From Showa grooves to today's streaming hits — the music, the words, and how Japan counts a No.1.

Japanese music is having a global moment, and the words around it are easier to learn than you think.

By the end

You'll be able to follow a Japanese chart, recognize the key genres and eras, and understand the Japanese words fans and artists actually use.

Who this is for

Anyone who has fallen down a city pop YouTube hole or wants to know what the Oricon chart is — no Japanese required.