This week, Michael and I continue our conversation about Kumi Koda, an iconic pop star who pioneered ero-kakkoi with infectious bops and ballads. In this episode, we talk to Michael about his discovery of J-pop, general reflections about Kumi as an artist and what we like, and much more. The playlist for this episode can be found on Youtube Music. The Japanese Music Café, or The J-Café, is a weekly podcast hosted by JD. We interview guests on their experiences and likes around Japanese ...

This week, we welcome Michael to the J-Cafe to have a conversation about Kumi Koda, an iconic pop star who pioneered ero-kakkoi with infectious bops and ballads. In this episode, we talk to Michael about his discovery of J-pop, general reflections about Kumi as an artist and what we like, and much more. We also discuss this article by Yuki Watanabe in the Japan Studies Journal. Check this out if you want to read more about ero-kakkoi! The playlist for this episode can be found on Youtub...

This week, Zach returns to the J-Cafe to have a conversation about Fujii Kaze, a (hot) contemporary pop singer and musician who blends pop sensibilities with city pop, jazz, and classical music. We discuss several of his biggest hits that are our favorite songs, Kaze's choices in cover songs, his eclectic style, and much more! The Japanese Music Café, or The J-Café, is a weekly podcast hosted by JD. We interview guests on their experiences and likes around Japanese music - pop, rock, hip-ho...

JD and Zach continue their conversation about Japanese singer-songwriter TOMOO, a contemporary piano-driven pop-rock artist. In this episode, JD and Zach dig deeper into the specific songs they love by this amazing artist! The Japanese Music Café, or The J-Café, is a weekly podcast hosted by JD. We interview guests on their experiences and likes around Japanese music - pop, rock, hip-hop, rap, city pop - and dive into an artist's discography together. The playlist for this episode can be fou...

This week, JD and Zach discuss Japanese singer-songwriter TOMOO, a piano-driven pop-rock artist. TOMOO currently has three indie EPs and one major label studio album, Two Moon, released in 2023. The Japanese Music Café, or The J-Café, is a weekly podcast hosted by JD. We interview guests on their experiences and likes around Japanese music - pop, rock, hip-hop, rap, city pop - and dive into an artist's discography together. You can find a playlist of songs from this episode on Youtube:...

The Japanese Music Café, or The J-Café, is a weekly podcast hosted by JD. We interview guests on their experiences and likes around Japanese music - pop, rock, hip-hop, rap, city pop - and dive into an artist's discography together. In this episode of the J-Café, JD and Jess have a conversation about Def Tech - a Japanese-Hawaii duo that incorporate reggae with elements of pop, rock, and hip-hop! Def Tech is an indie group formed in 2001, consisting of members Shen, a musician who grew up i...

The Japanese Music Café, or The J-Café, is a weekly podcast hosted by JD. We interview guests on their experiences and likes around Japanese music - pop, rock, hip-hop, rap, city pop - and dive into an artist's discography together. In this second episode of the J-Café, JD and Jess continue discussing Asian Kung Fu Generation's albums Sol-fa (2004) and FANCLUB (2005). Asian Kung Fu Generation (abbreviated to Ajikan or AKG) is an alternative rock band formed in Yokohama in ...

The Japanese Music Café, or The J-Café, is a weekly podcast hosted by JD. We interview guests on their experiences and likes around Japanese music - pop, rock, hip-hop, rap, city pop - and dive into an artist's discography together. In this premiere episode of the J-Café, JD and Jess discuss Jess's discovery of Japanese music from his time living in Japan, his love of progressive rock music, and Asian Kung Fu Generation's first album, Kimi Tsunagi Five M (2003). Asian Kung Fu Ge...