The Journey of K-pop Performance④ Japan…Is It K-pop or J-pop? - 스포츠경향

In its August 28, 2026 report, Leo Kang (director of the Performance and People Research Institute) argued that a hybrid subgenre—dubbed “K-pop J”—is emerging in Japan where K-pop audition, training and performance grammar meet Japanese language and idol culture. The article cites Produce 101 Japan’s 12-member KO1KEYZ, who held a fan meeting in Tokyo in August 2026 and are scheduled to officially debut in Korea and Japan on October 7, 2026.