The Japanese pop industry is a multilayered sphere where a vast array of genres and subcultures coexist. However, for many years, this world remained largely inaccessible due to its limited availability outside Japan.
But with the onset of the pandemic and the dawn of the Reiwa era, Japan's traditionally CD-based industry has begun to embrace the digital landscape, allowing music to flow more freely. This has, in turn, led to J-pop stars such as YOASOBI, Ado, Fujii Kaze and Kenshi Yonezu emerging as powerful influences and attractors of a global fanbase. As more talents embark on international tours, geographic barriers have diminished, and J-pop has evolved into a far-ranging phenomenon on the rise.
This period has also been characterized by an influx of male ensembles, often referred to as boy groups, dominating the industry. Acts like Snow Man and KING & PRINCE (part of STARTO Entertainment, formerly known as Johnny's & Associates) remain at the forefront of this surge, but new agencies and J-pop-oriented acts from K-pop entertainment companies are making the competition fiercer than ever.
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Because of all this and more, Japanese pop music is poised for continued worldwide growth. Get to know a selection of rising J-pop groups — each of which has debuted in the last five years and have steadily gained prominence.
The world first witnessed the chemistry of Yugo Kochi, Taiga Kyomoto, Juri Tanaka, Hokuto Matsumura, Jesse Lewis, and Shintaro Morimoto in 2012, when the sextet — then still trainees — joined the cast of the high school-themed TV series "Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou," sharing the screen with members of J-pop girl group AKB48. While the show boosted their visibility, it wasn't until 2015 that they united under the name SixTONES (pronounced stones).
SixTONES officially debuted in January 2020 alongside Snow Man. (Never before had STARTO Entertainment rolled out two acts with a dual project simultaneously.) Composed by Yoshiki, SixTONES' debut song, "Imitation Rain," is stirring and steeped in theatricality. Its detonating electric guitar chords and elegantly layered piano accentuate the group's magnificent vocal force. "Imitation Rain" sold over a million copies and claimed the No.1 spot on Japanese charts at the beginning of 2020, foreshadowing SixTONES' status as one of the biggest boy groups in their home country.
SixTONES are both innovative and adept at harnessing the essence of classic J-pop. Take "Mascara," produced by King Gnu's Daiki Tsuneta, where the composition increases in might as it goes, or "New Era," a rock-spirited banger with a grandiose chorus. SixTONES have also led several milestones for STARTO, including being one of the first groups to open an Instagram account. They were also the first act to appear on the popular YouTube series "THE FIRST TAKE," making them a reference for their junior labelmates to follow.
At the time of writing, the sextet is on a mission to complete a tour that will have them playing five cities in Japan — Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka, Hokkaido, and Nagoya — with a total of 13 shows.
In 2019, Japan launched the first season of the survival series "Produce 101 Japan," a spin-off of the now-defunct South Korean program "Produce 101." Unlike the Korean versions, where trainees had spent months or even years practicing before joining the show, the Japanese edition spotlighted contestants with little to no experience in the industry. Driven by pure determination and a hunger for the stage, 11 young men ultimately succeeded in becoming JO1, chosen by the audience's votes.
Sho Yonashiro, Ren Kawashiri, Ruki Shiroiwa, Junki Kono, Keigo Sato, Takumi Kawanishi, Syoya Kimata, Shosei Ohira, Kinjo Sukai, Shion Tsurubo, and Issei Mamehara debuted in March 2020 with their first EP, Protostar. However, their first promotional cycle was cut short due to pandemic restrictions, pushing them to adapt to the new reality while also shifting the focus to honing their skills.
They've since established themselves as consistent chart-toppers on the Billboard and Oricon rankings, selling out concerts, and broaching other creative ventures (including a collaboration with Sanrio). Their music is central to it all, colored by a diverse range of genres and buoyed by live performances that reflect their harmonious vibrancy and top-tier vocal talent.
On the fifth anniversary of their debut, the 11-member group will release their first compilation album. BE CLASSIC arrives on April 2, with the title track recorded in Japanese, Korean, and English. JO1 are also in the midst of their first global tour, which included dates in Los Angeles and New York, as well as an appearance at the GRAMMY Museum's Global Spin series. The tour will culminate in two encore performances at the Tokyo Dome in the third week of April — an objective JO1 have been striving for since their beginnings.
As part of JYP Entertainment's "Globalization by Localization" strategy, which seeks to create groups in different countries using the K-pop system, the reality series "Nizi Project" premiered in 2020 intending to form a girl group that would appeal to audiences in Japan. This is how NiziU was born, with the final lineup — consisting of Ayaka, Mako, Maya, Mayuka, Miihi, Nina, Riku, Rima, and Rio — quickly achieving viral recognition with their pre-debut EP Make You Happy, just a few weeks after the show ended.
NiziU have released two studio albums and several EPs, and performed at major venues in Japan, as well as at Kōhaku Uta Gassen — the country's most prestigious year-end celebration. While their early tracks were filled with sun-kissed, sugary beats, the nine-member ensemble made a clear change towards a more mature sound with 2024's RISE UP. Following that debut Japanese EP, NiziU delved deeper into this maturity with their February 2025 project, AWAKE.
AWAKE is truly a new chapter for NiziU and its lead single, "YOAKE," means "Dawn" in Japanese. The song is wrapped in the timeless allure of city pop and augmented with contemporary arrangements, while in the music video, the younger members celebrate turning 20 (the age at which a person is considered an adult in Japanese culture), symbolizing the group's transition into a new era.
NiziU officially made their entry into the Korean market in the fall of 2023 with the single album Press Play and its title track, "HEARTRIS," which received significant traction and made them the first foreign group to win on a South Korean music show. Now, just under two years after that success, the group has returned with their second Korean single album, LOVE LINE, released on March 31.
In 2020, Japanese rapper Mitsuhiro Hidaka, professionally known as SKY-HI, founded his own company, BMSG, with the goal of helping develop young talent. As a first step, he organized "THE FIRST," which aired for most of 2021 and had 15 candidates from across Japan competing for a spot in a new boy group. In the end, Junon, Leo, Ryoki, Sota, Manato, Shunto, and Ryuhei rose to the moment, leading to the formation of BE:FIRST.
The septet has gone through remarkable growth, advancing step by step since their debut in November 2021 with their first single, "Gifted," a stirring love song whose lyrics double as an allegory of their resolve. Their music is expansive yet commandingly intense, as seen by songs like "Masterplan," "Mainstream," and the recent "Spacecraft." It's no wonder they found a sonic ally in K-pop group ATEEZ, with whom they joined forces for cross-cultural collaborations "Hush-Hush" and "Royal," and even opened their concert in Los Angeles, BE:FIRST's first performance stateside.
For J-pop artists, securing a dome tour is one of the most sought-after achievements, and BE:FIRST recently completed theirs with performances in Nagoya, Tokyo, Fukuoka, and Osaka. The group are now preparing for an even bigger leap with their first international tour, set to begin on April 22 in Los Angeles. They will also premiere their seventh single, "GRIT," on May 28.
Formed during the second season of "Produce 101 Japan" in 2021, INI have been finding their stride with robust cohesion.
Group leader Masaya Kimura is a mesmerizing performer; Nishi Hiroto, an intense and sharp dancer, is joined by Rihito Ikezaki to create a dynamic rap team. Kyosuke Fujimaki and Hiromu Takatsuka provide a counterbalance with the potency of their voices. Takumi Ozaki, Yudai Sano, and Jin Matsuda showcase their adaptability between concepts, and Shogo Tajima, Takeru Goto, and Fengfan Xu, INI's only foreign member from Zhejiang, China, shine on stage as all-rounders.
Their November 2021 EP, A, revealed their musical direction that usually steers with daring compositions. There's "Rocketeer," for instance, their debut track carved with a thumping instrumental or the unapologetic "Fanfare," where they promise to "ring out and pierce the sky." But INI also navigate softer, more tranquil landscapes throughout their discography, which now spans seven EPs and two full studio albums. Notably, the gentle nature of "HANA," from their fifth EP, TAG ME, stands apart.
In addition to headlining their first concerts at the Kyocera Dome in Osaka last year, INI is one of only two J-pop groups — the second being Snow Man — to sell one million copies, accomplishing this with their sixth extended play, THE FRAME.
This group from STARTO Entertainment is notable for their buoyant, textured instrumentals and acrobatic choreography. You can hear it in their debut song, "Ubu Love," released in November 2021, where they sing about the unexpected wonders of falling in love for the first time. It's so earnest, making you want to dive into their catalog for a happiness boost.
They've come to embody all facets of youth and frequently take the reins of their creative process — a groundbreaking strategy within their company. Despite their relatively short career, the group has become a major player in the J-pop industry, consistently dominating the popularity rankings with each new release.
All the members — Daigo Nishihata, Ryusei Onishi, Shunsuke Michieda, Kyohei Takahashi, Kento Nagao, Joichiro Fujiwara, and Kazuya Ohashi — are natives of the Kansai region and were known as "Kansai Johnny's Jr." during their trainee years. This connection to their roots was later represented in their group's official name, which translates to "boys from Naniwa," with Naniwa being an old name for the bustling city of Osaka.
XG's sonic playground is built on multiplicity. The Japanese septet — of Jurin, Chisa, Hinata, Harvey, Juria, Maya, and Cocona — calls it "X-pop," working to engineer their own genre that breaks away from traditional frontiers. Their distinctive approach, however, often leads people to put them under the K-pop umbrella: the group promotes in South Korea, sings in English, and was trained within the K-pop system. Regardless of categorization, XG are here for the long haul and ready to conquer the world.
The group (whose name is an acronym for Xtraordinary Girls) was created by Korean-American producer Simon Jakops and is signed to the Japanese label AVEX under its subsidiary XGALX. They debuted in 2022 with the electrifying subtlety of "Tippy Toes" and have since come to be known as a multi-faceted collective, weaving together hip-hop and R&B with bold rapping and piercingly smooth vocals.
XG are also fashionistas, embracing trends inspired by their Japanese roots, and unafraid to make bold, iconic style statements. (Cocona even shaves her head real-time in the music video for their single "Woke Up.") XG have been aiming for new heights with their first international tour, which includes upcoming stops in Latin America before a grand finale at the Tokyo Dome on May 14. Aside from that, they released their second EP, Awe, last November and will be the only Japanese act performing at Coachella 2025.
With its epicenter at Tokyo's iconic Harajuku Station, Harajuku culture is an amalgamation of diverse Japanese styles that celebrate individuality, independence, and innovation. It is within this vibrant atmosphere that FRUITS ZIPPER — a seven-member group hailing from KAWAII LAB, an endeavor led by former idol Misa Kimura under J-pop company ASOBISYSTEM (home to Atarashii Gakko!) — carves its artistic path.
Suzuka Chinzei, Amane Tsukiashi, Yui Sakurai, Mana Manaka, Karen Matsumoto, Luna Nakagawa, and Noel Hayase made their debut in April 2022 with the single "Kimi no Akarui Mirai o Oikakete," a feel-good track that takes in the essence of kawaii (the Japanese term for "cuteness"). Their second single, "Watashi no Ichiban Kawaii Tokoro," is full of the same blithe energy; released just a week after their debut, it went viral on TikTok, reaching over 900 million views.
Following a string of singles and growing recognition, FRUITS ZIPPER won the Best New Artist award at the Japan Record Awards in December 2023, and they celebrated their second anniversary with their debut album, NEW KAWAII, which compiled all the songs they released during their first two years.
The group started 2025 off strong with three back-to-back songs: "Kagami (Mirror)" in January, followed by the release of "Suki, Onegai" in February, and most recently, a cover of "Sugarless GiRL," a track originally by Japanese band CAPSULE.
Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji, and Yuta Kishi are familiar figures in the Japanese limelight, but by the end of 2022, they decided to start anew. The trio, originally founding members of KING & PRINCE, subsequently reformed as Number_i and welcomed 2024 with their debut song "GOAT," which gained terrain in the top positions on the Japanese music charts. Number_i reinvented their sound, favoring hard-hitting instrumentals and a rap-driven performance. The trio is expert at merging charisma and power — just watch the music videos for "BON" or "GOD_i." \
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Number_i also have a clear ambition to make their mark internationally, and they might just pull it off. They were part of the lineup for 88rising's "Futures" set at Coachella's Mojave stage in 2024, where they even collaborated with Jackson Wang from GOT7 on a remix of "GOAT." Following the release of their new GOD_i EP next month, they return to perform in the U.S. at the Head In The Clouds Festival in Los Angeles on May 31 and June 1.
When pronouncing the name ME:I (mi-ai), the phonetics resemble the word "Mirai," which means "future" in Japanese. It's intentional, as the girl group aims to represent a new generation of artists redefining the parameters of J-pop music.\
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Born from the third season of "Produce 101 Japan," ME:I — composed of Momona, Rinon, Cocoro, Ran, Miu, Kokona, Shizuku, Ayane, Suzu, Keiko, and Tsuzumi — took the J-pop world by storm. Their personal stories, resolve, and dreams contributed to this impact, as did the artistic aura they have been threading, where the music is a burst of gleaming energy combined with hypnotic dance formations. To illustrate, their debut single "Click," a song that "signifies that we are challengers and are here to bring a fresh breath of air into the industry," as Momona, the group's leader, explained to GRAMMY.com last year.\
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Read more: Meet ME:I, The J-Pop Group Who Want To Give The World A 'Hi-Five'\
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By the end of 2024, with two EPs already added to their catalog, the 11-member act claimed the Best New Artist accolade at the Japan Record Awards, along with an invitation to perform at Kōhaku Uta Gassen. ME:I have rapidly cemented their status as one of the leading girl groups of the new wave and show no signs of stopping. They are in the process of gearing up for their third extended play, MUSE, slated for April 16.