In this special episode, our host Terence has the honor of interviewing J-Pop singer Shihori.

We talk about her experience in Los Angeles, joining the Recording Academy, and running her first FYC Grammy campaign, plus what motivated her to make the leap. She also shares the inspiration behind her latest album Escalation and her song “When I Decided Not to Die.”

And a treat for all the Hello! Project fans: she tells the story behind the creation of the hit Buono! song “Hatsukoi Cider.”

An episode you must not miss!

🎥 Stream this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube, and Amazon Music.

📲 Follow on IG (@jpopkissa) and TikTok (@jpop.kissa) for more J-pop content.

About Shihori:
Shihori is an international J-Pop singer-songwriter and pianist based in Los Angeles. She’s best known for “Holy Steel,” a fan theme song for JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure with over 24M views on YouTube, and has written over 150 songs for artists such as Nana Mizuki and Momoiro Clover Z, and for anime including Fairy Tail, Macross Frontier, and Tomodachi Game. After making her debut in 2007 under the name Sena, she earned Gold Disc Certification for 13 of her hits in Japan. She moved to the US in 2018 and has since created theme songs for games including League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, Omega Strikers, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Her mission through her music and life is “to spread love.”

This October, JO1 makes their official US debut with their first-ever North American tour — and if you haven't caught on to this 9-member group yet, this is your chance. In this episode, host Terence traces JO1's origin story and digs into what sets them apart: a distinctive blend of Kpop and Jpop styles that's helped them carve out their own lane in a crowded idol landscape.

Terence also makes the case for why your showing up matters more than you think.

Whether you're deep into Jpop, anime culture, or just curious what the hype is about, this episode is your reason to grab a ticket.

🎥 Stream this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube, and Amazon Music.

In this podcast episode, Terence talks about new J-Pop singer-songwriter Lady Ocean. His debut digital single, "Yume wa koi no you ni" (恋は夢のように), brings a wave of 90s nostalgia — that familiar sense of longing, and a reminder of the dreams we all once had. Learn more about him with Terence, and hop on this journey down memory lane with an up-and-comer you won't want to miss.

🎥 Stream this episode on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube, and Amazon Music.

Featuring:LADY OCEAN"Vibrant Life" by KetsaLicensed under CC BY 4.0Source: freemusicarchive.org/music/Ketsa/upbeat-street/vibrant-life