The movie "Sister Act" really struck a chord in Japan, and gospel choirs have sprung up all over, singing in the style of black churches in the US. The uninhibited joy in the songs really connects with people who don't know what the lyrics mean. Christians and missionaries have formed choirs as a means to explain what those joyful words mean.
We had a concert in Harumi arranged by a believer in our Harumi Praise Time, and it included a local gospel choir that two of our people are involved with. The poster behind these happy singing faces announces that it's a concert in support of the Tohoku region, which was hard hit by the triple disaster of March 2011. 
We also had gospel music in traditional Japanese styles. Enka Friends performed, and a video of one of their songs, based on I Thessalonians 5:16-18 is included here. This particular song is in the style of music used during the "matsuri" or festival season in late summer, and the actions resemble "bon odori" style of dance at those occasions. Remember, you saw it here first!