KISS Among J-Pop Crossovers

To commemorate their upcoming Japan tour, KISS has collaborated with current idol standard bearers Momoiro Clover Z on the song “Samurai Son,” which was released Jan. 28.

Dancing violinist Lindsey Stirling, who is also doing a concert stand at a theater in Tokyo in March, included a version of the Japanese song “Senbonzakura” on the special Japanese version of her album Shatter Me, which was released by Universal International Feb. 11. “Senbonzakura” is the signature song of computer-generated “virtual idol” Hatsune Miku.

Lastly, British dance-pop queen Charli XCX has recorded two of her hits, “Boom Clap” and “Break the Rules,” with Japanese lyrics for the local edition of her album Sucker, which comes out in the middle of February. She will also follow up the release with a brief Japan tour. It won’t be her first time in Japan. She taped the video for her 2013 single, “SuperLove,” in Tokyo, despite the fact that police tried to shut down the production, which is not at all uncommon given the amount of red tape involved when applying for permission to film in the city.