Yakousei is a Japanese Rock subgenre that originated in the late 2010s and was popularized through the internet, subsequently gaining massive prominence with both Japanese and western audiences. Although eclectic in nature, some common sonic tenets can be recognized. Yakousei songs follow many of the most typical "poppy" elements of J-Rock along with strong Indie Pop and Indie Rock influences, both in terms of instrumentation and composition. Additionally
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Yakousei is a Japanese Rock subgenre that originated in the late 2010s and was popularized through the internet, subsequently gaining massive prominence with both Japanese and western audiences. Although eclectic in nature, some common sonic tenets can be recognized. Yakousei songs follow many of the most typical "poppy" elements of J-Rock along with strong Indie Pop and Indie Rock influences, both in terms of instrumentation and composition. Additionally, there is a prominent inclusion of more danceable rhythms from Alternative Dance, Nu-Disco and Post-Punk Revival, as well as modern production techniques commonly associated with Contemporary R&B.
The term "yakousei" (literally, "nocturnal" or "night-loving") originated from several social media trends as a way of referring to the fanbases of the three original artists who would later be associated with the scene, Yoasobi, Yorushika & ZUTOMAYO, whose names contain words that mean "night". Afterward, the term would be used more broadly to describe the emerging movement of Japanese indie musicians that would arise due to the success of those three pioneers mentioned earlier and the musical trends they advanced. As a result, yakousei developed into a distinct genre and aesthetic.
The conceptual and musical origins of yakousei can be traced back to the Vocaloid music scene that emerged in the 2000s. Many independent producers came into prominence as a result of the popularization of the Vocaloid movement, combining their original compositions and lyrics with software-generated, synthetic vocals. The rise of the yakousei scene, like the rise of the Vocaloid scene before it, represents a direct counterculture to contemporary trends seen in more mainstream J-Pop and J-rock styles, utilizing online platforms, narratives, and anonymity that were common in early Vocaloid productions, while also embracing a more "humane" sensibility through vocal presentation, touching upon emotionally complex themes, such as suicide, social alienation and modern love, in an intimate and introspective style that is usually carried out by distinctive, often female vocals that draw from Emo-Pop and Singer-Songwriter. Many independent Vocaloid producers participate in yakousei projects, demonstrating the breadth of these influences.
