Ah… the internet, such a marvel to behold! Really, within the past twenty to thirty years, we’ve seen this invention evolve and rise, starting out as a set of private databases, yet it eventually became the powerhouse it is today! You can stream movies, the music of your choice, or even observe a completely different corner of the world within seconds! The internet encompasses such a wide spectrum of uses, from quick entertainment to deep, fully-engrossing research. As such, one can even conduct the practice of fieldwork through this powerful medium.
As a student of English 21002, my professor constantly emphasized the importance of fieldwork. Whether through non-participant or participant observations, this concept involves examining an aspect, practice, or simply a community foreign to one. The impact of said fieldwork could vary from greatly to one’s research on the surface level, or on a deeper level, challenge internalized views about a topic that one holds on to. It was only natural, since with the internet, we can easily look up any information that we wish. In this case, that topic was none other than Japanese city pop, and the online community surrounding it.
City pop is a genre that rose to prominence through the late-70s and mid-80s. Incorporating western musical styles such as funk, soul, disco, R&B, smooth jazz, and soft rock, the genre fused all these influences and filtered them through the glitz and glamour of an urban, economically-prosperous Japan. It’s also a sound that I deeply fell in love with for it’s unique grooves, which resonate with me as a massive fan of funk and 80s boogie. Below is a mid-tempo example of this glossy, expertly-arranged genre by Toshiki Kadomatsu, a major player in the development of city pop. He’s not only a recording artist, but also a well-renowned record producer within 80s Japan.
The fact that you’re able to hear this music is reflective of the major international online following city pop has gotten. In the years since the genre’s decline, many, especially those in the western world, became curious about Japanese vinyl records. The explosion of this niche interest could be attributed to the western world’s general enthusiasm about Japanese pop culture, being immersed in it through mediums such as anime and manga. A subreddit named r/citypop has amassed close to 50,000 members from all corners of the globe, featuring memes, fans scouring for original pressings of their favorite city pop albums, and even rare visual ephemera from the era, such as this poster for Taeko Onuki’s debut Grey Skies, released in 1976:
To elaborate on my observation of the online city pop community, I decided to consult Van Paugam’s website, in order to find out why the genre has the following that it does. Van Paugam is a Chicago-based DJ known for introducing the genre to the American internet through his DJ sets and YouTube channel, where he publishes rare finds and mixes. On the ‘about’ section of his website, Paugam attributes the genre’s balance of western influences and unfamiliarity to its popularity in the west, as well as the nostalgia many Americans have for the music of the 70s and 80s. To this day, the genre remains popular in internet circles, with many Japanese labels reissuing albums and compilations focusing on rarer cuts.
