Japanese City Pop Stars' Hidden Tales
The Rise of Japanese City Pop
Japanese city pop, a retro-futuristic musical genre that emerged in the late 1970s, continues to captivate music lovers and curious listeners around the world. This genre is characterized by its optimistic sounds, blending elements of funk, jazz, synthpop, and R&B. It evokes an era of carefree living, vibrant urban development, and technological promise. Behind the smooth melodies and danceable rhythms often lie personal stories that are as surprising as they are little known.
Haruomi Hosono: A Legacy of Survival, Shame, and Renewal
Haruomi Hosono is recognized as a pioneer of Japanese electronic music. As the founder of the legendary Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO), he is also the composer of the song "Koi wa Momoiro," which has become emblematic of the city pop scene. Few people know that his family history is linked to one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century: the sinking of the Titanic.
His grandfather, Masabumi Hosono, was a Japanese civil servant on assignment in Europe in 1912. When he boarded the Titanic, he had no idea he would be the only Japanese survivor. Although he managed to escape the sinking in a lifeboat, his return to Japan was marked by a wave of public shame. In a society where honor was paramount, he was criticized for not having perished with the other passengers.
This stigma weighed heavily on the family's memory. Yet, decades later, Haruomi Hosono transformed this history into a creative force. He embraced genres then little explored in Japan, blending Western electronic music, Japanese pop, and traditional influences. Through YMO and his solo projects, he laid the foundations of city pop while inspiring entire generations of Japanese and international artists.
Yasuha and the Unexpected Origin of Wobbuffet
Another unexpected revelation is the direct link between the world of city pop and that of Pokémon. Yasuha, a singer and media personality active in the 1980s, is known for her characterful songs, such as "Flyday Chinatown." Her family heritage also had a surprising impact on pop culture.
Her father, Hayashiya Sanpei I, was a renowned master of rakugo, a Japanese art form of humorous storytelling. He had a distinctive manner of speaking—notably a gesture of tapping his forehead—and a famous phrase:
"Sō nan su!" , which can be translated as "That's how it is, madam!" This verbal tic and facial expression directly inspired the creators of the famous Pokémon Wobbuffet (Sonans in Japanese).
The character is known for his theatrical greeting and comedic demeanor, which openly recall Hayashiya's style. The homage is confirmed by several Japanese sources and validated by the local audience's reception, who readily recognize the reference. Thus, a traditional figure of Japanese entertainment has been immortalized in one of the world's most popular cultural phenomena, thanks to an unexpected connection with the city pop scene.
Hiromi Go: From the Music Stage to Ice Cream… and the Wild West
Finally, Hiromi Go, a charismatic figure in 1980s city pop, continues to surprise with the diversity of his artistic career. A successful singer since the 1970s, he gradually adopted the city pop aesthetic with tracks like "Ienai yo," a romantic ballad with sophisticated touches.
It was in 2014, during the "Fantasy on Ice" show, that he made a lasting impression by performing this piece as a duet with Yuzuru Hanyu, Olympic figure skating champion. The event fused live music and ice performance, offering a unique and emotional moment, acclaimed by both music and sports fans.
Far from limiting himself to the Japanese scene, Hiromi Go also ventured into North American cinema. In the Canadian film "Samurai Cowboy" (1994), he plays Yutaka Sato, a disillusioned Tokyo office worker who leaves everything behind to fulfill his childhood dream: becoming a cowboy in Montana. This atypical role reflects a quest for identity between tradition and modernity, reminiscent of the journey of many city pop artists.
A Music Scene with Unexpected Stories
While city pop is currently experiencing a global rediscovery, thanks in particular to YouTube and streaming platforms, its power to fascinate stems as much from its sonic style as from the personal stories of its iconic figures. Haruomi Hosono, Yasuha, and Hiromi Go each illustrate, in their own way, the cultural and human richness of this unique musical era.
Between family heritage, nods to popular culture, and international journeys, Japanese city pop thus goes far beyond the simple nostalgic framework: it is the reflection of a society in change, of bold artists, and of stories worthy of the greatest novels.
