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!
- 【2026】A Collection of Beloved Japanese Classics Worldwide【JAPAN MUSIC】
- Ranking of Popular Japanese Music/J-POP Artists Among People in Their 20s [2026]
- Popular Japanese Music / J-POP Artist Rankings [2026]
- Skyrocketing from social media to global attention! Yuka’s most popular songs ranking
- Including global smash hits! Anime songs recommended for Gen Z
- Ranking of Japanese Music/J-POP Artists Popular Among Teens [2026]
- Popular and hit songs trending on TikTok
- Gen Z listeners, take note! Great songs that color the J-pop scene
- Male singers with great voices: a collection of cool, seductive vocals
- Only famous artists! Anime songs that energize the Reiwa era
- A roundup of Japanese artists active overseas
- Today's Recommended J-POP: A Collection of Japanese Hit Songs You’ll Want to Listen to Today
- Popular anime songs you often hear on YouTube Shorts
Japanese Artists Active Overseas (41–50)
Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 / Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony OrchestraŌno Kazushi
Kazushi Ono is a conductor Japan is proud of, who continues to lead at the forefront of both orchestral and operatic fields on the world stage.
After winning the Toscanini International Conducting Competition in 1987, he launched an international career and went on to serve as music director at institutions including La Monnaie in Belgium and the Opéra National de Lyon in France.
His achievements are evidenced by numerous awards at home and abroad, beginning with the 1997 Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award.
The music born from Ono’s baton brilliantly fuses meticulous architectural beauty with passionate expressiveness.
At the New National Theatre, Tokyo, he has boldly championed world premieres of contemporary operas as artistic director, constantly opening up new horizons in classical music.
He is a maestro you will want to hear if you wish to savor everything from timeless masterpieces to the cutting edge.
Matsuzaki Shigeru
Shigeru Matsuzaki, a singer beloved across generations for his dark complexion—his trademark—and his overwhelming vocal prowess, made his solo debut in 1970 with “8,760 Times I Love You.” Since then, he has captivated audiences with numerous hit songs.
His 1977 release “Ai no Memory” was a massive success, selling over 640,000 copies and earning accolades including the Japan Record Awards’ Vocal Performance Award.
That same year, he made his first appearance on NHK’s Kōhaku Uta Gassen.
He has also received international recognition, such as the Best Vocalist Award at the Mallorca Music Festival.
His powerful voice and distinctive singing style are his hallmarks.
His performances on music programs like the Japan-Korea Top Ten Show have drawn attention, boosting his popularity in South Korea as well.
In 2015, September 6 was designated “Shigeru Matsuzaki Day,” and he launched the “Kuro Fes” music festival, continuing to charm many fans with his unique appeal.
He is an artist highly recommended for music lovers who cherish great singing.
GOD_iNumber_i
Number_i captivates with the overwhelming dance performances of its three members.
While rooted in J-pop, their innovative style deftly weaves in rap and dance, bringing a fresh breeze to the music scene.
They made a simultaneous worldwide debut with a digital single in January 2024, achieving a sensational launch that surpassed 10 million views in just three days.
Their album “No.O -ring-” topped the annual digital album rankings and earned numerous accolades, including the Special Award at the 66th Japan Record Awards.
In September, they performed at the major U.S.
music festival Coachella, showcasing their presence both domestically and internationally.
Their blend of strong vocals and dynamic dance performances is sure to resonate with anyone who wants to fully enjoy entertainment.
Tokyo DriftTeriyaki Boyz
TERIYAKI BOYZ have been active overseas, working with Kanye West as a producer and performing at the NEW YORK-TOKYO MUSIC Festival.
This song is the theme for the film The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, and it’s said to be their most popular track abroad.
Even if large-scale promotions of overseas activities aren’t common in Japan, it’s exciting to see Japanese artists like them gaining attention.
Symphonie fantastique / Kanagawa Philharmonic OrchestraOoue Eiji
Eiji Oue is a conductor who channels the passion he inherited from his mentors, Seiji Ozawa and Leonard Bernstein, into his baton, thrilling audiences around the world.
Ranging from classical to contemporary music, his repertoire is broad, and his performances paint vivid colors in listeners’ hearts like energetic works of art.
After winning a competition in Salzburg in 1981, he gained international attention, and his album “The Firebird” with the Minnesota Orchestra was nominated for a Grammy Award.
He is also known for becoming the first Japanese conductor to take the stage at the Bayreuth Festival in 2005, as well as for the charming anecdote of conducting in a traditional happi coat as a devoted Hanshin Tigers fan.
He is the perfect conductor for those who want to experience how a conductor can transform music, or who wish to feel the fiery energy of classical music.
Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, D 485 / Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony OrchestraKoizumi Kazuhiro
A maestro who captivated even the great Karajan in his youth and leapt onto the world stage.
Kazuhiro Koizumi excels in grand symphonies from the Romantic to the modern era, known for his warm sonority and weighty, well-crafted music-making.
In 1973, he won the Karajan International Conducting Competition and made his debut conducting the Berlin Philharmonic.
Among his notable recordings is the acclaimed album “Tchaikovsky: Symphonies Nos.
4, 5 & 6.” The episode of his appearance at the Salzburg Festival at age 27 in the same year is also well known, and his music is distinguished by a reassuring sense of fulfillment that meets audience expectations.
Perfect for those who want to immerse themselves in dramatic sonorities or savor the beauty of orthodox classical music at length.
It may also be a great opportunity to enjoy the differences in sound that conductors can bring.
Variations on a Theme by HaydnNumajiri Ryūsuke
Ryusuke Numajiri is active on the world stage in three roles—conductor, composer, and pianist.
His talent blossomed rapidly after winning the Besançon International Competition for Young Conductors in 1990.
He is also renowned as an opera conductor, and the Wagner productions he led as Artistic Director of Biwako Hall were lauded even in Germany, the composer’s homeland.
His illustrious list of honors, including the Medal with Purple Ribbon, eloquently attests to his achievements.
His recordings, such as the complete Beethoven symphonies, are also highly regarded.
If you want to experience how a conductor can transform music, or explore the multifaceted appeal of a single musician, attending one of Numajiri’s concerts may become an unforgettable experience.