Like most people here, i first got into jpop through anime. since i was born and raised abroad (USA), it's not likely that i find jpop stuff alot. But by watching the great anime, i eventually became exposed to jpop and j-related stuff. When watching an anime and hearing the music, i got hooked and try to find the songs on the net. then it moved on to the artist itself and their works, not just the one attached to anime. then checking out other artists, even not relating to anime. and finally to general j-music itself. U know the trail, don't u? Due to the "trail" that i not only find jpop, but i explored other j-music genre as well. and also got into the general j-media, jdorama and movies, as well as the theme song that comes with it.
From J-music, i also got love love the Japanese culture in general. One of my dream is to visit japan, possibly even lived there for a while. But not only that, if u gotta know, i'm been i tech lover, intrigued and obessed with technology and electronics. And who would know but that Japan, not only the motherland of anime and manga, but also the country with the most high tech stuff in the entire world. including cars and automobiles, of which i'm also a huge fan of (toyota, nissan, honda, mazda just to name a few).
Other than the modern stuff (by which i mean the techs, cars, anime/manga,etc.) i also became interested in the history and culture or japan itself, like reading stuff on the samurai, shogun and the japanese martial arts, the bushido, the tea ceremony, cherry blossom, etc. So since japan offers all this, i would naturally be sucked into this culture.
Yes, call me a japanophile if u must, a otaku even. But it's not uncommon, since the Japanese culture and the J-media had alot of infuences on the world.
But just to be clear, i'm not only interest in j-stuff. I also like kpop and chinese pop since i've grown up with my family watching chinese movies and shows as well as listening to chinese pop. but that's beside the point.
Oh yah, i forgot to mention my fav artists. first and foremost, Morning Musume have got to be mention, same as most of the people here, they and the entire Hello! Project have a profound impact on my love of J-stuff. I first heard of them back in 04 when i saw the love machine pv on the net. then i listen to several of their song like i wish, renai revolution 21, the peace and mr. moonlight. But for some reason i forgot about them. then i got sucked into their world again 2 years later (in 2006) on one summer day when i accidently browse through Youtube into the jpop sections. their addictive u know. Aside from them, i listen to mostly avex artists like ayumi hamasaki, do as infinity, ELT, etc. since they're had songs in Inuyasha, the anime with one of the best OST around. Now, since i love naruto and bleach, I listen to alot of sony artists like Orange Range , YUI, and even the recent single "Baby it's you" by JUNE, a new artist under sony. in addition, i also like several JE music, Johnny's Entertainment ( yah i admit it, even though i'm a guy), mostly kinki kids and smap, but once in a while V6 ( around the world, part of inuyasha), tokio and several arashi. But u know, i mainly checked out their shows than actually listen to their music, since they're funny on their show, ex. SMAPXSMAP, Nakai's Utaban, Kinki's Domoto Kyoudai.
Although i mainly listen to anime theme song and H!P songs, I am in no way completely dominated by them (well...maybe Morning Musume, just maybe....), i listen to many other artists too. and am always looking for new stuff. that's oughta be good for now.........sorry for rambling on, it's just when u find someone with common interests, u tend to talk alot. hehe...