Are you interested in knowing what's going on in Japanese pop music? Here an American alternative music fan takes on Japan's impressive rock and pop scenes. After a lifetime filled with Japanese pop music Sam Smith reports on what is hip in Japanese pop, rock, punk, alternative, hip hop, idol, metal, and post punk from the listening stance of a Joy Division and The Cure loving alternative music fan. Newly translated interviews with already celebrated bands like 8otto, and She her her hers are featured as well as English language interviews with well known acts such as The Let's Go's and Shonen Knife. A true reading companion and reference guide to the good bits of japanese music hidden far beyond the Oricon chart toppers which get the most airplay and notice in the west. Get your stereo system up and ready and head over to YouTube and flip trough the book looking up the artists of your choice and get ready for a deep musical journey! Jpop Beyond Oricon is an alternative listener's guide for the relatively uncharted area's of Japanese pop music