My very first introduction to japanese pop music came through an Anime Series that the girls in the Video Room at Tower Records used to play over and over again every night we worked! The Series was Tenchi Muyo, and once the songs hooked me, I made it a point to watch every show, eventually falling in love with the series and buying every episode on laserdisc, as well as most of the CD soundtracks that were available!
The two songs that brought me in were the ending credits to the first series, called "Talent For Love" and the opening credits to the second series called "I'm A Pioneer". Both songs were sung by Chisa Yokoyama, the voice actress who also supplied the voice for Sasami. Both feature peppy, catchy, hummable songs, both feature great animation,and there'll probably never be an ending credit sequence better than the Talent For Love clip with Ryo-Oki growing a carrot!
My favorite character of the series just has to be intergalactic scientist Washu, better known (by her request) as Washu-chan! My favorite episode is the "Hello, Baby" episode, which is, naturally, centered around Washu and her past. I think she's just the coolest, sexiest, smartest chick in that household, second to none!
