Japanese artists that have come to America?

[akaisha]

Oooo comming back was difficult, esspecially to this jpop section.. sooo many posts I want to flame like there is no tomorrow.. but akaisha shall keep to herself.
Now to the point.
I'm doing a speech over how Japan is overtaking america(or at least our entertainment business) and if anyone has any ideas or things they'd like to offer on that in general, go ahead, the more sources the better. But the main point of this is because one sub-topic in that has to do with some(few) japanese bands actually comming to america. Now, considering my interest does not fall under the bands that have come to america, I don't know what to search for.
Bottom line: Any Japanese band that you know has come to america(or has greatly considered it and there is proof of that) for either an anime convention, an important trip to america(I don't know, maybe they produced a band here, use your imagination) or had a concert here(like i vaguely vaguely recall a TMRevolution(correct format of the name?) concert somehwere other then Otakon, but I can't really say if I remember that is true or not. So basically I need your help. Compile a list, if you will, of artists you know have come to america or/and a list for those who thought of it(under stated circumstances) and preferably where you got that information would be important too. Thank you for all your help.

 

[Dream Time]

B'z had a North America tour in 2003

Utada Hikaru released her album 'Exodus' in US

 

[Twisted]

L'Arc~en~Ciel (performed at an Anime convention)
X (who changed their name to X-Japan, because there already was a band named X in the US)
Puffy (who are named Puffy AmiYumi in the US)
Kyu Sakamoto
Seiko Matsuda
Mad Capsule Markets
Electric Eel Shock
Pink Lady
Lolita #18
Mummy the Peepshow
Melt Banana
eX-Girl
Cornelius

And these are just the ones off the top of my head. Sources include the artists bio's.
Of course there's loads more, especially if you include all those obsure indies bands that hardly anybody has heard of. I've included a few of those in the list above.

 

[Miko-Kokoro]

yeah, Puffy Ami Yumi Did the theme song for Teen Titans. Also a Canadian music show (the Hitlist, which I must say I hate) went to japan and aired alot of those artists (which I'm proud that they did.) They're slowly becoming more popular in Canada as well.

 

[akaisha]

Well

L'Arc~en~Ciel (performed at an Anime convention)
X (who changed their name to X-Japan, because there already was a band named X in the US)
Puffy (who are named Puffy AmiYumi in the US)
Kyu Sakamoto
Seiko Matsuda
Mad Capsule Markets
Electric Eel Shock
Pink Lady
Lolita #18
Mummy the Peepshow
Melt Banana
eX-Girl
Cornelius

And these are just the ones off the top of my head. Sources include the artists bio's.
Of course there's loads more, especially if you include all those obsure indies bands that hardly anybody has heard of. I've included a few of those in the list above.

That was very helpful, but at the same time very vague. I understand it was at the top of your head, but you didn't really explain why any of those people came to America(so I don't know if it was a con or touring or what) so if you would be so kind, specifics would be very helpful. Thank you very much for your help.

 

[MHtrStevie]

Greetings!

Don't forget Dreams Come True, who staged a small club tour a few years back in support of the release of the English-language version of their album "Sing or Die".

I hope you don't mind, Twisted, but I'll try to fill in a few of the blanks for akaisha's request...

In most cases I think these live appearances by J-Pop arists are in support of US releases. The most recent among these are:

L'arc~en~ciel and TM Revolution (Otakon anime con) -- these appearances were both in support of their US releases on Tofu Records.

Puffy (known as Puffy AmiYumi in US) -- I think they initially did some small club tours just to test the waters, but any recent appearances are probably in support of their increasing US disc catalog...

Cornelius and Polysics (not previously mentioned) gained some popularity in the US through college radio airplay, and I think Mad Capsule Markets can be thrown in here as well... they all have US albums released, and more than likely appeared in support of those.

Kyu Sakamoto, Pink Lady and Seiko Matsuda are all very old school J-Pop artists... Sakamoto from the 1960's, Pink Lady from the 1970's and Seiko from the 1980's. Kyu Sakamoto would have appeared in the US in support of his HUGE international hit "Ue o muite aruko", retitled to "Sukiyaki" for Western audiences... this is still the only Japanese language song to reach #1 on the US Billboard charts. Pink Lady decided to try out the US market after their stunning Japanese popularity died down... they managed one Top 40 single and a famously bad TV variety show "Pink Lady and Jeff". Seiko Matsuda attempted to translate her dominating J-Pop success into the US market, even changing her image to resemble "Lucky Star"-era Madonna's look... but that didn't really take off.

Here's a few that haven't been mentioned:

Nami Tamaki -- a young idol who accompanied TM Revolution on his second US appearance at the Pacific Media Expo in California last year. Both she and TMR have multiple songs tied into the anime Gundam SEED, a current popular title. Tamaki's album "Greeting" has also been released in the US by Tofu Records...

Do as Infinity / MAX -- These groups appeared at smaller anime conventions last year, though neither has any US releases to my knowledge. I think due to the success of TMR's appearance at Otakon in 2003, a couple of other J-labels decided to test the market...

Psycho Le Cemu -- Of course, they're making the anime convention rounds this year... the "cosplay" element of their image could be a big reason why. But again, currently they have no US releases to support...

Angela -- A music unit which does many anime theme songs... lost in the shuffle of L;arc~en~ciel's 2004 Otakon appearance, they also appeared live at that convention without a US release.

Yellow Magic Orchestra -- The electronic music innovators of Japan, this group cultivated an international market in the late 1970's and early 1980's... this is where Ryuichi Sakamoto started, who later went on to great fame composing movie soundtracks and shared an Oscar for his work on the soundtrack to the film "The Last Emperor".

All right, people, feel free to add or correct...

 

[mizerable_d]

Psycho le Cemu? crap thats already been posted...^^;;;

 

[PrincessBerriKiller]

PLC is here right now. They also have said they would really like to do some performances outside of conventions in the U.S.

 

[MHtrStevie]

OK, since I'm on a bit of a role, here's a couple of more without actual US releases to support...

B'z was mentioned above. They've made multiple appearances on the West Coast, and seem to have built a fairly big fanbase without any actual American releases... I think the guitarist Tak Matsumoto has released a couple of his instrumental albums here, but no real B'z CDs...

Now here's a couple which actually got around by opening for established Western acts:

SHONEN KNIFE -- Of course, they actually have some US releases now... but initially their bizarrely cute punk music caught the attention of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain, and they were invited to open for Nirvana on a big tour. They clicked with the crowds there, and soon were touring themselves.

SADISTIC MIKA BAND -- 1970's band featuring future YMO member Yukihiro Takahasi, this group was invited to open for Roxy Music on a tour... I know they toured Europe, though I don't know if this particular tour made it to the US as well...

:? I'll keep thinking and see if I can remember any more...

 

[Camui]

I get to see PLC this weekend at MegaCon..they're performing on Sunday..its ognna be soo awesome..I can't wait...I hope I like their music...^^

 

[Twisted]

Thanks Stevie. Saves me a lot of time.

Many indies bands tour the US (and other parts of the world) because they're more popular over there then in Japan. Well, that's probably not entirely true, but they get easily booked in small clubs because of their cult-status.

 

[mizerable_d]

PLC is here right now. They also have said they would really like to do some performances outside of conventions in the U.S.

omg i hope they do! because anime north and CN anime are coming to totronto soon! *prays*

 

[Ki||ingAudrey]

Um...I know that Diru turned down otakon for this year ;-;. But eh..my friend met T.M.Revolution when he preformed during the summer in C.A. I know artists come for recording but I don't think any one else has come except I know Gackt did a concert for the fan club fans in Nevada. How he had fanclub people in Nevada is still beyond me

 

[akaisha]

Thank you

Um...I know that Diru turned down otakon for this year ;-;. But eh..my friend met T.M.Revolution when he preformed during the summer in C.A. I know artists come for recording but I don't think any one else has come except I know Gackt did a concert for the fan club fans in Nevada. How he had fanclub people in Nevada is still beyond me

I'm not trying to doubt you but can you or anyone else support the Gackt in Nevada? It'd be a very good addition to my speech.

To everyone else(I lack time to thank each message) THANK YOU! This is so much help and will definately help my speech out ALLOT. Thank you for the details and the major ammount of information. I won't really have anything to say until I really go through all the information given, but none the less, thank you everyone!

 

[Illaparatzo-sama]

Gackt has a special trip every year for Dears, and Las Vegas was the destination last year. It was a FC-only thing.

Polysics and Melt Banana have also toured the US multiple times. In fact... Polysic's tour is coming up very soon. And Guitar Wolf has come before and will be here sometime later this year.

 

[jetter773]

Koda Kumi performed at the Ushicon 2004 in Austin, TX in January 2004.

 

[Brooker]

My (former) band played a couple shows in Seattle with a little-known Japanese punk band from Osaka called "IQ20". I certainly wouldn't say that Japanese artists are taking over American entertainment though.

 

[PrincessBerriKiller]

Not even close. They are still very far from doing that....

 

[diexshinya4ever14]

Duel Jewel
I heard that Dir en Grey is going to New York.