J-core

{{Infobox music genre

| name = J-core

| stylistic_origins = * Hardcore

| cultural_origins = 1990s, Japan

| instruments = {{hlist|Synthesizer|drum machine|sequencer|sampler|Digital audio workstation}}

| derivatives = {{hlist|Nightcore|Lolicore}}

| local_scenes = {{hlist|Akihabara|Shibuya}}

| other_topics = Vocaloid

}}

J-core is the style of hardcore techno associated with Japanese groups and DJs from the 1990s onward. Originally called "Japcore",{{Cite web |last=Various |title=惣流 (Japcore Samplers - Hardcore Osaka 1997) |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/249133-Various-%E6%83%A3%E6%B5%81-Japcore-Samplers-Hardcore-Osaka-1997 |website=Discogs|date=1997 }} the name "J-core" is an abbreviation of "Japanese hardcore". It is marked by its usage of samples derived from video games and anime, colorful kawaii imagery and album graphics, and the general borrowing of elements from otaku culture.{{cite web|url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/scene-report/j-core-japanese-electronic|website=Bandcamp|title=Beyond J-Core: An Introduction to the Real Sound of Japanese Hardcore|last=Jenkins|first=Dave|date=26 April 2018|accessdate=8 June 2021|archive-date=3 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603112920/https://daily.bandcamp.com/scene-report/j-core-japanese-electronic|url-status=live}} J-core music is often found in rhythm games and forms a substantial part of the doujin music scene.{{cite web|url=https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/01/j-core-feature|website=Red Bull Music Academy|title=A Kick in the Kawaii: Inside the World of J-Core|last=Host|first=Vivian|date=19 January 2015|accessdate=8 June 2021|archive-date=15 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715175209/https://daily.redbullmusicacademy.com/2015/01/j-core-feature/|url-status=live}}

History

J-Core's emergence dates back to the late 1990s, in the height of the hardcore and gabber techno scenes in Europe. J-core is heavily influenced by denpa music and otaku culture, usually taking visual or audio samples and format cues from video games, anime, and general kawaii imagery.

DJ Sharpnel is considered to have pioneered the style in the late 1990s,{{Cite web |title=What is the music genre "J-CORE" born from Japanese animation? |url=http://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20150121-j-core-inside/ |access-date=2023-04-12 |website=GIGAZINE |date=21 January 2015 |language=en}} and in the early 2000s it spread through Japanese peer-to-peer networks. According to DJ Technorch, the current abbreviated term "J-core" was first used in reference to a Western release of Sharpnel's music in 2006.

As anime became popular in North America and Europe, J-core would also find appreciation among anime fans there, allowing for the development of a Western J-core-inspired remix culture, as well as J-core's contribution to the nightcore phenomenon of the early 2010s.

J-core is often featured in rhythm games, especially those whose main audience is in Asia or Japan; the popularity of Beatmania IIDX since its release in 1999 has introduced many to the genre.

The independent music label {{Interlanguage link|HARDCORE TANO*C|ja|HARDCORE TANO*C}}, founded in 2003 by artist {{Interlanguage link|REDALiCE|ja|REDALiCE}} under the name {{Nihongo|2=ハードコアタノシー|3=Hādokoa Tanoshī|4="hardcore is fun"}} and renamed in 2007, rose to be the dominant J-core label throughout the 2010s. In addition to being heavily involved in the development and song list of the rhythm game WACCA,{{Cite web |last=Taniguchi |first=Ryuichi |date=2018-10-05 |title=マーベラスとHARDCORE TANO*Cがタッグ組んだAC向け新作リズムゲーム『WACCA』登場 |url=https://jp.ign.com/wacca/29713/news/hardcore-tanocacwacca |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=IGN Japan |language=ja}} HARDCORE TANO*C has also collaborated with other titles such as Arcaea,{{Cite web |date=2020-01-21 |title=Arcaea × HARDCORE TANO*Cコラボ、配信開始です！7人のアーティストの4つの完全新曲を体験しよう。 |url=https://x.com/arcaea_jp/status/1219612545381588995 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}} maimai DX,{{Cite web |date=2021-05-13 |title=5月14日より「maimai でらっくす」と「HARDCORE TANO*C」のコラボがスタート！なんと我々がつあーメンバーとして参戦いたします！ |url=https://x.com/tanoc_official/status/1392722552435269635 |website=X (formerly Twitter)}} and Muse Dash.{{Cite web |title=【特報】HARDCORE TANO*C × Muse Dashコラボが2月5日よりスタート❗ |url=https://x.com/tanoc_official/status/1355066678833373186 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128211701/https://x.com/tanoc_official/status/1355066678833373186 |archive-date=2025-01-28 |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |url-status=live }}

Notable producers

Camellia
DJ Chucky
DJ Sharpnel
DJ Shimamura
DJ Technorch
IOSYS
kors k
M-Project
{{Interlanguage link|REDALiCE|ja|REDALiCE}}
RoughSketch
Laur
Team Grimoire
t+pazolite

References

Category:Japanese music history

Category:1990s in music

Category:Hardcore music genres