JPop-110 : Special feature on songs about Tokyo.
Tokyo is Japan’s capital and the country’s political, economic, and cultural center. Many people come from all over Japan with dreams of success, creating countless dramas.
Some of those stories are turned into J-Pop songs, but the way Tokyo is portrayed differs depending on the era. In the same way, though Shibuya and Shinjuku are geographically close, their atmospheres are entirely distinct. The content of the songs also changes depending on which part of Tokyo the artist has in mind.
I’d like to introduce a playlist that I created around 2010. It consists mainly of songs focusing on the glamorous side of Tokyo.
Tokyo is a city where young people come and go.
As of early 2025, over 11% of Japan’s total population will reside in Tokyo, and the proportion of residents aged 65 and over will be around 22% — the lowest in the country. In other words, Tokyo is a city where young people from across Japan gather in pursuit of their dreams, often leaving their hometowns behind.
Some people succeed, meet someone they love, and live in Tokyo until they die. And their children are born and raised there, too.
But many people also find their dreams shattered, or get tired of the competitive and noisy lifestyle, and return to their hometowns. Tokyo is a popular theme in J-Pop songs that capture various aspects of life.
Is Tokyo a place of dreams?
This may sound a bit blunt, but I think songs about Tokyo often fall into three distinct themes. The first captures the drama of arriving in the city—chasing a dream, only to have it slip away, leading to a return home. The second is about yearning for Tokyo and the emotional charge of just having arrived.
Third, there are those who were born and raised in Tokyo and sing about searching for the meaning of life within the city. In fact, I believe the first type mentioned was most common in the 1970s and 1980s, while this third type has become more prominent since the 2010s.
In any case, I feel the experiences of those born in Tokyo have remained constant over the years. Yet in the context of the 2020s, Tokyo strikes me as one of the most local cities in the world—even as the number of visiting tourists continues to surge dramatically.
How will changes in people’s awareness and environment affect the future of J-pop songs about Tokyo? I am very interested in this topic.
For Apple Music User : JPop-110 : Special feature on songs about Tokyo.
