It reminds us that being an adult can be fun. That sadness can be beautiful. And that a good bassline can make you forget your problems, if only for four minutes.

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For decades, this lush, funky, and sophisticated genre was Japan’s best-kept secret—a footnote in Western music history. But thanks to YouTube algorithms, viral vaporwave samples, and a global hunger for analog warmth, City Pop has exploded into a full-blown international phenomenon.

City Pop was the soundtrack to that new lifestyle.

So, roll down the window. Turn left at the next neon sign. And drive. What is your favorite City Pop deep cut? Have you spent too much money on a rare Tatsuro vinyl? Let us know in the comments below.