Why

[Spiderbot01]

Does J-Pop rhyme in English but not in Japanese?

[DarkKnight]

Does J-Pop rhyme in English but not in Japanese?

A song doesn't have to rhyme, it needs to sound like it meshes. Rhyming is just the easiest way to do it in English.

They also don't always rhyme, example:

Omoidaseba haruka haruka
Mirai wa doko made mo kagayaiteta
Kirei na aozora no shita de
Bokura wa sukoshi dake obieteita


Natsukashii iro ni mado ga somaru


Mae wo muitereba
Mata aemasu ka
Mirai wa doko e demo tsudzuiteiru n' da
Ooki na kanban no shita de
Jidai no utsuroi wo mite itai na


Nido to aenu
Hito ni basho ni
Mado wo akeru


Omoidaseba haruka haruka
Mirai wa doko made mo kagayaiteta
Kirei na aozora no shita de
Bokura wa itsumademo nemutte ita


Zutto mae ni suki datta hito
Fuyu ni kodomo ga umareru sou da
Mukashi kara no kimari goto wo
Tama ni utagaitaku naru yo
Zutto wasurerarenakatta no
Nengajou wa shashin tsuki kana
Watashitachi ni dekinakatta koto wo
Totemo natsukashiku omou yo

My fears, my lies

Aozora no shita

When I remember back far, far
The future was forever shining
Below the pretty blue sky
We were only frightened a little


This window is stained with sorely missed colors


If I keep on looking forward
Will I meet you again?
Because the future really continues on forever
Underneath a large sign
I want to watch time change


Towards the people, the places
I will never see again
I open this window


When I remember back far, far
The future was forever shining
Below the pretty blue sky
We slept endlessly


The person I loved long ago
Is to have a child in winter
Sometimes I just want to doubt
Our promises made long ago
I could never forget
I wonder if your New Year's card will have a photo
I just look back, and miss
All the things we could never do

My fears, my lies

Below the blue sky

I think it's interesting to note that's the first time I've read the english lyrics, but it's pretty much the kind of lyrics I expected. The song obviously did it's job to invoke the same emotions across languages.

[clyzm]

The Real Folk Blues ftw.

[Chococat]

Does J-Pop rhyme in English but not in Japanese?

Some J-pop songs are changed slightly in order to rhyme in English to appeal to the English. Its not that important in Japan to have songs that rhyme. : )