RAG Music
Lovely music

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!

Playlist

A roundup of Japanese artists active overseas
show_chartTitlePlaylistReview
1PA PA YA!! (feat. F.HERO)BABYMETAL
PA PA YA!! (feat. F.HERO)BABYMETALplay_arrow
An idol rock band that’s extremely popular overseas
2The BeginningONE OK ROCK
The BeginningONE OK ROCKplay_arrow
ONE OK ROCK, one of Japan’s most popular and representative rock bands
3Glimpse of UsJoji
Glimpse of UsJojiplay_arrow
Popular for its fusion of R&B and electronic
4REACHING FOR THE SKYMAN WITH A MISSION
REACHING FOR THE SKYMAN WITH A MISSIONplay_arrow
MAN WITH A MISSION's global success
5XSRina Sawayama
XSRina Sawayamaplay_arrow
A talented singer-songwriter from Niigata, based in London
6SOMETHING AIN’T RIGHTXG
SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHTXGplay_arrow
XG is a girls group attracting attention both in Japan and abroad.
7ZenBAND-MAID
ZenBAND-MAIDplay_arrow
A band whose charm lies in the gap between maid outfits and rock
8I’d rather die.Fuji Kaze
I'd rather die.Fuji Kazeplay_arrow
Fujii Kaze draws attention with his diverse music
9WHAT’S MY NAME?MIYAVI
WHAT’S MY NAME?MIYAVIplay_arrow
Global success of the Samurai Guitarist
10HELLO (from The Tiger’s Apprentice)atarashii gakkou no rīdāzu
HELLO (from The Tiger’s Apprentice)atarashii gakkou no rīdāzuplay_arrow
A four-member dance unit with a Showa-era vibe
11Racing into the NightYOASOBI
Racing into the NightYOASOBIplay_arrow
YOASOBI, the music duo dominating J-pop
12peace signYonezu Kenshi
peace signYonezu Kenshiplay_arrow
Kenshi Yonezu: a cutting-edge J-pop Vocaloid producer and an internationally popular figure
13The Tom and Jerry ShowUehara Hiromi
The Tom and Jerry ShowUehara Hiromiplay_arrow
A Berklee graduate and a jazz pianist active on the world stage
14Bling-Bang-Bang-BornCreepy Nuts
Bling-Bang-Bang-BornCreepy Nutsplay_arrow
Creepy Nuts is an innovative rap duo.
15The Revelationcoldrain
The Revelationcoldrainplay_arrow
A leading figure among Japan’s loud rock bands
16Legend: A Journey Through IcelandMono
Legend: A Journey Through IcelandMonoplay_arrow
An international instrumental band that conveys emotions without words
17THE FINALDIR EN GREY
THE FINALDIR EN GREYplay_arrow
An innovative band that fuses metal and folk music
18MonolithCROSSFAITH
MonolithCROSSFAITHplay_arrow
Innovative metalcore band receives high praise overseas
19Excuse me, I’ll be leaving first.hanabie
Excuse me, I’ll be leaving first.hanabieplay_arrow
Hanabie’s major-label debut that established the Harajuku core
20Metaphor feat. FeryquitousIchika Nito
Metaphor feat. FeryquitousIchika Nitoplay_arrow
The success of Ichika Nito, a guitarist popular on social media
21La CampanellaTsujii Nobuyuki
La CampanellaTsujii Nobuyukiplay_arrow
A completely blind genius pianist whose music captivates the world
22First LoveUtada Hikaru
First LoveUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
Bilingual artist Hikaru Utada active on the world stage
23My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPS
My Past Life, Many Lifetimes AgoRADWIMPSplay_arrow
RADWIMPS is a Japanese rock band gaining attention around the world.
24The RumblingSiM
The RumblingSiMplay_arrow
A reggae-punk band gaining attention both in Japan and abroad
25Best Part of UsAmPm feat. Michael Kaneko
Best Part of UsAmPm feat. Michael Kanekoplay_arrow
The dance music duo Ampam appears
26Future In The SkySAHAJi
Future In The SkySAHAJiplay_arrow
A brother band from Toyama with a UK rock vibe—ones to watch.
27FUSION”&”edgePerfume
FUSION"&"edgePerfumeplay_arrow
A three-member idol group taking on the world with technopop
28Crimson Lotus FlowerLiSA
Crimson Lotus FlowerLiSAplay_arrow
Demon Slayer OP singer LiSA is hugely popular overseas
29PONPONPONkyarī pamyu pamyu
PONPONPONkyarī pamyu pamyuplay_arrow
Captivating the world with cute music and personality
30N.E.O.CHAI
N.E.O.CHAIplay_arrow
CHAI creates a unique sound that fuses a wide range of genres.
31NIGHT DANCERimase
NIGHT DANCERimaseplay_arrow
The rise of imase and his musical appeal
32Your Dreamland4s4ki
Your Dreamland4s4kiplay_arrow
The appeal of 4s4ki, known for her diverse music
33ObsessedAyumu Imazu
ObsessedAyumu Imazuplay_arrow
While rooted in R&B and pop, dance…
34EdisonSuiyōbi no Campanella
EdisonSuiyōbi no Campanellaplay_arrow
A band gaining attention for their genreless music
35ENDLESS RAINX JAPAN
ENDLESS RAINX JAPANplay_arrow
X JAPAN is a globally renowned metal band.
36Battle Without Honor Or HumanityHotei Tomoyasu
Battle Without Honor Or HumanityHotei Tomoyasuplay_arrow
Guitarist of the rock band BOØWY, versatile across musical genres
37Song of VictoryDIAMANTES
Song of VictoryDIAMANTESplay_arrow
The appeal of DIAMANTES, a Latin band from Okinawa
38I’m crazy about youUtada Hikaru
I'm crazy about youUtada Hikaruplay_arrow
Hikaru Utada revolutionizes the music scene with R&B
39Love me, love me, love mekikuo
Love me, love me, love mekikuoplay_arrow
Kikuo’s global success as a Vocaloid producer
40Team friendsChiba Yūki
Team friendsChiba Yūkiplay_arrow
Yūki Chiba, a Fusionist of Music and Art
41Main Theme from the NHK Taiga Drama ‘Reach Beyond the Blue Sky’ / NHK Symphony OrchestraHirokami Jun’ichi
Main Theme from the NHK Taiga Drama 'Reach Beyond the Blue Sky' / NHK Symphony OrchestraHirokami Jun'ichiplay_arrow
Junichi Hirokami's passionate conducting career
42ComedyHoshino Gen
ComedyHoshino Genplay_arrow
Gen Hoshino, a musician active across diverse talents
43Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 / Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony OrchestraŌno Kazushi
Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 / Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony OrchestraŌno Kazushiplay_arrow
The activities and music of Kazushi Ono, a conductor Japan is proud of
44Matsuzaki Shigeru
Matsuzaki Shigeruplay_arrow
Exceptionally skilled singer, the dark-skinned Shigeru Matsuzaki.
45GOD_iNumber_i
GOD_iNumber_iplay_arrow
Number_i is sharing new J-POP music with the world.
46Tokyo DriftTeriyaki Boyz
Tokyo DriftTeriyaki Boyzplay_arrow
Japanese music group TERIYAKI BOYZ active abroad
47Symphonie fantastique / Kanagawa Philharmonic OrchestraOoue Eiji
Symphonie fantastique / Kanagawa Philharmonic OrchestraOoue Eijiplay_arrow
Eiji Oue is a passionate conductor active across multiple genres.
48Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, D 485 / Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony OrchestraKoizumi Kazuhiro
Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, D 485 / Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony OrchestraKoizumi Kazuhiroplay_arrow
Kazuhiro Koizumi is a conductor who excels at Romantic symphonies.
49Variations on a Theme by HaydnNumajiri Ryūsuke
Variations on a Theme by HaydnNumajiri Ryūsukeplay_arrow
Numaijiri Ryoten, active as a conductor, composer, and pianist
50Mahler: Symphony No. 1 / Yomiuri Symphony OrchestraIimori Taijiro
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 / Yomiuri Symphony OrchestraIimori Taijiroplay_arrow
Taijiro Iimori is a master conductor of Wagner.
51Wish You Could Come feat. SaticaYaffle
Wish You Could Come feat. SaticaYaffleplay_arrow
A musician who transcends a wide range of genres
52Heralding springyama
Heralding springyamaplay_arrow
Artist yama, garnering attention for their unique musicality
53A Single PetalSTEREOPONY
A Single PetalSTEREOPONYplay_arrow
STEREOPONY, a girls' rock band from Okinawa
54Leina
Leinaplay_arrow
A 14-year-old debut singer influenced by Western music
55sShe Her Her Hers
sShe Her Her Hersplay_arrow
A beautiful shoegaze-style band
561999Hitsuji Bungaku
1999Hitsuji Bungakuplay_arrow
Music of delicacy and power, Hitsujibungaku
57Riotharu nemuri
Riotharu nemuriplay_arrow
From Kanagawa, Haru Nemuri is attracting attention with her distinctive music.