita is another urban popular superstar – they have a daughter together since 1982. Yamashita is not only her husband, but also the producer behind many songs, including “Plastic Love” and “Single again“Her album type. Yamashita even joined her One of her live performances In 2000’s Nippon Budokan, his voice stole the performance.

Image provided by Japanese Universal Music

#9: Takako Mamiya releases an album and disappears

In urban pop music, Takako Mamiya is a mystery. She only released one album, Journey of Love1982, the tracks such as “Journey of Love” and”Mayonaka is not kidding“A sultry heat seeped out, the aura of the city mature mixed with the ennui.

Despite its current cult status, the album was underperformed on the Oricon charts when it first came out, Mamiya herself disappeared from the public’s eyes shortly after her marriage. Her disappearance only adds to her mystery, while fans continue to search for more information about her life. In recent years, Journey of Love Highly requested by urban popular fans Officially reissue Tower record under Japanese Universal Music.

Image provided by Japanese Universal Music

#8: “Flying Chinatown” singer Yasuha has a professional wrestling match

Yasuha, also known as Yasuha Ebina, was in the early 1980s with her stretch, lively single “Flying Chinatown. “Her story didn’t end in the studio, she herself was a little confused in public. rakugo (A Japanese oral comedy) Performer Koasa Shunputei, who later experienced a high-profile and controversial divorce, announced the famous divorce at a press conference in front of the golden folding screen. Yasuha later published a memoir called All Kaiun Rikon – or Good luck with divorce – About the experience.

She also participated in a professional wrestling competition in 2008. here …To some extent, a real piglet was involved in the competition…

#7: Pokemon’s Wobbuffet is based on Yasuha’s father

Another unexpected twist is added to Yasuha’s story: Her father, Hayashiya Sanpei I, is a famous Rakugo comedian with a unique posture (slapping his forehead) and the slogan: “That’s it, ma’am!” directly inspired the Pokemon character Wobbuffet. In Japan, Wobbuffet’s name Sonans reflects theon-in-su” or “That’s it. ”

Image provided by realsound.jp

#6: Mariya Takeuchi and Anri form a duo called Peach & Apricot

In 2021, two of the most legendary female stars in the genre – Mariya Takeuchi and Anri (aka eiko kawashima) form a music duo called Peach & Apricot. The name is a nod to their early hottest: takeuchi’s “fushigi na peach Pie“Anri’s first album Apricot jam. Together they released their first song,Look at you”,” November 3, 2021, reunite with 80s pop master Tetsuji Hayashi.

Image courtesy of Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings Inc.

#5: Junko Yagami becomes June Stanley, moves to California

The voice behindTasogare has no Bay City” (stylized as Dusk Bay City) is also known as June Stanley. After marrying British music producer John Stanley, she has lived in the Simi Valley, California since 1986. In 2022, she became the first Japanese singer Hall of Fame to be awarded by a prize based on Washington, DC DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, DC, in 2022.

Image courtesy of Tower Records Japan Inc.

#4: Tomoko Aran is also a published writer

Tomoko Aran, the singer behind it”Midnight pretending“not only musical talent – she is also a writer. In 1985, she published a series called ” sabishigariya no omocha bako ((Imitate loneliness). Over the years, she also released a children’s book Soshiki-Gokko ((Pretend to be a funeral), and a called Koi has no road sign ((Love you signpost). Maybe it’s the typewriter on the cover of her famous album Fuyu Kukan Is her author a secret nod?

Image courtesy of Tower Records Japan Inc.

#3: Taekwondo cross-writing music for Mother 3 and animals

Taekwondo, known for its exquisite, atmospheric sound on the track “4:00 am“and “Tokai”, who has been active in music for a long time in the original City Pop Wave. In 2006, she performed “We miss you ~ Love theme ~” for Mother 3cult classic game boy Advance RPG. She also sang the final credits song Animal Cross: Movielinking her music to two of Nintendo’s most popular franchises.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kogx4yv8eo8

#2: Hiromi Go teams up with Yuzuru Hanyu and plays a disillusioned salary cowboy

Hiromi Go, one of Manchester City’s early stars, continues to appear in a surprising place. In 2014, he performed live in Ice Fantasy, a toured Japanese ice show featuring Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu. Together they performed Go’s emotional ballad “Ienai Yo” (“I Can’t Say”).

Hiromi Go also appeared in the 1994 Canadian films early in his career Warrior cowboyhe plays Yutaka Sato’s salary, he is fantasized about the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and moves to Montana to realize his dream of becoming a cowboy.

Image courtesy of Tower Records Japan Inc.

#1 Haruomi Hosono’s grandfather survives the Titanic

this”Koi wa momoiroThe singer and founding member of the Yellow Magic Orchestra – has a family story that is as legendary as his music. His grandfather, Masabumi Hosono, was the only Japanese survivor of the Titanic. Although he escaped in his life, he was his life, he was Return home shamefully Because I don’t fall down along the boat. However, his grandson will later continue to leave a legacy, blending funk and synthesis stations into the defined sound, which helps get City Pop onto the map. Needless to say, if he died in the Titanic, we would have missed a lot!

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