Ask John: Will Any Japanese Vocalists Succeed in America Because of Anime?

Question:
Do you think any Japanese singers will “make it” in the US through anime?

Answer:
There’s really no way to know if any Japanese pop vocalists will ever achieve mainstream success in America because of their association to anime. Japanese vocalist Hikaru Utada is the performer behind Japan’s best selling album of all time. She’s also fluent in English and has attended university in America. While she has performed songs in English, such as the theme song to the Playstation 2 game Kingdom Hearts, and has an American record contract, she hasn’t yet achieved mainstream American stardom. Similarly, Japanese rock group L’Arc~en~Ciel performed the English language ending theme for the Final Fantasy: Spirits Within motion picture, have performed live in America, and have an American record publishing deal, they also aren’t well known in America outside the anime fan community.

Perhaps ironically, the J-pop group that seems most likely to break out in America is one that will do so not through association with Japanese animation, but with American animation. J-pop duo Puffy was contracted to perform the Japanese language opening theme song to the American cartoon Teen Titans. Puffy will also star in the Cartoon Network produced cartoon Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, which will likely produce the most American exposure for a contemporary Japanese pop act ever.