Evolution of Pops Pianists in Japan: 30 Years of Trajectory and Background of Improvement of Performance Level

The performance level of Japanese pop pianists has improved dramatically over the past 30 years. This is due to changes in music education, the development of the Internet, crossover of music genres, and the changing tastes of listeners who demand advanced technique. This paper reviews the evolution of performance styles from the 1990s to the present, and discusses some particularly influential pianists and phenomena.

1990s: Mature period for pop piano

The 1990s was a period in which the piano began to assume a more important role in pop music, moving from being a mere accompaniment instrument. this was the heyday of J-pop, and piano arrangements influenced by Tetsuya Komuro and Joe Hisaishi increased. Although Komuro's sound made extensive use of synths, his piano phrases were an important element in shaping the identity of his songs. Joe Hisaishi also influenced later pop pianists by providing beautiful and delicate piano melodies for works such as "Princess Mononoke" (1997) and "Spirited Away" (2001).

In addition, artists like Ryuichi Sakamoto attempted to fuse classical and pop music during this period. His solo piano works served as a milestone for pop pianists to move in a more technical direction.

2000s: Diversification and sophistication of pop piano

In the 2000s, pop piano styles became more sophisticated and technically advanced. The appearance of Yuji Toriyama, known for his collaboration with Taro Hakase, and Senri Oe, who fused pop and jazz, expanded the possibilities of pop piano. Chisato Oe, in particular, moved to the United States in the late 2000s and evolved her performance style to incorporate jazz elements.

Also during this period, the influence of "Nodame Cantabile" (2006) increased interest in classical music, which spilled over into pop piano performance. For example, Taku Matsutani's "TAKUMI/Takumi" (2001) features simple but beautiful piano phrases, and more pop pianists became aware of classical expressive techniques.

At the same time, performances utilizing electronic instruments increased due to the evolution of YAMAHA's "Piano Masters" and Roland's digital piano technology. This has made it possible for pianists to create full band-like sounds on their own.

2010's and beyond: Superlatives and the influence of social networking sites

Since the 2010s, social networking sites such as YouTube and Instagram have grown rapidly and influenced the styles of pop pianists. Typical examples include pianists from YouTube such as Marashii and Ryota Kikuchi. They gained popularity by skillfully blending classical, pop, and video game music, and performing superbly with fast arpeggios and complex chord progressions.

Other artists, like Kaze Fujii, are pop singers with advanced piano skills. His playing incorporates elements of gospel and jazz, and the diversity of chord progressions and rhythmic sophistication have improved dramatically.

In recent years, an increasing number of artists such as Nobuya Kiyotsuka and Hayato Kakuno (Cateen), while having a classical background, are actively approaching pop music. Hayato Kakuno, in particular, has attracted worldwide attention for his performances that incorporate pop and jazz styles while applying the techniques of Chopin and Rachmaninoff.

In summary: Why did the performance level improve?

Factors that have contributed to the improvement in the performance level of Japanese pop pianists over the past 30 years include the following.


◆Enhanced music education
Classically educated pianists have expanded into pop music, and technical performance is now required.

◆The spread of the Internet and social networking services
Sharing of performance videos became easier, allowing highly skilled artists to reach more listeners.

Crossover of music genres
Elements of jazz and classical music were fused into pop music, encouraging the improvement of performance techniques.

◆Evolution of technology
The evolution of digital pianos and the spread of DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) created an environment that allowed pianists to create music more freely.

Changing listener demands.
The YouTube generation of listeners tends to demand visually pleasing performance techniques rather than mere melodic performance.


Thus, the performance level of Japanese pop pianists has improved dramatically due to a variety of factors. There is no doubt that a new generation of pianists will continue to make further progress in the future.