Japan's public broadcasting network NHK is celebrating 50 years of airing western music with a fan election of top music acts, to be announced at a "Japan's 50 Best Loved Western Artists" show on March 26th. The current leader might not surprise anime and manga fans, especially if they've watched Cromartie High.

 

 

An interim top 5 includes:

 

1. Queen

2. The Beatles

3. Michael Jackson

4. Carpenters

5. Simon & Garfunkel

 

The full list of talent in the running for the election includes:

 

 

 

Earth, Wind & Fire

1979: first visit to Japan

12 Japanese appearances

 

REM

1984: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

REO Speedwagon

1981: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Iron Maiden

1981: first visit to Japan

12 Japanese appearances

 

Avril Lavigne

2003: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

ABBA

1980: first visit to Japan

1 visit to Japan

 

A-HA

1986: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Alice Cooper

1990: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Al Kooper

2003: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Eagles

1976: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

YES

1973: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

INXS

1984: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Yngwie Malmsteen

1986: first visit to Japan

15 Japanese appearances

 

Van Halen

1978: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

Wishbone Ash

1975: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Aerosmith

1977: first visit to Japan

9 Japanese appearances

 

Asia

1983: first visit to Japan

8 Japanese appearances

 

AC / DC

1981: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

ABC

1983: first visit to Japan

1 visit to Japan

 

Emerson Lake & Palmer

1972: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

EMINEM

2001: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Eric Clapton

1974: first visit to Japan

19 visits to Japan

 

Elvis Costello

1978: first visit to Japan

13 Japanese appearances

 

Elton John

1971: first visit to Japan

7 Japanese appearances

 

Oasis

1994: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

The Allman Brothers Band

1991: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Ozzy Osbourne

1982: first visit to Japan

9 Japanese appearances

 

Olivia Newton-John

1976: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

Cars

1980: first visit to Japan

1 visit to Japan

 

Carpenters

1972: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Kylie Minogue

1989: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Goo Goo Dolls

1984: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Culture Club

1983: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Guns N Roses

1988: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

KISS

1977: first visit to Japan

10 visits to Japan

 

Carole King

1990: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

King Crimson

1981: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

The Kinks

1982: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Queen

1975: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Quincy Jones

1981: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Kool and the Gang

1975: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Crash

1982: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Grand Funk Railroad

1971: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Creedence Clearwater Revival

1972: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Green Day

1996: first visit to Japan

9 Japanese appearances

 

Christina Aguilera

2001: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Christopher Cross

1980: first visit to Japan

13 Japanese appearances

 

Crosby, Stills & Nash

1991: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Gary Moore

1983: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Kenny Loggins

1982: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Coldplay

2000: first visit to Japan

8 Japanese appearances

 

Simon & Garfunkel

1982: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Santana

1971: first visit to Japan

13 Japanese appearances

 

ZZ Top

1986: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Sheena Easton

1981: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

James Brown

1973: first visit to Japan

15 Japanese appearances

 

Jethro Tull

1972: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Genesis

1978: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Jeff Beck

1973: first visit to Japan

10 times Japan

 

Sheryl Crow

1995: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Chicago

1971: first visit to Japan

13 Japanese appearances

 

Chic

1996: first visit to Japan

12 Japanese appearances

 

Journey

1979: first visit to Japan

9 Japanese appearances

 

Jackson Browne

1977: first visit to Japan

13 Japanese appearances

 

Janis Ian

1977: first visit to Japan

9 Japanese appearances

 

Janet Jackson

1990: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Japan

1979: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Jamiroquai

1993: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Jam

1980: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Judas Priest

1978: first visit to Japan

12 Japanese appearances

 

George Harrison

1991: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

George Michael

1988: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Joan Baez

1967: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Johnny Winter

2011: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

John Denver

1975: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

John Mellencamp

1986: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Cyndi Lauper

1986: first visit to Japan

13 Japanese appearances

 

Simply Red

1987: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Suzi Quatro

1974: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

The Style Council

1984: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Steve Winwood

1989: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Stevie Wonder

1975: first visit to Japan

12 Japanese appearances

 

Steely Dan

1994: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Styx

1982: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Sting

1985: first visit to Japan

16 Japanese appearances

 

Spandau ballet

1984: first visit to Japan

Japanese appearances

 

Three Dog Night

1972: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Sex Pistols

1996: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Celine Dion

1994: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Dire Straits

1984: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Diana Ross

1973: first visit to Japan

9 Japanese appearances

 

Hall & Oates

1980: first visit to Japan

14 Japanese appearances

 

Cheap Trick

1978: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Chaka Khan

1976: first visit to Japan

18 Japanese appearances

 

Tears for Fears

1985: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Deep Purple

1972: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

T Rex

1972: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Dionne Warwick

1972: first visit to Japan

17 Japanese appearances

 

Tina Turner

1985: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Taylor Swift

2010: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

David Bowie

1973: first visit to Japan

7 Japanese appearances

 

Destiny's Child

2001: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Def Leppard

1984: first visit to Japan

8 Japanese appearances

 

Duran Duran

1982: first visit to Japan

9 Japanese appearances

 

The Doobie Brothers

1976: first visit to Japan

10 visits to Japan

 

Todd Rundgren

1976: first visit to Japan

12 Japanese appearances

 

TOTO

1980: first visit to Japan

13 Japanese appearances

 

Donna Summer

1979: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Tom Waits

1977: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Tom Jones

1973: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Tom Petty

1980: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Ne-Yo

2006: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Neil Young

1976: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

New Kids On The Block

1991: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

New Order

1985: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

Nirvana

1992: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

The Nolans

1980: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Norah Jones

2002: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Heart

1979: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Pearl Jam

1995: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Backstreet Boys

2001: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

Bad Company

1975: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Bananarama

1988: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Barry Manilow

1983: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Howard Jones

1984: first visit to Japan

7 Japanese appearances

 

Bangles

1988: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Band

1983: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Bee Gees

1972: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Beastie Boys

1987: first visit to Japan

8 Japanese appearances

 

Peter Gabriel

1986: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Peter Frampton

1978: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Peter Paul & Mary

1964: first visit to Japan

Japan Times:

 

The Beach Boys

1966: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

The Beatles

1966: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Huey Lewis & The News

1985: first visit to Japan

7 Japanese appearances

 

Bjork

1994: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Beyonce

2006: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Billy Joel

1978: first visit to Japan

11 times Japan

 

Pink Floyd

1971: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Phil Collins

1985: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

The Who

2004: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Foo Fighters

2005: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Foreigner

1978: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Blur

1992: first visit to Japan

7 Japanese appearances

 

Bryan Adams

1983: first visit to Japan

12 Japanese appearances

 

Brian Setzer Orchestra

1994: first visit to Japan

7 Japanese appearances

 

Black Eyed Peas

2004: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

Black Sabbath

1980: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Fleetwood Mac

1977: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Julio Iglesias

1983: first visit to Japan

9 Japanese appearances

 

Pretenders

: First visit to Japan

Japan Times:

 

Britney Spears

2002: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Prince

1986: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Bruce Springsteen

1985: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Blondie

1978: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Bay City Rollers

1976: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Pet Shop Boys

1989: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

Ventures

: First visit to Japan

65 Japanese appearances

 

Whitney Houston

1986: first visit to Japan

7 Japanese appearances

 

Boys · II · Men

1994: first visit to Japan

9 Japanese appearances

 

Paul Weller

1991: first visit to Japan

11 times Japan

 

Paul Simon

1974: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Paul McCartney

1989: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Boz Scaggs

1978: first visit to Japan

17 Japanese appearances

 

Boston

1979: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Bob Dylan

1978: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Bob Marley

1979: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Police

1980: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Whitesnake

1980: first visit to Japan

12 Japanese appearances

 

Bon Jovi

1984: first visit to Japan

19 visits to Japan

 

Marvin Gaye

1979: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Michael Schenker

1981: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Michael Jackson

1987: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

Madness

1982: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Madonna

1987: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

Mamas & Papas

1994: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Mariah Carey

1996: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

Maroon 5

2004: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

MR.BIG

1989: first visit to Japan

10 times Japan

 

Michel Polnareff

1972: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Metallica

1986: first visit to Japan

8 Japanese appearances

 

Men At Work

1983: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Motley Crue

1985: first visit to Japan

10 visits to Japan

 

Monkeys

1968: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Eurythmics

1984: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

U2

1983: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

Lionel Richie

1983: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Rush

1984: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

RUN-DMC

1986: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

Rihanna

2005: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Richard Marx

1988: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Rickie Lee Jones

1985: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Linkin Park

2001: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

Linda Ronstadt

1979: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Lou Reed

1975: first visit to Japan

8 Japanese appearances

 

Ray Charles

1964: first visit to Japan

Japan visits:

 

Lynyrd Skynyrd

1977: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Rainbow

1975: first visit to Japan

7 Japanese appearances

 

Led Zeppelin

1971: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Red Hot Chili Peppers

1990: first visit to Japan

10 visits to Japan

 

Lady Gaga

2010: first visit to Japan

3 Japanese appearances

 

Radiohead

1994: first visit to Japan

8 Japanese appearances

 

Lenny Kravitz

1990: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

The Rolling Stones

1990: first visit to Japan

5 Japanese appearances

 

Roxy Music

1979: first visit to Japan

4 Japanese appearances

 

Rod Stewart

1979: first visit to Japan

6 Japanese appearances

 

Robert Palmer

1986: first visit to Japan

2 Japanese appearances

 

Wham!

1985: first visit to Japan

1 Japanese appearance

 

 

via @TokyographBuzz

 

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Scott Green is editor and reporter for anime and manga at geek entertainment site Ain't It Cool News. Follow him on Twitter at @aicnanime.