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Ever since the Japanese discovered reggae through Bob Marley in the 1970s, Jamaican popular music has retained a strong following in that Asian country. Despite producing a number of home-grown reggae acts, Japan is yet to deliver a reggae performer who has had a major impact in Jamaica.

Pushim, a singer dubbed 'Queen of Japanese Reggae', is the latest hopeful from the land of geishas and kimonos eyeing a Jamaican breakthrough. She was in Kingston recently to record songs with top producers for a new album.

"I did some tracks with 'Lenky' (Stephen Marsden), Birch (Christopher) and Sly and Robbie. I came here to learn the new trends and styles to see if it can work for me," she said in faltering English.

Though she was born in Japan, the slender Pushim is actually a third-generation Korean. She said she discovered reggae at age 17, listening to everything from Marley's conscious reggae to dancehall heavyweights like Papa San and Wayne Wonder.

Read it: Japanese Pushim records her sixth album in Jamaica