Jpop 2002: Year in Review

This past year, Akadot has expanded our coverage to other aspects of Jpop culture such as Japanese TV, movies, and other media. One aspect that we have received positive feedback from fans is our news about Jpop music. Therefore, Akadot would like to take some time to look back on the major Jpop news stories of 2002 and provide fans with a few predictions for the new year.

Hikaru Utada has graced the news with major headlining stories throughout 2002. Her first big announcement was this past February, when she announced her recording deal with Island Def Jam Records. Her new, all-English album is scheduled for release later in 2003. In May, she worried fans when she was hospitalized in May due to side effects from her operation to remove a benign tumor from an ovary in April. Her live-performances that were scheduled during this time were soon cancelled. Finally, she shocked Japan and her international fans in September when she announced her marriage to Kazuaki Kiriya, a 34-year-old video director who directed a few of her music videos.

But not to be outdone, Ayumi Hamasaki has had her fair share of headliners as well. The recipient for the Grand Prix Award at the 44th Annual Japan Record Awards (equivalent to America's Grammy Awards), Hamasaki becomes one of the rare musicians that have won the award for two years in row. She also has her very own variety show, Ayu Ready? which debuted on Japanese television this past fall. Recently, she released her newest album entitled Rainbow. Many fans have rushed to buy their limited edition copy which contains a password to which enables them to listen to the instrumental version of Rainbow which will be released with lyrics at a later date. Fans can send in their feelings, thoughts, or lyrics about the instrumental version to Hamasaki and she will select the best submission when writing the lyrics.

Other people in the Jpop news was Korean star BoA (Kwon Boa), who rocked Japan and became the first non-Japanese artist to dominate the Japanese music charts with her number one debut album Listen to My Heart. Nominated alongside Ayumi Hamasaki for the Grand Prix Award, this trilingual artist (Korean, Japanese, and English) was also a recipient of a Gold Record Award at the 44th Annual Japan Record Awards. Another popular idol, Morning Musume member Maki Goto, made news when she became the next member to graduate from Morning Musume and began her solo career under Tsunku (Hello Project). However, not to long after her departure from MoMusu, she later partnered with other Hello Project solo idols Aya Matsuura and Miki Fujimoto, and formed the music trio Gomatto with their debut single entitled Shall We Love?.

2002 has also seen many stories featuring the personal lives of many Jpop celebrities. Glay vocal Teru married Puffy's Ami Onuki last spring. About six months later they announced that Ami she expecting their first child together (Teru has children from a previous marriage). Another couple expecting is Smap idol Takuya Kimura and his wife singer/artist Shizuka Kudo. One of the biggest news stories of 2000, Kimura and Kudo were married when Kudo became pregnant with their first child, daughter Kokomi. This will be their second child together. Also, famous music producer Tetsuya Komuro (once produced musicians such as Namie Amuro, TRF, and Tomomi Kahala) tied the knot with Keiko, the vocalist in his band Globe.