Japanese Female Jazz Performers

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that pop music in Japan, referred to as kayokuoku, is an area in which it was very difficult for women singers to be successful until recently. The author points out that many Japanese pop vocalists, groomed by production companies, often did not develop their own material, whereas, most modern Western female vocalists now develop their own lyrics, which often tell tales of love, lust, and individuality. The paper relates that Japanese female performers work to build intimacy with their audience, participating in ?handshaking ceremonies? designed to encourage intimacy between fans and performers.

From the Paper:

"Japanese jazz and pop female performers are currently undergoing a revolution of sorts. Most especially in the area of popular music, women are "no longer bound by the whims of male songwriters" and many women vocalists are offering women new ways to view themselves and their relationships. Many women are pushing new cultural norms, especially that of a more independent woman, into the themes of the music they produce. A majority of female singers include lyrics in their songs that relate to their desires to express themselves and to be independent. This theme is also very common among American female jazz and pop vocalists."

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