Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (きゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ), PONPONPON

When someone says that J-Pop is an acquired taste they are likely thinking of artists like Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Undoubtedly bizarre, PONPONPON is nonetheless mindless and catchy. The accompanying music video mixes the absurd with the surreal and is almost a piece of art by itself.

It isn’t for everyone but if you’d like to take a dip into some J-Pop then nothing will be more jarring to the senses than Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Born on January 29, 1993, Kiriko Takemura (竹村 桐子) is a Tokyo native and entrenched in Harajuku culture.

Caroline Charonplop Kyary Pamyu Pamyu began her entertainment career as a model and blogger focusing on the trends in fashion and music primarily in Tokyo, Japan. After releasing PONPONPON, which instantly became a viral YouTube hit, Kyary wrote an autobiography, Oh! My God! Harajuku Girl detailing her rise to fame. In 2013 she announced she would embark on a world tour beginning in her native Japan.