J-pop, natively also known simply as pops, is the name for a form of popular music that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in traditional Japanese music, but significantly in 1960s pop and rock music, such as The Beatles and The Beach Boys, which led to Japanese rock bands such as Happy End fusing rock with Japanese music in the early 1970s. J-pop was further defined by new wave and crossover fusion acts of the late 1970s such as Yellow Magic Orchestra and Southern All Stars, then Eurobeat in the early 1990s, namely Namie Amuro.
Mika Nakashima is a Japanese singer and actress. Five of her studio albums, one of her mini-albums and one of her compilation albums have reached number one in Japan's Oricon album chart. She also embarked on an acting career, most notably as Nana Osaki in the live action film adaptations of Nana. She has sold over 10 million records in Japan.
Beni Arashiro is a Japanese R&B singer, who debuted in 2004 under the Avex Trax label. In 2008, Arashiro left Avex Trax and transferred to Universal Music Japan where she started to perform as simply Beni.
Miho Katō, better known by her stage name of Miliyah Kato is a Japanese pop and urban singer, songwriter, fashion designer, and author. In 2003, Kato started her career as a singer when she provided vocal to Reggae Disco Rockers' song "Cherry Oh! Baby". Her hip-hop-influenced debut album, Rose (2005) was certified platinum in Japan. She gained further recognition when she was featured in M-Flo's track "One Day" (2005). Kato's second studio album Diamond Princess achieved minor commercial success, certified gold by the RIAJ and peaking at number five in Japan. Her third studio album, Tokyo Star (2008) yielded her first top-ten single, "La La La", which was later certified double-platinum for its ringtone sales. Kato's first compilation album Best Destiny (2008) became her first number-one album, certified platinum in Japan. Her fourth studio album Ring became her best-selling album, and yielded three top-ten singles: "Sayonara Baby", "20 -Cry-", and "Love Forever", which was certified million in Japan. The song from the album, "Aitai" were certified triple-platinum despite being not released as a single. Her fifth studio album Heaven (2010) debuted atop on the Oricon chart and has yielded two platinum singles, "Why" and "Last Love".
Shota Shimizu is a Japanese singer-songwriter and musician from Yao, Osaka, Japan, who debuted in 2008. On June 1, 2008, Shimizu performed at Central Park in New York City, USA, during the annual Japan Day Festival. Shota Shimizu went to a local Christian school in Osaka where he learned how to sing gospel music. He became captivated with soul music, which is how his music career started. He was inspired by Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, and Ray Charles.
Thelma Aoyama is a Japanese pop and R&B singer. She is part Afro-Trinidadian and Japanese.
Soba ni Iru ne is Thelma Aoyama's second official single, released on January 23, 2008, featuring SoulJa. It is an answer song to her previous collaboration with SoulJa, "Koko ni Iru yo." B-side "My dear friend" was used as the ending theme to anime Shion no Ō, and the opening theme to television show Ryuuha-R.
Diary is Japanese Pop/R&B singer Thelma Aoyama's debut album. It was released on March 26, 2008 in Japan.
Dohzi-T is a Japanese rapper, singer and songwriter who has been active since 1989.
Love!: Thelma Love Song Collection is a compilation of love songs by Thelma Aoyama. It was released on February 11, 2009 in Japan and became her first #1 album on the Japanese Oricon Weekly Chart. The last track "Again" is a cover of the Janet Jackson song of the same name. The album was preceded by the four singles "Soba ni Iru ne", "Nando mo", "Mamoritai Mono" and "Daikkirai Demo Arigatou". The DVD section includes music videos for these singles. The album is certified Gold for shipment of 100,000 copies.
"Mō Nido To..." was the first single that Beni Arashiro released under her new name BENI and label Universal Japan.
"Mō Ichi do..." is a double-A side single released by artist Dohzi-T. The main song is a collaboration song with Beni. The song sold over 2,000,000 ringtone downloads and was later released as a single. The single managed to reach the number seven spot weekly on the Oricon ranking and was a long charting hit selling over 80,000 copies. The single is ranked as #93 on the yearly Oricon chart.
The discography of Japanese contemporary R&B singer and Thelma Aoyama consists of seven studio albums, six compilation albums, one extended play, one remix album, one cover album, two video albums and numerous solo and collaboration singles. Aoyama debuted as a musician in 2007 under Universal Music Japan, and became famous through her collaboration song with rapper SoulJa, "Koko ni Iru yo". Aoyama's version "Soba ni Iru ne" became one of the most successful songs of all time in Japan, certified for three million ringtone downloads and three million downloads by the RIAJ.
Tribute: Maison de M-Flo is a tribute album to M-Flo released by Rhythm Zone on September 16, 2009. The songs are newly remixed or have a new arrangement and each song is covered by a different artist.
Count Down TV is a Japanese late-night music television program, broadcast on TBS since 1993. The program is shown weekly, and features a Japanese music video hit chart countdown, live performances from musicians and music information. It is presented by three CGI-animated hosts.
Journey is the second album by Shimizu Shota, released on March 3, 2010. It was released in two versions: a regular edition (¥3,059) and a limited edition including a DVD (¥3,500).
Best Destiny is pop singer Miliyah Kato's fourth album, and first greatest hits collection. She described Best Destiny as the "Sampling Best [of·Miliyah Kato as a R&B musician]". It was released on November 5, 2008 and debuted on at number 1 on the Oricon weekly chart. The album sold 92,423 copies that week, becoming her first number 1 album on the charts. Best Destiny is certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan. One single was taken from the album, "Sayonara Baby/Koi Shiteru" six weeks before the album's release. The second A-side "Koi Shiteru" was only featured.
Heaven is Miliyah Kato's fifth studio album. It was released on July 28, 2010.
Vivid is the debut studio album by Japanese hip-hop/rap artist Daisuke "KM-MARKIT" Kawai. The album failed to chart on Oricon, despite featuring an array of popular artists, including ZEEBRA, Koda Kumi, Miliyah Kato and UZI among others.
Mark Out is Japanese rapper KM-MARKIT's second studio album. Unlike his debut album, which failed to chart, Mark Out charted at No. 97 on the Oricon charts.
