A roundup of Japanese artists active overseas
These days, thanks in part to subscriptions, Japanese music is becoming much easier to enjoy abroad, and its popularity has grown even more!
In this article, we’ll introduce artists who could be called Japan’s stars, attracting fans around the world.
There are artists from a wide range of genres, and you can also feel the impact of hits sparked by anime and social media.
You’ll also notice that singers who are supported overseas sometimes have characteristics that differ from Japan’s mainstream trending artists.
Be sure to listen while enjoying new songs and discoveries!
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Summary of Japanese artists active overseas (31–40)
Battle Without Honor Or HumanityHotei Tomoyasu
A singer-songwriter who debuted as the guitarist of the legendary rock band BOØWY and has showcased multifaceted musical talent through the unit COMPLEX, solo work, and as a producer.
Known for a broad musical palette—digital rock, funk, progressive, techno, house, reggae, rockabilly, jazz—and for continually evolving with each release.
In addition to his prominence in Japan, his global recognition surged when “BATTLE WITHOUT HONOR OR HUMANITY” was used as the main theme in the 2003 film Kill Bill.
He is a Japanese guitarist of international renown who now shares his music from the United Kingdom.
Song of VictoryDIAMANTES
DIAMANTES is a Latin band with the unique background of having emerged from a live music venue in Okinawa City.
Since their formation in 1991, they have established a genre known as “Okinawa Latina,” a brilliant fusion of Latin music and Okinawan traditional music.
Their 1993 album OKINAWA LATINA became explosively popular in Okinawa and led to their major-label debut.
Centered around Alberto Shiroma, a third-generation Japanese Peruvian, they have produced a string of captivating songs, including tunes for Orion Beer commercials, and won the Grand Prix at the first Manila World Music Festival hosted by the Philippine government.
They continue to serve as a bridge connecting the music of Okinawa with the world.
Why not experience the exhilarating sound where passionate Latin rhythms intertwine with the spirit of Ryukyu?
I’m crazy about youUtada Hikaru
Hikaru Utada was born into a musical family and raised in New York.
With her 1998 debut single “Automatic/time will tell,” she sparked an R&B boom in the Japanese music scene.
Her arrival helped popularize a vocal style that set Japanese lyrics to a 16-beat groove.
The following year, her first album “First Love” set a domestic record with about 7.65 million copies sold and won the Japan Gold Disc Award, demonstrating her immense influence.
While R&B forms the core of her sound, she incorporates elements like electronica, resulting in a diverse musicality.
Yet across all her songs, there’s an underlying rhythm that invites a pleasant sway of the body.
Experience that feeling where words and beat become one.
Love me, love me, love mekikuo
Kikuo is a music producer who captivates the world through the internet.
Active since the early 2010s, he has gained attention for works featuring Vocaloid, characterized by unique melodies and profound themes.
His tracks, which fuse pop, electronica, and ambient, have garnered high view counts on YouTube and Niconico.
On Spotify, he achieved the highest global play count for a Vocaloid track and successfully completed the first world tour ever by a Vocaloid producer.
His work has been recognized widely, including being featured in high school music textbooks and profiled in-depth by NHK.
With a singular artistic vision and exceptional musical sensibility, he continues to enthrall listeners worldwide as an artist who expands the possibilities of music across genres.
Team friendsChiba Yūki
Yuki Chiba is bringing a fresh breeze to Japan’s music scene.
His unique sound—blending pop, electronica, and experimental music—has earned high acclaim both in Japan and abroad.
Beyond music, he also showcases his talent in visual art and film.
Active under the name KOHH, he resumed his music career as Yuki Chiba in 2024.
His comeback release, “Team Tomodachi,” has resonated widely, weaving in themes of friendship and social media culture.
Including his collaboration track “Masumi” with American rapper Megan Thee Stallion, his work has found fans overseas as well.
On stage, he captivates audiences with a distinctive world where music and art intertwine.
Perfect for those seeking expression beyond conventional boundaries!
Japanese Artists Active Overseas (41–50)
Main Theme from the NHK Taiga Drama ‘Reach Beyond the Blue Sky’ / NHK Symphony OrchestraHirokami Jun’ichi
Junichi Hirokami is a conductor whose energetic baton sweeps audiences into a whirl of excitement.
Known for his passionate music-making across everything from classical to contemporary repertoire, he burst onto the world stage in 1984 with a unanimous first prize at an international competition at the age of 26.
His performances, where the entire orchestra seems to pulse like a single living organism, stir the hearts of all who watch.
His celebrated partnership with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra—spanning 13 seasons and crowned with the Suntory Music Award—surely remains vivid in the memories of many classical music fans.
If you’re looking to open a new door to classical music or to immerse yourself in the full force of music’s energy, he is a conductor you should experience.
ComedyHoshino Gen
While demonstrating diverse talents as a singer-songwriter, actor, and novelist, he continues to thrive as a global artist.
In 2000, he formed the instrumental band SAKEROCK, and in 2010 he made his solo debut with the album “Baka no Uta.” His unique sound—blending J-pop, dance music, and Black music—has captivated fans in Japan and abroad.
After a miraculous comeback from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, he won the Japan Gold Disc Award with the album “YELLOW DANCER.” A signature song born as a TV drama theme sparked dance videos across social media worldwide, becoming a major catalyst for Gen Hoshino’s growing support overseas.
Masterfully navigating music, film, and writing, he continues to move our hearts across borders.