Plastic Love and Beyond - Mariya Takeuchi’s City Pop Legacy

Mariya Takeuchi on Hollywood Boulevard in 1980

Over the course of her career, she has sold more than 16 million records, becoming one of Japan’s best-selling and most beloved music artists. We’re talking about Mariya Takeuchi, who despite a temporary hiatus in the 1980s and a relatively low international profile during her early years, has gained an unexpected global following in recent years, particularly through her now-legendary hit Plastic Love, which sparked a resurgence of interest in city pop outside Japan.

In this article

• Mariya Takeuchi’s Early Days

• The Influence of City Pop

• Stepping Back

• Plastic Love - A Global Revival

• Chapter 2 of Takeuchi’s Career

• Mariya Takeuchi’s Cultural Legacy

Mariya Takeuchi’s Early Days

Takeuchi’s early life in a traditional family setting might seem an unlikely backdrop for a future pop star, but it provided her with a broad musical foundation. Growing up in Taisha, Shimane, her family ran a historic ryokan (Japanese inn), which had been in operation since 1877. Despite this deeply rooted tradition, her family had a cosmopolitan view when it came to music, often playing records from around the world. This exposure introduced Mariya to genres beyond the typical Japanese folk or pop sounds of the time. As a child, she was particularly influenced by Western acts like The Beatles, whose melodies and modern sounds inspired her to explore music in a more serious way.

Her early musical training in piano and guitar allowed her to develop a solid foundation by the time she reached adolescence. In 1972, at age 17, Takeuchi spent a year in Rock Falls, Illinois, where she was further exposed to American pop culture and music. It was during this time that she began to truly appreciate the breadth of Western musical traditions, particularly the emerging soft rock and singer-songwriter movements.

Mariya Takeuchi’s AFS 1972-73 yearbook photo

After returning to Japan, Takeuchi enrolled at Keio University, where she majored in English literature. However, her musical journey truly began to unfold during this time. Joining the university’s music club, she crossed paths with Masamichi Sugi, a rising singer-songwriter. This connection led her to participate in the Loft Sessions recordings in 1978. That same year, she signed with RCA Records, marking the start of her professional career.

In November 1978, she debuted with the single Modotte oide, Watashi no Jikan and shortly after released her album Beginning, which climbed to No. 17 on the Oricon Charts. Blending soft rock with Japanese pop, her music drew inspiration from Western styles like AOR and soft rock, laying the foundation for the city pop era to come. By 1980, with Love Songs, her first No. 1 album, Takeuchi had firmly established herself as a major force in Japanese pop music.

The Influence of City Pop

We can’t grasp Mariya Takeuchi’s lasting impact without understanding the essence of city pop. The genre took shape in the late 1970s and absolutely flourished all throughout the 1980s. You can view city pop as the soundtrack of Japan’s economic miracle. The genre blends the best elements of jazz, soft rock, funk, and disco, reflecting the urbanization and prosperity of Japanese society during the postwar boom. The music evokes images of sunny city life, purple skies on summer nights, and coastal drives—echoes of a modern, carefree lifestyle.

Takeuchi’s music is inseparable from this movement. Her early albums, produced during the heyday of city pop, embodied the sleek, polished production values that defined the genre. Her smooth vocals, combined with the lush arrangements of her songs, made her a natural fit for this style. Along with her contemporaries, such as Tatsuro Yamashita (whom she would later marry), Toshiki Kadomatsu, and Anri, she helped shape the musical identity of a generation.

Mariya Takeuchi

Stepping Back

Three years after her debut in 1978, Takeuchi sent shocked both her fans and the industry by announcing a temporary hiatus. After the release of her fifth album, portrait, she retreated from the spotlight and focused on her personal life, such as her marriage to Tatsuro Yamashita in 1982. Although she stepped back from recording as a solo artist, Takeuchi’s creativity flourished behind the scenes. She composed numerous songs for rising stars like Naoko Kawai, Yukiko Okada, and Miho Nakayama, with her compositions dominating the Oricon Charts.

In 1984, after a three-year absence, Takeuchi made a triumphant return with her album Variety, released under Moon Records. This comeback showcased a refined, mature sound, largely produced by Yamashita. Among its tracks was the iconic Plastic Love, which, after an unassuming start, would ascend to global fame, captivating audiences worldwide.

Plastic Love - A Global Revival

Upon its initial release, Plastic Love enjoyed only a modest triumph in Japan, yet its true metamorphosis into a global sensation began in the 2010s. A seemingly innocuous YouTube upload in 2017 ignited a viral wildfire, racking up millions of views and drawing countless new listeners into the vibrant realm of city pop. With its bittersweet yet infectious rhythm, alongside Takeuchi’s soulful delivery, the song struck a profound chord with a fresh wave of fans, many encountering city pop for the very first time.

One of the elements that sets Plastic Love apart is its duality: an upbeat, disco-infused tempo set against lyrics that explore the sorrow of fleeting connections. This contrast resonated deeply with audience worldwide, making it an anthem for online communities, particularly within the vaporwave and future funk movements. Many critics laud its timeless essence, dubbing it “the best pop song in the world.” This renaissance resulted in Warner Music Japan’s release of an official music video for Plastic Love in 2019, more than three decades after its debut, reaffirming its lasting allure.

The viral success of Plastic Love not only boosted interest in Mariya Takeuchi’s work but also sparked a broader revival of city pop as a genre. International fans, many of whom were unfamiliar with Japanese music from the 1980s, became enchanted with the smooth, nostalgic sound of city pop and began to seek out more music from artists like Takeuchi, Tatsuro Yamashita, Anri, Miki Matsubara, and others. For many listeners, Plastic Love became a gateway into exploring the rich and diverse world of Japanese music, particularly the city pop era.

Chapter 2 of Takeuchi’s Career

Takeuchi’s mid-1980s comeback in combination with the release of Plastic Love launched chapter two of her already successful career. Throughout the late 80s and 90s she dropped several studio albums, each one a commercial hit. Her compilation album Impressions (1994) became a landmark release, selling over 3 million copies and becoming her best-selling album.

As the 2000s rolled in, the Japanese music industry was undergoing significant changes. Digital music was becoming more prevalent, and new genres were emerging, but Mariya Takeuchi continued to thrive, proving that her sound was timeless. In 2000, she released the live album Souvenir: Mariya Takeuchi Live, recorded from performances during a tour the previous year. Years later, her 2014 album, Trad, debuted at No. 1 on the Oricon Charts. The album featured a mix of original songs and new versions of older hits.

Yet one of the most significant releases of her later career was the single Inochi no Uta (Song of Life) which was featured on her album Trad. Initially recorded in 2012, the song became a beloved anthem in Japan, praised for its touching lyrics about the beauty and fragility of life. In 2020, Takeuchi re-recorded the track to commemorate its legacy, and it went on to top the Oricon Charts, making her the oldest Japanese artist to ever achieve a No. 1 single. The song’s resonance with listeners, particularly in a time marked by global uncertainty and the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrated how her music continued to provide comfort and meaning, even decades into her career.

Mariya Takeuchi’s Cultural Legacy

Takeuchi has rightfully earned her place among the most influential female figures in the annals of Japan’s musical history. Although she emerged during the city pop boom, her music transcends the genre, fusing folk, jazz, and soft rock elements into a signature style that feels distinctly hers. Her smooth, delicate vocals conceal an emotional depth that touches listeners, drawing them into the lively stories embedded in her songs.

In addition to her own discography, Takeuchi’s talent as a songwriter has played a crucial role in shaping the path of countless Japanese pop artists over the last four decades. Her compositions have propelled numerous careers, and her songs have been reimagined by many.

While Mariya Takeuchi’s musical career forms a cornerstone of her legacy, her life beyond the stage reveals a profound commitment to family and heritage. In 2018, she took the reins of her family’s historic ryokan, Takenoya. This endeavor marked a heartfelt return to her roots, allowing her to serve as a steward of family traditions until the next generation is ready to step in. Even as she continues to enchant audiences with her music, her deep-seated values rooted in family and tradition remain ever-present, guiding her journey through life and art.

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