Most popular boy groups Japan 2022

A survey conducted in 2022 revealed that the South Korean boy band BTS ranked as the most popular male idol group in Japan. Following BTS in popularity were the Japanese artists Tokio, King & Prince, and KinKi Kids.

Music industry in Japan

The music industry in Japan generated a sales revenue of more than 307 billion Japanese yen through recorded and digital music in 2022. In 2020, the number of music concerts experienced a significant decline due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the cancellation of many live events. However, by 2022, the industry had rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. The most commonly used methods of listening to music among Japanese people were YouTube and subscription-based music streaming services, such as Spotify and LINE Music.

Korean pop culture in Japan

The popularity of South Korean pop culture in Japan can be traced back to the early 2000s with the success of the TV series “Winter Sonata.” This sparked the phenomenon known as Hallyu or the “Korean wave.” From around the 2010s, Korean music and K-pop idol groups such as TVQX and Girls’ Generation gained popularity, eventually leading to the emergence of BTS as the most popular male idol group in Japan in recent years. BTS’s popularity in Japan is norteworthy, earning them recognition as the Best Asian Artist in the Japan Golden Disc Award 2023. Furthermore, younger fans often engage in fan activities known as “oshikatsu,” reflecting engagement and enthusiasm surrounding K-pop idol groups.