There's so much more good J-pop out there than most people pay attention to. Yeah, Ayumi and Utada and the usuals are good and everything, but there are some amazing singers and groups out there that definitely match. Tomoko Kawase's projects have always been favorites of mine because they really tend to bring something different or new to the genre. Nana Kitade is another personal favorite although her voice can get pretty damn nasally sometimes.
I also highly suggest Anna Tsuchiya, most of the Hello Project acts for the more hyperactive J-pop fan, Zone, and Zwei. And if we get into the J-rock side of things, there's a whole 'nother unexplored world there.
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