Big in Japan (phrase)

[citation needed] The concept predated the phrase; Neil Sedaka made it big in Japan with "One Way Ticket" before breaking through in his native United States.

[5] In the summer of 1977, The Runaways, who struggled to make a mark in America, were the fourth most popular imported musical act in Japan, just behind The Beatles and Led Zeppelin.

[6] Irish musical group The Nolans, who were virtually unknown in North America, sold over 12 million records in Japan, outselling The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Adele, and Ed Sheeran combined.

[1] For example, Scorpions initially had only limited success in Europe and the United States,[citation needed] yet were "Big in Japan", as evidenced by their 1978 tour of the country and the double live album Tokyo Tapes.

[13] "Being 'Big in Japan' turned into a positive sign of their closeness to the hearts of Japanese people, with the band embedded in national and local rock cultures.

The mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap parodies this phenomenon when the band schedules a Japanese tour after discovering that their single "Sex Farm" is inexplicably selling very well there.

[16] The American progressive metal band Symphony X built their early career in Japan, after signing a record contract with a now defunct Japanese company, Zero Corporation.

Western artists have also made tributes to their Japanese fans, acknowledging and owning their "big in Japan" status: in 2014, Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne released the single "Hello Kitty", a J-pop, dubstep, and electronic dance music track which referenced the eponymous Sanrio brand and character.

[18] [19] "Big in Japan" has also been used in sports, for instance, to describe Major League Baseball players who join Japanese clubs at the end of their careers, such as Daryl Spencer.

[26] Despite breaking box office records worldwide, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has struggled to perform well in Japan due to demographic incompatibilities such as character age or brand recognition, as Japanese moviegoers are more drawn into youth-oriented films such as the Harry Potter series or more established franchises such as Star Wars, Mission: Impossible, or Pirates of the Caribbean.