Google Doodle Celebrates the Golden Era of Japan’s City Pop Music

Today’s Google Doodle honors Japan’s City Pop, a music genre that first flourished in the 1980s during the country’s economic and technological boom. Known for its smooth fusion of jazz, funk, disco, and soul, City Pop became the soundtrack of an era defined by luxury, modern city life, and Western-influenced trends like fine dining, flashy fashion, and nightlife indulgence.

Originally created to reflect the optimistic and fast-paced urban lifestyle of Japan’s bubble economy, City Pop resonated with the aspirations of a modern, upwardly mobile generation. As the genre grew in popularity, music labels began producing compilation albums filled with top hits and pressed them onto vinyl — a format that would later become deeply intertwined with the City Pop identity.

After decades of relative quiet, City Pop saw a major resurgence in the 2010s, fueled by the internet and social media platforms. Classic tracks from artists like Tatsuro Yamashita and Mariya Takeuchi found new audiences through YouTube algorithms and retro-themed playlists. The genre’s nostalgic sound and aesthetic appeal—featuring vibrant artwork of neon-lit cityscapes, ocean drives, and summer beaches—captivated a global audience, especially among younger generations in Japan and abroad.

Google Trends data shows that searches for “City Pop” consistently peak during summer months, likely tied to the genre’s sunny vibes and retro visuals. With the global revival of vinyl culture and crate digging, original City Pop records have also found new life in collections around the world.

By celebrating City Pop with a dedicated Doodle, Google not only spotlights a distinct era in Japanese pop culture but also pays tribute to a genre that continues to inspire, connect, and groove across generations.