J-rock gained popularity in Finland in the 1990s as the spread of manga and anime increased. Many j-rock bands gained prominence by creating theme songs for anime series, such as L’Arc-en-Ciel in 2004 for Fullmetal Alchemist. Also, internet platforms like IRC-gallery and MySpace helped promote the spread of music.
One of the first Japanese bands to perform in Finland was the popular rap group Rip Slyme from Japan, which performed at the Ikeike Festival in 2002, organized by the Japanese-Finnish youth association Nibai ry. The most popular years for j-rock in Finland were roughly 2007-2012, when several popular bands visited Finland, such as Dir en grey, The GazettE, Miyavi, and An Cafe. All of the aforementioned bands have played to full houses at the legendary Tavastia club. For example, Dir en grey was played on the radio channel YleX, and their album “Withering to Death” reached Finland’s Top 40 list in 2005. The popularity in Finland is also confirmed by the fact that associations focusing on Japanese music were founded in Finland, such as JrockSuomi ry. Today, the best way to stay updated on Japanese music is to follow JaME’s (Japanese music entertainment) websites.
J-pop may not have achieved the same level of popularity in Finland as j-rock. In the 1990s, female solo artists like Ayumi Hamasaki, Namie Amuro, Utada Hikaru, and Koda Kumi were prominent figures in j-pop. Their music ranged from acoustic pop to R&B pop. J-pop idol groups popular in Finland include Morning Musume and AKB48. Like in Western countries, Japanese music artists also serve as style icons. Ayumi Hamasaki and Namie Amuro greatly influenced the development and common trends of the gyaru style.
