How International Japanese student recognised English lyrics

in Japanese Pop song?

1.Introduction
It could be said that English is one of the most familiarity languages
in the world due to the recognition of English as a global language. In
addition, English might be the second language which people
frequently listen in their daily life except for own mother language.
For example, a lot of Japanese singers use English lyrics in their song,
and some of them sing all of the songs not in Japanese but English.
According to Rampton, the data which some Korean and Japanese
singers mix Korean and English or Japanese and English in their song
was indicated (Rampton cited in Kachru, 2006). In addition, the
research of Moody showed the number of songs which contained
English lyrics from the Oricon weekly top-50 charts of 2000 in Japan,
and about two-thirds of J-Pop were used English words (Moody, 2006).
Therefore, it could be said that English takes root in Japanese pop
music.

How Japanese feel English lyrics in Japanese pop music and how do
they think non-English speaker sing or use the English lyrics in their
works. The purpose of this research explores how Japanese
international students feel English in Japanese pop music and what
extend English pop song is popular for people who are able to speak
English better than the average of Japanese. Furthermore, what the
students think the reason why English word is used in Japanese pop
music is also researched.

2.Existing Theory
According to Abley, he commented that English work as a design
element in Japan, and western peoples who have Asian script tattoo
(Abley, 2008). In addition, when the author asked the reason why
Japanese painter used English in his work to a Japanese director in a
museum, the answer that English give a feeling of distance was an
answer to the question (ibid). Although the authors point was about
art, it could be said that the reason of using the English word in songs
by Japanese singers might be applied to that conjecture. Moody
pointed out that the work of English word in J-pop may not have to
mean and it might be just an unclear thing (Moody, 2006). The
opinion of Moody is similar with that of Abley which English is
recognized as a design element because both of them consider that
English do not perform a linguistical function but something like
decoration.
On the other hand, there is some different opinion why J-pop used
English lyrics frequently. According to Stanlow, it was concluded that
using of English word by Japanese female singer-songwriter when
they want to express their emotion in their song (Stanlow cited in Lee,
2006). While J-pop and J-rock get an influence a lot from Western
style, therefore English words are found a lot from there (Moody and
Matsumoto, 2003). Lee pointed out that using English also can take a
part of smooth cultural exchange because English is the second
intelligible language for non-native English speakers (Lee, 2006).
There are several persuasions about the using English word in J-pop,
and it is difficult to decide which one is the main reason of that.

3.Methodology
This researchs target is 6 International Japanese students who have
studied in higher education in the UK or the USA, and their English
level is higher than Japanese university students. In addition, their
age is from 25 to 26 years old, and students who have studied in the
USA have lived in there from the age of high school, and one of them
graduated high school in Singapore. Therefore their music which they
listen frequently might be different with the other people. The
research was asked some questions in interview style, and only one
student who studies in America was interviewed via Skype. The
question 2 and 4 are multiple choices, and the other questions require
students opinion, and that is why I have chosen interview style which
I can avoid misunderstanding their views and ask about an answer
deeper whenever I want. However, the sample in this research is
extremely small and the range of age also a limitation. Moreover,
some students prefer to listen to music such as Jazz or instrument
music, and it means that they are not so familiar with Pop music in
general.

4.Results

5.Disscussion

6.Conclusion

7.Reference