Uniquely original Ex-Girl are 'big in Japan'

The phrase 'big in Japan' is used to describe groups who are successful abroad rather than in their own country.

The British pop act Shampoo are millionairs thanks to chart success in Japan but they are ignored back home.

For the Japanese all-girl group Ex-Girl, success comes from abroad first, especially from the United States.

Girl groups like Speed and Max are typical of the music that has been coming out of Japan lately - manufactured to look and sound the same.

Ex-Girl on the other hand belong to the other end of the musical spectrum. Their music style can range from 'in your face' punk rock to quirky children's TV theme tunes. The group feels that 'the music scene in Japan seems to imitate and copy whatever style is popular'.

The members of the group first got together in 1997 to form a band even though they had never learned to play any instruments. That did not deter them as they performed regularly in clubs to become the awesome live experience they are today.