Japan was an influential English new wave band formed in 1974 in South London by David Sylvian, Steve Jansen, and Mick Karn, later joined by Richard Barbieri and Rob Dean. Starting with a glam rock style, they evolved into a sophisticated sound blending art rock, electronic music, and international influences, paired with a distinctive androgynous image. Gaining popularity in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Japan released several UK top 40 hits, including the acclaimed single Ghosts, and achieved significant commercial success with the live album Oil on Canvas. The group disbanded in 1982 at the height of their popularity, with members later collaborating briefly in the early 1990s under the name Rain Tree Crow.